10 October 2008

ABTA TRAVEL CONVENTION BLOG: Graham McKenzie wonders if it was all worth it

Travelmole.com managing director Graham McKenzie looks back at this week's ABTA Travel Convention and asks if it was anything more than fun?

The ABTA Convention 2008 in Gran Canaria has come to an end and, if youÃ¢â¬â¢re like me, youÃ¢â¬â¢ll be back in your office wondering if it was all worth it.

For media companies such as Travelmole, the event is ideal. The combination of being away from the office and a few beers makes people more willing to talk off the record, giving us all the latest industry gossip and rumours.

But, is it worth it for the rest of you? What is the return on investment? I suspect itÃ¢â¬â¢s not much. What it does provide, however, is an opportunity to have some fun and maybe renew some acquaintances, often with people you have not seen sinceÃ¢â¬~¦ermÃ¢â¬~¦last yearÃ¢â¬â¢s convention?

Generally, I think people come because they donÃ¢â¬â¢t want to miss out, but, in difficult economic times, when the travel industry excrement hits the fan, is it time for more serious business?

With so much consolidation going on in the market for the last few years, and still continuing, I also wonder if the mega travel companies really care too much what is said and discussed at these conferences. After all, some if not all own the whole chain of distribution, product and sales. If they wish to do something differently, or not comply with industry edicts, then they are certainly not going to pay attention to the rest of us at a travel convention. Why should they? Especially in a period when only the strong will survive.

Finally, why is it that at every travel convention, our kind hosts seem to find the need to recreate Olde English and Shakespearian acts for us, a UK audience? Why not have some singing from Julio Iglesias, racing tips from Fernando Alonso, or ball juggling from David Villa to show the YouTravel football team what itÃ¢â¬â¢s really about?

Now that would rock the house, and surely they canÃ¢â¬â¢t be any more expensive that half the Spanish army dressed in horse heads and Medieval armour?"

*What did you think of the convention? What would you have done differently? Should the business sessions include more industry debate? abd, if you didn't attend, tell us why not?

TravelMole welcomes your comments.

[TravelmoleÃ¢â¬â¢s ABTA coverage is sponsored by YouTravel.Com and Harp Wallen recruitment.]