The 25th World Travel Market will feature a brand new zone dedicated to training, qualifications and personal professional development…
The 25th World Travel Market will feature a brand new zone dedicated to training, qualifications and personal professional development.The Skills Zone is being organised jointly by The Institute of Travel and Tourism and City and Guilds, UK.
It is part of a major ‘Wise Up @ World Travel Market’ programme, aimed at providing agents with the most extensive and comprehensive range of key educational opportunities ever offered to agents at the event, particularly on Thursday 11 November.
The new area will provide World Travel Market with a fresh focal point for human resource related issues.
One of the prime drivers for the creation of the Zone is to encourage travel agents to attend, especially on the last day of the event.
Group Exhibition Director, Fiona Jeffrey said: Wise Up @ World Travel Market’ is the first step in an ambitious but highly practical new development in which we are working with consortia, national tourist boards and respected organisations such as ITT and City and Guilds to offer agents what they really want in order to progress in their careers. This is just the first step of a long-term programme, using independent research and focus groups to understand and deliver the right services at the right time.
“The Skills Zone will have lots to attract the travel agent, and especially the front line consultant. There will be practical workshops which will focus on profit development and the chance to use a visit to World Travel Market to gain a City & Guilds accredited qualification.
“We believe the zone will also provide a focus for a whole range of Human Resource specialists who may not currently believe that the event is really for them.”
ITT Chairman Steven Freudmann believes that the Skills Zone will attract a new type of visitor to World Travel Market. He said: “HR and people development issues are implicit in much of World Travel Market but this is the first time something will be created dedicated to personal professional development.”
Two Zones
There will be two complementary elements to the Zone:
Zone One will be an important part of the main exhibition. It will provide an opportunity for HR and training managers, travel agency managers and consultants, to talk to training providers, awarding organisations and other specialists. It will include a continual demonstration of on-line training packages as well as video and DVD support material.
Zone Two will be situated in one of ExCeL’s Cityside function rooms and will feature a continuous programme of seminars and workshops.
On the first two days, with exclusive access to Meridian Club members – international buyers – the programme will be strategic in nature, aimed at senior management within the industry.
On Wednesday and Thursday, when the event is open to Meridian Club members, other trade professionals and agents, the programme will be geared towards area managers, branch managers and front line staff in travel agencies, tour operators and call centres.
There will also be an opportunity for travel agents and others selling insurance to sit free the ABTA/City & Guilds accredited Level One insurance examination.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
