“ Like travel , events are ever-evolving and we are continuously developing new solutions to engage suppliers with the right travel sellers for their products .”
THE BENEFITS OF ATTENDING IN-PERSON EVENTS
WHILE VIRTUAL PROGRAMS HAVE THEIR PLACE , NOTHING COMPARES TO THE BENEFITS OF LIVE EVENTS .
WORDS / CODIE LIERMANN
TRAVEL SHOW MARKETING GROUP
“ Like travel , events are ever-evolving and we are continuously developing new solutions to engage suppliers with the right travel sellers for their products .”
Travel advisors networking with Visit Anchorage on the tradeshow floor .
Online resources play an important role in the travel industry . From supplier webinars to networking calls and virtual training programs , having the opportunity to connect with so many people through a phone or laptop is invaluable for busy travel advisors .
There will always be a time and a place for the convenience of online education and communication , but nothing replaces the benefits of attending an in-person event .
Travel advisors choosing to attend live events are forced to interrupt the day-to-day routine , and these types of interruptions oftentimes lead to new and creative ideas . Attendees are also more likely to focus on the topic at hand when they are fully immersed in what they ’ re learning .
Travel Show Marketing Group President and CEO Jim Cloonan is seeing a lot of demand for travel as well as an interest in investing in the travel advisor community .
“ In a ‘ post-pandemic ’ situation , there is so much pent-up demand for travel on a global level and a strong understanding of the value the travel agent community plays in these experiences ,” Cloonan said . “ As a result , the travel agent community went from survival to revival .”
Travel Show Marketing Group ( TravelSMG ) is an event and tradeshow organizer that serves the North American leisure travel advisor community . Its largest event is the Las Vegas Travel Agent Forum , and some of its more intimate events include the Romance Travel Forum and Family Travel Advisor Forum , among others .
According to Cloonan , the Las Vegas Travel Agent Forum attracts both new advisors who are first starting out in the business and established advisors interested in building new partnerships and strengthening existing relationships . The forum offers a platform for advisors to connect face-to-face , meet new suppliers and learn about emerging destinations and new products in the industry .
“ Live events offer a unique value that Zoom or webinars cannot , so we anticipate interest to steadily increase for years to come ,” Cloonan said .
52 / THE COMPASS / SUMMER 2023 vaxvacationaccess . com / thecompass