Travel Weekly Blog

More blogging from our man at the ITT Conference in Dubai...

Shock horror! The ABTA chairman election appears, albeit briefly, to have dropped off the lips of executives here in Dubai.

This might surprise some people back in the UK given the near frenzy of activity in the media a few weeks ago when campaigning between the candidates began.

There are a few possible reasons for this:

1. No-one cares.
2. The Thomas Cooksaga is THE topic of conversation.
3. One of the candidates is considered a shoo-in.
4. Feeling that the new 'role' will not make a huge difference.

One suspects it is a combination of 2) and 4).

But given the result is being announced here by none other than ABTA boss Mark Tanzer tomorrow night (at around 8pm UAE, 5pm BST), there is perhaps not the buzz people would have expected.

In fact, the only mention of ABTA came during the final session this morning, when The Co-Operative Travel's Mike Greenacre called on the travel industry to back the organisation if it wants policy makers to treat it seriously.

I hope for Tanzer's sake the enthusiasm builds ahead of the result being made public tomorrow.