NEWS IN DEPTH | SPECIAL REPORT


‘Don’t panic’ about data protection rules G


Delegates from across the UK met more than 270 exhibitors during the British Tourism & Travel Show. Samantha Mayling reports from Birmingham’s NEC


roup travel organisers need to make ‘genuine attempts’ to comply with


the new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), delegates heard at the British Tourism and Travel Show.


Speaking during a debate hosted


by the Association of Group Travel Organisers, Luke Golding, Travlaw associate, outlined the key points of the rules, which come into force on May 25, 2018. He said: “Don’t panic – the ICO


(Information Commissioner’s Office) will refer to the size of your organisation to see what you need to do to comply. “There has been scaremongering


in the press, such as fines of €20 million, but that does not mean the second you do anything wrong, you will get fined.


Keynotes & quotes


Angela Rippon, TV presenter “People think that working in TV is glamorous, but it’s not always like that. Making programmes for the BBC meant working on tight budgets, and we mostly saw the inside of airport lounges and hotels – so I have an insatiable appetite to go back and discover more.”


Ruairidh Roberts (Google) “You need a fast, reliable and engaging website. If your site doesn’t load within three seconds, 50% of people will abandon it.”


Andy Woodward (Quality in Tourism) “Hotels tell us that consumers don’t look at star ratings, but they do look, they will assimilate the information. VisitScotland did eye tracking


8 TravelGBI | April 2018


“There has been a load of scaremongering in the press, such as fines of €20 million”


“The ICO wants to see you are making a genuine attempt to comply.” The European Union directive applies to processing personal data – such as names and phone numbers – in computers and databases; or filing systems for hard copy.


Wealth of information


He urged companies to designate a person or group to lead the GDPR effort within a company, and to


update data and privacy policies. “It is a challenge but the


ICO website has a wealth of information,” he advised GTOs. In answer to a question from


the floor, he cautioned GTOs about handing over contact details from fam trip participants to the host of the trip. “If you transfer data to a


separate company, you might be able to justify it, if it is not a


hugely detrimental. It has huge importance as a principle, and for the bottom line for the visitor economy.”


Sammi Rudge and Steve Christian from Visit Southport launch the ‘Southport Pick ‘n’ Mix’, a new group-friendly product.


on their website and the star rating was the hottest spot on the accommodation page.”


Bernard Donoghue (Association of Leading Visitor Attractions) “Titanic Belfast is the second most popular visitor attraction in Northern Ireland, and 44% of day visitors are from Dublin. Having a hard border, or pre-registration or passport checks would be


Andy Headington (Adido) “We use our mobile phones at every opportunity – it is important that your website works well, if not better, on mobile than desktops. Don’t forget the basics – simple things, such as improving your website and being easy to find on Google.”


Justin East (Merlin Entertainments) “Creative people are stifled by businesses – you need happy people to do happy, innovative work. Some people are very solemn and there are some very miserable meetings – you need to burst the bubble of pomposity in your business.”


Max Sinclair (Eco Companion) “Sustainable tourism could grow


marketing message – but that act of transferring data from you to the host will be have to looked at very carefully,” he said. Steve Reed, founder of Steve


Reed Tourism, urged GTOs to register with organisations to show that they are active tour organisers. “It is very important for exhibitors, attractions and hotels to target


active GTOs,” he said. tourismshow.co.uk


to 25% of the total travel market within six years, taking the value of the sector to £250 billion. Out of 30 destinations that we feature, the UK is the most popular by far.”


Jody Farrar (Chute) “One surprise from our research was about business travellers, who visit somewhere on business, then go back to that location or hotel on holiday. If you have an attraction or hotel, don’t forget business travellers – they still need to eat and do activities.”


David Maguire (BTTS event director) “The British Tourism & Travel Show is the largest domestic tourism showcase for the UK and Ireland’s travel trade, which is why so many operators and travel professionals recommend it and call it their favourite show of the year.”


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