'Don't get obsessed by business' - Tui boss's surprising advice to young achievers

Peter Long stressed the benefits of work-life balance in a keynote speech at TTG’s Tomorrow’s Travel Leaders conference

Speaking on Tuesday to 100 young travel leaders who gathered in London for the first TTG Tomorrow’s Travel Leaders Conference, Peter Long advised delegates to remain unique in the industry.

“Just because people have done it this way before, [you should] challenge the status quo,” he said. “You don’t need to copy. Over the years we [Tui Travel] have changed our model.”

Long used the example of UK supermarkets’ failure to keep up with the ambitions of cheaper foreign competitors such as Aldi and Lidl to illustrate his argument.

“Supermarkets have missed the point,” he said. “They invited discounters into the market place and once they are in that position its difficult to do something about it.”

Work-life balance

Meanwhile Long also urged delegates to keep their working and personal lives balanced. “Don’t get obsessed by business. Have a good life with your friends, your boyfriend, girlfriend, husband or wife,” he said.

He also argued that having a personal life gives you perspective: “Take the time to relax and do hobbies. It makes you a more interesting and fulfilled person.”

He added that last week he had blocked out his diary to visit his grand daughter at her school. “I had to be there,” he said. “She wouldn’t have understood why if I hadn’t been.”

When asked where he goes next after reaching the lofty heights of Tui Group, Long said he was looking for new sources of motivation and inspiration: “I channel my energy into [being president] of the Family Holiday Association and use my influence to open doors [for the charity],” he said.