So another Conde Nast Traveler ‘Specialist Summit’ comes to an end and I head back east, towards New York and a few more meetings, before returning home on Friday.
Each year CNT – America’s premier travel magazine, and sister publication to the UK’s equivalent, spelt with two Ls – puts together a list of who they think are the world’s most experienced and knowledgeable travel specialist and then invites them to a seminar to discuss travel trends and the like... and I am one of those specialists.
You might well think it a long way to go, at not a little expense, for a conference that only last 36 hours; eleven and a half hour flight from London, and an hour taxi drive up the Pacific coast, to stay at an over-sized, 561 room, faux-hacienda simply to meet work associates many of whom I saw in Marrakech last November. But I’m pleased I came. The seminars on social media, on specialists inter-selling, on destination trends, on remaining on ‘the list’ were all good, as was the networking and the two evening parties. (To tell the truth I’m viewed by most of the delegates as something of an interesting curiosity: that anyone can sell holidays to countries that we do is beyond most of their comprehension, which makes it kind of fun.) But above all its sometimes good just to stop your work, step back and take a look at where you are and where you want to go... and the best place to do that is on the other side of the world, surrounded by inspiring colleagues and excellent travel journalists all experiencing similar issues to yourself.
I’m not sure these get-togethers really teach you anything specific but they do remind you there are other things that need to be addressed beside just working out itineraries. And that is one of the most difficult things running a growing business – keeping it on a straight and manageable path, while remaining true to your values and what it was that got you there in the first place. These conferences help. Yes, it was good.
The other thing that I have to say is very exciting is that this is the first time I have ever posted a blog from a plane. Right now, as this goes live on our website, I am 35,000ft above Nevada... how cool is that!
Next stop New York.
Comments