A bit of controversy never goes astray and Richard Noon from Webjet managed to add some spice by providing inhouse estimates of rival company turnover.

Richard was the winner of the inaugural TRAVELtech Silver Tongue Devil Award.

Using Hitwise and PhoCusWright figures cross-referenced with Webjet's own $330m takings during 07/08, Noon estimated online turnover for Flight Centre at $180m, Best Flights $120m, Expedia $80m and Zuji $30m.

Arthur Hoffman (Expedia) and Zuji (Scott Blume) were sharing the stage with Noon at the time. Each company is American owned and Howard Hughes private.

Hoffman disputed the figures, saying the reality was "well north" of Noon's estimates while Blume declined to comment at all.

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