Travelscene American Express China conference focuses

Around 500 Travelscene American Express members and suppliers in China celebrated the network’s 2006 Owners Offshore Conference, “Changing the Future Together”.

We have all heard of “blue sky”, but what about “blue ocean” – read on!

S8 Chairperson, Jenny Hutson, and S8 Managing Director, Chris Scott, joined Travelscene CEO Mike Thompson in outlining the future for the network which became part of Australia’s largest travel family, S8, earlier this year.

CEO Thompson said that holding the Offshore Conference in China for the first time offered Travelscene members a unique opportunity to gain greater insight into this booming destination, as well as continue the Travelscene tradition of members learning from one another, adding, “Beijing as home to the 2008 Olympic Games is a growing travel hotspot and this is also a fantastic chance for our leading member agencies to experience China’s cultural hub first-hand”.

With international business expert Dr. Jae Won Park as the keynote speaker for the conference, one of the world’s leading proponents of the innovative Blue Ocean Strategy, an acclaimed business approach which focuses on creating uncontested market space while making the competition irrelevant, Mike said, “It’s a real coup to have secured a business expert of Dr Park’s calibre for such an important conference for Travelscene members”.  “Our industry is changing extremely quickly and the opportunity to understand how companies like Cirque du Soleil and Casella Wines have become successful blue ocean companies provided an appropriate kickstart for this hands-on and inspirational symposium, giving Travelscene members a real competitive advantage”.

Opening the conference, Mr. Thompson said that while the past year had been one of great change, the board and management of Travelscene were committed to delivering value to Travelscene members, adding, “It is true that shareholder value is critically important… but of equal importance to us, is our determination to continue to provide you with a superior value proposition; and to the extent that we can ever say, ‘business as usual’ or ‘all change no change’ and I am committed to ensuring that you, our members, continue to receive our undivided attention”.

In his remarks, Mr. Thompson also put suppliers on notice that Travelscene expected them to provide adequate compensation in exchange for the volume of business generated by the network, saying, “Travelscene American Express will support the partners with us in this room today provided that we continue to create win/win relationships”.   “But, as ever, it is a two-way street and for those who choose not to recognise the value that we bring, and compensate us accordingly, we will choose to take our business elsewhere.

However, he cautioned members that in return, suppliers had a right to expect their support, adding, “But let’s not kid ourselves – if we don’t deliver our end of the bargain, our partners won’t either… today, given the fierce competition and proliferation of alternate distribution channels, speaking with one voice, and acting as a united force is critical”.  “The strength of our group is the fact that we are 600 individual – and unique – businesses… but to build on that success, there is no room to promote products that don’t pay us, no room for payments on the side, no room for disunity”.  “We cannot succeed in our objectives without your support.”

Report by The Mole