p14 Elite nov13 11/11/09 15:50 Page 14
news elite conference 2009
ttglive.com
November 6-8 • Bournemouth
LUXURY.
GOLD MEDAL.
S America tipped
for luxury success
‘Big spending paid off’
Chris Gray.
SOUTH AMERICA was tipped at the conference as GOLD MEDAL said its decision to keep spending
the region to see the biggest development in throughout the recession had paid off with a
luxury travel next year. 100% rise in bookings to Dubai.
ttgluxury editor April Hutchinson told dele- Midlands sales development manager Kym
gates tourism in South America would benefit O’Brien told the conference the operator had
from world-beating levels of investment in 2010. faced a choice at the start of the recession –
Much of the development would be in Brazil, to “batten down the hatches” and spend
which was seeing a great deal of innovation in nothing on marketing, or “go full on”.
hotels, but Chile and Panama would also grow in The company’s financial team wanted to
popularity, said Hutchinson. spend nothing but head of trade sales Lee
European operators were moving in, with Marshall insisted the company took the other Thomas Cook’s acquisition but we are still the
Kuoni launching a 2010 Latin America brochure option, she said. The main result was the Gold independent arm of the group. We will not work
and Sunvil offering lodges in Chile and Panama. Ticket campaign, run with TTG, which offered with multiples,” she said.
The Middle East would also be a key area agents free Mini Coopers and a fam trip to “But we have now got better access to room
because of developments of cultural tourism in Dubai’s Atlantis resort (pictured). stock with another 15,000 hotels, better buying
Abu Dhabi with the opening of Louvre and “This year we spent more money than ever power and a strong long-term position.”
Guggenheim museums, environmental tourism before,” said O’Brien. “The market in Dubai was O’Brien admitted Gold Medal’s administration
in Oman and new hotels in Beirut and Dubai. down 25% overall but during the Golden Ticket systems had been difficult for agents to use but
campaign we grew business to Dubai by 100%.” said they were being improved.
■ ttgluxury Seminar, p26-29 & p36-37 O’Brien sought to reassure agents concerned The operator would soon be able to deliver
that Thomas Cook’s takeover of Gold Medal in a single invoice for all bookings, even those
December 2008 would damage its relationship including multiple products.
AWARDS.
with the independent sector. It was also adding a shopping basket facility
Hull agent scoops trophy
“We all know the elephant in the room is to its website to improve dynamic packaging.
BOURNEMOUTH AIRPORT.
Palmair boss: Ryanair gets free ride
BOURNEMOUTH airport came under attack from pay nothing. That is quite annoying,” he said.
Bath Travel director Stephen Bath (pictured) for Bath said the differential was particularly hard
allowing Ryanair to fly “for nothing”. in a year when Palmair’s fuel costs had increased
The joint managing director told the confer- by £1.6 milllion and it was facing competition at
ence his agency’s inhouse airline Palmair had Bournemouth from Ryanair and Thomsonfly.
saved the airport from closure 25 years ago, However, Bath told delegates the survival
THE ELITE conference finished with awards for when it was the only operator there and popularity of Palmair, which
tour operators voted for by members, and one for four years, but it now had to pay was set up by his father, showed the
for agent of the year voted for by suppliers, hundreds of thousands of pounds benefits of taking risks in travel.
which went to Marion Owen (pictured), of more than Ryanair. The airline had succeeded against
Marion Owen Travel in Hull. “Ryanair is massively successful the odds and for many years made a
Winning operators and one of the largest airlines in the success of chartering Concorde from
UK holiday operator: Superbreak world and Palmair is the smallest. BA for Christmas shopping flights
Ancillary operator: Holiday Extras “But we pay £400,000 and they from Bournemouth to New York.
Winter sports operator: Inghams
Luxury operator: Seasons in Style
Cruise line: Silversea Cruises Bath’s warning to McEwan: Former Abta as Abta’s plans for Atol reform. Bath told him
Short-haul operator: Classic Collection president Stephen Bath warned Advantage chief he would find it hard to make a real difference.
Long-haul operator: Kuoni executive John McEwan he would have little “You think you can do everything but in reality
Touring operator: Titan power in the role. McEwan was elected in June, you have very little power. My legacy was fresh
Accommodation-only provider: Hotel Connect and since then has spearheaded initiatives such flowers on the reception desk,” he said.
Consolidator: JTA
14 13.11.2009
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