Entrants have until August 3 to come up with an idea, formulate a business plan and complete the online form on this site.

In August the Investors will shortlist the entrants into those finalists they wish to see pitch their ideas in the TTG boardroom overlooking the River Thames.

Finalists will come to London on September 4 to pitch their ideas to the Investors and to negotiate the level of equity in their company they are prepared to sell in return for the £100,000.

All finalists will be invited to the Grosvenor House in London on September 22 for the TTG Travel Awards, where the winner of the TTG Big Idea will be announced.

TTG will feature the winner in TTG and will follow their fortunes thereafter.

 
 
 

Have you got an idea that could shake up the travel industry but never had the funding or support to get it off the ground?

Maybe you have spotted a gap in the market for a totally new product, or some whizzy new technology, or a new way of selling holidays or business travel?

Are you a frustrated entrepreneur, fed up working for someone else, knowing you have an idea that could see you running your own business, resulting in fame and fortune?

Well now TTG is giving you the chance to get it off the ground with a staggering £100,000 investment from four highly successful travel industry entrepreneurs, in the TTG Big Idea 2009, in association with Dubai Tourism and Commerce Marketing.

Last year’s winners Helen Doyle and Danny Waine have described the victory as life changing.

And at a time when banks aren’t lending, most investors are hording their cash and the economy is suffering, this opportunity to walk away with £100,000 and four of the industry’s top business leaders as backers and advisors is an even more mouth watering prospect for ambitious entrepreneurs.

Paul Stanyer, founder of Holiday Taxis, Jane Dyson, who set up The Network, Attraction Tickets Direct founder Oliver Brendon and White Hart Associates LLP’s Christopher Photi, are each putting up £25,000 of their own money to invest in what they believe will be the next Big Idea in travel.

All you have to do is convince them that your idea will make the biggest impact on the sector – and more importantly, the biggest returns - and you will have £100,000 to follow your dreams. The investors will want equity in your company of course, but in return you’ll have the advice and guidance of four of the industry’s most experienced businessmen at your fingertips. What an opportunity!

Ian Scott, director of the UK and Ireland representative office of our sponsors for the second year running, Dubai Tourism and Commerce Marketing said: “In 2008, Dubai Tourism sponsored the big idea in its inaugural year.  The initiative from TTG was amazing, with months of proposals and pitches, the highlight of the TTG awards. The Big Idea remains about innovation, creativity, talent, fulfilling potential, pushing boundaries and finding the next big idea in the travel industry. And for all of those reasons, the fit with Dubai is clear. If it weren't for these very values, Dubai wouldn't be the phenomena that it continues to be, welcoming over 900,000 British and Irish guests into its hotels in 2008, and still experiencing double digit growth even in the current economic context.  I am therefore personally thrilled to be involved again in 2009.”

So start writing a business plan, brush up your pitching skills and prepare for a grilling – they won’t invest their money lightly!

To check out how to enter, more about the investors and what you stand to gain if you win this fabulous competition, click on the buttons on the left...