Face To Face with TTNG chief Gary Lewis

01 Jul 2020

Travel Network Group chief executive Gary Lewis sits down with TTG to discuss the consortium’s proposed acquisition of Global Travel Group, and the ongoing effects of the coronavirus crisis.

The move, which is expected to be finalised in the coming weeks, was announced last Thursday, and will see more than 200 Global members become part of TTNG – boosting its total membership to around 1,300.

Lewis told TTG this would strengthen TTNG’s hand when it comes to negotiating with suppliers on behalf of members, and would also give Global members access to TTNG’s additional benefits and platforms.

He said he didn’t envisage any difficulties migrating Global members, and spoke of the general positivity from prospective members following a series of Zoom calls in recent days.

Elsewhere, Lewis reflected on the initial three- to four-week scramble during the start of the coronavirus crisis, a time when the group feared it could lose up to 70% of its membership due to a total loss of revenue.

He praised members’ resilience despite all the challenges since mid-March, and the efforts of the majority of TTNG members to safeguard their businesses from the effects of the crisis.

He also discussed the wider travel sector’s collective work to highlight to government the severity of the crisis for outbound travel, and the lack of support and understanding from Westminster so far on refunds, cancellations, the Package Travel Regulations, quarantine and other matters.

Next: Lee Hunt talks air bridges and refunds in this week's One Week At A Time episode