SPECIAL REPORT New Tipto chairman Richard Forde reveals plans for more events in 2023. Juliet Dennis reports


Tipto to restart SuperShows and run ‘fun’ events


Tipto is to reintroduce its agent SuperShows and bring “more fun” to its events this year, according to new chairman Richard Forde. The trade marketing organisation,


which now boasts 20 supplier members, will run a SuperShow in the north and one in the south of England before the end of the summer and has also revealed plans for the return of its summer VIP event. This year will be the first time


either of these have run since pre-Covid and since Tipto was saved from potential closure under new management in 2021. Forde, who joined as chairman


at the end of November, said the SuperShows, originally introduced in 2015, had been put to the vote and received member approval. “There is a fixed budget and these shows cost more; it’s about getting


the balance right,” he said, adding: “We are looking to get more staff from established travel agencies, such as miniples, to the SuperShows.” Forde admitted it had been harder


to attract agents to events in 2022 due to pressure on workloads and staffing, but said more homeworkers had attended its roadshows than in the past. “Cancellations were an issue last


year and we need more agents to let us know early if they can’t make it,” he added. The SuperShows aim to attract


more than 100 agents each and are attended by all Tipto’s suppliers, compared with the traditional Face 2 Face roadshows which cater for about 45 agents. The SuperShows also feature a


trade show format rather than ‘speed dating’. Activities will


Forde: We have best mix of members


Tipto has the “best mix of members it has ever had” and is more vital than ever, according to its new chairman. The organisation is currently


“full” with 20 suppliers, ranging from traditional tour operators to cruise lines and hotel groups. Recent newcomers include


Celestyal Cruises and Playa Hotels & Resorts, while two that returned post-Covid were Leger Shearings Group and Inghams. Chairman Richard Forde, who


said an increase in membership would be considered in September, said: “It’s now a fantastic mix; it’s the best mix of operators and suppliers we’ve ever had.


10 12 JANUARY 2023 “Historically, we’ve sometimes


been too escorted touring or cruise heavy, but there is a real mix now, which is a real benefit for operators and a massive benefit for agents.” He added: “Tipto is more vital to


the trade than ever. At Newmarket [Holidays], it is the first thing on the annual budget that we commit to as an annual spend.” Over the past 12 months,


Tipto has hosted 1,600 agents at its roadshows. Of these, 57% were homeworkers and 56% were agents new to the organisation. The group will also continue to


raise money for charity Reuben’s Retreat this year after raising £3,250 in 2022.


Richard Forde with Lorna Willis-Edwards, Tipto event organiser


Now it’s about


making it a bit more fun and bringing back a variety of training days and roadshows


include a giant travel trivia quiz. Forde said Tipto also aimed to up


the ante in terms of fun at its events, with more prizes to win and more entertainment, such as comedians and magicians, at its roadshows.


New chairman wants Tipto to be a community


Tipto wants to elevate its status to become a “community” of agents and operators. The trade marketing body


is known for its in-person networking and product training events nationwide. New chairman Richard Forde


said his aim was to bring more of the group’s suppliers and agents together through a combination of its online training and product information with its expanded


“After Covid it was just about


product training, but now it’s about making it a bit more fun and bringing back a variety of training days and roadshows,” he said. Tipto plans to run 25 Face 2 Face


roadshows during its 24th year, which started in September 2022, with 16 roadshows scheduled up to the end of August this year. In addition, it will hold a January Afternoon Tea event, a summer VIP event, and four training days for 30 agents each, hosted by eight suppliers.


range of in-person events. “It’s something I am looking


to expand on [so Tipto] is not just roadshows from an agent point of view,” he said. “We want to almost be a live


community, with agents seeking information from our website, Facebook page and events, and operators using us to market information and give constant training. Operators are asked to post offers on our Facebook page for agents three times a week, and we have increased our reach on social media.” The next roadshows are in


Stratford on February 8 and in Nottingham on February 9.


travelweekly.co.uk


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