ETRC board hails "major step forward"

John Rimmer

Print Article E-Mail Article E-Mail Author

The new European Travel Retail Council hails its arrival as a defining moment for regional travel-retail

The managing board of new trade association European Travel Retail Council (ETRC) is seeking industry-wide support to raise the profile of travel-retail in the region. Association president Frank O'Connell hailed the creation of the body as "a major step forward in ending the fragmented nature of our industry representation".

"For the first time, we have an association that defines our industry in Europe and involves all sales channels," O'Connell added. The ETRC's priority is to promote the travel-retail trade and what it contributes to European industry as a whole. "Travel-retail is right at the point of interchange between countries in Europe, but we are not recognised as such," argued O'Connell. "There's an ignorance that we are determined to address."

O'Connell said that ETRC would devote more resources to addressing broad, economic issues, in contrast to the narrower political focus of previous European associations. "We can act as a catalyst for research, and a motivator to acquire more research. I'd like to encourage transparency, and to find a forum for the exchange of information. At present this is a big weakness of our industry."

Among other key issues facing the ETRC is recruitment, and O'Connell said the board would look to gain new members from eastern Europe in particular. Attracting associate members among national and international travel organisations is also a priority, he said. "The more diverse our membership, the more powerful our voice is."

O'Connell is joined on the ETRC board by three vice-presidents: Donatienne de Fontaines-Guillaume, overseeing finance; Jacques Parson, in charge of marketing; and Fulvio Fassone, responsible for business development and research. Barry Goddard is company secretary and Keith Spinks is employed as secretary-general.

A full report on the ETRC's aims and objectives will appear in the Cannes issue of DFNI, out next week.