Tipto is to reintroduce its agent SuperShows and bring “more fun” to its events this year, according to new chairman Richard Forde.
The trade marketing organisation, which now boasts 20 supplier members, will run a SuperShow in the north and one in the south of England before the end of the summer and has also revealed plans for the return of its summer VIP event.
This year will be the first time either of these have run since pre‑Covid and since Tipto was saved from potential closure under new management in 2021.
Forde, who joined as chairman at the end of November, said the SuperShows, originally introduced in 2015, had been put to the vote and received member approval.
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“There is a fixed budget and these shows cost more; it’s about getting the balance right,” he said, adding: “We are looking to get more staff from established travel agencies, such as miniples, to the SuperShows.”
Forde admitted it had been harder to attract agents to events in 2022 due to pressure on workloads and staffing, but said more homeworkers had attended its roadshows than in the past.
“Cancellations were an issue last year and we need more agents to let us know early if they can’t make it,” he added.
The SuperShows aim to attract more than 100 agents each and are attended by all Tipto’s suppliers, compared with the traditional Face 2 Face roadshows which cater for about 45 agents.
The SuperShows also feature a trade show format rather than ‘speed dating’. Activities will include a giant travel trivia quiz.
Forde said Tipto also aimed to up the ante in terms of fun at its events, with more prizes to win and more entertainment, such as comedians and magicians, at its roadshows.
“After Covid it was just about product training, but now it’s about making it a bit more fun and bringing back a variety of training days and roadshows,” he said.
Tipto plans to run 25 Face 2 Face roadshows during its 24th year, which started in September 2022, with 16 roadshows scheduled up to the end of August this year. In addition, it will hold a January Afternoon Tea event, a summer VIP event, and four training days for 30 agents each, hosted by eight suppliers.
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