NEWS TRAVEL WEEKLY BUSINESS CONTINUED FROM THE BACK
department in one building, science in another, [but] students want flexible space.” When students graduate and
look for work, he said: “There are jobs, but they are different. Accountancy firm PwC used to take 1,000 graduates a year [as trainee accountants], but you can do accounts on an app. “Companies are also looking
more for behaviours than for specific skills. But how can you be assessed for something like passion? If you apply for a job with Unilever, you have to make a phone video of yourself that is assessed by algorithms. How do you pass that?” Redmond agrees “it doesn’t
seem possible” to create enough new jobs to replace all those likely to be lost to AI, and asks: “How is it going to work? Probably we’ll work at a more flexible level.” In travel, he said: “Customers
don’t need to go to a high street agent for information. They want a customised analysis and a focus on experience. “It’s a great opportunity
to provide personal service, knowledge and support.” Redmond will tell delegates:
“Concentrate on areas customers want and on terrific customer service, and maximise the benefits of having excellent, motivated staff. Great customer service is something computers and robots can’t do yet.” He will add: “Your customers
will never be any more happy than your staff – that is key.” Redmond will speak on the
first day of the convention, which will be themed on ‘Truth, Trust and the Future of Experts’.
■ The Travel Convention 2018 takes place on October 8-10 at Barceló Convention Centre, Seville. Full details:
thetravelconvention.com
Rifai to urge travel firms to invest in host communities
Ian Taylor Amman, Jordan
Travel and tourism must “have roots in local communities” and not just provide jobs, while all-inclusive resorts should “rethink their position”, former UN World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) head Taleb Rifai will tell a summit in Jordan this week.
Rifai will deliver a keynote
address to the Resilience Through Tourism Summit in Amman, saying: “We can’t continue to build five-star hotels in three-star communities. It is not enough just to serve rich people. “All-inclusive resorts need to
rethink their position, engage with people and share their business. This is particularly important in developing countries. “Simply providing jobs will not be enough for the future.” Rifai stood down as UNWTO
secretary general at the end of last year following eight years leading the organisation. He will tell an audience including ministers, tourism authorities, travel suppliers, tourism development
Virgin’s Kreeger to step down as CEO at end of this year
Virgin Atlantic chief executive Craig Kreeger will retire at the end of the year and Shai Weiss, chief commercial officer and member of the Virgin Atlantic board, will take over on January 1. Weiss was appointed chief financial officer in July 2014 after joining the board in 2012. He became chief commercial officer in January 2017.
62
travelweekly.co.uk 28 June 2018 RIFAI: ‘Resorts need to engage with people and share their business’
“We have to ensure everyone in a country benefits from tourism”
bodies and crisis management specialists: “It’s not enough to have the private sector sharing profits [with communities]. We have to ensure everyone in a country benefits from tourism.” Rifai told Travel Weekly: “So
many ministers have said to me, ‘Tourism kept our economy going.’
Kreeger has run the airline since
February 2013 when he succeeded long-time chief executive Steve Ridgway, who is now chairman of VisitBritain. Weiss will lead Virgin Atlantic
into an expanded joint venture with existing transatlantic partner Delta Air Lines and new shareholder Air France-KLM next year. Delta holds a 49% stake in Virgin Atlantic. Air France-KLM agreed to acquire a 31% stake from Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Group in July last year. “I set out to ensure Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Holidays
Tourism can do so much that other sectors can’t, but this does not come automatically. You have to invest [and] you need to have roots [in local communities]. “We will talk in Amman about
how to keep economies going and keep jobs alive. That is important not just for Jordan, but all over the Middle East and the world.” The summit, on June 26-27, is supported by development agency USAID, the World Travel & Tourism Council, UNWTO, the Pacific-Asia
Travel Association and Travel Weekly parent Jacobs Media Group.
KREEGER: Will be succeeded as Virgin Atlantic CEO by Shai Weiss
realised their full potential,” Kreeger said. “I consider this the ideal time to pass the leadership baton to Shai.”
PICTURE: CHRISTIAN DEL ROSARIO
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