04 January 2010

ETOA expands secretariat to address Ã¢â¬ËœcrucialÃ¢â¬â¢ year

The European Tour Operators Association has beefed up its management team by recruiting tourism veteran John Boon as head of membership services.

He joins following a long and distinguished career in the travel industry, including American Express, Sovereign Tourism and Anglo-World Travel.

His most recent position was head of contracts and operations at JAC Travel, one of the largest travel wholesalers in Europe.

Boon was chairman of the British Incoming Tour Operators Association, the forerunner of Ukinbound, in the 1980s.

From 1990 to 1997 he was chairman of first the British and then the International Chapters of the American Society of Travel Agents.

Boon is the latest in a series of senior figures to join ETOA this year.

Tim Fairhurst, formerly operations director at EF, became head of group tourism. Tom Nutley, formerly of Reed Travel Exhibitions, became head of industry liaisons. Nick Greenfield, formerly Head of NETC’s London Office, took over tour operator affairs.

The ETOA secretariat now numbers 15 people.

Executive director Tom Jenkins said: "Next year we see proposals in Brussels to overhaul both the Package Travel Directive and the Tour Operators Margin Scheme. 2010 will be a crucial year for the travel industry. We are assembling an exceptionally strong team to address these issues."

He added: "John Boon is one of the leading figures in the European inbound industry.

"I am really pleased that he has agreed to join us. He brings a massive amount of experience to bear and gives us new authority. His grasp of current commercial practice will be of real benefit."

Boon said: "ETOA is a genuinely exciting organisation and membership is growing exceptionally fast: it grew by 25% in 2009. To be part of this dynamic growth and help the team deliver value is a thrilling challenge."

by Phil Davies