News UK travel update 30/06/21 Welcome to News UK

With the first steps towards the reopening of travel and a handful of “green list” destinations now announced, here at News UK we are going to continue to sharing the latest trends and analysis to give you as much information as possible as we navigate the coming weeks and months back to normal life.

As always we can clearly see from our popular content that our readers cannot wait to get travelling again and are engaging with destinations to which travel will be possible soon.

In the meantime, please do let us know if you have any questions or information requests. Editor’s letter Jenny Coad, Deputy Travel Editor - The Times & The Sunday Times

All eyes will be on Rome this weekend - if only we could go and cheer on Gareth Southgate's team and experience the atmosphere in one of Europe's greatest cities.

Italy has imposed a quarantine of five days on UK arrivals. Across Europe travel restrictions are being reintroduced. To go to Spain or the Balearics - the latter newly-added to the government's green watch list - you now have to show a negative PCR-test on arrival.

The travel industry - and those of us longing for a sunshine break - hoped that vaccines and greater clarity around the traffic light system would lead to us all getting going again. It has not been the case and confidence continues to be low, dealing a blow to companies that need people to get holidaying again.

It's not all bad news, though. The mood at home has brightened - now all we need is for the weather to do the same. Times Travel content

The top performing article this week outlined that those who are fully vaccinated can finally have a quarantine-free holiday in an amber-list country from August, which is great news for many of our travel loving Times readers.

It was our Glastonbury special that caught the attention of our Top 5 most read travel articles last week: readers - making another year they have been forced to postpone.

Let’s hope the weather is kind to us in 2022! 1. Double or nothing: the best european summer

breaks Unsurprisingly the new boutique ‘boho’ hotel in Ibiza was a popular article, especially considering the Balearic Islands are now 2. Glamping in glastonbury (minus the festival) back on the cards this summer. 3. Oku ibiza: the white isle’s new boutique hotel 4. ‘Rio was a wonderful trip — it was nice coming home Other popular articles this week include The Times’ interview with with an olympic gold medal, too’ Sir Andy Murray and Postcards from Rome - Come On England! 5. Postcard from rome: ‘football fans, free concerts and alfresco dining are signs of the city’s rebirth’ Sun Travel content

There is no surprise that our savvy tanning sun audience have paid particular interest in the news that the Canary Islands will be opening up for travellers. Top 5 most read travel articles last week:

The Sun readers were also interested to know which 1. Pack your bags - Canary Islands ‘to be added to travel countries have made it onto the amber list and what the green list from July 15th’ current quarantining rules are. 2. Amber warning - Full list of holiday destinations Brits still need to quarantine for For those looking for something a little different, closer to 3. Say you’ll sleep there - The REAL Spice Girls bus from home, the ultimate girl power experience on the Isle of Spice World the Movie is now a holiday home on the Wight & Princess’s 80s UK cruise caught their attention. Isle Of Wight 4. Hol Yeah - Brit holidaymakers arrive in Majorca and Ibiza

as they join the green list today with Malta & Madeira

5. Make Waves - Bag a cabin on the ultimate 80s UK cruise Weekly travel search term trends

Here are some of the biggest searches in travel over the last seven days.

Following the government's announcement last week there is no surprise that the newest counties to have made it onto the green list are dominating our searches. Dominica sees the biggest surge in interest, followed by the Balearic Islands (including Majorca, Menorca and Formentera).

Regent Seven Seas most luxurious ship Explorer also caught the nation's attention this week, along with the launch of Ambassador Cruises - the first British cruise line to launch in more that 10 years. Ambience is their first cruise ship.

Finally, there is also some confusion over Turkey and why it remains on the red list.

Data is taken from Google trends. News UK’s Responsible Media Charter

As a media business which reaches almost 40 million people across the UK and beyond, News UK takes its responsibilities very seriously.

Our newsbrands and radio stations are at the heart of the nation’s conversation. Our audiences turn to our world-class journalists and broadcasters for trusted news, analysis and entertainment.

Our brands are home to a plurality of opinion, representing the diverse communities we serve. They report the news and stimulate debate.

News UK is committed to treating our colleagues and our audiences with respect, to being representative of society and driving sustainability. We stand up for a free press as an instrument of democracy and we inform our audiences so that they can make decisions based on trusted information. Birthday Tributes for Times Radio at One

Leading public figures have lined up to wish Times Radio a very happy first birthday today.

A year on from launching during the pandemic, the station is a must-listen for hundreds of thousands of listeners across the UK, as well as key political figures.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who was interviewed on the first day of broadcasting, leads the tributes alongside Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey, Chancellor Rishi Sunak, who praised the team’s ‘fantastic first year’, and Labour Shadow Health Secretary Jonathan Ashworth commending Times Radio’s “first-class journalism.”

Upcoming Sponsorship Opportunities Programme Director Tim Levell said, “Launch day seems like both an age away, and yesterday. Our talented producers and presenters have worked tirelessly over the past year to bring intelligent, thought-provoking guests We have a number of opportunities available from August. These include; and discussions to our appreciative listeners. And the collaboration across Breakfast show, Matt Chorley’s mid-morning show & Drive Time. News UK has been fabulous. The support from the Times and Sunday Times journalists has been central to our first year.” Please get in touch for more information The Times CEO Summit

Last week we were delighted to host our annual Times CEO Summit which brings together FTSE chief executives, government ministers and public policy experts.

The discussion focused on ‘Redesigning Britain’ and core topics included reshaping cities as well as reskilling and retraining Britain.

We had a great speaker line-up including Philip Jansen, CEO, BT, Alan Jope, CEO, Unilever and Pano Christou, CEO, Pret Manager.

You can view some of the excellent coverage here. The Sunday Times Cruise Supplement Sunday 25th July

Our next 12 page cruise supplement in The Sunday Times has been confirmed for Sunday 25th July.

Editorial coverage to include;

● Where to go in 2022 ● Expeditions ● Luxury Cruises

Please get in touch if you would like to option a space in July’s cruise special. News UK - The Next 6 months

We have some great projects and events coming up at News UK over the next 6 months. These include;

● Virgin Radio - Sky, the stations official new sponsor ● TalkSPORT - The Euros and beyond ● TalkSPORT EDGE - sponsorship & betting partners available ● The Sunday Times Sportswoman of The Year - sponsorship available ● Times Travel - Content is now outside of the payway, offering a later audience ● The Times Earth & Environment ● The Sun Holiday Shop - A stand alone website coming this summer ● A update from The Sun ● News UK’s new Diversity & Inclusion style guide & StudioPI Please watch the full video here - ● Times Enterprise Network https://vimeo.com/556290931 ● News UK Events - sponsorships available

We would love to hear from you. Please get in touch to learn more about the projects/events themselves and to understand how you can be a part of it. Awards Shortlisted

We are incredibly honoured to be shortlisted in the Inspiring Workplaces Awards and CIPD People Management Awards for our Diversity and Inclusion initiatives.

Last year we committed to creating a pathway to 50:50:20 male/female/ethnic minority representation across the business. Since then we have appointed a dedicated Diversity and Inclusion team led by HR Director Briony Hughes, with Shelley Bishton as Head of Creative Diversity, Mark Hudson as Head of Early Talent and Alya Lilani as Culture & Diversity Partner. In 2021 we will recruit up to 100 Kickstart Interns and 45 apprentices, continue to develop leadership programmes for people from diverse backgrounds and introduce diversity experts across our brands. Let’s strive for inclusion together. Thank you

Get in touch: [email protected]