NEWS TRAVEL WEEKLY BUSINESS CONTINUED FROM THE BACK


city, whether that be London or anchester. “or young, talented


employees today, it is about having a city centre existence and that brings about all sorts of ancillary pressures to do with the cost of living. That’s a big issue, particularly in London. “ think in the end, market


forces will take over and actually we will start to see a move to other cities and urban locations in the UK, acknowledging that London has become too expensive. “What  don’t know is


whether the great engineering and development talent will accept that. Do they want to be in London, where a lot of great innovation is happening?” Andy Washington, senior


vicepresident travel at Culture Trip, a startup that now employs  people, largely drawn from the millennial generation, in central London, said: “Our industry has paid really poorly in the past and  see a lot of businesses that are changing that to get the bestuality people. “We’re based slap bang in the


centre of London. There’s a cost to that, there’s a benefit too, but for the millennial worker their ob is part of their lifestyle. That’s what feeds them and in return you get their creativity.” Gunan Verma, chief


technology officer of Londonbased The Travel Corporation, said there are advantages to being based within a vibrant tech hub like London, despite the costs. “ight now, for us it is a challenge because we are competing for talent,” he said. “But  think longterm it’s


good for London to foster that community of talent. ’m very optimistic. There are exciting times ahead in the ar ast, but  am still very bullish about London and urope.”


Travolution Business Breakfast: Around 100 senior travel executives


‘Empower your staff and learn to celebrate failure’


Business leaders today must allow their staff to embrace and even celebrate failure if they are to instil a winning digital culture, the Travolution breakfast was told.


Businesses were advised to


adopt a more flexible structure and a culture that empowers staff and breaks down barriers between internal divisions. Andy Washington, Culture Trip


senior vicepresident travel, said: “t’s tough to learn how to fail. But we are in a datadriven industry and results speak for themselves. “Businesses that empower


people to go out and fail move much faster. The old days of things taking two years before something is launched are gone. “The industry and consumers


are moving much more uickly. ou have to set up your businesses to drive more ideas.” Gunan Verma, chief technology


officer at The Travel Corporation, said: “A young person leaving university today is looking for a workplace which will let them test


Companies urged to support mental health of workers


Employers can help tackle the stigma of mental health in the workplace and support sufferers back to work. Culture Trip, which raised


$80 million funding in April, was founded by a former psychiatrist, Dr Kris Naudts. Travel head Andy Washington said mental health is high on the agenda at the company.


70travelweekly.co.uk29 November 2018


VERMA: ‘A young person leaving university today is looking for a workplace which will let them test ideas’


ideas, celebrate failure and learn from that failure. “They have an immense sense of purpose. Give them dedicated time to work on things they are really passionate about, things that make their lives simpler and also focus on the customer experience. “Digital leaders have to make udgments, but  see my ob as bringing creative and talented people together and leaving them alone with a focused mission on whatever they have got to do. Let


He said although much of the


stigma around mental health had gone, “there’s still a lot of work to do”.


“It is something our founder


really wants to instil by bringing people into the business, getting them back into employment and encouraging them to be the best they can be,” said Washington. “If I can help someone who has


an anxiety issue, then I empower them to feel more motivated and help them in their personal life. That’s great for me, great for that person and the business, and great for society as well.”


them have their own way.” Cressida Sergeant, who has


previously worked for xpedia and TravelSupermarket and who is now senior vicepresident for the A region at software developer Traveltek, said: “Technology teams and sales guys do still tend to work uite separately in silos. “t is OK to fail, but it’s not OK


when you are dealing with a client. Testing and learning in a live environment is always a challenge in clientfacing businesses.”


WASHINGTON: ‘[It’s great] to help someone with an anxiety issue’


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