Industry pays tribute to travel legend Harry Goodman
Tributes are being paid today for Harry Goodman, the father of modern-day low-cost travel, who has died at the age of 79.
Having left school at 16, he founded his first holiday company at 24 and went on to create the International Leisure Group empire. It owned many iconic brands including Enterprise, Intasun and Club 18-30 – and one of the first low-cost airlines, Air Europe.
ILG grew to become the UK’s second biggest tour operator behind Thomson before crashing in 1991, but not before it had brought affordable long-haul travel to the mass market.
In 1997 he founded TV Travel Shop, the first 24/7 TV channel selling holidays direct to the public.
In 2005 he bought the retail travel arm of Page & Moy and founded Totally Travel, owner of 1st4cruising.
Hugh Morgan, former managing director of Cosmos paid tribute to Harry Goodman on Twitter, describing him as ‘a great inspiration’.
Like many leading figures in the travel industry, Celebrity Cruises UK managing director Jo Rzymowska was given her first travel job by Harry. Writing on Twitter, she described him as ‘a true entrepreneur’.
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