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Advantage conference to emphasize money making
‘Getting In Shape’ and ‘Making Money’ are the themes at this year’s Advantage Conference to be held in Valencia, Spain from the 11th to 15th April.
The first day of the conference, Getting In Shape, will cover topics such as ‘Managing the Experience’. Speakers will include Marta Pastor, Deputy Director of the Spanish Tourist Office, Richard Gooding, Managing Director of London City Airport who will talk about effects for the traveller post September 11 and George Reynolds, Director of Retail at Bowens & Yorks speaking on parity of service across outlets. ‘Winning with Service Fees’ sees Chris Morris, Managing Director of Wayte Brothers, talking on how to earn more from fees than commission.
There will be two keynote speakers at the conference, Professor Richard Scase, voted by Personnel Today as one of the top ten most influential people in Britain on human resource management, will speak on day one about entrepreneurial business and changing demographics in travel. Ross Smith, a successful Marketing consultant who, during his role as Marketing Director at Coldseal Windows, brought sales from £9 million to £85 million. He now contributes to revenue and profit growth in several UK companies achieving similar results.
Day two’s theme, Making Money, will provide two travel agents perspectives on the topic of ‘Driving Profit’ and include talks from Willie Stewart of Stewart Travel and Mark Bowers, Managing Director of Travelwise. A discussion panel including Gary David, Managing Director of Cadogan Holidays, Simon Calder, Travel Editor at The Independent, David Holland, Sales Director at Travel 2/ Travel 4 and Manny Fontenla – Novoa, Managing Director at Thomas Cook will be asked the question “Is this the end of the package holiday?”
Colin O’ Neill, Sales and Marketing Director at Advantage will end the line up of speakers on the second day, with the unveiling of extensive member and consumer research, completed only a few weeks before the conference.
There will be two ‘On The Spot’ interviews with Seamus Conlon, Managing Director of Airtours Holidays and Austen Reed, Managing Director of BMI British Midland.
Over 500 delegates are expected to attend the conference which promises to cover the key issues facing independent travel agents and the wider travel market.
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