p14 advantage oct3 1/10/08 18:55 Page 14
news conference report
ttglive.com
Advantage Conference 2008 • Recruitment
SKILLED STAFF. PEOPLE POWER
Travel ‘could
Moon reveals five-point
lose XL talent’
plan for agency success
THE travel industry is in danger of losing a pool
of talented and experienced people that could
Lee Hayhurst.
Travel, said that when he approached his bank
take years to replace, following the collapse of HAVING the right people is the key ingredient six years ago he was told it was the first time the
XL Leisure Group. to a successful business, the Advantage travel bank had been presented with a business plan
Barbara Kolosinska, business development convention was told. from the travel industry.
manager at C&M Recruitment, said the industry The consortium’s head of business develop- “Planning was a very important part of how
should “rally round” to make sure people are not ment, David Moon, set out a five-point plan for we developed the business,” said Beagrie.
lost to other sectors. success, and profiled four Advantage members “It’s quite laborious and boring to do, but it’s
The warning came as an Advantage survey which he said represented well-run businesses. quite important. I drew in as many people in the
found 60% of the 500 members who responded Meon Valley Travel, Stewart Travel, CBT business as I could to help so, by default, I got
were considering leaving travel. International Travel and Directline Holidays were buy-in for what we wanted to achieve.”
“There was lots of talent at XL and we don’t a diverse selection of Advantage members who Lancashire-based CBT International had bene-
want to lose that from the industry. If we do, the had found success in different ways, he said. fited from Advantage’s advice, Moon claimed.
people who are ultimately going to suffer are Advantage offers members free business CBT’s owner, Michael Churnside, said: “Twelve
the suppliers and tour operators here at the advice, including how to produce a business plan months ago, the business was probably drifting
conference this weekend,” Kolosinska said. and monitor performance, but Moon said it was along day to day. The difference now we have a
“These people won’t be available for long and people who could make or break you. business plan is astonishing.”
if they are good they will leave the industry. If “This is a vital aspect of your business, so
you haven’t got a position for them, create one.” employ the best people you can,” he said.
Moon’s five points
C&M Recruitment set up an advice line in Willie Stewart, managing director of Stewart
the wake of the XL collapse. The agency said it Travel, said: “Hire good people and look for op- ■ Set a goal – it will give you focus
had noticed a downturn in the jobs market, portunities. If it means paying a bit extra [to get ■ Devise a plan – be flexible and involve
particularly in the business travel sector. the right people] it will pay off in the long term.” your teams
Delegates heard how all four businesses were ■ Measure everything – find out where you
working to three-year business plans which, are and where you want to be
CASE STUDY.
while setting challenging goals, were realistic ■ Adapt to change – don’t be afraid to fail
and reviewed regularly. ■ Employ the best – get best staff you can
‘I want to stay in
James Beagrie, chief executive of Meon Valley
industry I love’
FORMER Freedom Flights trade sales represen-
tative Abbey Thomas is hoping an opportunity
will come along in the industry she loves.
Attending the Advantage conference two weeks
after losing her job in the XL collapse, the single
mother said she had been “gobsmacked” by
messages of support from the industry.
“I have always had friends in travel but the last
two weeks have made me realise just what a
fantastic industry this is to work in,” she said.
“I’m hopeful something will come along and
people will recognise I worked hard at Freedom.”
The failure of XL, 24 hours after Freedom won
the TTG Travel Award for best seat-only operator,
left employees without any income overnight.
Thomas, who has 21 years’ experience in travel,
said at least two of her ex-colleagues had already
started looking for roles outside the travel trade. Advantage’s David Moon stresses the importance of drawing up a business plan to members at the conference
14 03.10.2008
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