The travel industry has paused to remember and pay tribute to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, who passed away peacefully at her Scottish residence Balmoral on Thursday (8 September) aged 96.
Tributes have poured in from across the travel industry.
Julia Simpson, President and Chief Executive of the World Travel and Tourism Council, called Queen Elizabeth “the most incredible force for good” who “won the hearts and respect of people and nations around the world”.
The new Secretary of State for Transport, Anne-Marie Trevelyan MP, celebrated the Queen’s “extraordinary courage and optimism” shown throughout her reign.
Chair of the Transport Select Committee Huw Merriman MP highlighted Queen Elizabeth’s “unfaltering and dedicated 70 years of public service”.
ABTA said the loss of the Queen would be “deeply felt, not just by millions at home, but also across the world” in the many countries she visited.
Cruise industry association CLIA said she had been “a wonderful ambassador” for the sector throughout her time on the throne.
Cunard said it would be “forever grateful” for its more than 70-year association with the monarch, while P&O Cruises thanked Her Majesty for naming two of its ships – Oriana and Britannia.
Heathrow, meanwhile, reflected on welcoming Elizabeth back to the UK in 1952 as Queen following the death of her father while she was in Kenya, while British Airways hailed her “immense resilience”.
Reflecting on his meetings with the Queen, Virgin Group founder Richard Branson paid tribute to her “strength of spirit and sense of duty”.
“From attending royal gatherings to events celebrating entrepreneurship – the Queen always had such a dignified, stoic presence,” Branson recalled. “She was extremely calm, very astute and a great listener – all excellent qualities in a leader. She also had a wonderful sense of humour and took a great interest in the people she met wherever she went.”
He added the Queen “redefined what it means to be a leader”.
