The industry is mourning the loss of Bruce Hutchinson, former Managing Director and one of the pioneering forces behind World Leisure Holidays, who passed away last week.
Hutchinson was part of World Leisure Holidays from 1993 to 2005 during the company’s early years as part of the Sol Kerzner group. He played an instrumental role in establishing and developing the company, recognising the potential of international and Indian Ocean travel at a time when many of these destinations were still emerging.
“Bruce was, in many ways, the brains behind World Leisure Holidays. He understood that travel was about far more than simply selling a holiday – it was about creating experiences, building destinations and inspiring people to explore the world,” said Brenda Mitchell, Head of Sales at World Leisure Holidays.
Sean Hough, MD of Hidden Africa and former Sales and Marketing Director at World Leisure Holidays, recalled joining the company at the age of 30 and the opportunity to learn from Hutchinson.
“I was there for five years and it was so much fun to learn from him and to work alongside him. He was a marketing genius, the likes of which the outbound travel industry had never seen before – not to this extent, or with his attention to detail,” said Hough.
Hutchinson’s functions, trips, Golden Shores Awards and marketing campaigns will leave a lasting impression on many of the travel agents who worked with him.
“He just made everything so glamorous and exciting. He understood that you’ve got to create some magic and it’s got to be special,” said Hough.
He was also known for his high standards and commitment to excellence.
“He was incredibly demanding of the people who worked for him and he did not suffer fools at all. He had ridiculously high standards to produce a better result and blow the customer away,” said Hough.
Hutchinson went on to build a career spanning more than five decades in the global hospitality industry, working with and shaping some of the world’s most recognised hospitality brands across Europe, North America, Asia, Africa and the Indian Ocean.
“For us at World Leisure Holidays, his legacy will always be closely connected to the years in which he helped build the foundations of the company we know today. We are deeply grateful for Bruce’s contribution, his pioneering vision and his enduring passion for travel,” said Mitchell.
