News & Analysis

This page features news, photos and video from ABTA's 2009 Travel Convention in Barcelona, Spain.

Highlights

Summer 2009 was 'scary' TUI boss Peter Long has spoken about a tense wait for bookings and warned that recovery will be a 'long haul'

Tourism 2023 scenarios Could one of these projections, created by a green charity, be the future of the industry?

News from the conference

Market and economy

• Waiting for bookings was 'scary', says TUI Travel boss
• Hoseasons reports 61% increase in 2010 bookings
• Luxury operators see 30% growth despite recession
• Tanzer warns of continuing money worries
• Lamont predicts slow economic recovery
• Recession changes holiday buying patterns
• Holidaymakers 'buy clever' during recession, reports PwC

Agents

• Long says relations with independents are 'sacrosanct'
• Teletext signs deal with Tesco to open 20 travel agencies

Cruise

• Discounting has opened cruise to wider market
• Price of cruising 'must go up'
• Royal Caribbean to review tipping policy
• 'Don't charge for cruise extras'
• Cruise sees 5% increase in 2009 passenger numbers
• Thomson Cruises to offer Cuba

Environment

• Blastland slams travel industry's climate change efforts
• Travel giants back Tourism 2023 project
• Tourism 2023: The four scenarios

Tech and online

• Travel industry 'is under-using mobile'
• Search site bosses slam 'untrustworthy' travel ads

Skills and training

• New training launched on child protection
• Improving agents’ knowledge is the key to sales

Opinion

It's time to adapt The chances of a return to 'business as usual' are slim, says TW editor Karen Dempsey

Change will not come cheap The Tourism 2023 initiative is a great idea, but commitment will come at a price, says Ian Taylor

Photos

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Twitter: Official Travel Convention tweets

• TheTravelConv: ABTA announces Malta Travel Convention, 18-20 October...watch this space for further details coming soon #ttcmalta10
• TheTravelConv: Long: Consumers want to spend disposable income on experiences and not assets
• TheTravelConv: Long: Green shoots there, but recovery time uncertain. Unemployment continue to rise, sterling to remain weak, and fuel prices will rise.
• TheTravelConv: Long said Russia would be a key market to expand post-recession. Economy there has come of age and people no longer drive Ladas
• TheTravelConv: Long said good leaders were proved in times of adversity.

News: Conference build-up

• ABTA to launch Travel Buddy service
• ABTA 'pointless' if members fail to comply with bed bank ruling
• Tanzer: Bed banks won't leave ABTA
• More than a fifth of Travel Convention delegates are agents
• 'Retail travel has to add value': industry experts discuss 2009/10
• Opinion: Everyone suffers when airlines break promises
• The environment and technology to be topics for TTA Worldchoice conference
• Bookings for the ABTA Travel Convention are ahead of 2008
• ABTA hopes Travel Convention will make a profit this year
• ABTA Travel Convention to offer '30 minute MBA'