LONDON (June 23, 2021) – Mike Batt, Chairman of one of the world’s largest travel organisations, Internova Travel Group, has pledged his company’s support – both in the UK and across the Atlantic – to back the UK travel industry’s organised Day of Action on 23^rd June 2021.

The global travel group, whose UK businesses include well-known brands including Barrhead Travel, ALTOUR, Global Travel Collection and Your Event Solutions, intends to have representation at all UK events. In addition, it will provide virtual support across its 6000-strong network of worldwide travel brands whose business relies on key Transatlantic routes.

Pre-pandemic, its UK-business units were on a trajectory of growth. Scottish-based Barrhead Travel had announced ambitious plans to open up to 100 new stores and create 1000 new jobs in the UK travel market. Its entertainment and luxury division, Global Travel Collection, had secured over 20 new Independent Contractors while corporate travel agency, ALTOUR, had grown through a number of successful client-wins. Halifax-based events-agency, Your Event Solutions, had also recently expanded its footprint out-with the UK with new office locations in the US.

Welshman Mike Batt, who founded the travel group in 2008, said the UK Government was preventing the sustainable recovery for an entire industry with knock-on effects being felt across the globe:

“The UK outbound travel industry has been on house arrest since March 2020, but enough is enough. We need action and answers now. The industry cannot remain in this oblivion for any longer as the consequences of delaying the reopening of UK travel would be severe and would have a worldwide ripple-effect across the entire travel ecosystem.

“International travel must be a priority for the UK Government. We are already witnessing how the inconsistencies from the Traffic Light System are further compounding the damage to our industry and this cannot continue any longer. The US and much of Europe have been travelling freely for weeks, if not months, and many are about to enjoy even more freedoms with the introduction of restriction-free travel for the double-vaccinated.

“Government support should be commensurate with the scale of restrictions but the UK Government, quite frankly, have fundamentally failed to deliver this. Travel businesses need clarity – and so do our customers. It is unacceptable to expect travellers to be at the behest of a Government who choose to lurch in and out of travel guidance at a moment’s notice.

Batt, who is currently based in Florida, said the Day of Action was an opportunity for agents across the world to have their say.

“This week’s Day of Action has the full support of our entire global network of advisors. The UK plays a pivotal role in tourism and corporate travel for our agents and their clients. Any further delay to reopening the UK for business will cause irreparable damage for inbound and outbound tourism. We hope the UK Government is listening – restore basic rights to travel again and let us rebuild our livelihoods.”

UK bosses from Internova Travel Group’s UK businesses will be representing their brands at the London, Edinburgh and Belfast Day of Action lobby events. Find out more information about the organised lobbies here.

About Internova Travel Group

Internova Travel Group is one of the largest travel services companies in the world with a collection of leading brands delivering high-touch, personal travel expertise to leisure and corporate clients. Internova manages leisure, business and franchise firms through a portfolio of distinctive divisions. Internova represents more than 65,000 travel advisors in over 6,000 company-owned and affiliated locations predominantly in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom, with a presence in more than 80 countries.