p9 TTA conf dec12 10/12/08 20:38 Page 9
news conference report
ttglive.com
TTA Conference 2008
December 4 ■ Hilton Metropole, London
Last week the Travel Trust Association held its first conference, called ‘The Future
in Focus’, since its merger with Worldchoice in October. Lee Hayhurst reports
2009 FORECAST.
Delegates wary of
BUSINESS TIPS: TTA delegates were advised to
set themselves challenging goals and to “love
boss’s optimism
the fear” of failure if they want to succeed.
Acclaimed entrepreneur Liz Jackson (pictured
with conference moderator Keith Betton)
TTA MANAGING director Simon Hargreaves gave spoke of her success setting up telemarketing
an upbeat assessment of the prospects for firm Great Guns despite the fact she
members for 2009, but some delegates were less was going blind
optimistic.
Hargreaves said there was an overall decline
in business of 1-2% this year, although long-haul
had been “hammered” with a double-digit drop.
He accused the media of over-hyping the
degree of the downturn and said he expected to
see a similar level of decline in 2009.
“If you stayed level this year, you did well. The
good news is, while the volume of bookings
might fall, the value will actually rise,” he said. Worldchoice gains
Former Abta president Martin Wellings, now a
TTA member through his new leisure agency
Debonair Travel, said: “If we end up with a 5%
drop I would be happy.” use of TTA’s Atol
Katy Savvides, Sabra Travel director, said the
prediction of a small drop in business in 2009 WORLDCHOICE members will soon be able Edgware, said: “We will take what the TTA has
was “rather optimistic”. to access the Travel Trust Association’s group to offer with regards to financial protection,
Atol protection for dynamic packages. but I think they [TTA] have more to gain from
The TTA is working on a structure that will see Worldchoice commercially.”
REVENUE STREAM.
Worldchoice members retain their membership Hargreaves said the merger gave the organi-
TTA wants own
of the consortium but put their dynamic sation the clout to negotiate better commercial
packaging business under separate companies deals, breadth to widen the scope of support to
that will become trust members. members and more ability to innovate.
‘Acas2’ system
TTA is close to finalising an arrangement with The conference saw the first unveiling of
an unnamed six-shop miniple that will form the the TTA’s new logo, designed to underline the
THE TRAVEL Trust Association could create a template for this membership model. association’s consumer-facing role.
version of Worldchoice’s Acas payments system Managing director Simon Hargreaves said The TTA has also created a radio ad for Heart
as the consortium targets more suppliers. this would give the agent access to TTA member- FM to trumpet its 100% customer guarantee.
Revenues from interest made through Acas ship while remaining with another consortia. The advert, which will first air in January, will
are under pressure as the Bank of England has Hargreaves told delegates one of the key tasks apply only to TTA members.
slashed the interest rate to 2%. Some analysts of the newly merged consortia was to extend the It aims to encourage listeners to log on to
have even tipped it to fall to 0% next year. TTA’s financial systems to Worldchoice. traveltrustholidays.com from where customers
Worldchoice is better placed than rival consor- “We need to get some Atol stuff working for will be directed to members’ sites.
tia as it set up its own Acas2, which went live them and that will happen next year,” he said. Hargreaves added that the association had an
in March 2007, so does not pay a third party to Worldchoice agents at the TTA conference advert in which specific members’ details can be
operate it, and retains transaction fees. agreed the TTA’s financial protection systems added to be used in co-marketing campaigns.
Acas2’s revenues rose by £70,000, taking over- would be one of the main benefits of the merger.
all revenue to £700,000. Katy Savvides, director of Sabra Travel in ■ More from TTA at ttglive.com/conferences
12.12.2008 09
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