AITO Conference

Last week I attended the Association of Independent Tour Operators (AITO) one day conference to discuss all things travel with colleagues and industry professionals. The mood was generally upbeat and optimistic tempered of course by the last two years and the current situation in Ukraine.

It is generally felt that travel life is returning to a situation where we will be able to travel freely around the world although there will be restrictions for some countries and situations will develop where care will have to be taken.

2022 is turning out to be remarkedly busy although we must remember that many clients have pushed forward their trips and reservations from 2020 and 2021. Coupled with airline schedules not being fully back to 100% or even close to it, availability in certain key periods will be very difficult and prices will be higher than is normal or expected.

There is a demand for generational holidays where two and three generations of a family go on holidays together and villa stays are very much in vogue giving clients a certain amount of ‘space’ away from other families, as we have become used to over the last couple of years.  Small group adventure trips are back with companies offering UK, Europe and worldwide trips with group sizes around 12-15.  Another of our tour operator partners

Brochures are very scarce. Many companies did not print any in 2020 and 2021 for obvious reasons. We do however have access to many of their products online in the form of pdf’s which we can either print or email to you. I met and had meetings with 22 key tour operators and learnt about their plans going forward.  The mood that came out of my meetings was one of optimism and positivity. Holidays are back and the PCR testing regime will get better as we go forward with many destinations relaxing their testing requirements on a daily basis.

Amongst those I talked to were some of our key partners who have been arranging trips for our clients for a while; for example, we work closely with Travel Gallery who specialise in tailormade holidays to Sri Lanka and the Maldives.  Beachcomber Resorts and Hotels is another company we have been working with for many years and whose hotels in Mauritius are such crowd pleasers.  All these Indian Ocean destinations are happily back on the travel map as restrictions are eased.

Africa is another destination which is experiencing long awaited renewed interest as restrictions are relaxed.  I chatted to African Pride who have been tailor making incredible experiences in Africa for the past 21 years from luxury safaris to beach holidays and trips of cultural and historical interest.   Audley Travel is another partner who we use for wonderful worldwide tailormade adventures.

Sunvil, Kirker and Cyplon Holidays were all there busy with travellers looking to dip their toes back into travel with a short haul trip before they venture further afield.

We are always happy to chat through holiday ideas to wherever it is in the world you want to venture back to.  Do get in touch or pop in and visit us at 23 The Parade, Claygate.