p2-3 sep12 9/9/08 21:21 Page 2
Big ideas and bright
people are what
news
makes this industry
OSCAR-WINNING actor Kevin Spacey once said: “If
you have made it in the industry you love, make sure
you send the elevator back down.”
That’s exactly what four of travel’s best-known
entrepreneurs were able to do as part of TTG’s
incredible The Big Idea competition this week.
Our very own “dragons” have decided to invest
a staggering £100,000 in an exciting start-up
this week
weddings and honeymoons tour operation, run by
travel agents Helen Doyle and Danny Waine.
The winners said the financial backing and, even
more importantly, guidance of our investors, would
change their lives. TTG will report on their progress
over the coming months.
Our youngest finalist, Adam Lilley, a 20-year-old
former Going Places agent, didn’t go home empty-
handed either. The investors were so impressed by
his pitch, drive and determination to run his own
tour operation that they offered him a job within one
of their businesses to let him pursue his dream.
“We’re interested in the ideas, but we’re really in-
National Cruise Week rides wave
vesting in the people behind them,” our dragons said.
Get Cruising’s Gary Wardrope (front) and Lloyd Reynolds were among thousands
Pride and ambition win awards of agents who organised consumer shows to mark Ace’s first National Cruise
Good people with tons of passion was also a theme Week. Following Thursday’s launch, Bath Travel opened a store in Southampton
of the TTG Travel Awards this week, as the 30 best and agents hoped to cash in on all the publicity generated. p9 and p26
suppliers, retailers and individuals in the travel
industry over the past 12 months were rewarded
with the industry’s top accolades. France. Web deals.
We knew competition would be stiff, but we were Shrine war p5 Travelzoo record p10
still staggered by the number of entries. And it was Aito operator has threatened to take Online holiday deals specialist
all the more encouraging to see such ambition from Ryanair to Competition Commission Travelzoo said hard-up customers
entrants in what has been a tough year. Fuel over new Lourdes flights looking for value for money had
prices, the economy and dipping consumer led to record hits on its site
confidence has created a challenging Investigation.
backdrop, forcing many of you to dig deep, Silverjet inquiry p6 Luxury.
adopt new strategies and make difficult Founder Lawrence Hunt has re- Ski sector resilient p14
decisions. But our finalists’ determination vealed he asked the Serious Fraud Luxury ski operators have
to survive, innovate and prosper in the Office to make investor probe dismissed concerns about the UK
current climate is testament to the economy saying business is good
travel industry’s well-deserved rep- Collapse.
utation for perpetual resilience. End of Futura p9 Aviation.
Just as well then that ITV The failure of Spanish charter Flybe shopping spree p18
News was on hand this year to airline Futura has left retailers Flybe is seeking acquisitions after
capture the success and screen in the UK and Ireland stranded reporting full year results which
it to millions of your clients and saw profits increase by £20 million
potential customers. We are certainly The Big Idea.
an industry that has a lot of great £100k winners p12 SECTORS.
things, and people, to shout about! A weddings specialist agency has Cruise p26
won TTG’s Big Idea competition Operators p34
scooping the £100,000 top prize Hotels & resorts p38
Lucy Huxley Editor and winning the advice of four Air p42
leading industry entrepreneurs Business travel p44
2 12.09.2008
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