TravelMole Time Traveller: On The Beach’s Alistair Daly
Alistair Daly from On The Beach is this week’s Time Traveller, sponsored by Harp Wallen
What was your first job in travel?
Lastminute.com as interim marketing director. It was supposed to be a six-month project but ended up being nearly 18 months. I got the travel bug
What was the high point of your career?
Co-founding (literally in my spare bedroom) an online book business prior to joining Lastminute.com and within two years selling it to one of our strategic partners. Joining On the Beach has also been a real high point, seeing the business grow and develop into one of the largest online travel players in the UK, being part of that growth story is something I’m very proud of.
What was the low point?
Shortly after joining On the Beach, seeing 30% of our flight supply literally vanish overnight when XL went bust. We still managed to grow that year by 30% but it was panic stations.
Who or what has been the greatest influence on your career?
Probably my late grandfather who founded and ran a very successful clothing business. He started from nothing (a Jewish immigrant born in the East End in the 1920s) who worked his way up the ladder setting his own business up and being very successful along the way.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years’ time?
I’ll be living in Andalucia with my wife and kids, working as a non-executive director for a number of online travel retail businesses (non-competing of course). I can dream.
What would you be doing now if you weren’t in travel?
I’d be working for or co-founding an online retail business. This is the future of commerce, there is no other place to be.
Diane
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 
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Digital Travel Reporter of the Mirror totally seduced by HotelPlanner AI Travel Agent
Strike action set to cause travel chaos at Brussels airports
All eyes on Qatar as Qatar Airways leads a season of global events