A speaker and delegates at the ETOA conference

The annual European Tour Operators Association (ETOA) conference took place in early November at the new venue of the Earls Court Brompton Room, and was marketed this year as the ‘Global European Marketplace’.

Combined for the first time with the Association’s annual workshop for its members, this aimed to allow attendees further opportunities to network with each other. An exhibition featuring stands from a number of ETOA members was also a new feature.

Topics of interest to group travel organisers that were discussed at the conference included the moves made by Eurostar to promote its services as a greener way to travel to help it compete with low cost air carriers. These include a ‘Tread Lightly Initiative’, which pledges to cut CO2 emissions by 25% per traveller journey by 2012.

Also of interest was a presentation by Simon Carkeek, Executive Director of the online news service, eye4travel, which included the revelation that between 2000 and 2005, it is believed the use of off-line media such as travel guides and magazines in planning holidays has actually grown amongst consumers in the United States according to some research. Similar research in the UK has apparently not been conducted but it is certainly interesting that as many traditional publishers look ahead to developing their online products, travel magazines still appear to be used as much as they ever were as a tool to organise holidays, at least in this sector.