Helen Doyle and Danny Waine scoop £100,000 investment from travel backers.  

Watch the Big Idea video here

The winners of TTG’s The Big Idea competition are weddings and honeymoons specialists Helen Doyle and Danny Waine (pictured).

The duo had been about to apply for the BBC’s Dragons’ Den – until they saw TTG had lined up four investors to offer a £100,000 investment.

Helen, who owns a shop near Lichfield, and its marketing director Danny Waine will invest the money in a niche weddings and honeymoons tour operation, Perfect Weddings Abroad, that will sell through agents and direct. It will offer full packages and wedding-only options.

The £100,000 prize will pay for a glossy brochure, training roadshows for agents, office expansion, search engine optimisation and
attendance at wedding shows.

Helen said: “Entering The Big Idea made us think so much bigger than before.”

Danny and Helen spent a weekend practising the pitch. “We didn’t see any daylight, but the whole experience made it all worthwhile,” he said.

The investors voted unanimously to back the pair. On Holiday Group chief executive Steve Endacott said: “We were impressed that they were willing to put in some hard graft to make this work. 

“We think this is a great business plan that will make them, and us, substantial returns.”

Information on the Big Idea finalists: 

Adam Lilley: A former Going Places travel agent and product assistant for an independent tour operator, Adam wanted to set up a social networking specialist tour operation to Turkey for the singles market. 

The investors loved Adam’s pitch and drive and were impressed by the research he had done into his target market. 

They also thought there was real scope to harness the popularity of social networking sites to sell his holidays. 

The four investors also felt Adam held his own well under scrutiny but, although the idea was good, he lacked experience.

The investors liked Adam’s idea so much that they are going to offer him a job within one of their companies where he will be able to pursue his dream

Barrie Gotch: A former regional manager for a chain of nightclubs in Leeds, Barrie is now business development manager for his father’s Uniglobe franchise agency. He wanted to set up a niche tour operation called Disability Travel. 

Barrie had also made a major investment in a lodge in Africa, Munyanga Developments, which he also offered the investors equity in as part of the deal. 

The investors felt Barrie’s multiple interests across Uniglobe, disability travel and the lodge would dilute his focus on the tour operation and that he might be hard to pin down. 

Despite being resourceful and hard-working, the investors felt Barrie might quickly find another idea to pursue.

Philip Scott: A former accountant wanted to continue the work his late wife had achieved by growing her company for disabled travellers, Canbedone. Investors were impressed by Philip and his daughter Helen’s indepth knowledge, range of properties, destinations and client database, but were concerned the business had been making a loss for 18 years. 

Philip wanted the money to exploit the right marketing opportunities for the company. The investors could not make the figures add up.

Kerry Robins: An adventure travel expert who has worked as a tour leader wanted funding for her website In Earth’s Image, to make it the world’s number one adventure travel booking agent and information provider. 

Investors thought the site was beautiful and functional but felt her profit predictions were way off beam.

Toby Marsden: An ex-golf pro wanted to develop the “Expedia of golf” - an online golf travel shop, where customers can dynamically package accommodation, golf and transport together. He wanted a technology expert to help him take the business forward, but the investors were concerned Toby’s company name did not have the .com domain and were also worried that he had other business interests.