p10-11 news Sept25 23/9/09 13:53 Page 10
news conference report
ttglive.com
The Advantage Conference
September 18-20 ■ Radisson Edwardian Heathrow Hotel
New members, a consumer marketing drive, unregulated online retailers, the
economic outlook and domestic sales topped the agenda. By TTG reporters
ONLINE.
Drive to reach 10m Brits
‘Fast money’ crackdown
THE DAYS of “fast money” being made in the
unregulated online travel market will come
ADVANTAGE chief executive John McEwan has of the fittest – and those left at the end will be to the end in the next decade, a leading tour
revealed plans to focus more resources on the ones who have adapted and worked hard, operator has predicted.
marketing the consortium to consumers. and they will be stronger as a result.” Noel Josephides, managing director of Sunvil
Speaking briefly at the Advantage conference Advantage members struggling in the down- Holidays and a member of the Aito council, told
– having lost his voice due to laryngitis – McEwan turn were urged not to leave seeking help from the conference that he expected the internet and
expressed his desire to reach more than 10 the consortium’s head office until it is too late. no-frills airlines to become more regulated.
million people in 2010. O’Neill said: “If people are finding it tough, do “A lot of fast money has been made by people
The plan is to continue to use traditional not wait until it’s too late. We are here to help. in the unregulated part of the industry,” he said.
avenues but also to focus on social media. We need to work together. “But as we move to the next decade we will see
McEwan also vowed to improve internal “We are on a journey of progression. I think more regulation, and about time too, because
communication with members, build closer we are the best in the industry but next year will they have had their time. It’s a matter of bringing
relationships with suppliers and gain new really test everyone to take us to the next level.” in stability and regulation and that will hopefully
members over the coming months. O’Neill claimed Advantage already offered the make it easier for us. It will still be competitive
He added: “You can expect to see a fair few best package for leisure members in the industry and prices will still be low, although how they can
new members shortly, all of whom meet the high but said the organisation now needed to do more go any lower I do not know.
standards we set. We will also be introducing a for members. “There will be a lack of quality in what we offer
range of new products and services.” “You are only as good as your last performance [as an industry overall] and anyone who can com-
Sales and marketing director Colin O’Neill told and we have to kick on to go that extra mile,” bine good product with good prices will do well.”
delegates that sales through leisure agents were he said. Josephides said he was now less worried about
down 2% and business travel agents down 30%. O’Neill predicted the market would continue the threat from the internet than he was 10 years
He added: “We are going to see more to be tough despite the signs of green shoots of ago, saying the good traditional operators had
companies fail but that is evolution, the survival recovery in the economy. survived, despite predictions about their demise.
10 25.09.2009
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