CONNECT The Event

WHAT: Selling Travel Connect:

Indian Ocean and Middle East

WHERE: London & Leeds

WHEN: May 15 & 16, 2023

WHo: Adaaran Resorts; The Emaar Hospitality Group; Cara Hotel Marketing; Fairmont

Maldives Sirru Fen Fushi; ShangriLa Le Touessrok, Mauritius; Sunlife; Travelpack; Air Mauritius and JA Resorts (Leeds only).

Selling Travel’s popular Connect networking events put agents in front of leading product in the Indian Ocean and the Middle East.

The two nights – in London and Leeds – were well supported, with over 70 agents attending at Tower Suites in London and 40 at Aspire in Leeds.

The Suppliers

“I was impressed. The evenings were very productive and the agents had lots of good questions. Most turned up prepared to find out information that would help their sales to the region,” said Jonathan Wilkins of Adaaran Resorts, a chain of four Maldivian island resorts ranging from budget allinclusive to premium all-inclusive.

“It (Leeds) was a great night with a good turnout of quality agents,” commented Allan Owen, Country Sales Manager UK and Ireland for Air Mauritius.”

The airline’s Rosie Garside was equally impressed by “the quality’” of the agents she met at the London event.

“It was a fab evening. Everyone I spoke to seemed really engaged and interested to learn about our product. It gave us the opportunity to inform them about our new daily flights from October 29.”

Air Mauritius, which is switching flights from Heathrow to Gatwick when the daily service launches, will mark 50 years of operations to the UK in November.

Another supplier who enjoyed both evenings was Cara Hotel Marketing’s Claire well organised and I enjoyed meeting all the agents and talking to them about our three Maldivian resorts, Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru, Dhawa Ihuru and Angsana Velavaru.”

“It is easy to combine Vabbinfaru and Dhawa Ihuru as they are both just a 20minute speedboat ride from Male,” she added. “It’s the first time I’ve done a proper agent event so it was a great experience for me and I am looking forward to being part of more Selling Travel Connect events.”

“Amazing” was how Gill Shannon, Marketing Representative UK & Ireland for JA Resorts & Hotels, described the Leeds event. “It was great to meet agents in the area; there were some familiar faces and many new ones.

“The enthusiasm of the agents was really refreshing, making the evening very interactive but also fun.”

The Agents

One agent who was glad she attended her first-ever trade networking evening was Aliyah Sehgal of Althams Travel in Batley.

An apprentice at the agency, she returned home from the Leeds evening with two return tickets courtesy of Air Mauritius.

The winner of the same prize in London was Sami Sanullah, CEO of Travel Link Worldwide, who said: “I am absolutely delighted Selling Travel arranged such a wonderful evening showcasing the Indian Ocean and the Middle East.

“In March we celebrated being in business for 30 years, which makes winning two flights to Mauritius even more special. Thank you Air Mauritius – I intend to visit just as soon as I can.”

Anthony Kingsley, Manager at Not Just Travel, said: “Selling Travel’s networking events have long been among my favourite trade networking occasions because of the quality of the suppliers that we get to meet.

“I always enjoy them because they are so well planned and organised. I had some very informative chats this evening that will definitely help me better sell the Indian Ocean and Middle East.”

Agents at both events won other prizes that included hotel stays in Mauritius and the Maldives, high street shopping vouchers and a bumper box of premium chocolates.