A snap TTG poll recently revealed 85% of readers have witnessed unprofessional behaviour at events, with examples ranging from agents ignoring supplier presentations and skipping mandatory site inspections to attending purely for free dinners, drinks and prizes.

 

To dive into these findings, TTG Managing Editor James Chapple was joined by Dan Bartholomew-Oates of The Awesome Adventure Company and Becky Walker, Co-Founder of the Tales of a Travel Agent podcast and Club Voyages Consultant, to explore whether the industry needs to rethink culture at its events.

The panel discusses the fine line between networking and over-indulgence, examining how heavy drinking can undermine professional credibility and impact the return on investment suppliers can rightfully expect from these gatherings.

The episode also tackles the logistical side of trade events, including whether suppliers should limit attendees per agency group or consortium to avoid the messaging becoming diluted, how informal "blacklists" between event organisers operate, and whether individuals or suppliers bear the ultimate responsibility for setting boundaries.

So, is it time for the travel trade to curb the freebies and reform its drinking culture, or is the self-policing nature of a small industry enough to keep things in check? Listen to the latest episode of Unpacked now to hear the full debate.