Comment: Good partnerships are bedrock of the trade

I write often about the power of partnerships in this column, and it was something I was reminded of a lot over the past week.

My first reminder came during the shortlisting process for the Agent Achievement Awards, as I was blown away once again by the amazing individuals and brands who continue to go the extra mile for their customers and colleagues.

So many entries talked about nurturing great relationships with suppliers to engage clients and build mutually beneficial business – and those relationships were also evident in the supplier-voted categories.

My second reminder is featured in this week’s edition, as we hear from Aito members Travelwise and Carrier about how they liaised to secure an incredible booking worth more than £2 million.

Bookings like these clearly don’t come about every day, but this particularly uplifting story represents what can be accomplished when agents and suppliers work together to deliver not just for customers, but for each other.

My third and final reminder came from two different types of partnerships, as P&O Cruises and Royal Caribbean highlighted the value of their relationships with the Bafta Television Awards and the Eurovision Song Contest, respectively.

There are clear brand affinities that make sense for both lines in terms of consumer awareness, but what was particularly notable was their desire to use these platforms to host and celebrate their top trade partners. These sorts of partnerships don’t appear overnight but, as I am continually reminded, they form the bedrock of our fantastic industry.