Union official appointed to tourist board

The London Tourist Board (LTB) has appointed the capital's leading trade union official in the hospitality business to its board.

Dave Turnbull, regional organiser of the Transport and General Workers' Union, is one of three new appointments to the LTB, which has also named its new chairman.

"The mayor wanted the board to be more reflective of the different parts of the industry," said Turnbull, who is representing the TUC at the LTB. "At the moment the board is dominated by company directors, so input from the workers' side is pretty important.

"The trade union movement has been good at promoting manufacturing and transport, but has not been very vocal on tourism."

Turnbull said tourism now had an influence on training and employment issues in London.

Referring to the continuous skills crisis in hospitality, LTB managing director Paul Hopper said: "Dave Turnbull's presence on the board will help us to understand the issues facing employees and how conditions can be improved so that London delivers the best possible customer service."

Joining Turnbull on the board are Trevor Phillips, chair of the Greater London Assembly, and Martin George, director of marketing at British Airways.

Outgoing chairman David Batts has been replaced by Teresa Wickham, chief executive of consultancy TWA Communications.

"Tourism currently represents 8% of London's GDP and provides employment to 275,000 people," said Wickham. "LTB is hoping to achieve a target of 290,000 jobs in tourism by 2005 and 310,000 by the year 2010."

by Angela Frewin