COMMENT by Lucy Huxley, TTG editor

While the drama in Westminster grabbed the national headlines this week, travel has seen its very own political spectacle unfolding.

The battle for the Abta chairmanship between Britaly Travel’s Daniele Broccoli and Advantage’s John McEwan has been dubbed by Broccoli himself as a “David and Goliath” contest.

The vastly different candidates have spelt out their manifestos, and companies and individuals have begun aligning themselves.

Nothing like this has been seen before in travel and there are already signs that allegiances are being forged around “party political” factions.

But it would be a shame if, just as greater transparency is forcing our MPs to step away from the old tribalism of party politics, this first-ever Abta election were to be decided on that basis.

Any candidate comes with baggage and could be accused of favouring one faction over another, but the key question here is which individual, regardless of the consortium they represent, is likely to be the most effective Abta chairman?

Thank goodness I don’t have to decide that one – but many of you do.

So, in the same way that our politicians are now having to select a new speaker of the House to represent them without fear or favour, our industry has to choose between two men whose personal credentials should sway the vote.

Broccoli, playing the “champion of the grassroots agent” card, has come up with a tempting offer on subscriptions and is promising a greater focus on issues that matter to members, like him, running businesses on the frontline.

McEwan, meanwhile, is hoping his own retail background, his knowledge and experience of corporate giants and unquestionable communication skills will enable him to unite the agent and operator membership for the benefit of the whole industry.

Barrack Obama-style campaigning techniques, including McEwan on Twitter and Broccoli on YouTube, that appeal directly to voters, have already been deployed by both sides.

But ultimately, these things won’t determine the outcome: you will.

Let’s hope for a clean fight, and may the best man win.


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