Associates

Nick Markson

Nick has been following the development of EU affairs affecting tourism for 15 years. Based in Brussels since being posted there by the British Tourist Authority (now VisitBritain) in 1997 as its Head of European Affairs, he became a freelance consultant and TEAM associate in 2003.

Working for both public and private-sector clients, he has built up extensive knowledge of the way that EU activities affect the tourism industry, whether through its legislative programme or funding initiatives. He has regular contact with the European institutions and tourism industry lobby groups, knows many of the personalities involved and is well placed to advise on ways of working with these organisations. He has in-depth knowledge of EU policymaking processes.

While at BTA, Nick worked with the European Travel Commission (ETC) in the creation and development of its New Media Group of e-marketing and tourism technology experts. Since leaving in 2003, he has maintained his association with this group, now renamed the Marketing and Technology Network, and deepened his involvement in other parts of ETC's work. As a result, he has gained considerable experience in working with national tourism organisations all over Europe and insights into their ways of working at head office and overseas.

Nick acts as policy adviser to the European Tour Operators' Association and the European Federation of Campingsite Organisations and Holiday Park Associations. He has frequent contacts with many international organisations ranging from the World Tourism Organization, European Cities Marketing and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development to the European Travel and Tourism Action Group and CEN and ISO, the European and international standardisation bodies.

Before moving to Brussels, Nick worked for the joint BTA/English Tourist Board policy team in London, advising the UK government and the tourism industry on political and legislative matters affecting tourism. He started his tourism career at Northumbria Tourist Board, organising training and business advice for small businesses and helping to establish tourism development programmes in the North Pennines and at Kielder Water.

While at BTA and the then English Tourist Board, Nick wrote and supervised the production of many publications. These included:

• An occasional European affairs newsletter, BTA at the EU, that was valued by readers in all parts of the industry (and not just in the UK) for its clear and straightforward analysis of tourism-related developments in Brussels.
  
  
• Strategic guidance, endorsed by the European Commission, on the use of EU structural funds for tourism projects in the UK.
  
  
• The first three editions of the English Tourist Board's advisory publication for accommodation businesses, the Pink Booklet - which became one of the ETB's and English Tourism Council's biggest-selling publications and was revised once more in February 2008 by VisitBritain.

Nick is a graduate in French and German, and has a reading knowledge of other European languages. He holds the Postgraduate Diploma in Tourism Studies from Surrey University.

Key areas of expertise

EU affairs affecting tourism; knowledge of EU institutions and processes; understanding and deciphering EU legislation and texts; policy advice to private-sector European trade associations; in-depth knowledge of European national tourist offices.