20 May 2009

Support grows for McEwan's ABTA chair bid

More travel companies have voiced their support for John McEwan to take over the ABTA chairmanship.

Stuart Jackson, managing director of Cosmos Mainstream Products and somewhere2stay, and Travel Counsellors chairman David Speakman have both expressed their backing for the Advantage Travel Centres chief executive.

"Our industry is currently facing incredible challenges and it is more important than ever that we have the right person in place who really understands the needs of our diverse membership - someone who's worked in numerous roles with a broad experience across the agent and operator sector and beyond," said Jackson.

"More importantly, having served on the ABTA Board previously, he has an intimate understanding of how it can be mobilised to tackle the key issues which are currently affecting our industry.

"I believe that John, if elected, will have the trust of all members to move the association forward to achieve clarity and thereby resolve key issues such as real consumer protection which is currently doing nothing but damage the perception of our industry."

Travel Counsellors chairman David Speakman added: "Whilst Travel Counsellors are not members of ABTA it is important that ABTA grasps a more positive role as the voice of the industry,Ã¢â¬~ he said.

"ABTA needs someone who will bring a more customer driven view to ABTA rather than a product driven view.

Ã¢â¬ÅâœWhilst ABTA exists to support its members it is essential that just like any business it reflects customer needs. It should impose standards on transparency of price, it has an opportunity to lead on comprehensive customer financial protection and it should be outspoken on the poor infrastructure and poor customer experience at airports.

Ã¢â¬ÅâœIn addition it should be more transparent and more communicative with its members. John McEwan in my opinion has the experience, the character and the respect of ABTA members to place these issues at the centre of his agenda.Ã¢â¬~

TUI UK has already declared its support for McEwan, who is up against Daniele Broccoli, a current ABTA Board member and managing director of Britaly Travel.

** Who would you like to see as the next ABTA chairman? Email your views by clicking on ADD A COMMENT below.

Also, take part in Travelmole's online poll by simply clicking on 'yes' or 'no'.

By Bev Fearis

Post your comment

Your Comments (11)

ABTA Board

John McEwan has indeed served on the ABTA Board. But that was an age ago. Before the Board and structure was reformed. Daniele Brocolli is a part of the new Board and knows about now!

By John Lawrence, Thursday, May 21, 2009
SHUT UP SPEAKMAN!

Not a member. No voice. So SHUT UP

By John Lawrence, Thursday, May 21, 2009
McEwan does represent independents

I know news travels slowly at ABTA but I have spoken to John McEwan this morning and he confirms he left TUI an age ago and is now the MD at the largest independent travel consortium in the country, and I understand he will carry on that role. So why should he not represent his current flock and by association other independent ABTA members? I was an active and passionate advocate of ABTA until it started to marginalise travel agents and fudge customer protection. Whilst we are no longer members I stated that there is a need for more transparency and communication on its dealings with members and a more customer focused ABTA agenda - who disagrees? By the way free country (still) free speech and all that.

By David Speakman, Thursday, May 21, 2009
What a great opportunity!

It's excellent that for the first time in history the members are actually allowed to choose who will be Chairman of ABTA! The big companies, who totally dominate ABTA, are obviously very worried that they might lose control and seem to have all come out in support of Mr McEwan. That should get him about a dozen votes then. It's a great opportunity for all the rest of us to finally be able to influence ABTAs future, and if we want a Chairman who will represent us, Daniele Broccoli is a superb choice. He'll be getting my vote.

By Jamie Gardiner, Thursday, May 21, 2009
Time for a change

After all these years why do we expect ABTA to change its representation of the "big boys". I was proud to be a member of the Association of British TRAVEL AGENTS but slowly over the years the tour operators and large groups have taken control. ABTA has itself conducted surveys and asked why they are not popular with the grass roots members. Worldchoice has received substantial support for an alternative to ABTA yet we still have what will be a vote to split members rather than bringing agents together - the basic idea of ABTA at its inception. Whilst I have nothing against John McEwan I do feel that Daniele Broccoli will represent the independent agents with a knowledge and passion not available to the other candidate.

By graham ecob, Wednesday, May 20, 2009
A real Travel Agent

I would like to see a real Travel agent as Chairman, someone who has got there hands dirty at the coal face Daniele Broccoli will get my vote.

By Tony Radstone, Wednesday, May 20, 2009
it's the support amongst the grass roots that will decide the next ABTA chairman and not the big names wheeled out to support John

After all that David Speakman has had to say against ABTA I really wonder why we bother to listen to what he has to say. It's easy to walk away from something you don't like, much harder to work hard in order to improve it. Unless we elect Broccoli as ABTA Chairman, for ABTA you can simply read FTO - make no mistake about it. We need to balance the board of directors otherwise our association will be used solely for the interests of the larger players

By Noel Josephides, Wednesday, May 20, 2009
McEwan, worthy (but not worthy enough)

Hmm.... Interesting dilemma here. On the one hand, it's true that John McEwan has come from a background that includes TUI. So naturally, the suspicion is that he would be the puppet of these major players. However, his background also includes heading up one of the major independent consortia. So, is he the right man for the job? Actually, no. What we need is change, not more of the same. What we need is a President with proper hands-on experience. Someone who answers the phone to the general public. Someone who's livelihood is on the line, every day of the week. Someone who can see what is going on at ground level. Someone who is, in his own right, a member of ABTA. That man is Daniele Broccolli. So, all you small and not so small ABTA members, do yourselves a big favour and vote for one of your own. Don't leave the status quo intact, however worthy an individual Mr McEwen might be. There's enough of us to get Daniele elected, if we all use our votes. If we don't succeed, we only have ourselves to blame.

By chris bailey, Wednesday, May 20, 2009
McEwan's pedigree is big two

Why would anyone vote McEwan? What we desperately need is a strong independent travel agent at the helm. Not someone steeped in TUI/Thomas Cook pedigree who has never owned an agency. Broccolli is just the man for the job and is a true independent agency owner. ABTA needs to recognise the needs of independent agencies after the regression of the past few years.

By Steve Pattenden, Wednesday, May 20, 2009
The Voting for Chairman

I am sorry to see the split already coming through that , it seems to me, that all the " Big Boys" want John. I suppose this is because with his background he understands the need for the Larger members to be able to market the products without any interfence in the way it is sold to the public and make sure that ABTA is there for the greater benefit of the larger members. It always seems that the vast majority of members are at a disadvantage when trying to make their voice heard in the circles of power. The majority of members of ABTA would like , I am sure, to be able to relate to a Chairman who understand the frustrations of the present situation and is also " au fait" with the larger picture. We cannot stop the larger groups being there but what we, the members, need is a Chairman who understands that without the backing of the majority of members then the future is insecure and so I suggest that, as a balance we need to support Daniele. Without this balance then the future may be perilous.

By david wootton, Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Non ABTA companies in the ring?

I am amazed that a NON ABAT Company has the sauce to make comments on the incumbents who are in the ring for the Chairman. If you are not a member then I cannot see any reason to enter the fray, unless you want to come back to the fold?

By david wootton, Wednesday, May 20, 2009