United Kingdom
United States
Asia Pacific
Tributes paid to Gwyn Hughes
The travel industry has been paying tribute to one of its best-known and well respected characters, Gwyn Hughes, who died yesterday.
The former managing director of P&O Cruises died at the London Clinic after a serious illness. He was 65.
Hughes, who spent almost 20 years at P&O, also held a number of other management positions, including former chief executive of easyCruise and former non-executive director of Bales Worldwide.
He was an ABTA board member, ex-ITT chairman and, until his death, had non-executive positions with City Cruises and Villas for Travel.
He was also chairman of Pinpoint Communications, the company he set up with his wife, Tricia Handley Hughes.
She described Hughes as: "my soulmate, confident, business partner and husband", adding: "He was really the original cruise guru, changing perceptions of cruising for UK and introduced the first P&O purpose-built ship for the market. P&O was transformed under his leadership into an award-winning brand.
"He was a wonderful man and I was very privileged to share his life."
Former ABTA chairman and Advantage chief executive John McEwan said: "Gwyn was a marvellous man, great to know and made a considerable contribution to the industry.
"He was very professional and successful, yet was very interested in you as a person and had a really warm personality."
Carnival UK chief executive David Dingle said: "I had the honour of working for Gwyn for 14 years. He was a wonderful mentor and guide, and a truly great man. I, like so many others, owe him much, and he will be missed by so very many."
CLIA UK and Ireland director Andy Harmer, said: "It’s with great sadness that we have learnt of the death of cruise industry veteran Gwyn Hughes after his courageous fight.
"Gwyn was a highly respected member of the cruise industry and made an enormous contribution in raising the profile of cruise holidays.
"He worked tirelessly to promote our sector of the travel industry and we are all saddened to lose such an admired colleague."
A memorial service for Gwyn, who leaves behind two children, will be held in 2014.
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.
Kittipong Prapattong’s Plan for Thailand’s Tourism Growth: Taxes, Visas, and Campaigns
James Jin: Didatravel’s Journey from China to Global Reach and the Impact of AI on Travel
Darien Schaefer on Pensacola’s Evolution: From Small Town to Global Destination
Florida Tourism’s Next Frontier: Dana Young on Expanding Beyond the Classics
Patrick Harrison on Tampa Bay Tourism’s Resilience and Marketing Strategy
Bubba O’Keefe on Clarksdale’s Vibrant Music Scene
Commemorating Elvis and Embracing Tupelo’s Culture with Jennie Bradford Curlee
Craig Ray and the Expansion of the Blues Trail
Presenting Mississippi’s Cultural Trails with Katie Coats
Robert Terrell: A Journey Through BB King’s Influence
Rochelle Hicks: Celebrating Mississippi’s Musical Legacy
Exploring Jacksonville with Katie Mitura: The Flip Side of Florida
Dozens fall ill in P&O Cruises ship outbreak
Boy falls to death on cruise ship
Turkish Airlines flight in emergency landing after pilot dies
Unexpected wave rocks cruise ship
Woman dies after going overboard in English Channel