October 2006

That Extra Mile...

To celebrate 20 years of Travel Management Group, Ian Dunwoody takes a trip down memory lane to share a couple of his personal highlights.

Since he established the firm in a small office in Warwick Street Leamington Spa, TMG has reached heights in its 20 years of business that Mr Dunwoody could hardly have dreamed of. As founder and chairman of Travel Management Group, one of the UK's most successful independent travel companies, Ian Dunwoody has always gone that extra mile for his clients including more than his fair share of celebrities...

Although the firm handles all types of travel business - exotic long haul locations are a specialality - it is its sporting heritage that captures the headlines. Like the time Mr Dunwoody was standing in the lobby of a Czech hotel when up wandered the chairman of Watford Football Club, whose side was to face Sparta Prague. Elton John was very big in Eastern Europe at the time. Because he was instantly recognisable he was trying to keep out of the public gaze and he wandered into the hotel lobby where Mr Dunwoody was running a help desk for the team, directors, press and sponsors. Mr Dunwoody continued "He asked if I was busy, and whether I fancied a beer. It turns out he's a really charming guy who really knows his football." The star revealed his penchant for travelling on the team coach, to and from matches, was disconcerting to the communist authorities. "They sent a limo for him, but he never used it," said Mr Dunwoody. "He preferred the team bus, where he could listen to the banter and immerse himself in football."

Over the years, getting into tight squeezes and then having to talk his way out, has become something of a Dunwoody trade mark but not all his experiences have been unnerving. There have also been many laughs. Like the time the Manchester United team were escorted to Volgagrad and Mr Dunwoody had become mystified at the amount of expensive Evian that Beckham, Giggs and the Neville brothers were getting through. Mr Dunwoody said "When I challenged them about it they said the water wasn't for drinking, but for washing in. It turned out Brian Kidd had told them that since the nuclear disaster at Chernobyl, anyone who washed in the tap water would see their hair drop out. Funny as it was, that single practical joke must have cost thousands of pounds in designer water."

From the beginning 20 years ago with 2 full time staff including Ian Dunwoody himself and 2 part time staff, TMG now has over 90 employees in 4 UK offices. This just goes to show what you can achieve by going that extra mile.

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