A controversial session at this year’s Institute of Travel and Tourism Conference featuring former Cruise Control boss Paul Moore has been dropped after the three other speakers pulled out.
The talk, about bouncing back from failure, was to feature Moore, whose discount retailer collapsed in 2005; former Tapestry Holidays owner Nick Wrightman; Silverjet chief executive Lawrence Hunt; and Doug Wardle, whose agency Wardle Travel collapsed in 2005.
The other speakers pulled out following last week’s news that Travel Counsellors was cancelling sponsorship of the conference in protest over the decision to invite Moore.
ITT chairman Steven Freudmann said he had no option but to cancel, adding: “We can’t run a session with one speaker.”
Following the decision, Travel Counsellors said it is reinstating the sponsorship and will continue to support ITT events.