p24 ops Sept18 15/9/09 14:52 Page 24
Operators
Rupert Murray
020 7921 8010
rmurray@ttglive.com
For the latest operator and supplier news, visit ttglive.com/operators
Ski operator Inghams kicked off celebrations for its 75th anniversary last week by sending chief
executive Litsa Constantinou back to the travel agency floor. Rupert Murray reports
LAKES AND MOUNTAINS.
Lakes tipped for
summer boom
THE POPULARITY of lakes and mountains
summer breaks has been predicted to increase
significantly over the next few years.
Inghams is best known for its ski programme,
but while chief executive Litsa Constantinou said
she expected this market to grow relatively
slowly, she believed lakes and mountains
summer holidays was a sector with serious
growth potential.
Ingham’s idea was
“This year, the demand has changed,” said
Constantinou. “We are getting more young
people and more families.
“There is a movement towards active holidays
summit special
– not hardcore active holidays, but ones with a
bit of walking, cycling and perhaps horse-riding.
These are also greener holidays.
“Granted, some people do want to go the
INGHAMS has come a long way since Walter races, special holidays for next summer and a Costas and sit still for a week to get brown.
Ingham took his first trip to the Alps in 1934. host of educationals. And we can’t guarantee the weather that the
Major Ingham’s initial plans for a tour operator Constantinou said she believed there were two Costas can.
were interrupted by the Second World War, but keys to Inghams’ success in clocking up 75 years. “But the scenery is breathtaking, the weather
he returned home in peacetime to set about cre- “Having the right people, who are passionate is often glorious and the misconceptions about
ating one of the best-known names in ski, which about what they do and have extensive knowl- mountain holidays seem to be disappearing.”
now caters for more than 250,000 people a year. edge, is incredibly important,” she said.
The 75th anniversary celebrations began when “That includes agents such as Baldwins, who
today’s chief executive, Litsa Constantinou, we have worked with for 50 years, and our own
RAIL.
spent the day as an agent at Baldwins Travel in people.
Tunbridge Wells – a job she hadn’t done for 20 “Having the right product is also of paramount Train travel rises
years. importance, especially for ski. Having worked
“The idea was that I sell some holidays, of with some hoteliers for 70 years, we have the
in popularity
course,” she said. relationships which ensure that we are able to
“Baldwins contacted many customers and we offer customers what they want.” TRAIN travel is starting to play a larger role in
put on a £50 off promotion for the day. Inghams’ holidays.
“I wasn’t nervous because the key is simply Chief executive Litsa Constantinou said the
to listen to customers and understand their operator’s customers still preferred to fly
needs before you start offering anything. from regional airports, but the improving rail
“It was fantastic to be able to talk to them, network in the UK and Europe provided
especially clients who have been with us several an opportunity.
times.” “I am keen on the train operation,” she
The precise anniversary day is in December, said. “It is right for our customers and I
but the operator is holding a series of events. In have no doubt it is growing. We are making
November, 550 suppliers and agents, as well as much more of it in our summer programme,
five former Inghams chief executives, will attend and if connections from near people’s
a gala dinner in Putney, London. homes go all the way to the destination, it
Celebrations will continue into 2010 with ski Litsa Constantinou serves Baldwins Travel customers will continue to grow in popularity.”
24 18.09.2009
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