ABTA’s new roadshows are to offer agents the chance to win a free place at this year’s convention and will count towards the Accredited Travel Professional scheme in a bid to boost attendance.
Invites are being sent to the trade this week for ABTA’s first Talking Travel roadshows , which have been set up following its decision to ditch regional meetings.
ABTA hopes the roadshows will attract agents who never attended the traditional regional meetings, which were suffering from flagging attendance and struggling to attract a wider range of members in the area.
Although members can still hold local meetings, they will no longer be funded by ABTA.
The replacement mini-business convention events will run sessions to attract counter staff and managing director level members, and give the opportunity to quiz and meet ABTA top bosses.
ABTA members, partners and Passenger Shipping Association Retail Agents scheme are being invited.
Each roadshow will run from 2pm until 8pm with three sessions.
The first session Talking Cruise, from 2pm to 4pm run by PSARA, is aimed at counter staff with the latest cruise trends and how agents can boost sales.
This session will award points which count towards the ATP scheme.
The second session, ABTA Today Live, is from 4.30pm to 5.45pm and will debate hot topics with ABTA’s management including president Justin Fleming and chief executive Mark Tanzer.
From 5.45pm to 8pm there is A Time To Talk networking session when competitions, including an of a free ABTA Travel Convention in Tenerife place, will be run.
The dates and venues of the roadshows are as follows: March 8 at Elmdom Building, Birmingham, International Airport; March 13 at Radisson SAS Hotel, Belfast; March 15 at ABTA’s offices, 68-71 Newman Street, London; March 22 at Bristol International Airport; March 27 at Atlantic Suite, Manchester Airport; April 4 at the Thistle Hotel, Glasgow.
For non-members wishing to attend email events@abta.co.uk or book online.