NEWS THE INTERVIEW QUICK fi ŭ
Where is home? Horsham, Sussex.
The last book you read? Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman.
Favourite holiday destination? Kerala. Everything about the place feels exotic, and it has the friendliest people in the world.
What do you enjoy doing on holiday? Skiing with my family. The first time the four of us were able to spend a day skiing together was incredibly special.
opportunities. “We probably under- punch in these areas,” he says. Te proof will be in the pudding:
Alobaidi predicts more than 27% of Newmarket’s holidays this year will be sold by agents. Tis compares with 22% last year. “From what I see, agents currently
understand our proposition beter than the average consumer. But we’d like to build all channels,” he adds.
Solo travel Tis month saw the operator’s first brochure for solo travellers, a market the company was missing out on, according to Alobaidi. Already more than 1,000 single
occupancy rooms have been added to Newmarket’s portfolio of existing tours and its online search facility made easier for solo travellers to use. Te operator has almost 10,000
sole occupancy rooms available on its traditional tours departing in 2020. Te new collection adds 45 group tours specifically for clients travelling on their own and will soon include an online community forum for them to connect with each other. Another key growth area in
travelweekly.co.uk
Newmarket’s sights is ocean cruising. Alobaidi said: “Cruise is quite a
saturated market but I don’t see why we wouldn’t look at an opportunity where cruises can add to a tour we feature. We don’t do fly-cruises. We are looking at opportunities.”
Market So far, the signs are 2020 could be a strong year, says Alobaidi. “We’ve been pleased with January
trading so far,” he says, adding: “Strong growth is exceeding budget. All our key product types are up on the same period last year while long- haul sales in particular have seen a triple-digit revenue increase.” Newmarket’s product range for
2020 is its biggest yet, with 36 new tours, including more off-the-beaten- track destinations such as Uzbekistan, Georgia and Transylvania. Agent business is outperforming
other channels, making it the “star” in terms of distribution. Nearly 40% of agent business so far this year has come through the online portal. “Tis is well above expectations,
especially given our current trade site only went live in February 2019, and
is a real testament to the incredibly strong relationships we are building with key agent partners,” he says. “For 2020, we still have to
deliver value and something that differentiates us from competitors. Tere is so much scope with escorted tours and, with the shiſt to clients wanting more soſt-adventure trips, there are opportunities.” For Alobaidi, the social
community aspect of touring with similar-minded individuals is where Newmarket stands out. “It’s a key component,” he says. But if he has one overriding
ambition, it is that Newmarket creates a people-centric business with customers at the heart of everything. “Te reason I came here was the
personal touch,” he says. “We see our differentiators as the ‘community’ piece and the service we offer. While backing up that mantra
with tangible measures is important, he says, every decision has to be led by customers. “Having a chief customer officer will see us
prioritising the right things.” i Newmarket releases river cruise brochure: News You Can Use, page 25
Which one thing about the industry would you change? I would get rid of flights before 7.30am – no holiday should ever have to start this early!
What inspired you to work in travel? I lived in the Middle East until I was seven. This led to a real interest in experiencing different places and cultures. I backpacked for two years after university and from then on there was only one industry I wanted to work in.
Which three people in travel would you invite to a dinner party? They’re not trade people, but Judith Chalmers, Romesh Ranganathan and Brian Blessed.
Which three people not in travel would you invite? Barack Obama, Kate Adie and Sir Alex Ferguson.
23 JANUARY 2020
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