Sunlounger Travel, a member of Advantage Travel Partnership, welcomed local MP James Wild and Rt Hon Kemi Badenoch MP, Leader of the Conservative Party, to their offices in King’s Lynn on Monday 23 March 2026.
The meeting gave owner and managing director Iain Kirkbright the opportunity to speak directly about the challenges facing the travel industry in the wake of the Middle East crisis.
Kirkbright said that despite already having a good relationship with his local MP, the presence of Kemi Badenoch made it a rare opportunity to elevate the industry’s messages to the highest level.
He said: “I was able to tell them that the travel industry is navigating one of the most challenging and complex periods in its recent history, and to speak frankly about the very real pressures businesses like ours are facing right now.
“The sector was already grappling with rising national insurance contributions, mounting employment pressures, and escalating business rates. And then the Middle East crisis hits on top of all of that — adding a significant and urgent new layer to an already difficult landscape. Our teams have been working around the clock to manage the situation and protect our customers and our businesses. I made sure they understood that too.”
Speaking on behalf of the UK Outbound Travel Group, Julia Lo Bue-Said OBE, CEO of Advantage Travel Partnership, said: “I am delighted that Iain was not only able to meet again with his local MP, but to relay such important messages directly to the Leader of the Opposition. It is vital that our industry’s voice is heard at the highest levels of politics.
“By demonstrating to MPs how UK outbound travel businesses are central pillars of their local economies, we are building a genuine caucus of supporters in Parliament — and that can only strengthen our case for better ministerial representation and recognition of the enormous economic contribution this sector makes.”