Partnerships
Corporate website
The Executive Unit renewed ETC's partnership with the World
An essential part of ETC's communication efforts to address a
Tourism Organisation (WTO) in 2004. This partnership, renewed
wider public is its corporate website at www.etc-corporate.org.
annually, is of considerable importance to ETC, helping to raise
Work began in 2004 on improving this site. At the same time,
the organisation's standing in the international tourism community.
work began on improving the ETC members' intranet.
It is especially valuable to the Research Group: in 2004, the WTO
Both new sites went online in early 2005.
contributed €20,000 to the group's annual research programme.
ETC enjoys a rewarding partnership arrangement with European
Cities Tourism (ECT), negotiated by the Executive Unit, which
addresses two main areas: sharing research, intelligence and
information, and carrying out joint marketing activities.
The Executive Unit team
Robert Hollier
Rob Franklin took over as Executive Director of ETC in July
2004. He is on secondment from VisitBritain, the NTO for
ETC's former Executive Director, Robert Hollier,
the UK, and comes to ETC from New York, where he was
died on 27th October 2004. He was 82.
VisitBritain's Executive Vice-President for the Americas.
While in New York, he was also chairman of ETC's US
As Executive Director from 1987 to 1995, Mr Hollier was
Operations Group and he has several years' experience in
instrumental in extending ETC's membership to a number
the joint promotion of US travel to Europe by ETC's members.
of central European countries.
Rob has been with VisitBritain and its predecessor, the British
However, his contribution to ETC started as far back as 1946
Tourist Authority, for 35 years. During this time, he has headed
and 1947. He helped to organise international meetings which
the Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa region, based in
led to the establishment of the International Union of Official
Singapore, and has held key positions in several VisitBritain
Travel Organisations (IUOTO), the predecessor of the World
offices worldwide, including São Paulo, Dallas, Oslo, Madrid
Tourism Organisation (WTO) - and also of the ETC.
and New York.
Subsequently, while working for the French Government
Tourist Services in several countries, he chaired ETC's
Marketing Committee and, in 1978, founded the Latin
American Operations Group which he led until 1986.