Nigerian Flight Deck Travel and Business Reportage
FINCHGLOW TRAVELS, has urged partners at the 4th edition of its Trade Partner’s Forum in Lagos to diversify in their businesses, revealing that one of the biggest growing niche markets is the cruise business with over 28.5 million passengers in 2018.
Focused on the theme: “Global Mindset”, the forum was organized in a bid to help trade partners improve their processes, familiarize themselves with incoming technology and new information in the travel industry ahead of 2020.
Speaking on diversification, the Group Chief Operating Officer, Finchglow Group (GCOO) Mr. Ezekiel Ikotun noted that figures released by the World Maritime News (2019) have revealed that one of the biggest growing niche markets is the cruise business, which had over 28.5 million passengers in 2018, with a year-on-year growth of 9%.
He added that, according to Deloitte’s 2019 Travel and Hospitality Outlook, from 2009 to 2018, the number of open positions in the leisure, hospitality and travel sector grew tremendously, from 353,000 to 1,139,000, which strengthens the need to diversify.
“The key subject matter in the travel industry right now is ‘change’, with travelers leading a big push to move away from the norm, embracing new technologies and new types of travel. The ability to adapt, deliver excellent services and remain open to new technologies is crucial to being the best,” he said.
According to him, the essence of this forum is to birth newness and action in our businesses. We believe in collective growth and that is why we have remained committed to this forum. Having been in the industry for over 13 years, we have experienced the best and the worst, hence we have decided as an organization to change the narrative by consciously working with others and adding value to the industry in order to drive sustainability.”
To celebrate the event, Finchglow Travels rewarded its top ten trade partners with tickets to Turkey, courtesy of Turkish Airlines.
While presenting the recognition awards to the company’s top ten trade partners, the Managing Director Finchglow Travels, who is also the President of the National Association of Nigerian Travel Agencies (NANTA); Mr. Bankole Bernard said: “We can all stand, but standing alone leaves you in isolation. We are glad to be working with you and we appreciate your contribution to our businesses. I want to use this opportunity to implore you to ensure that you continue to deliver quality and excellence in your business.”
To grace the event and also educate trade partners on the new trends in the industry, representatives from Virgin Atlantic, Lufthansa Airlines, Turkish Airlines, Amadeus and Finchglow Holidays were in attendance.
