| Panel 1 - SuperSizing: Does Cross Selling Enrich Your Business or Cost You? |
| “One-stop shopping” is often how many travel agents position their businesses, yet car rental companies, hotels and insurance vendors say that their services are often overlooked and forgotten as these products are rarely sold in conjunction with air. Why are agents forgoing this revenue? Is it not worth their effort? Or, are agents just not aware of the opportunities? Listen to suppliers and agents debate the issues |
| Panel 2 - What’s the Best Model: Employees or Independent Contractors (IC)? |
| Adding to your human resources can help grow your business. Yet, is hiring a new employee with its added liability and responsibilities the right choice, or should you increase your use of independent contractors? Both strategies have their own drawbacks and rewards. If you are a Host Agency or if you are thinking of expanding your business to include ICs, you do not want to miss this debate. |
| Panel 3 - The Great Debate: Airline Unbundling’s Impact on the Future of Travel Distribution – Where is the all heading? |
| Airlines are turning distribution upside down with their unbundling strategies, from baggage and seat fees to drinks and snacks. Even GDS distribution may be unbundled. American has asked some agents to “go direct” and bypass the GDSs in the name of providing “robust functionality” so that unbundled products can be “merchandised.” Will this “unbundling” frenzy expand to other sectors? Experts will debate the pitfalls and opportunities of selling ancillary services, and also prognosticate about where this is all heading. |
