p10-11 news Mar12 10/3/10 17:58 Page 10
news conference report
ttglive.com
Global Travel Group
conference 2010
March 8-9 ■ Ramada Jarvis Hotel ■ Manchester
More than 300 agents and suppliers were in Manchester for
FUTURE SALES.
the Global Travel Group conference, where topics from tax
Trouble forecast for 2011
rises to the World Cup were debated. Daniel Pearce reports
THE COUNTRY’S largest independent tour
operator has reported a positive start to 2010
– but is warning of trouble ahead.
Cosmos managing director Stuart Jackson said
the company had seen a better-than-expected
winter, with bookings continuing to forge ahead
since Christmas.
Jackson said it was clear the UK public was not
dispensing with its main holiday despite the
economic situation.
“It’s supply and demand – there’s a latent
demand for travel and this year it has come
through,” Jackson said.
But he warned further pressure on disposable
income was likely to hit holiday bookings next year.
“The election means the government isn’t
rocking the boat this year,” said Jackson. “And
quantitative easing is still having an effect. Next
year could be a much harder year for the travel
Big three merger on way
industry than 2010.”
Earlier Steve Heapy of Jet2Holidays had made a
similar comment in a debate: “There are spending
cuts on the way. Job losses mean people will
THE three big independent travel agent consortia don’t the big guys will just get bigger and bigger, be reluctant to spend on their holiday.”
are likely to become two in the near future, and that will make life harder for us.”
according to a senior boss at Virgin Holidays. However Gordon McCreadie, sales director of
Chris Roe, sales and distribution director at Travel 2, told the debate that for every business
FIFA 2010.
the tour operator, said the contraction in the failure on the high street there were “three or
‘World Cup won’t hit hard’
sector would come as a result of the failure of four” travel businesses opening up elsewhere.
agents across the industry. “Independents will always flourish,” said THE LOOMING World Cup is not expected to have
“We are hearing from Abta that two or three McCreadie. “If you lose them from the high street a major negative impact on sales this June and
agents a week are failing. We expect to see they are just going to other places. July, speakers at the conference agreed.
mergers,” said Roe in a panel debate. “As long as you offer value there is a good Damien McDonough, Cosmos sales director,
Roe predicted that among the “big three” – future for everyone in this room.” said desire to get away after “the worst winter in
Global, Advantage Travel and World Choice – Virgin Holidays came under fire from the living memory” would outweigh wanting to stay
there would be some consolidation within the audience during the debate over payments due at home to watch the football. “If they want to
next five years. to agents following a “pricematch” promotion. they can watch it in Lineker’s bar in Alcudia as
Speaking at the same Rose said that a the time difference is so small.” he said.
debate Steve Heapy, new reservation Cosmos boss Stuart Jackson said it was having
managing director of Bright future: Opening the conference, system coming on- a clear impact on bookings for June –
Jet2Holidays, added: “It Global managing director Dave Clayton line this summer with trading currently down by up to
is inevitable there will be (above) said the recession had made it clear would enable agents 10% – but added: “History shows
further consolidation in most consumers now view their holiday as a to book Eastbound that in any World Cup year there is
the industry. necessity, rather than a luxury. “Customers holidays online as always an uplift in September.”
“But we have got to are booking later, but they are booking,” he well as over the Larger operators were
stick together. Operators said. “There’s a bright future but we all need phone – giving them “aggressively discounting”
like us need to be close to to work together.” full access to the holidays for the month before
independents – if we incentive. the World Cup starts, he said.
10 12.03.2010
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