The Global Travel Conference was held at the Leicester Marriott Hotel over two days of 7th and 8th March 2011. The venue was ideally located close to M1 and almost in the centre of England, it had all the facilities you would expect for a professionally run conference.
The organisation of the conference was excellent. Everything ran to time. There was a comprehensive array of promotional materials on display from banner stands to promotional bags, to promotional pens. The timetable had the right balance of components.
- Well laid out for trade exhibitors
- Good presentations
- Networking time
- Speed-dating session for suppliers and agents
- An excellent keynote speaker
- Space for quiet discussions
- Wi-fi in order to catch up on e-mails
- Top class entertainment or the Gala Awards dinner
The two stand out presentations came after lunch on the afternoon of the second day. This is always a difficult time to appear on stage as conference delegates are running low on energy. The first session was a presentation on Travel Agent SEO. This was a presentation on how the 200 travel agents at the conference could boost their online business. The second presentation was a speech by Hilary Devey. Hilary is famous as one of TV's Secret Millionaires. She has also been appointed as the new Dragon on BBC's Dragon's Den. Hilary told her rags to riches story of how she created Pall-EX an international logistics company.
The final slot of the day was managed by Global Travel's managing director, Dave Clayton. Dave sent the delegates away fully motivated and focused. Given the event took up just two days of working time it was well worth attending.
