Advantage member to receive free business advice
Thompson Travel International has won £10,000 worth of business advice in a competition launched by Advantage Travel Centres to its members at this year’s overseas conference in Palma.
Sharon Fleming, a director of Thompson Travel in Portadown, Northern Ireland beat off competition from Mark White of Ocky White Travel and Sharon May of Worldwide Travel Solutions.
Thompson Travel, which has been an Advantage member for over a year, will receive business advice worth £10,000 from Elman Wall accountancy firm, Lingua Communications, The Travel Trade Consultancy and Advantage.
David Moon, head of business development at Advantage and one of the judges, said: "It was a difficult decision for the judges as there wasn’t much to choose between the three shortlisted contenders.
"In the end the judges selected Sharon as within her business she has some unique opportunities and she displayed a real willingness to make changes. The judges will now work with Sharon to devise an action plan for her business."
The judges were: Jonathan Wall of Elman Wall; Karen Ramirez of Lingua Communications; Matt Purser of The Travel Trade Consultancy; and David Moon, head of business development at Advantage Travel Centres.
Advantage said it will be working with Ocky White Travel and Worldwide Travel Solutions to provide support for developing their businesses in the future.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
CCS Insight: eSIMs ready to take the travel world by storm
Germany new European Entry/Exit System limited to a single airport on October 12, 2025
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season