DUE to overwhelming response, the first TTG Travel Agent Conference at ITB Asia is moving to Ballroom 2 at Suntec Singapore, from Ballroom 1 initially, to accommodate a larger audience.
As of 11.00 today (August 26), 341 registrations have been received, with travel agents across Asia signing up, alongside a strong representation from home base Singapore.
To register for the free three-hour conference on October 21, go to www.ttgasia.com/tac. The event is open to all TTG Asia readers and ITB Asia delegates on a first-come-first-served basis, with priority given to travel agents and tour operators.
TTG Asia is also inviting agents to send in any questions they may have for the speakers (see the speaker line-up and programme when you register), so that these queries may be weaved into or addressed at the end of their presentations. Channel your questions to ttgnewsdesk@ttgasia.com. Please indicate whom the questions are for.
One of the many key How To topics is a session by Adrian Caruso, Australia’s top travel agency coach, on How to beat the Internet. Caruso will show agents why their customers are booking on the Internet instead of booking through them, how to reclaim their clients, and why CRM needs to be the “entire focus” of their business.
Said Caruso: “Agents are being beaten by the Internet because they act like the Internet. Agents who act like the Internet are those who provide lots of information, compete on price and are a booking system. They must change the way they think of themselves.”
In another highlight, one of the trade’s most illustrious CEOs, Hans Lerch, vice chairman and CEO of Hotelplan Holdings and board member of Abercrombie & Kent Group, will be put “on the firing line” following his keynote on travel agency survival.
Lerch will be interviewed by two individuals, one from the trade, who understands the workings of the business, and the other a seasoned trade journalist. The Q&A with Lerch will be conducted by Judy Lum, group vice president – sales & marketing, Tour East Group, and Raini Hamdi, group editor – Travel Group, TTG Asia Media.
There will also be several rapid fire sessions of around 20 minutes each, covering topics such as How to retail travel today, How to buy travel today, How to achieve customer service excellence, How to customise the travel experience (see the full programme when you register).
Travel agents will receive immediate confirmation upon registration. Non-travel agents are also welcome to register, but as priority is given to agents, their registration will be on a waitlist; they will be notified by October 11 about whether their places have been confirmed.
TTG Travel Agent Conference at ITB Asia will be held at Suntec Singapore, Ballroom 2, 9.00 to 12.00 on October 21.
