| Journal: TWUK | Section: |
| Title: | Issue Date: 17/04/00 |
| Author: | Page Number: 10 |
| Copyright: Other |
Freudmann’s ABTA anniversary joke is just the ticket for us
Those agents who were disappointed at the lack of traditional travel trade leg-pulls on April Fool’s Day need not worry that the industry is losing its time-honoured sense of humour.Our distinguished ABTApresident Steven Freudmann quite obviously has never fully recovered from the millennium bug. Delirious with millennium fever, he has sprung the biggest April Fool of all time in his letter of invitation to the ABTAball.
The ticket is a mere £160 – a week’s wage packet for some people – for the 50th anniversary shindig.If Steven thought that one up then he’s wasting his talent. He should be knocking them dead down at the Comedy Store, not festering indoors at Newman Street.
For pity’s sake, let’s get some kind of sensibility back into this industry. If ABTAreally wants to open up these landmark celebrations to the grassroots of the industry then they are never going to achieve that charging £160 a ticket.
If on the other hand Steven, you’re aiming this bash at the same old familiar-faced mega-corporation freeloaders that grin inanely out of travel trade pages each week- you know who you are – then I’m sorry but the rank-and-file foot soldiers will once again probably sit this one out.
Antony Crossthwaite, director, Ashton Travel Centre, Preston