Day 2 at Phocuswright Europe opened with a clear message: the forces reshaping travel are accelerating, and the industry must adapt with equal speed. From AI‑driven distribution battles to digital identity pilots, shifting demand patterns and new expectations for loyalty, the day delivered a steady stream of insight, debate and practical direction for the year ahead.
Travel demand stays resilient as AI reshapes the path to purchase
The 36th Hong Kong Book Fair, organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), will be held from 15 to 21 July (Wednesday to Tuesday) at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC), running concurrently with the Hong Kong Sports and Leisure Expo and the World of Snacks. As one of the signature summer cultural and leisure events in Hong Kong, the three fairs are estimated to bring together more than 770 exhibitors from nearly 30 countries and regions, offering citizens and tourists a one-stop destination for culture, sports and leisure experiences.
The Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) brought the warmth, culture and energy of the island directly to the heart of the UK’s biggest retail travel agency. In a full-scale Jamaica Takeover Day at Hays Travel’s head office, the JTB partnered with a number of leading hotel brands to immerse the agency’s team in the spirit of Jamaica, from its cuisine and culture to its world-class resort offering.
Hays Travel, the UK’s largest independent travel retailer with over 500 shops nationwide, welcomed the JTB and hotel partners across its sales, social media, accounts and support teams, ensuring the entire office, including more than 60 homeworkers joining online, experienced a taste of Jamaica first-hand.
Portable air conditioners are pretty much sold out everywhere. But, I have found an exception – the Bush 9K Air Conditioner (£375) is still in stock at Argos – and it’s already reaping five-star reviews.
Hence, it is unusual to see a relatively affordable and well-rated model such as the Bush 9K Portable Air Conditioner still in stock. Unfortunately, we doubt it will be in stock for long – so if you like what you see, snap it up now.
Bush
Bush 9K Air Conditioner
I can’t believe this portable AC is still in stock. It’s a relatively affordable price compared to other models, and offers multiple modes to cater to your needs. In other words, it does the trick!
First things first, portable air conditioners are worth it. Period. Offering the same benefits as a fitted AC, without the installation or start-up fee, these handy appliances are brilliant at keeping a room cool during a heatwave. And with the UK expected to reach record temperatures this week, I don’t know about you, but I need all the cooling help I can get.
The Bush 9K Air Conditioner is currently available for delivery, not collection, and offers to take the edge off the heat with auto, cooling, fan and dry modes to keep you comfortable. It has an easy-to-read LED display, and you can control it via the panel or a remote control – so you don’t have to move from your bed or sofa!
It has a sleep mode and a 24-hour timer, while its auto-restart feature will remember your preferences. The machine operates at a sound level of 64dB, which may be a little loud, so bear that in mind if you were hoping for a whisper-quiet appliance (like the new Meaco Circo).
It also has an energy efficiency rating of Class A and uses 1,000W of power. If you’re worried about the cost of running a portable air conditioner, most models are between 1,000 and 1,300 watts (W), with 1,000W costing 26.11p per hour to run, according to the recent July Price Cap.
(Image credit: Bush)
We haven’t tested this portable AC, but so far, this portable air conditioner has received six five-star reviews on the Argos website, vouching for the appliance’s credibility.
‘I bought this the day before this heat wave in June started, and it’s brilliant! Now that I have found a way to install it in the window without leaving a gap, it works perfectly at cooling the room down in a matter of minutes. It’s the difference between a comfortable night’s sleep and no sleep at all. It’s light and easily mobile, so I can move it from room to room,’ said one.
‘I live in a mobile home that gets very warm when it’s 30 °C plus, so eventually bought this air con unit, it does make a noise, but I suspect most would, but it’s not a deafening noise and i did get used to it but the best thing is that it works it’s made my home cool so would definitely recommend,’ said another.
Alternatives
Duux
Duux Whisper Flex 2 Smart Fan
A rare Amazon deal on a fan, don’t miss the opportunity to snap up this Duux Whisper Fan. If you want a quiet cooling appliance, this fan is an excellent choice with a dedicated sleep mode. It also has WiFi connectivity and is compatible with Google Assistant and Alexa, 30 speed settings, multiple oscillation presets and can be adjusted into a desk fan.
DREO
Dreo 7500 Btu Portable Air Conditioner, 3-In-1 Cool/fan/dry
This portable air conditioner and fan is also still in stock at Amazon and compatible with Siri, Amazon Alexa and Google Home. It can cool and dehumidify, creating a comfortable environment. You can even set the temperature of your room between 16 and 30 degrees if you want a specific room temperature.
B&Q
Mobile Air Conditioner 220-230v 5000btu
We’ve haven’t tested this compact air conditioner, which is new at B&Q. However, it claims to cool small rooms quickly, set up in seconds, and runs quietly for day or night use. It already has two five-star reviews, which praise its effectiveness.
If you’re yet to snap up a portable air conditioner, now is the time to do so – they are selling really fast. The Bush 9K Portable Air Conditioner, while we haven’t tested it ourselves, comes highly rated and is affordable, too.
