Business travel chief outlines vision
Maurice Veronique, the new chairman of the Guild of Travel Management Companies, has outlined his intention to get rid of ‘Fortress Guild’.
Speaking at the association’s AGM in London this week, he said he wanted to put an end to the perception “in some corners” that the guild is too closeted.
“The Guild needs to be more opening the future. I want to dismantle the perception of ‘Fortress Guild’,” said Veronique, chairman and chief executive of The Appointment Group.
“We need to make the guild more transparent and move forward with the times.”
He said one of his key objectives would be to challenge regulators and law makers.
As a result, lobby consultancy, Cavendish Place Communications, has been hired to help members lobby the Government, both on a national and European level.
“We need to be forceful and assertive, putting our arguments forward powerfully at every level, be it in the corridors of power or the debating chambers of the lawmakers,” he said.
The new chairman also unveiled plans to create a ‘young’ Guild of Travel Management Companies.
Members are being invited to nominate up and coming middle management to shadow the senior Guild members and to set up their own working parties.
“We need an influx of young, new blood – the next generation,” explained Veronique.
In addition, quarterly forums will be held with the Institute of Travel Managers and corporate buyers to tackle industry concerns.
By Bev Fearis
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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 
France prepares for a massive strike across all transports on September 18
Turkish tourism stalls due to soaring prices for accommodation and food
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