p9 news May1 29/4/09 22:18 Page 9
ttglive.com
interview news
Exclusive interview: Andrew Botterill, Stella
last week that the group was in trouble. He
described the claims as “complete rubbish” and
Integration is aim
said legal proceedings had been started against
the publication that carried the report.
“We reached the position, finally, in
February last year where we got some clear,
unambiguous ownership under CVC,” he added.
“We began to get some clarity that actually the
of Stella strategy
only thing that mattered was the execution of the
integration of the businesses that were bought.
“As a consequence there were businesses that
did not fit that portfolio.”
Harvey World sold
One of those businesses was the retail arm
With a new management team in place, Andrew Botterill, Harvey World Travel which was offloaded to
the boss of Travel 2 parent Stella, tells Lee Hayhurst why
Blackpool-based Vacation Travel in March.
business relations, and well-known faces, are key to success
Once touted as having the potential to become
the third-biggest player on the high street,
Harvey World Travel’s model was at odds with
T
ravel 2 has mercial landscape of the franchise model adopted in other markets.
seen its fair the countries you are Harvey World remains within the Stella
share of trying to integrate family, as a member of Global Travel Group’s
upheaval in companies in. We have Independent Options division. But the new
recent months, with got a long way to go in owner plans to reveal a new name for it soon.
constant changes in terms of our identity Stella is unlikely to be buying any more
management. and what we want to be, businesses in the near future; Botterill said now
But now, the long- and be known for.” is a time to bed in the changes.
haul specialist says it is Travel 2 will unveil a Work to reduce overlap with Global’s Triton
back on track, following new set of brochures in Holidays division has been completed, with
a restructure of its two months, reflecting Triton Airfares integrating with T2 and negotia-
parent company, Stella a new identity focused tions for Triton Rooms product coming under
Travel Services UK. on the needs of land product purchasing director Kevin Coles.
And Andrew Botterill independent agents. “We have taken the right precautionary
(pictured), Stella’s Instead of 13 pro- measures to make sure the cost base for all our
managing director, grammes, just six will business is in line with the revenues we are
is confident he now be produced – one bringing in,” he said. “That will remain a crucial
has the right people, worldwide and the rest part of my responsibility to make sure we take
including familiar trade for specific destinations. the business through these challenging times.”
faces, in key roles to redefine and rejuvenate This reduction will help Travel 2 focus as well as
Travel 2. cut costs.
Stella team Who looks after what
He claims agents are already benefiting from Botterill does not expect rival Gold Medal's
an improved service, and he has promised a ownership by Thomas Cook to present too Andy Freeth: Sales director for Triton Holidays
clearer vision of Travel 2’s place in the market. many opportunities because agents are used to and more recently Travel 2, becomes general
However, Botterill admitted that before he competing with firms that sell direct. manager for Travel 2, based in Glasgow.
took over in January, Travel 2 had spread its Stella owns some direct-sell divisions such as
net too wide in terms of product, and key trade Travelbag and Sunmaster, but T2 will remain a Tony Carty: Director of call centre operations for
relations had been allowed to go stale. trade-only brand and will, like Gold Medal, look Global Travel Group, becomes general manager
“I’m a keen believer that you work with to focus on destinations it is strongest in, offer- for the six Travelbag stores, based in Chester.
people you can forge good relations with. We ing independent agents choice.
now have some very well-known individuals in Dave Clayton: Director of commercial at
our sales team,” he said. Clearer strategy Global Travel Group, expands his role to
Botterill said previous regimes, put in place Stella’s UK business, which was built through become general manager for Global Travel
by the firm’s Australian paymasters, had not acquisition, has been the subject of much Group, based in Chester.
put enough emphasis on individuals with speculation, with claims it has been a costly
knowledge of the UK market. exercise and doubts raised about its future. Paul Edwards: General manager of Sunmaster,
In a structural and strategic review that But Botterill said he had been given clear expands his role to incorporate Global Late
started last September, this fault “stuck out a backing for his plans from Stella’s shareholders, Deals and becomes general manager, consumer
country mile”, he said. CVC, and a new head in Australia, Peter Lacaze. direct, based in Bradford.
“You need to understand the trade and com- He categorically refuted reports in Australia
01.05.2009 09
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