With so many training and networking events to choose from, plus these competing with agents’ busy work and personal schedules, sometimes bowing out of things previously committed to is unavoidable.
This can be really frustrating- not to mention costly- for organisers. Understandably they may expect some guarantee that people who say they are coming, will show up.
We asked our panel of experts whether they find training events useful, how organisers can combat no-shows, and whether it’s reasonable for organisers to ask for a refundable deposit. Read on for their verdict.
Tracie Ruffell
Director, Exemplar Travel
“I do try to sign up to what’s worth going to, but I have to weigh up what I’ll get from it versus being in the office. If you run your own business, with no colleagues to take over for you, you might agree to a daytime event but then if a nice juicy enquiry comes in it’s hard to resist. People can’t always go out in the evening either, because they have home-life commitments.
“On the flip side, I’ve been doing this for 27 years and realised you can never know everything. Things are always changing, meaning it’s very important to have these events. I find a mixture of presentations and networking in person is more engaging than online for example. I’m very choosy about what I go to, and prefer smaller, intimate events I’ve been cherry-picked for.
“I understand it costs a lot to put these events together, but there should be some form of insurance in place. My gut feeling is people won’t want to commit, and if you work for yourself it can be financially difficult to be charged a no-show fee. If it’s genuinely out of yo
Anneka Desrosiers
Co-Director at Southern Cross Travel
“We go to quite a few training events, as we have several team members we can send. For me, daytime events are better, as I’m a working mum.
“I can understand why evening events are tricky sometimes, as when you’ve spent all day in the office and then have to go up to London in the evening it ends up being a very long work day.
“I find that smaller events which have a speed dating format are better. Generally, it’s very worthwhile to attend training sessions as they can be very beneficial to your career development, you often learn a lot and meet interesting people.
“Something I’d like to see done more is agents being taken on a product day, for example to see a cruise ship or join a food tour. Experiencing the product for yourself is always the best way to learn.
“When it comes to penalty fees, charging a small one is best. There’s one company that charges £25 if cancelling within 24 hours of the event. It’s fair enough to do this, as companies put a lot of money behind such events, and it would hopefully discourage those no-shows.”
Liz Beaty
Director, The Travel Team
“Our office is in Cumbria so we don’t get very many office visits from representatives and there aren’t often events for us to attend in the local area. So when there is something arranged, we always try to support it.
“In this industry, it’s vital that travel agents constantly update and increase their knowledge, as things change frequently. Networking events are a great way to connect with other tour operators and for catching up with travel friends and acquaintances. It is so important for our careers to have personal contacts and to build on those relationships.
“We find ship visits are also really beneficial and are happy to travel to Newcastle, Liverpool or up into Scotland if we get the opportunity.
“Last summer I cruised from Leith to Newcastle with Ambassador overnight, which gave me plenty of time to explore the ship and experience it first hand.
“It must be frustrating for organisers when events are arranged and there are no-shows. I think if events are free to attend, enforcing some kind of a cancellation charge is fair enough.”
James Hill
Director of GoRiverCruise
“For the self-employed agent training events are not a “jolly” as they involve travel, accommodation costs (at times) as well as time away from the desk making sales. For the employed agent, they may be a pleasant break from the office but are often during out of hours times that are not paid.
“It is important to set some objectives, such as gaining knowledge of a new travel sector. And those new contacts that are made may in the near future become a very valued supplier.
“Most event organisers suffer from no-shows, which are at times inevitable but agents should at least offer an apology!
“If you are a homeworker or self-employed, as I am, you only have yourself to answer to, but agents who are employed by a company should try to find a replacement.
“For repeat no show offenders, that branch and/or company should not be allowed to send employees to future events for a set time. This may seem harsh but every effort should be made for a representative to attend a booked event rather than an individual deciding “not to bother”!”
Cath Cann
Travel Specialist at My Travel Guys
“We don’t attend as many events as before. This is mainly down to where they are staged. We are based in the East Midlands and few of the agent evenings come our way, so it usually means taking time out of the business to travel to Manchester or London.
“Our business is moving more in the direction of luxury travel so we tend to prioritise those events that put a focus on this sector of the market.
“Those events we do attend are always beneficial for making points of contact with hotels and resorts.
“Perhaps the problem of no-shows would be reduced if more events were held in the regions and away from the big city centres.
“We signed up for one in Manchester and on top of the 140-mile-round trip we had to fork out £35 to park, and that experience has put us off attending other events there.
“Also, some events we have been to were so overcrowded with agents that we had very little quality time to spend with suppliers.
“We would have no problem paying a refundable fee of say £5 or £10 deposit, if organisers introduced this to reduce those no-shows.”
ur hands, it could put you off that company.”
Paul Marsden
Luxury Travel Professional, The Travel Counsellor
“I go to a few agent training events and do find them useful to attend. I’d be happy to pay a small refundable deposit to secure my place.
“On a personal note, a big incentive for me would be to have ready-made social media content given to me on the back of attending a networking event. If the organiser pitched it to me as, once I’ve attended, they would provide me with several ready-made social media posts saving me the time and effort, that would be a good sell.
“I rarely do the events justice with my social media, but it would be win-win for both suppliers and attendees.”
