In TTG: US reopening and travel's climate reckoning

November’s news coverage continues with a preview of Abta’s upcoming Travel Trends conference on 24 November, which will hear from – among many others – Byway Travel founder Cat Jones and Black Tomato co-founder Tom Marchant. The due spoke to TTG about the trends they are seeing as travel begins to emerge from the Covid crisis, with more insights set to be discussed at the event later this month, which will be held as a hybrid event.

Data from TTG’s Travel Agent Tracker surveys in October, meanwhile, highlights reports from agents of record-equalling levels of new enquiries and bookings, and a dramatic uptick in demand for the US. However, it also reflects the challenges agents have faced getting hold of suppliers and converting that demand into bookings.

Our central news analysis in November sees TTG catch up with Brand USA chief executive Chris Thompson ahead of the US reopening its borders to fully vaccinated travellers on 8 November, as well as the leads from four of the US’s key destination authorities – Orlando, New York, California and Washington DC – who were all in London last month for Brand USA Travel Week.

We have a full report, too, from the latest TTG Luxury Travel Summit, where topics up for discussion ranged from tackling the "myth" large cruise ships can’t be luxurious, capacity and conversion worries following a surge in late demand for luxury getaways this winter and how the "slow travel" movement could play a key role in travel’s efforts to reduce carbon.

There is also our monthly Catch Up social and competitions page, news of the return of our annual TTG Top 50 Travel Agencies programme and how to get involved, and full, in-depth coverage of the recent Travel Industry Awards by TTG in association with Virgin Atlantic, including comments from all the winners on the night.

Deputy news editor Tom Parry introduces November’s cruise coverage, which includes news of an overhaul of MSC Cruises trade training programme from UK and Ireland sales director Steve Williams. There is also a deeper-dive into the US cruising market as the country reopens its borders to Brits, opening up a vast array of US cruise options for the first time in 20 months.

This month’s One Last Thing column comes from Charitable Travel’s Melissa Tilling, who picks up on travel’s responsibility to rise to the challenge and face up to the part it must play in solving the climate crisis.

November’s features section opens with a sustainable Asia feature from Debbie Ward, examining sustainable travel trends and developments in the region and new product, and a closer look at Japan’s Kyushu island from features editor Abra Dunsby – including what to see, where to stay and how to get there.

Next, the focus turns to Canada, which reopened its borders to international travellers in September. And specifically, self-drive itineraries exploring the length and breadth of one of the world’s great touring destinations – Abra Dunsby again picks out new and best-selling product highlights as travel to the country rebounds. There is also a Canada-themed hot list rounding up some more product highlights.

Another destination tentatively looking to reopen to the world is Australia, with several states on course to reopen to international travellers by the end of the year, and others in the spring. We look at the country’s range of trade-commissionable Signature Experiences from Tourism Australia, with some new additions prepared while the country’s borders have been closed.

We’re not leaving out neighbouring New Zealand either, with highlights from Tourism New Zealand’s virtual fam programme, giving agents all they updates they need to be ready to sell the destination confidently when New Zealand reopens its borders the world, likely at some stage next year.

Business Advice opens with a timely focus on clients’ rights from Holidaysplease’s Jo Shayler, recently crowned UK and Ireland Travel Agent of the Year at the Travel Industry Awards, while TTG 30 Under 30’s Adebola Sowemimo – creator of the Breaking My Views travel blog – chats to TTG about ensuring a diverse range of voices are heard in travel.