There is a hint of epochal change in the air. Several airlines are facing a do-something-new-or-die scenario, global distribution companies look to change owners, if not business models, and the economic cycle keeps promising a turn for the better. Amid monumental transformations, we also have witnessed massive change in the leadership of companies leading the charge.
The industry will miss the candor of Gordon Bethune, who gave BTN an exit interview before disembarking from the Continental cockpit
(see story). Bethune is not only one of a kind, but he also is the last of the major airline CEOs who got their jobs prior to Sept. 11, 2001. The post-9/11 airline CEOs are focused on reducing labor costs as never before, but they would do well to learn from Bethune's experience about communicating with employees and building a corporate culture to improve their chances of success.
Leadership change also is happening among the mega travel management companies, as relatively new CEO Hubert Joly
(see story) has taken full control from predecessors Herve Gourio and Robin Schleien. Merger and acquisition activity is driving other agency leadership changes.
Meanwhile, two seasoned leaders recently shared lessons they have learned by publishing books about their experiences.
Jonathan Tisch, one of the industry's most active leaders, wrote a Wall Street Journal business best-seller, published by John Wiley & Sons. Tisch, who is chairman and CEO of Loews Hotels as well as longtime chairman of the Travel Business Roundtable, the New York University Hospitality Investment Conference and, more recently, NYC & Co., New York City's convention and visitors bureau, penned "The Power of We: Succeeding Through Partnerships." The subject is one Tisch is well-qualified to address. He filled the book with anecdotes from his own business experience and from those of other business leaders, as well as dozens of tips that provide insight into making the most of partnership opportunities.
Another travel leader to publish a book this year was Ollie Adelman, chairman of Adelman Travel Group, the Milwaukee-based super regional travel agency soon to celebrate its 20th anniversary. Adelman also wrote an inspirational book, "All Things Are Possible," published by Wildcat Publications. His is an autobiographical account of how one visionary pursued personal and business success, and also details the development of Adelman Travel.
Regardless of the challenges that lie ahead of us, leaders new and old must not lose sight of the fact that this business essentially is about human interaction. To succeed requires some semblance of good fortune, but it also requires communications skills, a global outlook, a keen understanding of partnership and uncompromising vision. For our industry's sake, let's hope these are characteristics of this next wave of industry leaders.
David Meyer is editor-in-chief of Business Travel News