Travel Quest, a leading agent-centered host agency, announced today that the company will open its 2015 Travel Quest National Meeting (TQNM) to non-members for the first time. The two-day event will provide agents with other host agencies and individuals interested in becoming travel agents with comprehensive training designed to help them navigate and thrive in the ever-changing travel industry.
A 2014 study conducted by the American Society of Travel Agents found that the use of travel agents rose to 13 percent, up from 11 percent in 2010. TQNM aims to help travel agents capitalize on this momentum to build their businesses, drive more awareness of their services and adapt their offerings to today’s travel consumer.
“We are passionate about equipping independent agents with the information, tools and resources they need to be successful in today’s marketplace,” said Bonnie Lee, founder and chief executive officer of Travel Quest. “Not only do we provide agents with a stellar series of professional development workshops, but we also connect them with representatives from major travel brands so that they can build relationships that will be key to growing and sustaining their businesses.”
TQNM is an intensive two-day training and networking event. Day one features 15 workshops including “Essentials of Advertising,” “Branding Your Company,” “Destination Weddings & Honeymoons,” and “Finding Your Specialty,” as well as sessions facilitated by major travel brands, including Gogo Vacations, Holland America, Norwegian Cruise Lines, Funjet Vacations and ASK Me Inc. Day one will also feature a fireside chat with Travel Quest founder Bonnie Lee and a dinner and cocktail party at the iconic Millennium Hotel Dome.
The second day of the event features a series of study halls and panels to help attendees put what they’ve learned into practice, and learn from fellow agents in an interactive Q&A setting.
On both days of the event, agents will have an opportunity to explore the Discovery Concourse, and meet and network with over 50 major travel brands. They will also have opportunities to win more than $20,000 in prizes, including airline tickets, vacations and two iPad Airs.
For more information, including workshop descriptions, and to register, visit www.tqnationalmeeting.com. The cost of registration for non-members is $99. Registration fees will be applied to Travel Quest’s $199 sign up fee for prospective agents who sign up by October 31.