There’s been a lot of talk recently about unprofessional agents at events – and much of it centres on drinking.

People have raised concerns about advisors getting drunk on FAM trips, arriving at site visits hungover and prioritising booze over learning.

Some have even called for event organisers to offer drink vouchers rather than an open bar, and if necessary, to outright ban those agents who overindulge.

This behaviour obviously isn’t acceptable, but I also worry its prevalence is being exaggerated.

Since starting The Awesome Adventure Co. in 2019, I have attended countless industry events – from trade shows and B2B conferences to ship tours and awards ceremonies. Today, I’m fortunate enough to take multiple FAM trips a year.

So as you can imagine, I get a lot of face time with my fellow agents.

And I have to say, it’s incredibly rare for me to encounter someone who’s had too much to drink. Yes, I've seen agents get a little tipsy. Yes, I’ve seen agents – myself included – let their hair down. But it doesn’t bother me. Travel is a ‘drinking’ industry, and I don’t think that’s a bad thing.

‘Freeloading’ – the real issue  

What is a problem, however, is the shameless freeloading that plagues our sector.

We all know exactly what I’m talking about. There is, regrettably, a significant minority of agents who attend events purely for the freebies, whilst skipping those that don’t promise perks or complimentary items.

I’ve seen it time and time again, where the only question the advisor asks is: ‘What can I get?’

Rather than focusing on the product, their attention is fixed on hotel giveaways, comped meals and goodie bags. It’s almost like they don’t understand – or care about – the purpose of these industry events.

For the record, I am not only referring to new agents. Some of these culprits have been working in travel for years, and honestly, many are repeat offenders. I’ve come to realise that their behaviour isn’t the result of age or experience, but rather, a total disregard for our industry peers.

Daniel Bartholomew Oates

Brazen attitudes

What has most shocked me, however, is how unapologetic these freeloading agents can be.

While they may not say it loudly, many admit they haven’t – and might never – make a booking for the supplier.

And yet, they are taking up spaces that could be filled by agents who truly want to learn about the product. 
They are accepting prizes for luxury hotel stays, despite having no intention of ever selling the property. 
They are asking about opportunities for FAM trips, while failing to show any interest in the brand.

Disrespecting suppliers

As a serious travel professional, this behaviour is extremely frustrating to watch.

I understand that it’s not always possible to guarantee business for suppliers. I understand not every FAM trip will generate a booking. And of course, I understand agents aren’t obligated to promote a brand simply by attending their event.

However, I also believe it’s wrong for agents to take advantage of our trade partners.

Events are a major investment for the supplier and, regardless of how fun they can be, all have an end goal of boosting revenue.

As agents, it’s our responsibility to support them on this mission and if we can’t, we shouldn’t be accepting their invitations in the first place.

What can be done?

I believe prizes and incentives are integral to our industry, and I’d hate to see them being scaled back over this issue.

However, it’s undeniable that something must be done to stop the scrounging.

A simple solution would be for organisers to carefully curate the guest list, ensuring all invited agents have demonstrated either a history of selling their product or a genuine intention to do so.

I also think it’s important to reduce the over-representation of travel consortiums at events, especially for those with waitlists.

When 25 members from the same network attend a gathering with a capacity of 50, it breeds a homogeneity that isn’t beneficial to the supplier or the agents. It dilutes reach by creating a duplicated audience, while also locking out untapped agencies with the potential to bring in fresh business.

If education and sales are the goal of these events, surely it would be far more efficient to invite a handful of strong reps who can then brief their wider network?

The damage is far-reaching

I truly believe prizes are a fantastic aspect of events, and an excellent way for suppliers to recognise agent partners.

But going to events only for free stuff isn’t acceptable, nor is it victimless. It steals opportunities from other agents, wastes suppliers’ time and damages our industry’s reputation as a whole.

If we want to protect the generous spirit of our trade partners, it’s time we stop exploiting it.