Derek Moore: Ex-tour leader pays tribute to Explore co-founder
Will PayneMore travel industry figures have paid tribute to Explore Worldwide co-founder Derek Moore, whose death aged 77 was confirmed on Monday (30 January).
Steven McHardy, now director of Australasian DMC Select Discoveries, was taken on by the late Aito chair in 1987 as an Explore tour leader. "The interview was daunting in the extreme," McHardy recalled. "Three hours of questioning, testing and role-playing scenarios.
"Surprisingly, he took me on, and I spent the next eight years travelling the world courtesy of Explore. During this time, I met many men and women who would become life-long friends, and I like to count Derek among them."
Almost a decade after they last saw each other once McHardy left Explore, the pair met again in Sydney around 10 years ago. "He was as gregarious as I remembered him, and recalled many of our experiences together with his usual excellent memory," McHardy continued.
"I recently bought his book [Tales of a Rogue on the Road], and thoroughly enjoyed reading about his early adventures, and understanding the events helped shaped the man that had a profound effect on my life."
Meanwhile, Chris Crampton, Pata chair UK and Ireland, described Moore as an "exceptional person who always made you feel like the most important person in the room".
"[He was] a mentor to so many of us," said Crampton. "He inspired and influenced many generations of travel professionals and he’ll be greatly missed," he added.
Fiona Jeffery OBE, founder and chair of the Just a Drop charity, said Moore was a "very particular" travel leader who "truly lived his values".
"I will always remember learning the tango with him in Buenos Aires with great fondness," she said. "A true gentleman, whose industry contribution was immense and whose loss is keenly felt by so many."
’Tireless campaigner’
Alison Cryer MBE, founder of travel specialist PR, marketing and representation firm Representation Plus, said Aito and the travel industry "won’t be the same without this inspiring, motivated and charming" industry leader.
"My thoughts are with his family, his Aito and Explore colleagues, as I reflect on the fun times I enjoyed in his company," said Cryer.
Jonathan Wall, managing director of Elman Wall, said: "When Elman Wall started using our Xeinadin branding last year, he took great delight with a microphone [at the Aito conference] calling me Jonathan from Xebedee; Jonathan from Xanadu and Jonathan from Xylophone, all with that twinkle in his eye."
Vince Wilkins, travel underwriter and coverage risk consultant, remembered Moore for always "giving freely of his time and experience", describing his comments and memories of his experience in Yemen as "invaluable".
Mick Thompson, from Travel Dog PR, knew Moore for more than 20 years. "Derek was a great entertainer and talented musician," he said. "I will miss him as will the travel industry for which he campaigned tirelessly for many years."
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