Sir Richard Branson To Receive Innovation Award

Virgin Atlantic founder Sir Richard Branson is to receive an award in recognition of his achievements throughout his career in the travel industry.  The Steve Fossett Innovation Award will be presented to Branson at the TravelCom08 show in Chicago in April.

The award is in honour of Branson close friend Steve Fossett, a legendary aviator, pioneer and explorer who disappeared last year after his plane was reported missing flying over the Nevada desert. The Travel Industry Association (TIA) will present the award each year at the conference and stated this year there was little doubt that the man responsible for Virgin Holidays was the right recipient in 2008. TIA president and chief executive officer Roger Dow said:

“In presenting the first Fossett award, TIA recognises Richard Branson’s own pioneering spirit in every aspect of his life...Blazing trails throughout the world in almost every business imaginable, Branson has pushed every norm, daring to challenge the industry to do better.”

“Building Virgin Atlantic Airways from scratch in 1984, Richard has never stopped in his relentless combination of combining the best in product and service, establishing a model that the industry couldn’t help but try to follow.”

Sir Richard Branson is expected to pay tribute to his close friend at the conference which will also feature speeches by representatives of Priceline.com, Orbitz, Youtube, American Express  and Travelocity. In September 2007, the Civil Air Patrol spent over a month searching for Steve Foster after his disappearance but he has yet to have been discovered.  Foster was known as one of the world’s great adventurers after he spent more than a decade chasing world record achievements in sailing, ballooning and other outdoor pursuits.