David Scowsill
{{Short description|Former President and CEO of World Travel and Tourism Council}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| name = David P. Scowsill
|image = David Scowsill - WTTC Global Summit 2015.jpg
| nationality = British
| alma_mater = University of Southampton
| occupation = Businessman, Chairman & Non-Executive Director
| known_for = WTTC, Opodo, Hilton Worldwide, British Airways, American Airlines, PrivateFly
}}
David P. Scowsill is a British businessman, and serial non-executive director and chairman, known for his contributions to the travel and tourism industries. He is the former president and CEO of the World Travel & Tourism Council.{{Cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/douggollan/2015/09/14/can-tourism-bring-peace-colombian-officials-say-yes/|title=Can Tourism Bring Peace? Colombian Officials Say Yes!|last=Gollan|first=Doug|website=Forbes|language=en|access-date=2019-10-22}}
Early life and education
Scowsill was born in Great Britain and was educated at Stowe School in Buckingham, and later graduated from the University of Southampton with an Honors Degree in Spanish and Latin American studies.{{Cite web|url=https://www.weforum.org/people/david-scowsill/|title=David Scowsill|website=World Economic Forum|access-date=2019-10-22}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.hospitalitynet.org/news/4080641.html|title=SAHIC Announces WTTC CEO David Scowsill as Keynote Speaker at SAHIC Cuba|website=Hospitality Net|date=14 May 2017 |language=en-us|access-date=2019-10-22}}
Professional career
Scowsill joined British Airways after university working in various operational and sales positions worldwide.{{Cite book|title=Limited skies: a black man's journey through the corporate world|last=Stuart|first=David A.|date=2008|publisher=AuthorHouse|isbn=9781434383105|edition= 1st|location=Bloomington, IN|oclc=469098037}} In 1991, he left British Airways to join American Airlines as managing director of sales and marketing for Europe, Middle East, and Africa. In 1993, Scowsill returned to British Airways as regional general manager for Asia and the Pacific and as director for Europe and the Middle East. He played a key role in forming the first global airline alliance with Qantas.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ft.com/content/7ba99556-f7c3-11e1-ba54-00144feabdc0|title=Qantas agrees alliance with Emirates|date=2012-09-06|website=Financial Times|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-10-22}}{{Cite web|url=http://ttnonline.com/Article/10555|title=WTTC boss calls for recognition|date=2010-11-01|website=ttnonline.com|access-date=2019-10-22}} His joint service arrangement between the two airlines later became the model for many other aviation joint ventures.
In 1997, he joined Hilton International's board of directors.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thecaterer.com/archive/people-132|title=Hay leaves school dinners for Eurest|date=2000-01-01|website=The Caterer|language=en|access-date=2019-10-22}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.marketingweek.com/ba-exec-nets-hilton-alliance-role/|title=BA exec nets Hilton alliance role|date=1996-11-15|website=Marketing Week|publisher=Centaur Media|language=en|access-date=2019-10-22}} In 1999, he became the CEO of Minit Group, after which in 2001 he joined Orange communications as a managing director of the consumer division.{{Cite web|url=https://www.lesechos.fr/2002/10/david-scowsill-700478|title=David Scowsill|date=2002-10-02|website=Les Echos|language=fr|access-date=2019-10-22}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/articles/18757/opodo-appoints-full-time-ceo|title=Opodo appoints full-time CEO|date=2002-09-19|website=Travel Weekly (UK)|access-date=2019-10-22}} In 2002, Scowsill was appointed CEO of Opodo, the online travel agency founded by a consortium of European airlines. Scowsill grew the company from startup until Amadeus bought Opodo in 2004.{{Cite web|url=https://www.manager-magazin.de/digitales/it/a-304377.html|title=Amadeus: 62 Millionen Euro für Opodo|date=2004-06-16|website=manager magazin|publisher=Manager Magazin|trans-title=62 million euros for Opodo|access-date=2019-10-22}}
Scowsill then worked in private equity and venture capital,{{Cite web|url=https://www.eyefortravel.com/archive/entrepreneurs-announced-eyefortravel%E2%80%99s-inaugural-innovation-initiative-%E2%80%93-travel%E2%80%99s-%E2%80%98dragon%E2%80%99s-|title=Entrepreneurs announced for EyeforTravel's inaugural Innovation Initiative – Travel's 'Dragon's Den'|date=2008-05-01|website=www.eyefortravel.com|publisher=Reuters|access-date=2019-10-22}} dealing with startup investment and completing deals in the technology and travel sectors. His focus on travel deals resulted in Scowsill becoming member of Worldhotels's supervisory board which was formed in 2005.{{Cite web|url=https://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/btn20050617105552171/|title=Industry Big Hitters Join Worldhotels|date=2005-06-17|website=Breaking Travel News|access-date=2019-10-22}} After that, Scowsill held a Chairman position at YuuGuu, and served as non-executive director at Venere.com and On The Beach Holidays. He has been interim Sales and marketing director at easyJet airlines, Group Marketing Director at Manchester Airports Group. He then became Chairman of PrivateFly, a jet charter company, securing the first phase of funding for the business in 2010.{{Cite web|url=https://www.travelmole.com/news_feature.php?id=1145539|title=PrivateFly continues team expansion|website=www.travelmole.com|language=en|access-date=2019-10-22}}
Travel industry and government advocacy
In November 2010, Scowsill was appointed president and CEO of the World Travel & Tourism Council,{{Cite web|url=http://old.seattletimes.com/html/businesstechnology/2019346119_africahotelsxml.html|title=Upscale hotels sprout as Africa blossoms|last=Straziuso|first=Jason|date=2012-10-04|website=The Seattle Times|publisher=The Associated Press|access-date=2019-10-22}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/15/business/us-airlines-face-uphill-struggle-against-mideast-rivals.html|title=U.S. Airlines Face Uphill Struggle Against Mideast Rivals|last=Mouawad|first=Jad|date=2015-12-14|work=The New York Times|access-date=2019-10-22|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}} the global authority and research group on travel and tourism economic and social contribution.{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/tourism-record-idUSL1E8N5FBA20121206|title=International tourism to reach record 1 billion travelers in 2012|last=Forsyth|first=Jim|date=2012-12-06|work=Reuters|access-date=2019-10-22|language=en}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/30/travel/a-look-at-global-travel-trends.html|title=A Look at Global Travel Trends|last=Christiansen|first=Kenan|date=2014-03-26|work=The New York Times|access-date=2019-10-22|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}
As part of his role was the partnership with UNWTO and the Open Letter on Travel and Tourism that produced 84 meetings with Presidents and Prime Ministers including Bill Clinton, King Abdullah of Jordan, Yoshihiko Noda of Japan, President Zuma, Michelle Bachelet, José Manuel Durao Barroso, Anibal Cavaco Silva, and Jose Manuel Soria.{{Cite web|url=http://media.unwto.org/press-release/2012-12-07/tourism-key-jobs-and-exports-says-president-portugal-accepting-unwtowttc-op|title=Tourism key for jobs and exports says President of Portugal accepting the UNWTO/WTTC Open Letter on Travel and Tourism|date=2012-12-07|website=UNWTO|access-date=2019-10-22}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.wttc.org:443/about/media-centre/press-releases/press-releases/2017/david-scowsill-to-leave-wttc-in-june-2017/|title=David Scowsill to leave WTTC in June 2017|date=2017-04-26|website=WTTC|access-date=2019-10-22}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.traveldailynews.com/post/wttc-and-unwto-urge-uk-government-to-lift-air-ban-to-sharm-el-sheikh|title=WTTC and UNWTO urge UK government to lift air ban to Sharm el Sheikh|website=TravelDailyNews International|date=28 November 2016 |language=en-US|access-date=2019-10-22}} He was also a founder and chairman of The Global Travel Association Coalition.
He was a regular spokesperson for global findings and growth statistics on travel and tourism at conferences and global summits{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenational.ae/business/travel-and-tourism/abu-dhabi-opens-its-doors-to-davos-of-the-tourism-industry-1.393065|title=Abu Dhabi opens its doors to 'Davos of the tourism industry'|last=Gutcher|first=Lianne|date=2013-04-09|website=The National|language=en|access-date=2019-10-22}}{{Cite news|url=https://elpais.com/economia/2015/04/15/actualidad/1429116672_997894.html|title=El turismo se enfrenta con optimismo a los retos tecnológicos|last=Jiménez|first=Eneko Ruiz|date=2015-04-15|work=El País|access-date=2019-10-22|language=es|trans-title=Tourism is optimistic about technological challenges|issn=1134-6582}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/articles/37157/uk-failing-to-understand-importance-of-travel-wttc-president|title=UK 'failing to understand' importance of travel – WTTC president|date=2011-03-19|website=Travel Weekly (UK)|access-date=2019-10-22}} till his departing from WTTC in 2017.{{Cite web|url=https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Government/David-Scowsill-depart-WTTC|title=David Scowsill to depart WTTC|last=Jainchill|first=Johanna|date=2017-04-26|website=Travel Weekly (UK)|language=en|access-date=2019-10-22}}
He has also been one of the main voices in the media regarding terrorism,{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenational.ae/business/asia-will-be-backbone-of-global-travel-explosion-in-next-decade-1.378903|title=Asia will be backbone of global travel explosion in next decade|last=Duncan|first=Gillian|date=2013-04-10|website=The National|language=en|access-date=2019-10-22}} disasters and the tourism industry.{{Cite web|url=https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/oct/1/hotel-developers-plan-40000-new-rooms-across-afric/|title=Hotel developers plan 40,000 new rooms across Africa|last=Straziuso|first=Jason|date=2012-10-01|website=The Washington Times|language=en-US|access-date=2019-10-22}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2014/02/20/tourism-council-tells-sochi-to-shape-up-a32298|title=Tourism Council Tells Sochi to Shape Up|date=2014-02-20|website=The Moscow Times|language=en|access-date=2019-10-22}}{{Cite web|url=https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/Tourism-heavyweight-sees-untapped-potential-in-Asia2|title=Tourism heavyweight sees untapped potential in Asia|last=Kodaki|first=Mariko|date=2016-09-15|website=Nikkei Asian Review|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-10-22}}
References
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Category:British business executives
Category:Alumni of the University of Southampton
Category:People educated at Stowe School
Category:21st-century British businesspeople
Category:20th-century English businesspeople
Category:21st-century English businesspeople
Category:British chief executives