P16 Columnist apr10 7/4/09 19:47 Page 16
news comment
ttglive.com
Jill Gardner Hays Travel
“I consider a conference a
success when each member
takes away one idea and puts
it into practice for the better”
A
s the old BT adverts used to tell us, Conferences are an excellent opportunity to
“It’s good to talk”. And here at get together and talk, re-evaluate and reassess.
Hays Travel we think they were While some might think they don’t have time to
right. Last week’s Independence “waste” out of the office and earn no commis-
Group conference in Birmingham was sion, I would argue the time out is well spent.
geared at getting a group of peers Measuring position against the rest of the
together to do just that. market is key to see how we are performing
There’s no escaping the challenging against everyone else. More importantly, the
market that we are experiencing at issues that face agents every day need to be
the moment. But this makes it more tackled and plans made to overcome them.
important than ever to compare notes with Topics debated at our conference ranged
those operating similar businesses around from price matching against tour operators’
us, and to share ideas for success. websites, to clients’ financial protection, to the
I consider a conference successful new insurance regulations imposed on agents
when each of our members takes away by the FSA regulations. All of these are real
at least one idea, puts it into practice issues for working travel agents that need
back in the office and a change for the to be regarded as opportunities, not
better happens – whether that’s a challenges, in order to succeed and
simple cost-cutting measure or a survive the current market.
fantastic new marketing idea. From the John Hays has always said he
feedback I’ve heard so far, I think last thinks our members learn more
week’s conference was a success. chatting in the bar than they do
The opportunity to get away from the in the business sessions and
day-to-day running of our businesses and this is the real value of our
take stock is vital. And to do this along- conferences. Mind you, I would
side others in the industry and have the question any business idea
chance to discuss common business interests conceived during a chat in the bar at 4am!
and share ideas is a real luxury. The value of conferences is often questioned,
One of the things I take most pride in is but those who attend to get something out of it
running a consortium that is made up of such are invariably the businesses that are likely to
innovative and diverse entrepreneurs, who are succeed and survive in this market.
happy to share their ideas and help each other. None of us is as clever as all of us...
Our members are a close-knit group of peers
and friends who enjoy sharing in each other’s Jill Gardner is Hays Travel’s commercial director
success, and are keen to add value – to their
own businesses and to others’ in the group. ■ Hays Travel IG conference report, p18
16 10.04.2009
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