Mixed view on industry trading emerges from ITT conference
UK travel leaders gathering for the Institute of Travel & Tourism overseas conference in Dubai have voiced mixed messages over improved trading by 2010.
Some expressed cautious optimism that the worst of the recession would be over.
But TUI Travel customer services director Tim Williamson predicted that next year could be slightly worse for the industry.
And The Co-operative Travel managing director Mike Greenacre predicted that there would be fewer operators and agents by next March.
He called for a single travel industry voice to lobby efficiently against taxes such as Air Passenger Duty.
Kuoni group chief executive Peter Rothwell described the late sales market for this year as looking strong and said the operator’s margins were not adversely affected by discounting as price cuts were mainly funded by hotels.
When quizzed on the company’s distribution strategy, Rothwell said there would be a maximum of 10 Kuoni shops in the UK. They would be plush outlets designed to underline the company’s brand strengths.
Williamson said he was optimistic about ten and 11-night holidays, while all inclusive deals were massively up and trips to Mexico have recovered following April swine flu outbreak.
Gold Medal Travel managing director Terry Fisher called on hotels not to flirt with going direct during the downturn.
Jumeriah Hotels chief executive Guy Crawford said occupancy rates in beach hotels was good and 2010 looked slightly better.
Phil Davies
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 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive
Euromonitor International unveils world’s top 100 city destinations for 2025