The highlight of our events calendar, the Travel Counsellors Annual Global Conference, took place at Manchester Central Convention Complex from Friday 22nd – Sunday 24th November 2024.
The three-day event marked one of the largest hosted by a travel company in the UK and featured inspiring presentations, a diverse array of celebrity and motivational speakers, and valuable networking opportunities with over 220 suppliers in attendance.
A star-studded occasion
Renowned celebrity host, Vernon Kay, marked his triumphant 10th return appearance, and the event featured its largest-ever lineup of external speakers including human rights award winner Lurata Lyon, Olympian and sports scientist Greg Whyte OBE, stress and wellness podcaster Alice Law, former Chief Business Officer of Google X Mo Gawdat, futurologist Tom Cheesewright, perfumer and entrepreneur Jo Malone CBE, G Adventures Founder Bruce Poon Tip, and entrepreneur Sara Davies MBE. Additionally, performance poet Tony Walsh captivated the audience with a bespoke poem handcrafted for Travel Counsellors.
The event also featured spectacular entertainment, with performances by the phenomenal Ibiza Symphony Orchestra, Ellie Sax, Abba Revival, and Nile Rodgers, who delivered an intimate set and spoke on Sunday.
Celebrating success and looking ahead
Under the overarching theme of ‘30 Beyond,' our conference celebrated a record-breaking year of shared achievements while looking ahead to new opportunities as our community continues to grow. CEO, Steve Byrne, reiterated the importance of community, and how we’re invested in delivering the very best combination of the human touch and digital customer experience which empowers our business owners to provide the very best business travel solutions to their corporate clients – with care at the core of every interaction.
Our dedicated Corporate Hub on the Friday also gave our corporate travel specialists a place to network, meet with suppliers, and attend informative sessions to help them service their clients in the best way possible.
Steve Byrne, CEO of Travel Counsellors, commented: "Our success is rooted in the strength of our community and our commitment to caring for our people, our customers and our valued supplier partners through the bespoke travel experiences we create. By combining cutting-edge technology with the power of the personal, human touch, we’re empowering our community to grow, be the best they can be and make a lasting difference in the lives of others. Together, we are building a future and a community where meaningful connections and shared achievements are at the heart of everything we do which ultimately will drive our success.”
Key announcements and takeaways
Over the weekend, delegates were introduced to the latest advancements planned for the upcoming year, underpinned by a £16 million investment in technology. This investment sees the launch of a new AI-powered assistant, TC Co-Pilot, that integrates the best of internal and external content to help business owners deliver highly personalised solutions tailored to their client’s needs.
Another key innovation is The Interactive Quote, an advanced planning tool with a suite of destination content developed following the acquisition of Planisto. This innovative feature, already trialled within the community, is set for a global rollout in the coming weeks.
Both of the above will play a pivotal role in supporting corporate clients with their bleisure requirements, as the desire to combine work with relaxation grows ever-stronger.
Furthermore, the partnership with entrepreneur Sara Davies MBE will continue to grow, with her leading a series of virtual coaching sessions over the upcoming year designed to help Travel Counsellors scale and grow their businesses, and provide an even better service to their SME business clients.
If you’re a business looking for a new travel management company to partner with in 2025, look no further than Travel Counsellors for Business. Our growing community of independent business owners offer a truly bespoke, high-touch service you won’t find anywhere else. Whether you’ve got your own conference to arrange, need to visit a client on the other side of the world, or want help arranging a meeting closer to home, no request is too big or too small. Get in touch to see how we can save you time and money, while helping you craft a business travel programme that sets your organisation apart from your competitors and helps you achieve your growth plans.
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