Get unlimited access to the latest travel industry news and analysis, comment on articles and sign up to newsletters.
Register for free
Already registered? Login here or below.
Having difficulty logging in? Try these tips, or contact support@ttgmedia.com
Ahead of the ITT Conference in Tel Aviv on June 6-8, Patrick Whyte explores some of the key topics at this year’s event and offers a sneak preview of what to look out for.
The UK boss of Tui Group has said the decision to drop the Thomson brand will enable the company to launch new products and move into new markets.
Speaking to TTG ahead of his session at the ITT Conference, Tui UK and Ireland managing director Nick Longman insisted there would be some benefits to the name change.
“Moving to a new brand, a younger brand, will probably help to open up potentially some other markets for us and maybe help us introduce some new products that may have been more difficult under the Thomson brand,” he said.
The move from Thomson to Tui is likely to take place in September or October next year.
Longman also confirmed that both First Choice and Crystal would be retained as sub-brands.
One of the first tests of the name is likely to be the group’s new cruise ship, which will now be named Tui Discovery. The ship, formerly Royal Caribbean’s Splendour of the Seas, had been due to be called Thomson Discovery. It is due to launch later this month.
During his session on the first day of conference sessions (June 7), Longman will discuss the power of a rebrand, offering examples from other sectors, before being quizzed by TTG editor Pippa Jacks.
“I’ll probably be looking at things like Aviva that rebranded [from Norwich Union] and EE [formerly Everything Everywhere]; they’re two of the bigger ones in recent times,” he said.
“But they’re different in nature to ours because they didn’t have a very significant proportion of their sales online, which also provides different challenges when you rebrand.”
Parent company Tui Group recently announced that it planned to sell its Specialist Group of businesses, which is now known
as Travelopia.
It follows the group’s decision last month to sell bed bank Hotelbeds for €1.2 billion.
Speakers
The ITT has secured a number of high-profile speakers for the event from both inside and outside the travel industry. Appearing on stage will be the UK heads of both Tui and Thomas Cook, Nick Longman (see main story) and Chris Mottershead. Delegates will also hear from the former shadow chancellor Ed Balls and current Labour MP Mary Creagh.
Parties
After a day of conference sessions, attendees will get a chance to let their hair down at one of the three official evening dinners and after-parties. On the first night there will be a nautical-themed event at the five-star Carlton on the Beach, a few minutes’ walk from the Hilton Tel Aviv. This will be followed by the gala dinner (and after-party) at Trask. On the final night there is a farewell dinner at Lauren’s Gallery in the old city of Jaffa.
Excursions
The Israel Government Tourist Office is offering free excursions to all those attending the conference. Options include half-day tours of Tel Aviv and the 4,000 year-old city of Jaffa and full-day trips to Jerusalem and the Dead Sea. Excursions can be booked online until June 4 or at the IGTO information desk at the Hilton Tel Aviv between June 5-9.
