Danny Waine, a Newcastle Business School BA (Hons) Travel & Tourism Management graduate, and his business partner Helen Doyle scooped £100,000 investment in the TTG Big Idea competition launched in the Travel Trade Gazette magazine.
Danny Wayne & Helen Doyle at the TTG Awards
Four travel industry gurus each put £25,000 of their own money towards the prize as well as offering their knowledge, guidance and expertise. The pair were presented the prize at The TTG Awards at the Grosvenor House Hotel in front of 1300 of the UK's top travel executives.
After submitting their online proposal in July they found out in late August that they'd made the final 7 of the 26 proposals considered. They were invited to the TTG Headquarters at Blackfriars, Central London to pitch their idea to the panel of judges. Danny commented:
"Having been locked away for 3 days in Helen’s dining room practising the pitch the 15 minutes went really well and we were instantly asked a number of questions, mostly about our own experience, both at work and university."
The four investors have taken a stake in "Perfect Weddings & Honeymoons Ltd" and will launch the UK's 1st Weddings Abroad Specialist Tour Operator - "Perfect Weddings Abroad". The company, still majority-owned by Danny Waine and Helen Doyle will offer weddings abroad services to direct clients, independent travel agents and travel trade affiliates. Danny commented:
"Instead of working like most other travel operators that offer weddings and booking the holiday arrangements and tagging on the wedding at the end, Perfect Weddings Abroad will offer a full overseas wedding planning service and add-on the holiday arrangements."
Date posted: 29.09.08