THE TOP three operators have launched a scathing attack on the ABTA Convention, claiming the conference debates and presentations were ‘poor’ and the format ‘tired’.
Airtours Holidays managing director Richard Carrick, JMC managing director Simon Vincent and Thomson Holidays sales director Manuel Mascarenhas all said theydidn’t learn anything from their trip to Australia.
The conference dealt largely with internal issues and Carrick, who brought an eight-strong team to Cairns and made a considerable investment in the event, said there was not enough focus on the customer or learning about new technological developments.
“I was looking for a higher quality of presentation, a higher level of debate and some controversy,” said Carrick.
“The ABTA Convention should deal with topical issues. I’d like to walk out saying I’d learned something or looked at something from a different perspective but I didn’t. It’s been overtaken by the Institute of Travel and Tourism conference.
“There’s a marked lack of understanding of e-commerce, the Internet and digital television. We need to thrash it out. The changes haven’t even been partially addressed.
“If you see the conference as a jolly then fine, but we take it seriously.”
JMC was a principal sponsor and Vincent added: “The level of debate was poor, very tame. It’s the same old tired format and I’ve learnt nothing.”
Mascarenhas, who came in for criticism from agents during a debate between operators and retailers, said the conference should have focused on the customer rather than in-fighting. “We’re not a business in isolation and we should learn from other industries. I think smaller groups work better because the conference is intimidating for many people.
“The formula is tired and needs a radical change. I’ve learnt nothing new.”
ABTA chief executive Ian Reynolds defended the event.
“The comments are a little harsh. We are a broad church and we have to represent a wide range of views. We’ve had some of the best sessions for years,” he said.
Carrick said Airtours would support the 2000 event in Kos but added that he would like to be consulted on the conference programme.
“I would like to be involved in shaping the conference without being at all partisan towards Airtours,” he said.