14-16 November 2014
I was looking forward to going to Manchester. It’s a city that I have a close bond to and with its incredible industrial history and ever changing architecture, in my opinion, it’s the perfect location for Travel Counsellors to celebrate their 20th anniversary at their annual conference.
It’s always interesting to get an update on their figures and to hear their ideas for the future at the supplier partners meeting, but what is more impressive is meeting the travel counsellors themselves.
You get to mingle with these guys throughout the weekend and network with them at dinner, but it’s at the Pow-wow session that you really get a feel for how self-motivated and dedicated they are to running their own businesses. This is qualified during the awards event when you see individuals being awarded for making over £4 million of business in one year! You can’t not stand up and applaud that.
During the intense two and half hours of the Pow-wow session, I was bombarded with questions and queries and a genuine desire to learn about New England. Many were working on queries for their clients, and often just wanted a bit of guidance to give them confidence. I know that like last year I will be receiving many phone calls over the next few months.
The motivational conference sessions are again impressive, but not more so than the gala dinner. Hosted by Vernon Kay, we were treated to West End performances of the Lion King, Moulin Rouge and Les Miserables; with the evening being topped off by our very own concert by Simply Red.
The rumours had been flying all afternoon about who the closing act would be, whilst disappointed that it wasn’t Take That or Olly Murs, I can’t deny that Mick Hucknall can still belt out a few good tunes.
Writing this on the train home, I can safely say it’s another successful conference and I can’t wait to talk with and help all of the Travel Counsellors who get in touch. They’re truly inspirational.
