Limbering up for farewells
The end of a tiring but exhilarating four days at World Travel Market finally arrived and I embarked on a round of farewells, beginning with Steven Wolfson of The Training Works, and Martin Evans of Retraining.
These two had been my co-presenters and allies on the Discovery Seminars presented on Wednesday and Thursday. We had found the experience both pleasurable and constructive and I was especially pleased to hear from some delegates that they too had enjoyed what we’d had to offer.
En route to the exit I encountered Christine Taylor of MKI representing the Trinidad and Tobago Tourist Board, who implored me to stop for a minute at the Trinidad and Tobago stand where the party was still in full swing. Visitors were invited to imbibe a rum punch or two as the islands’ reps did their best to make their slogan ‘Come to Life’ work for the weary agents with a little help from the sounds of a steel band.
It certainly seemed to be reviving plenty of folk and, as one rep was overheard to say, “if that’s what Trinidad and Tobago can do for you in Earl’s Court, think how you would come to life on the islands themselves!”
“Can’t wait!” came the reply as the visitor limbo-danced off the stand.
Moving on, I found Ginger Onvitaros from South California. In the daily column I had been writing during WTM I had mentioned that the California stand had lots of goodies available for agents visiting it, including sauces, spices, coffee, pistachio nuts, wild rice, almonds and those scrumptious chocolate covered cherries that you just can’t seem to find in the UK (Ginger tells me that there is now a company advertising them on the Internet – an incentive to get Web-wise if ever there was one!)
As we were saying our goodbyes, an old gent carrying a huge plastic bag squeezed past us and helped himself to several packets of all the products on offer. Ginger looked across at him and asked if he wanted any information on California.
“No, no, I’m alright,” he said, “but I would like to know if you cook this wild rice as you would basmati?”
With a true Californian smile, Ginger told him the instructions were on the packet.
“Thanks,” he said as he struggled off with a bulging bag.
I have to say I was embarrassed at such a blatant display of greed and the sheer bad manners of the man. I jokingly suggested that he must have thought he was in Tesco – let’s face it, it probably won’t be long before it sells holidays as well!
Water way to exit
As I passed the Tunisian stand, rose water was sprinkled on my hands and a gentleman in traditional costume waved goodbye, promising to be back next year.
The scent of the water mingled with the myriad different smells of the market and made me feel sad that it was over for another year.
Some exhibitors had already begun to dismantle their stands and take away the little piece of their country that they’d brought over to show us; uniformed cleaners were waiting in the wings to swoop down like vultures and remove the piles of litter and exotic debris. Definitely time to leave, before my memories were spoiled by images of an empty, littered hall and an eerie silence!
A brief chat with a security guard on the door brought one last smile to my lips. He told me that he’d been approached by one woman who asked if he’d seen her husband. “Madam, I don’t know your husband,” he replied.
“Well, if you do see him, tell him I’ve gone without him!” came her response.
Errant husbands among the thousands of visitors to the WTM? You can spot them a mile away!
Is this all kosher?
On the way home I met Anthony Leyens, of ABTA magazine’s sales and marketing department. Anthony and I share a love of Jewish food, and, prompted by our samplings of foods from around the world at WTM, we fell into conversation about our favourite Jewish dishes.
Anthony tells me that some of the old shops selling traditional kosher food still exist in London’s East End; he said stepping into some of them is like stepping back in time. He described the sweet and sour cucumbers kept in wooden barrels and proper baked cheesecake (none of this digestive biscuit and cream cheese nonsense) and I was soon salivating.
It struck us that those people who’ve never tasted such delights would think us mad but the East End has so much to offer, quite apart from the Jewish fare. I’m sure there are hundreds out there who’d love to sample jellied eel, or real pie and mash. We decided there’s a business opportunity there, how about: Hill’s Historic and Nostalgic Eating Tours of London?
Seeking stress ‘re-leaf’
I raced to Waterloo for my train back to Dorset. On the train I read an article about the research of one Professor Roger Ulrich who claims that we should all be turning to trees for stress relief.
A survey carried out on commuters who drove to work in Texas revealed that those who drove along leafy, tree-lined lanes were less likely to suffer stress and arrived at work relaxed. All very well, I thought, but what about those stuck on the M25 where the trees are so polluted they don’t have leaves?! Or those catching the 7.15am to London? What happens when the stress relieving trees shed their leaves on the line and delay your train? All this and more I pondered as we wound our way south.
Having spent a few days in London, it was now time to wash a few smalls, dig out my sunblock, repack and whizz back up to Heathrow for Friday.
At the airport I met up with David Longmuir of Travel 2 and many other agents ready to begin the fam trip to the ABTA Convention in Australia. So get ready for a missive from Down Under!