A host of travel trade professionals have backed a call to reduce the burden of industry conferences on supplier business development managers.
Travel Village Group chief executive Phil Nuttall last week warned many BDMs were facing burnout and said fewer events would lead to a better work-life balance – and more time to support agents.
This week, Nuttall said he had been contacted by many people in the trade, including at the Clia RiverView Conference, to say they shared his concerns. “I’m not telling people how to run their business – that’s not up to me.
I also understand that networking is a key element of our industry and conferences provide a great opportunity for it,” he added. “I just think we need to take a step back and evaluate how we do things before it’s too late. Clearly there are lots who agree.”
More: Leading agent warns BDMs facing burnout due to arduous workloads
Dozens of comments came from agents and suppliers on Facebook, supporting his remarks and echoing his call for fewer conferences on the trade calendar, especially in the autumn.
Anthony Blackmore, Cruise 365 founder, said: “Phil Nuttall is certainly speaking a lot of sense. Peaks planning time is more difficult as key contacts are at conference after conference.”
Kay Byrne, owner at Palm Trees Travel, said running her own agency was “far easier” than her 10-year stint as a BDM.
She now has a “better work-life balance” as she is not “racing around the country, stuck in traffic jams, attending meetings and conferences six days a week”.
Kyle Beevers Tripse Travel co-owner, agreed, commenting: “Far too many conferences [are] crammed in at the same time of year, half of them unnecessary.
“We’re very lucky to work in an industry where there are countless social get-togethers, but at the same time it adds additional pressure…and takes away from the normal day-to-day of running businesses and totally undervalues what we do as an industry.”
Clare Dudley, managing director at Ponders Travel, said: “BDMs are expected to be here, there and everywhere, and so much of their work is outside of what is normal working hours.
“There is often a need to catch-up on emails and calls after being on the road all day. We need to support these very important people in our trade.”
Richard Slater, managing director of Henbury Travel and Northwest chair at Abta, noted how many consortia hold separate conferences for retail agents, managers, homeworkers and other business units.
“All of these could easily be combined into a single conference. The money currently spent on these various conferences could be better used for proper product/destination training,” he commented.
Rachel Wright, Cruise Select owner, added: “BDMs are exhausted at conference time. From an agent’s point of view, we are planning Q1 activity which needs signing off and no one [is] around to do this.
“There have been times when the BDMs don’t have the back-up support to assist them at this crucial time of year of planning.”
However, Tom Parsley, a Personal Travel Consultant with Hays Travel, noted: “There is the old adage: if you can’t take the heat then get out of the kitchen.
“I understand the concerns being raised but surely, if you take on the role, you have an understanding of what’s involved?
“The responsibility for all of us in the industry is your own and colleagues/friends’ well-being.
“I am always amazed at how often you see posts from agents asking for help to make a booking or answer a straightforward query late of an evening.
“Switch off, for goodness’ sake.
“Surely the solution to this issue is up to the employer and the BDM and other staff to establish clear conditions about how many evenings, weekends, conferences etc are worked – and also for agents to understand what the role of a BDM is and respect they have a family life and not a 24-hour helpline role.”
Tom Dumbrell, national sales manager at Tauck, noted how operators continue to attend events “in droves”.
“Fair argument that it is the responsibility of the BDM’s employer or manager to supervise resources accordingly, based on priorities and staff wellbeing,” he said.
“I hear workload complaints often and it’s typically from those who would attend and sponsor the opening of an envelope.
“It’s the extraneous days and padding at conferences that irk me. There is a compromise here, but it does start with learning to say no.”
Picture by Shutterstock/Aree_S