Tributes paid to Abhi Dighe

Tuesday, 28 Jan, 2019 0

Industry colleagues have been paying tribute to former Kosmar Holidays managing director Abhi Dighe, who died last week, aged 57.

Travel industry friends knew he had been ill, but said news of his death was a shock.

His funeral will take place on Thursday, in Bolton.

Abhi started his travel industry career with the John Dragonas group in London.

He worked at Kosmar from 1995 until 2008, when the company closed, two years after it was bought out by Excel Airways Group, which then went out of business.

He then worked as general manager at Goldtrail Holidays before working as a consultant for a number of years.

In August 2016, he became a co-founder of TVTravelmedia, set up to enable the travel industry to properly showcase destinations and products on TV at an affordable price.

Marlen Taffarello, who ran Kosmar’s public relations, said: "He was a hard grafter and he always treated everyone as if they were special.

"Even when things were difficult, he always managed to pull himself up and be happy.

"I don’t think that any company ever filled the gap that Kosmar left. He was great with agents.

"Kosmar was very supportive of the trade. Abhi built Kosmar up to become an amazing brand. He made people want to go to Greece, and he himself loved the country very much.

"He really put Greece on the map and the travel industry has a great deal to thank him for."

Planet Holidays managing director Mathilde Robert said: "I am stunned. I knew he was not well but I did not expect this.

"Harry (Planet Holidays commercial director Harry Kyrillou) and I had a lot of respect for Abhi. He was such a gentleman. Greece has lost a great ambassador and friend."

Villa Plus founder Nick Cooper said: "I knew him from his first job in travel and used to meet up a few times a year after Excel closed.

"He was genuine and caring and worked hard to make Kosmar Villas a success in a frighteningly competitive market."

Former ABTA chairman and Advantage chief executive John McEwan described him as ‘a lovely man’.

"It was always a pleasure to deal with him," he added.

Abhi’s funeral will take place on Thursday, January 31 at Overdale Crematorium, Overdale Drive, Bolton, BL1 5BP.

After the funeral, there will be a gathering, from 11.45am, at the nearby Retreat Restaurant, 319-321 Chorley New Road, Bolton BL1 5BP.

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Lisa

Lisa joined Travel Weekly nearly 25 years ago as technology reporter and then sailed around the world for a couple of years as cruise correspondent, before becoming deputy editor. Now freelance, Lisa writes for various print and web publications, edits Corporate Traveller’s client magazine, Gateway, and works on the acclaimed Remembering Wildlife series of photography books, which raise awareness of nature’s most at-risk species and helps to fund their protection.

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