WISE COUNSEL BY BARBARA CHARLTON Looking forward to 2014
BARBARA WAS VOTED MOST HELPFUL TRAVEL COUNSELLOR OF THE YEAR FOR TWO CONSECUTIVE YEARS.
BARBARA.CHARLTON@
TRAVELCOUNSELLORS.COM T: 0845 0587 290
TIME TO CELEBRATE I recently attended my 11th annual Travel Counsellors
conference, and the difference in size to my fi rst, in Bolton in 2003, was unbelievable! Every year we have a big ‘pow wow’ and it's always a great chance to catch up on the latest news from the destinations and renew trade friendships. Over the last decade there's been no change in the friendship and closeness between us TCs and our head offi ce staff and suppliers – but there has been a huge difference in numbers attending! In 2002, when I joined the Travel
Counsellor family (because that is exactly what it is), there were around 280 TCs and they all operated in the UK. Now there are more than 1,250 TCs in seven countries around the world. The 2013 conference was attended by 1100 delegates, made up of TCs, their partners and over 170 suppliers. This year, in Telford, we were fantastically supported by our supplier partners, with prize holidays totalling £70,000 given away – which resulted in 17 very happy TCs! The headline speakers included Debra Searle MBE, a British adventurer and clearly very strong woman who spent four months alone at sea rowing across the Atlantic. Then, on the second day, we had the
terrifying and funny Karren Brady (of The Apprentice fame) who showed us how a 23-year-old girl can take on not just the world but also the male- dominated football world. These strong ladies prove that if
your attitude is right there can be no stopping you – you just have to choose the right attitude each day! As well as the line up of great speakers, company updates and plans for the year ahead, this year we were kept laughing by the comedic antics of Rob Brydon and the music of McFly. It was nice to be able to see a band made up of real musicians rather than miming puppets, and at such close proximity.
STAY-CATION After my weekend in Telford I decided to make the most of being in Shropshire and stayed on for three nights in a lovely upmarket guest house in the countryside. We did some Xmas shopping in
Telford, took in a little cultural history at the Ironbridge Gorge Museum and enjoyed a couple of lovely long bracing river and countryside walks. As we all know, we don’t get much
free time in January or February, so early December is a good time to take a break before getting the offi ce in order for the mad New Year rush. Getting the tax returns done, making sure your marketing has started and catching up with all those clients who booked last year (to see if you can sneak in a few bookings before Christmas) are all ways to get you ready and raring to go in the New Year.
THE WOLRD IS A FRAGILE PLACE The terrible typhoon that swept through the Philippines in November again illustrated that those of us selling travel have to be available to help our clients in their hour of need. I was very proud to hear that our directors made a donation of £20,000 to the Philippines Relief fund. I was also delighted to hear that Luxor was once again up and running
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Hot tips galore!
The inspirational Karren Brady shares some of her secrets with Travel Counsellors
"IF YOU DON'T
LIKE SOMETHING, CHANGE IT. IF YOU CAN'T CHANGE
IT, CHANGE YOUR ATTITUDE”
– jand just two days before my daughter and her boyfriend fl ew out to Hurghada for a winter break. When they booked in March it was with the intention of journeying to the Valley of the Kings and the other ancient sites there, so they were disappointed when the FCO declared Luxor a no-go zone. It was touch and go if the tour operators could get it going again in time for them, but they did it. Another happy customer! I hope everyone has a fantastic Christmas season, and a prosperous 2014. Remember American author Maya Angelou's saying: “If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude.”
“Schoeman Skeleton Coast Flying Safaris are the ultimate way to explore Namibia's remote, dramatic and
spooky Skeleton Coast” LOUISA VERNEY, SCOTT DUNN
“Book early for hotel deals like reduced rates and free resort credits – they make a Mexico holiday as affordable as a Euro beach breaks"
NANDITA PATEL, PRODUCT ADMIN EXECUTIVE, FUNWAY HOLIDAYS
“I had a Sri Lankan cooking lesson at Cinnamon Lodge, Habarana (£30-35) - prawn curry and
cinnamon ice-cream!” NIKHIL CHHIBBER PRODUCT MANAGER, W&O TRAVEL
74 December 2013 November 2013
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