Travel agencies and operators are cutting back on training and fam trips as they focus on maximising sales, a destination representative has claimed.
Los Angeles Convention and Visitors Bureau director, Europe, Francine Sheridan said the bureau has reduced supplier training by 40% as the recession continues to bite.
She said the bureau has also had to delay one of four UK fam trips to the city this year, after failing to attract enough attendees.
Sheridan said: “The trip that was planned for October has been postponed until March because the message coming back from tour operators and agencies was they can’t let the staff out.
“We can get the flight seats now as the airlines are keen to promote the routes, but we can’t get the sales staff. I understand why: it is a sign of the times as much as anything.”
The Co-operative Travel director of retail distribution Trevor Davis admitted the agency chain had had to turn down a number of offers for fam trips this year.
He said: “From a staffing perspective [turning down fam trips] is not something I intend to see continue.
“We believe in getting our staff to experience the product and we want to encourage tour operators and cruise companies to invite our staff to do this, but certain times of year are easier than others.”