Peter Long

Peter Long
Born Peter Long
4 June 1952
Residence Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Nationality British
Occupation Chief Executive of TUI Travel PLC
Board member of
 Senior Independent Non-Executive Director, Rentokil Initial plc

Peter Long (born 4 June 1952) is an English businessman and Chief Executive of TUI Travel PLC[1]

Early Years

Long was born in Malta, as his father was serving in the Navy. He attended Prices Grammar School in Fareham, Hampshire, following which he went to further education college to qualify as an accountant.[2]

Career

Long began his career as a cost accountant at electronics firm Vernitron.[3] He then worked in finance at engineering firm BTR before moving into the travel industry.[2] He joined Harry Goodman’s International Leisure Group in 1984, becoming Chief Executive of the tourism division.[4] Following this he set up Sunworld in 1991 with Spanish hotelier partners which was eventually sold to the Thomas Cook Group in June 1996.[3]

In November 1996 Long was appointed Group Managing Director of First Choice Holidays PLC and became Chief Executive in September 1999.[5]

He was one of the architects of the 2007 consolidation in European tour operating in which First Choice Holidays merged with TUI Tourism (part of TUI AG) in September 2007 to create TUI Travel PLC, one of the largest leisure travel groups in the world.[6] TUI Travel’s businesses range from market-leading sun and beach brands to specialist activity and adventure and online accommodation providers.[7] Post-merger, Long grew TUI Travel’s profits in sometimes challenging market conditions by offering more differentiated and unique holiday products - hotels and activities that cannot be bought through any other operator - to its customers.[8]

On 1 October 2013, Peter was appointed President of the Family Holiday Association, a UK-based charity which provides short breaks away from home for more than 2,000 disadvantaged families.[9]

Peter is also currently the Senior Independent Non-Executive Director of Rentokil Initial plc.

Honours and awards

Medal of the Order of Isabella the Catholic for contributions to services to Spanish tourism (2009).[10]

Member of the British Travel Industry Hall of Fame[11] (inducted in 2001).[12]

Odyssey Award from the Institute of Travel and Tourism (received twice, 1998 and 2008).[13]

References

  1. ↑ TUI Travel PLC Annual Report & Accounts 2012
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Steiner, Rupert. "TUI Travel chief executive Peter Long on how he plans to beat the crunch",Daily Mail, London, 4 September 2008.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Davidson, Andrew. “The Andrew Davidson interview: Peter Long”, “The Sunday Times”, London, 4 October 2009.
  4. ↑ Walsh, Dominic. “Business big shot: Peter Long”, “The Times, London, 20 March 2007.
  5. ↑ Business Week "Executive Summary: Peter Long”, “BusinessWeek”, 7 February 2013.
  6. ↑ Mychasuk, Emiliya. “Peter Long”, “Financial Times”, 26 March 2008.
  7. ↑ TUI Travel PLC
  8. ↑ Thomas, Natalie. “Monday Interview: TUI Travel chief Peter Long”,”The Daily Telegraph”, London, 6 January 2013.
  9. ↑ Davies, Phil. “Tui's Peter Long takes up role as FHA president”, “Travel Weekly, London, 1 October 2013.
  10. ↑ E-tid. "Long picks up award", London, 29 May 2009.
  11. ↑ Eastcastle Publishing. "British Travel Industry Hall of Fame".
  12. ↑ Travel Weekly. Top men head for the hall of fame.
  13. ↑ Institute of Travel & Tourism. "Odyssey Award Winners".