Could I submit a comment piece?
“Of course madam editor, no problem,” I replied, before slumping back into my chair wondering what the heck to write about.
Two minutes later I was on Twitter reading about the collapse of All Leisure Group.
We never have to wait long for the next story in travel do we? My fingers were soon flowing freely across my keyboard.
My first reaction to the All Leisure news was a raised eyebrow of surprise, followed shortly afterwards by a new appreciation for the challenges faced by Roger Allard and his team as I reflected on his comments.
Geopolitical events in 2016 plus increased costs due to post-Brexit currency fluctuations on the back of trading which had been “tough since the Arab Spring” all stacked up to tip the group towards its very sad demise.
Every new year heralds a mass of predictions, together with frantic assessment and planning of how to make the best of what the next 12 months will bring.
This time last year would the board of All Leisure have foreseen all that 2016 was to throw at them? Doubtful.
So, what’s the lesson for us to learn here? Perhaps in these uncertain times we would all be best served by casting aside budgets and plans, throwing the company crystal ball out the office window and just riding each trading day as it comes.
True, I’ve always enjoyed a little flying by the seat of my work pants, but it’s not a sustainable way to run a business. Let’s jump back to reality and recognise that having a plan gives direction, and in the real world, no business prospers without direction.
The lesson for me is to be fleet of foot and nimble. In 2017 it may be best to expect the unexpected and be ready for those curve balls surely coming our way.
My prediction would be that businesses able to adopt this approach will be those that make the most from the next 12 months.
Right now all the indications are that the travel-buying public are hungry for their holidays. For us at Holidaysplease, in the final quarter of last year sales were up 36%, and we closed December 49% up on our previous record December in 2015.
While always optimistic, that was a result we hadn’t quite predicted, and it is pleasing to note that the industry in general appears to have enjoyed a strong end to 2016.
Hidden among reports of recent poor trading stats for the retail giant Next was the line “consumers haven’t stopped spending, but we have been spending less on what we wear and more on what we do”.
Good news for our industry then because to travel is very much to do.