TruPlaces. Where do we start? Founded by this guy (an ordinary guy really) called Andrew Lloyd Hughes. He’s a tourism consultant, at least that’s what he says, and tends to get a little bit overly excited about the subject (which is quite sad but true!). I’m a friend by the way, but possibly an ex-friend by the time you read this.....
Andrew has spent years in tourism in both the UK and overseas. Travelled a lot, and tells everyone too. Nearly didn’t come back from South Africa following his beloved rugby, and nearly didn’t come back from Oz, (where his wife’s family live), not once, but twice. But unfortunately, it looks like he’s here to stay. Has too many stories to tell on travel, but doesn’t repeat the one when allegedly he went to cry in the jungle when he got lost, and his wife had to slap him in what was surely a bit of a ‘Stan Laurel’ moment.
Given his experience, it is perhaps surprising that he sites Holland as his favourite country, “that’s where I went to college, not uni OK” – doesn’t like the term ‘uni’ believing the term was fashioned from bad Aussie soap operas in the 80s. On this occasion, I think he may be right.
For the last few years, he’s been travelling up and down the country in Wales tasked with identifying the very best places to stay, eat and do (so Wales can finally start targeting the top end of the tourism market, aka those with the money). He’s put together marketing campaigns for Wales through the initiative known as Wales in Style (yep, there is style in Wales!) and thinks he specialises in contemporary marketing (but I don’t believe that for one second!). Has helped loads of business in Wales though, and has helped them improve on the quality of their offer and the quality of their marketing. Now he’s trying to set up a charity to help sustainable tourism in India too, where he’s off with his wife Michelle soon, who he met in school, and whose grandmother lived next door to Andrew’s grandmother and were the best of friends. Some coincidence. Married for 10 years and have two boys Cynan and Owain, named respectively after a famous Welsh prince and bard. Both boys are fluent in their mother tongue, unlike the father, who makes only bad embarrassing attempts at the language and usually only after a few drinks.
Speaking of truth. This has been very true and I believe an accurate reflection of him which I hope gives you an idea of where TruPlaces is coming from. At least he’s had the courage to allow it to be published (put it this way, he better had publish it!) because this is my opinion. Opinions count, not what he says but what others say. ‘Collectively there’ll be consensus’ of course, and it is perhaps fitting that TruPlaces is adopting this very approach too. That’s what it’s all about.
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