Comment: Causes for optimism

They have to balance the value the agent will get from the event with the loss of them from the store or call centre for a day – and the impact that might have on earnings with one fewer person on the desk or on the phones.

For self-employed homeworkers, the dilemma is even greater, as logging off to attend a training event means a great deal of catching up later.

At Travel Weekly, we believe these events can have a really positive effect if executed well.

It was fantastic therefore to hear how one agent has launched a completely new division in her business after attending a conference earlier this year.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone as excited or energised by a training event as Miles Morgan Travel general manager Mandy Shillito after the session on river cruise at Clia’s conference in May. So to see that excitement translate into a new business opportunity is really rewarding.

In other positive news, it was great to see Thomas Cook taking the first tentative steps back to Tunisia this week.

It is early days for the destination, of course, and the return will need to be carefully planned. But for the many Tunisians who rely on tourism for their livelihoods, and for the tourist board, which has worked so hard with the UK trade, it will be cause for some optimism.