TOWARD Europe Sets Agenda for 2004
TOWARD Europe, the pioneering organisation created to maximise the profitability of the travel industry
, has today revealed its outline agenda for the year ahead.
The strategy, agreed by the membership at the organisation’s first conference in Nice on 8-9 February, will help to lay the foundations for long-term profitable growth of the travel industry.
Issues to be addressed by the organisation include inventory management, content aggregation and transaction processes, and business process analysis. The organisation is also investigating whether to undertake consumer research on behalf of its members.
TOWARD Europe’s management committee will finalise the proposed agenda during the body’s next management meeting, in March.
Bill Barnes, TOWARD Europe management committee member and head of tours business unit at Amadeus said: “The output of the Nice conference will ensure we maintain the momentum of TOWARD Europe’s first year, during which we witnessed a 80% increase in our membership and the launch of two successful white papers.
“Our members are driving strategy, which ensures TOWARD Europe will address the issues of most importance to tour operators, suppliers and technology providers in today’s market.
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“We are hugely excited by the opportunities and activity ahead. 2004 will prove a key year for the travel industry and for the growth of TOWARD Europe.”
Alister Beveridge also announced his decision to step down from his role of acting chairman and management committee member at the conference. He commented: “From the outset, I always wished to take on the role for one year, to help guide the organisation during its early development.
“Following a highly successful first 12 months for TOWARD Europe, I now wish to keep that pledge and hand over to a high-profile successor from one of the European industry’s leading companies.”
The organisation is now targeting a European figurehead to act as its president.
TOWARD Europe’s 36 members from across Europe include Amadeus, Accor,
BA Holidays, Cosmos, Hertz Europe, Eurostar, Europcar, RWA and Travel2.
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