| Journal: TWUK | Section: |
| Title: | Issue Date: 18/09/00 |
| Author: | Page Number: 3 |
| Copyright: Other |
Itt ivor elms lecture
Bowden-Doyle warns of hard times ahead for specialist travel firms
A STREAM of small and specialist travel companies will either go out of business or be sold off within two years, according to Trainline.com managing director Richard Bowden-Doyle.
Speaking at the annual Institute of Travel and Tourism Ivor Elms lecture in London, held in association with Travel Weekly, Bowden-Doyle also claimed that in the next five years, all operators apart from Thomson and Airtours will become “marginalised and also-ran businesses”.
He said:”Within 18 months a lot of specialist businesses will be up for sale at knock-down prices and there are few Iwill mourn.
“Within two years, we will see tour-operating brands on the high street. Those retailers not converted to an operating brand will besold off.
“As a consequence, major non-aligned retail distribution businesses will emerge.
“In three years’ time, a non-aligned business will probably have 25% of the market. Possible contenders for this are Travelcare and Expedia.”