Famous five to be honoured

FIVE leading figures in the trade will see their contribution to the industry recognised at next week’s Agent Achievement Awards.

Lifetime Achievement Awards will be handed out for the first time, to celebrate the awards’ 10th anniversary.

The recipients will be Bath Travel chairman Peter Bath, Hogg Robinson chief executive David Radcliffe, Travel Counsellors chairman David Speakman, The Travel Company’s former joint chairman and managing director David Whittaker, and ATP International’s former chairman Don Lunn.

Fifteen nominees were considered by a panel of judges, which included Manny Fontenla-Novoa from Thomas Cook and Martin George from British Airways.

Bath began his career at Bath Travel in 1953. His son Andrew, now the company’s managing director, said: “He is probably the longest-serving travel agency chairman around.”

Whittaker retired from The Travel Company in 2004 after 40 years in the industry. He said: “One of my proudest achievements was being involved in the business travel awards.”

Radcliffe said: “I am flattered and honoured to be a recipient.”

Speakman, who founded Travel Counsellors in 1994, said: “I’ve been willing to be outspoken, innovative and to back my ideas. I’m very proud.”

Lunn, a member of the Institute of Travel and Tourism, said: “I’m pleased I’ve been able to put a little back into an industry that has been very good to me.”

The awards, sponsored by Travel Weekly, are at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London on March 22.