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The Eastern Region’s most recently elected Conservative MEP, Vicky Ford, visited Luton again last week and joined me on a tour of TUI's Headquarters in  the Wigmore area of Luton (TUI owns Thomson Holidays and First Choice Holidays).  We also joined a lunch organized by the Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce focused on attracting more businesses to the region.

Two years ago after the merger of Thomson and First Choice, TUI could have chosen to locate its headquarters in London, Gatwick or Manchester - but they chose Luton.   We should be grateful for that decision, but they also made it for good business reasons.  The company’s senior management explained to us that Luton offers exceptional communication routes by road, rail and air and has a skilled, dedicated and talented local workforce from which to recruit.

Thanks to TUI, the airport, Easyjet, Monarch/ Cosmos, and other leading companies, Luton has a well deserved reputation as a key hub of the travel and tourism industry.  We need to build on this success and consolidate Luton as a centre of excellence in the travel industry which will sustain long term jobs for the local economy.

In a Vicky Ford said:

“Walking around the bright and spacious TUI building and meeting the staff one can feel the energy and enthusiasm – everyone making sure that their customers have great holidays.  Luton is the place where many travel companies are based and where millions of people start their holiday.  It is great to have such a successful company based here that brings so much joy to so many people.

As an MEP I can help TUI with the bureaucratic Brussels legislation that challenges their business – but if Luton wants an MP that really understands how their business ticks and why Luton is the place to be for companies then Nigel Huddleston is your man. Nigel has worked as an advisor to the travel and leisure industry for nearly 20 years and explained to me why the jobs and not just the holiday-makers come to Luton."

Accompanying picture of, left to right: Nigel Huddleston and Vicky Ford MEP, with Dermot Blastland (TUI UK CEO) and Neil Morris (Strategic Planning Director).