Steven Salmon is International Manager at the Confederation of Passenger Transport UK (CPT) and a new speaker for 2020. In his second day Keynote session (10.30am on 26 March), he’ll be discussing all things Brexit; including how it has changed/will change the opportunities available ‘over the water’ to British coach operators.

What’s your favourite place to visit in the UK and Ireland (and why): 

I have a favourite spot on the Cumbrian Coast, just south of the Sellafield Nuclear Processing site.  It takes forever to get there, but it is incredibly peaceful when you arrive.  It has a couple of decent pubs and a steam railway to ride on into the mountains.

Which coach tour operators / travel organisers do you particularly admire and why? 

Anybody who can grow their business in the current market.

What do you see as key travel / tourism trends in the coming year?

Sustainability.  We are beginning to see enquiries about long distance coach travel from new customers and we think there is some ‘flight shame’ going on.

Brexit 2020: What do you think are the implications for the domestic travel & tourism industry?  

Very hard to predict!  Our biggest worry is labour market pressure when the EU tap is turned off for ‘ordinary’ workers.

In your opinion, how can the industry continue to become more sustainable? 

In the coach world it’s mostly about propulsion.  Everybody is praying for a long range electric coach, or an affordable hydrogen fuel cell model with the infrastructure to go with it.  We’ve got a good story where we are now, but we are under extreme scrutiny in some of Britain’s towns and cities.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of your job? 

Changing people’s minds so that they make my members’ lives easier.

And the most challenging? 

Persuading operators that their coaches need to be impeccable every minute of the day.  Leaving the engine ticking over on a city street all evening was never good practice, now it’s even less acceptable.

Who or what inspires you to be even better? 

The best influencers are the quiet ones, who very few people know.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given? 

It’s easy to make people who agree with you agree with you more.  The hard job – and the one where you can add most value – is changing the mind of people who disagree with you.

See Steven at British Tourism & Travel Show 2020

The New European Landscape for British Coach Operators: 10.30am in the Keynote Theatre on Thursday 26 March

If you haven’t already, don’t forget to register for British Tourism & Travel Show, taking place at the NEC Birmingham on 22-23 October.