THE FAMILY Holiday Association is having an astounding success in persuading people to do a bungee jump during the ABTA Convention in Cairns.
Both Travel Weekly editor Jeremy Skidmore and deputy editor Liz Bird have now signed up to take a dive into the Queensland rainforest, as have ABTA conference director Kevin Oldcorn and 21st Century Travel’s new commercial director Jo Ryzymowska.
Then there are a few people who have agreed to think about it – John Schofield and Ian Norman of Pontins, Tony Seaman and Ian Coyle of Holiday Autos, and Backchat’s old friend Jim Paul of the Northern Ireland Tourist Board.
The FHA’s finance and development officer Andy Grout has also drawn up a highly confidential hit list of Convention celebrities he would like to recruit if possible. Although this list is top secret, Backchat can reveal that Clive Jacobs, Manny Fontenla-Novoa, Paul Riches, Steve Endacott, Carol Dray, Steve Kimber and Russell Amerasekera are all on it!
Grout intends to buttonhole potential candidates when they are a little, um, joyful shall we say, during those long, hot Australian nights.
And he is willing to take backhanders from people who don’t want to jump, but will pay to push those taking part over the edge. Anyone wanting to jump or push can call Grout on 020-7436 3304.