Search Travel Market Report

mainlogo
www.travelmarketreport.com
U.S.A.
English
Canada
English
Canada Quebec
Français
  • News
  • Packaged Travel
  • Cruise
  • Hotels & Resorts
  • Destinations
  • Retail Strategies
  • Air
  • Training & Resources
  • Luxury Travel Report

Six Ways to Get the Best ROI at Your Next Industry Conference

by Steve Gillick  May 08, 2019
Six Ways to Get the Best ROI at Your Next Industry Conference

There are a number of things travel advisors can do to improve their ROI on the next industry conference they attend.

When it comes to registering for travel industry conferences, travel advisors understand that time is a precious commodity that should be evaluated in terms of whether or not it is spent wisely. And “wisely” can translate into a range of activities: professional development, networking, meeting key suppliers, taking a break from the daily routine (stress relief), and being inspired to initiate change.

Whether the next travel conference is in your hometown, across the country, or across the globe, attendance should never be an impulsive decision. In fact, it comes down to the ROI (the return on investment).

And what exactly are you investing? First and foremost, it is about your willingness to keep learning your profession. The expression often used is “Learn More – Earn More.” The more you know, the better you are able to respond to the needs of your clients; the better you are able to fine-tune your customer service skills; and the better you are able to add new sales skills, marketing skills, time management skills, and destination know-how to your repertoire. 

Of course, you are also investing time; time to attend the conference, which inevitably means time away from your current and potential clients, as well as family and friends. And, there is a monetary investment. Someone has to pay for the transportation, the accommodations, and conference fees. 

Many travel advisors harbor wishes for a transformational experience at the next conference they plan to attend. They want the secret to success, those golden words from a speaker that will inspire them to make changes with staying power; changes that will elevate their current practices to new levels. They hope to see their client base and their sales increase, which in turn will add more stability to their career and, it follows, add more enjoyment to their personal and family life.

Are these lofty goals or patently realistic expectations? Both! Here are six ways to achieve that conference ROI.

1. Set goals. 
Make a list of the take-away: What you need to get out of the conference. Then check out all the details to see if the conference responds to these needs. Be open-minded. A travel agent who only specializes in weddings and honeymoons can learn from specialists in other unrelated areas.

A travel agent who has that “Been there, done it” attitude can feed off the enthusiasm of colleagues and speakers to reenergize. Be honest with yourself and make sure your list of goals is both in the service of your career, as well as accountable to your personal expectations. 

2. Study the program in advance.
This includes the general and breakout session topics. Don’t just read through the clever titles of the sessions — read the details and mark down the ones you will elect to attend. Write down a few points that you must get out of each of these sessions.

3. Collect speaker contacts.
Sometimes a topic may not sound that great, but the speaker has a reputation for instilling enthusiasm, thought-provoking ideas, and even a few laughs along the way. Who knows, you may learn something about a topic that you initially decided was not for you, or from that speaker that you’ve listened to at previous events.

And there is a bonus factor: Many speakers offer their email to respond to post-conference questions. Keep this information handy. It may be gold to you in the future and add to the valuable list of industry contacts that allows you to fulfill special client needs and, in turn, make your clients think you are the most amazing travel agent in the world.

4. Build relationships with suppliers.
Look at the sponsors for the sessions, the experts selected for the panel discussions, and the exhibitors at the trade show. Which suppliers can you greet in order to solidify a working relationship? Which suppliers can you chat-up to develop new business or resolve a specific client situation? With which suppliers can you collaborate with regarding a fam trip opportunity to further enhance your effectiveness in selling a product or service? And remember that the more quality business cards in your files, the more resources you have to enhance the travel advice you offer.

5. Network with people you don’t know.
Networking is one of the key rewards of any conference. Resolve not to just sit and talk with the colleagues you work with every day. Initiative conversations, find well-traveled travel agents and specialists to reciprocate favors — you help them from time to time, and they help you. Add to your social media network through dynamic relationship-building. 

6. Consider teaching what you know.
If your agency or consortium has paid for you to attend a conference, then you need to consider their ROI, too. They want an agent who is up-to-date on industry knowledge and will contribute revenue to the bottom line. But, they also want someone who can help grow the agency.

One of the tips from “7 Habits of Highly Effective People” is to learn and then teach what you’ve learned. And by teaching (or assisting in staff training and professional development), you are put in a position to understand, empathize, master the material, and avoid falling into the syndrome that sees many travel agents wax enthusiastic about the new skills they picked up at a conference one day, and then forget about them a few days later and resume their old routine.

A huge amount of time and effort goes into organizing a travel industry conference. The decision to register calls for you to take some time and effort to determine what you will get out of the event; how it will benefit your clients; how it may make your life easier; and how it will continue to grow and promote your passion for your career in the travel industry.

Related Articles

Travel MarketPlace East to Feature Virgin Voyages’ Tom McAlpin
 

  
  
Related Articles
Eight ‘Giving’ Suggestions Travel Advisors Can Share with Their Clients
Ten Myths About Travel to Japan
10 Ways to Shed Some Northern Light on Your Clients’ Vacation Plans
Seven Tips to Playing “Ultimate Travel Treasure Hunt” with Your Clients
Six Reasons To Send Your Clients To Winnipeg This Summer
Seven Ways To ‘BE’ My Travel Agent
In 2017 Let’s Retire These Eight Tired Travel Myths
Eight Tips For Getting The Most From A Visit to Eastern Cuba
Indispensable You: 5 Meaningful Ways to Connect with Your Clients’ Travel Needs

MOST VIEWED

  1. Power Outage in Spain and Portugal Causes Major Travel Disruptions, Including at Madrid Airport
  2. 5 Things I Liked About Norwegian Aqua – and 4 I’m Not Sold On
  3. Testing the Waters with Dori: Do Travel Advisors Actually Dislike Viking?
  4. Beaches Ocho Rios Resort to Close Doors in May 2025
  5. How Pope Francis’ Funeral Will Impact Travel to Rome and Vatican City
  6. Using a Phone on a Cruise Ship Will Cost Thousands: Urban Myth or Reality?


  1. TTC Tour Week Returns with 9 FAM Trips Scheduled for November
  2. Travel Advisor Appreciation Month Offers Not to Be Missed
  3. Booking on Grandma’s Budget: How Grandparents Are Driving Multi-Gen and Skip-Gen Travel
  4. Sandals Has ‘Strong Interest’ in Bringing Beaches to St. Vincent & the Grena
  5. The Best Hotels to Book in Portugal & Spain: Roundup From an ALGV FAM 
  6. Vanessa McGovern Lands at Global Travel Collection
TMR Subscription

Subscribe today to receive daily in-depth luxury coverage, analysis of luxury news, luxury trends and issues that affect how you do business. Subscribe now for free.

Subscribe to TMR

Top Stories
Headquarter Happenings: Gifted Travel Network Hosts 3rd Annual Symposium on Avalon Poetry II
Headquarter Happenings: Gifted Travel Network Hosts 3rd Annual Symposium on Avalon Poetry II

GTN is keeping its momentum going in the luxury space by offering coaching and partnership opportunities to its advisors.

The Top 11 Hottest Adventure Tours of 2025 (So Far)
The Top 11 Hottest Adventure Tours of 2025 (So Far)

Top tour operators talk their best-selling products for 2025.

4 Qualifying Questions Travel Advisors Should Ask Clients with Autism
4 Qualifying Questions Travel Advisors Should Ask Clients with Autism

Advice for selling accessible travel to neurodivergent customers, from the experts.

Gifted Travel Network on Trevello Deal: ‘Philosophy Was So Aligned’
Gifted Travel Network on Trevello Deal: ‘Philosophy Was So Aligned’

Though GTN was not looking for a buyer, Trevello’s new compensation model and common ideals helped seal the deal.

Travel Guard Releases Enhanced Self-Service Tool for Travel Advisors
Travel Guard Releases Enhanced Self-Service Tool for Travel Advisors

The enhanced version features a more intuitive, self-service experience.

InteleTravel Acquires Tickitto, Adding Ticketed Events & Experiences to Brand Portfolio
InteleTravel Acquires Tickitto, Adding Ticketed Events & Experiences to Brand Portfolio

The acquisition gives advisors booking access to tickets for concerts, NFL games, F1 races, and more.

TMR OUTLOOKS & WHITE PAPERS
View All
industry spotlight
https://img.youtube.com/vi/TVZhtAkFzW8/0.jpg
How ALG Vacations Is Redefining Travel Advisor Appreciation in 2025
Advertiser's Voice
We Celebrate YOU
About Travel Market Report Mission Meet the Team Advisory Board Advertise Syndication Guidelines
TMR Resources Calendar of Events Outlook/Whitepapers Previous Sponsored Articles Previous This Week Articles
Subscribe to TMR
Select Language
Do You Have an Idea Email
editor@travelmarketreport.com
Give Us a Call
1-(516) 730-3097
Drop Us a Note
Travel Market Report
71 Audrey Ave, Oyster Bay, NY 11771
© 2005 - 2025 Travel Market Report, an American Marketing Group Inc. Company All Rights Reserved | Terms and Conditions
Cookie Policy Privacy Policy Manage cookie preferences