Agent no-shows have become an increasingly contentious issue across the travel industry – with suppliers and event organisers left frustrated when agents accept invitations but fail to turn up, sometimes without giving any notice.

A recent poll on TTG’s website asking whether agents should be fined for failing to attend an event without notice saw 95% vote in favour of financial penalties.

But is fining – or even blacklisting – agents really the answer? What happens when someone has a genuine reason for missing an event? And could blanket penalties risk unfairly penalising agents who face circumstances beyond their control?

In the latest episode of Unpacked, TTG Editor-in-Chief Sophie Griffiths and Luxury Travel Editor Emma Dooney are joined by Travel Counsellor Jenny Jackson and Ant Stone, Senior Marketing Director and former G Adventures executive, to debate the no-show problem and ask whether the industry’s response risks going too far.

The panel explores why no-shows have become such a flashpoint, whether accepting an invitation should be considered a firm professional commitment, and what an empty seat actually costs suppliers.

The conversation also looks at the accessibility and inclusivity implications of penalties, including whether fines could unintentionally exclude disabled or neurodivergent agents, and how organisers should deal with unpredictable barriers such as transport disruption, cancelled assistance or last-minute emergencies.

Ultimately, is the answer to fine, blacklist or forgive – or is there a better way for suppliers and agents to tackle the problem together?

Listen to the latest episode of Unpacked to hear the full debate.