Jimmy Hoseason - A Self-Catering Pioneer

Jimmy Hoseason
published 15 November 2009, The Telegraph

The following excerpts is from an article published in The Telegraph as a tribute to Jimmy Hoseason, a self-catering pioneer, who died 7 November, 2009.

“Jimmy Hoseason, who died on November 7 aged 82, was one of the best-known entrepreneurs in the travel business and became head of the world's biggest provider of holidays afloat.

Taking over from his father, who had founded the family boating business during the Second World War, Hoseason made his reputation as a travel trade pioneer, and was the first to introduce direct telephone bookings, computerised reservations and "dial-a-brochure" requests.
The firm also catered for landlubbers, diversifying into self-catering cottages, chalets and parks, and became known for its television commercials for homely, if unglamorous, holidays in Britain...”

“During the years that followed, Hoseason steered the company through a period of rapid growth, adding holiday parks and holiday cottages to the boating business.

In the face of stiff competition from operators offering cut-price sunshine holidays in Europe, Hoseason stressed the importance of providing quality accommodation, amenities and service if visitor numbers to UK destinations were to be maintained...”

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