p20 columnist nov21 18/11/08 18:04 Page 20
ttglive.com
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Kane Pirie Travel Republic
“Characters that in other
sectors would be locked
up as criminally insane are
celebrated in our industry”
T
his year was meant to be great, and will grind round again. Sales will pick up. Things
it was really, until September 12. may be bleak now, but it is temporary.
The spectacular failure of XL Leisure Even in the current market you can bet that
Group marked the abrupt end of the next year the weather on this little island will
party and the start of a highly challenging phase be crap – it always is – and people will still want
that I expect to last straight through 2009. to get away, desperately, and in their millions.
After that – it is anybody’s guess right now. There is still business to be won.
Let’s not spin it. Next year looks like it will be Moreover, whatever the economic weather,
rough. The pound is low against the euro, and we should count our travel industry blessings.
the consumer is anxiously trying to make it It is full of larger-than-life characters,
through the daily media bombardment of walking caricatures of themselves.
recession and redundancy. People that in other sectors would
Charter flight availability is low and be sidelined – if not locked up as
prices are relatively high. Bed banks criminally insane – are celebrated in
are unhappy with agents going our sector, and deservedly so.
direct to the hotels. Agents are Travel seems to bring out the
unhappy with bed banks going best in people. From the trade
direct to the customer. events to the fams, there is always
All we need now is a good humour and camaraderie.
weather presenter There are obviously tensions in
to guarantee this most competitive market, but
six months of there is also warmth and a sense of
unrelenting community which I appreciate.
30-degree heat Travel attracts and supports entre-
and bright blue preneurs and free thinkers. It is a sector
sky, and we have able to claim some giant success stories,
the perfect storm such as easyJet, and yet still bursting with
in prospect. opportunity in which smaller companies
So why bother? What is the have a chance to come through.
point? I do think the economic Sure it is not all going our way right now.
context is quite hard to describe in But, ultimately, our collective problems
polite English – but I don’t think amount to a more difficult market.
we need to be miserable. Travel is not a matter of life or death:
The medium-term leisure it is meant to be fun.
market fundamentals are still
positive. Kane Pirie is managing director of
The general economic cycle Travel Republic
20 21.11.2008
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