ABTA is to look at setting up a lottery system giving
agents the chance to win places at next year’s convention, in
a bid to boost the number of retailers at the event.
The idea is one of several initiatives being considered for the
2005 event in Marrakesh, following feedback from some delegates who
described last week’s conference in Orlando as disappointing
and desperately in need of a shake-up.
ABTA interim president Martin Wellings accepted some of the main
criticisms – that there were not enough agents at the
conference and the event lacked structured networking
opportunities.
He told Travel Weekly he was taking comments from delegates
seriously and would be investigating a number of options, including
sticking to short-haul destinations, increasing the number of
younger attendees and looking at financial incentives to encourage
more agents to attend. This year only 300 retailers flew out to
Orlando.
He said: “I do think we need to stick to a short-haul
destination for the next few years, as time that can be spared is
increasingly scarce and a convention that’s held nearer to
home will generally be cheaper to attend.”
He added: “I’d like us to set up a central pool of money
that members pay into. This cash would be used purely to fund a
number of ABTA agents to attend the conference.
“We would encourage agency managers to enter a prize draw and
the winners would get to go to the conference.”
He said the initiative would boost the number of agents
attending future conferences and would make up for the dwindling
number of operator-sponsored places. This year, individual tour
operators sponsored only 50 agents, compared with 300 last
year.
Wellings also said next year’s conference should have more
break-out sessions and should last a maximum of three days, with
each day starting earlier and finishing later so delegates can make
the most of their time at the conference.
Delegates also criticised some of the auditorium sessions for
lacking pizzazz. In particular, a dynamic packaging session –
which was potentially one of the most interesting sessions of the
conference – was criticised for lacking any substance (see
story, page 4).
Other delegates criticised networking opportunities. Club Med
head of UK sales Steve O’Loughlin said: “We are here to
network, to see people. From our point of view, there are not
enough travel agents here.”
Toucan Travel managing director Terry Thornhill added: “We need
more formal networking with operators.”