The great and the good of the British travel industry are decamping en masse this week for their annual beano (sorry conference) in sunny Spain.
The ABTA Travel Convention, as it is known, is held every year to debate the latest trends in the world of travel and tourism and will no doubt this year be reflecting heavily on the impact the recession has had on all businesses in the industry.
Travel agents, tour operators, cruise companies, airlines, hotels, car rental companies, insurance firms and many others from different sectors will be represented at the three-day event in Barcelona.
Much of what is discussed in the main hall leaves a lot to be desired – a bit like a political party conference except with many more hangovers.
A lot of the debate is purely industry-biased, important to many of those in attendance, but of little immediate consequence to the travelling public.
It seems odd to me that while many trends, statistics, projections and financials are discussed at industry gatherings of this nature, the customer – you and I – can easily get left behind.
Why so little consumer involvement
For a business that relies on us to travel and take holidays for its lifeblood, I often come away mystified that there is so little consumer involvement.
Cruise is one sector of the travel trade which continues to grow despite recent financial woes, yet only this year will it have a slot on the main stage at the 2009 Travel Convention.
Micky Arison, the chairman of US-based Carnival Corporation – the biggest cruise conglomerate in the world and parent company of brands such as P&O Cruises, Cunard Line, Costa Cruises and Holland America Line – is the star act with the headline speech on day one of the business sessions.
At last! A big hitter from outside the UK travel industry whose influence on the way cruise holidays are shaped both now and in the future will be sharing his views and opinions with the 900-plus strong audience.
Arison is to share his views on the short and long term prospects for cruising both in the UK and globally and how lines will deal with the so-called ‘post-credit crunch traveller’.
Fierce competition between cruise companies to attract new passengers and how operating cruise ships can square against growing demands for sustainability in travel are amongst the planned subject matter up for discussion.
His should be a fascinating insight into the cruise business and the prospects going forward at a time when the number of UK passengers is forecast to grow from 1.5 million last year to two million over three years.
Cruising takes the platform
And this year, for the first time in the history of the Convention, there will be a dedicated cruise forum as ABTA finally recognises the importance of the biggest growth area in travel.
Senior figures from companies such as P&O Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, Cunard and Fred Olsen Cruise Lines are lined up to discuss the current and future state of the business in a session appropriately hosted on board Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas in Barcelona’s vast harbour.
Additionally, there will also be the opportunity to visit MSC Cruises’ ship Fantasia and Costa Cruises’ Concordia.
Opportunity Knocks
I welcome the recognition cruising is finally being given by the UK main trade association and look forward to some, hopefully, lively debate.
Typically, the Travel Convention, which kicks off on Wednesday following a day of social functions and events – that generally means lots of drinking – carries an upbeat theme. This year it goes under the banner of Opportunity Knocks, not that Hughie Green is any longer with us to preside over events, which is a shame as at least he would have provided a few laughs.
I’m not sure quite how much joviality will be mustered or quite how optimistic we will all feel after a final speech by former Chancellor Lord Norman Lamont on Thursday afternoon.
But at least cruising is finally getting its rightful place at the top of the travel industry agenda.
*Look out for next week’s blog on cruise from the ABTA Travel Convention.
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