Support grows for McEwan's ABTA chair bid

More travel companies have voiced their support for John McEwan to take over the ABTA chairmanship.

Stuart Jackson, managing director of Cosmos Mainstream Products and somewhere2stay, and Travel Counsellors chairman David Speakman have both expressed their backing for the Advantage Travel Centres chief executive.

“Our industry is currently facing incredible challenges and it is more important than ever that we have the right person in place who really understands the needs of our diverse membership – someone who’s worked in numerous roles with a broad experience across the agent and operator sector and beyond,” said Jackson.

“More importantly, having served on the ABTA Board previously, he has an intimate understanding of how it can be mobilised to tackle the key issues which are currently affecting our industry.

“I believe that John, if elected, will have the trust of all members to move the association forward to achieve clarity and thereby resolve key issues such as real consumer protection which is currently doing nothing but damage the perception of our industry.”

Travel Counsellors chairman David Speakman added: “Whilst Travel Counsellors are not members of ABTA it is important that ABTA grasps a more positive role as the voice of the industry,” he said.

“ABTA needs someone who will bring a more customer driven view to ABTA rather than a product driven view.

“Whilst ABTA exists to support its members it is essential that just like any business it reflects customer needs. It should impose standards on transparency of price, it has an opportunity to lead on comprehensive customer financial protection and it should be outspoken on the poor infrastructure and poor customer experience at airports.

“In addition it should be more transparent and more communicative with its members. John McEwan in my opinion has the experience, the character and the respect of ABTA members to place these issues at the centre of his agenda.”

TUI UK has already declared its support for McEwan, who is up against Daniele Broccoli, a current ABTA Board member and managing director of Britaly Travel.

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By Bev Fearis