A tortoise was once mugged by a gang of snails. When the police asked him to describe his attackers, the bemused tortoise replied: “I can’t – it all happened so quickly.”
Well, I also feel a bit bemused – because when it comes to the Truly Independent Professional Travel Organisation, it genuinely has all happened so quickly.
In little more than three months, the idea I had in my Southampton office has ended up in a packed hall at a smart London hotel – a meeting which was attended by more than 150 people.
The audience were highly receptive. Many were clearly enthusiastic.
Frankly, I cannot remember ever attending an inaugural discussion which had so many present, yet so little disagreement.
Yes, there are still things to be ironed out. TIPTO can’t be built in a day. But all the signs are that we are well on the way to getting there.
Does all this sound too good to be true? Well I can only speak as I found. And I went home with a song in my heart (no, it wasn’t Tiptoe Through The Tulips…)
To be honest, I also feel a great deal of relief. No doubt many people in the past have had good ideas that never got beyond the starting gate. Throughout the past three months I have naturally been concerned that TIPTO didn’t suddenly turn into TRIPTO – with me being the one to fall flat on my face.
Of course, there was much discussion about the possibility of expanding TIPTO beyond the proposed 20 members. I do not rule that out. Nothing is set in concrete at this stage. It will be up to the founding members to decide. But at least we now have a framework and a plan of action.
As I stated in my presentation, I have seen too many organisations which ended up with an overabundance of members, each with a different agenda. The result was that nothing was really done. I don’t want that to happen to TIPTO. I want like-minded operators who agree their goals and carry them out.
Once we get up and running – and TIPTO is clearly seen to be working – then we can discuss the possibility of expanding it. A second grade of membership may even be considered. But I’d rather have a dynamic 20 than a discordant 50.
How many of the 100-plus operators who were present will help us get the show (literally) on the road?
Independent agents clearly want TIPTO. I certainly want TIPTO. Now it’s up to fellow operators to show equal determination by providing three vital ingredients – enthusiasm, commitment and cash.
Gary David is managing director of Cadogan Holidays and founder of TIPTO