I'm looking forward to...
I am excited to be travelling to Japan and attending The Travel Convention as I have never been to this event before and it will be a brilliant experience to be a part of. I have always wanted to visit Japan which is such a vibrant and exciting country and with all of the sporting events taking place during 2019-2020 it will be a fabulous place to see.
Wendy Derbyshire
Travel Expert, Designer Travel
I am so excited to be visiting Japan this year and feel very honoured to be attending The Travel Convention. With so many events coming up over the next couple of years like the Rugby World Cup in 2019 and the Olympics in 2020, this is a great opportunity to experience all that is on offer from Japan’s incredible cuisine, beautiful landscapes and traditional architecture to its super speed trains and illuminated skyscrapers. Here’s what I’m super excited about…
1. Sushi - I really want to try it
2. Tokyo's Ginza District - I am looking forward to the famous shopping/nightlife area of Ginza and the maddening crowds
3. Mt. Fuji – I’m not saying I want to climb it but maybe see it
4. Bullet trains - Let's see if they really are faster than a speeding bullet! I can’t wait for this...
5. Osaka - Travellers mention this city a lot, and I want to find out why!
Partner, Peter Goord Travel
I feel very privileged to be invited to this year’s Travel Convention in Japan. This will not only give me the chance to mix with the travel industry’s elite but also courtesy of 'Gold Medal Travel' to see this fabulous country first-hand on my extended stay. To see the culture and experience a country that is the focal point of the World in 2019/20 can only encourage me to sell more holidays to Japan and share my valuable knowledge with my colleagues. This is truly a 'trip of a lifetime'.
Julia Smith
Senior Travel Consultant, Baldwins Travel
I am so excited about my visit to Japan. I have never attended an ABTA Travel Convention so this will be new and exciting for me. I am looking forward to meeting other travel industry colleagues, learning more about Travel2 and Goldmedal and most importantly seeing Japan and experiencing the culture, food and sights, especially Mount Fuji and hopefully the bullet train. I want to learn how to say ‘thank you and hello’ in Japanese as I believe it is important and respectful to try and speak a little of the language of the country you are in. Of course I will have to try some Saki it would be rude not to!
Click here to view Julia's Vlog.
Personal Travel Adviser, Freedom Personal Travel Advisors
A Brave New World indeed… Despite the endless price matching and shopping around that still goes on with the main stream products, has there ever really been a more exciting time to be a travel agent? My long haul travellers are developing a conscience about the places they visit, they don’t just want to see it and sit on its beaches, they want to be immersed in its wildlife, its culture, its sights and sounds, giving me the chance to create some amazing itineraries. I have sold some lovely holidays to Japan over the last couple of years and enviously listened as my customers come back with wonderful tales of their visit. I look forward to hearing what our industry leaders have to say about our way forward in these times when we should all be striving toward responsible tourism, and I am thrilled at last to be experiencing this incredible destination for myself.
Julie Bangham
Managing Director, Travel Experience
We are very excited to have been invited to attend this year’s Travel Convention in October in one of the most exciting counties in the world, Japan. Japan really is a most extraordinary and enchanting destination – from the super-fast bullet trains to the neon lights of Tokyo and from Mount Fuji to the famous Cherry Blossom – Japan has it all. Built around century-old traditions, yet established as the world-leader in the field of technology.Julie Bangham, Managing Director of Travel Experience, will be travelling with Gold Medal and Travel 2, and is very excited to visit this amazing country, to see for herself just what it has to offer.
Travel Consultant, Not Just Travel
Firstly I'm really excited and feel privileged to be attending! This will be my first time attending an ABTA Travel Convention and I am really looking forward to meeting, networking and learning from colleagues and other professionals in the industry, as well as hearing about industry updates. Japan is an added bonus as this is a destination I have yet to visit, so getting to experience Japan first-hand will be key in helping me to sell this destination with more confidence and with personal experiences.
Click here to view Pamela's Vlog.
Steve Smith
Personal Travel Consultant, Hays Travel
Excited would be putting it mildly! I can’t wait for the opportunity to visit a country which is high on customers’ to visit list and excited to share and showcase to customers what I will be seeing and experiencing on the trip. Also the chance to attend The Travel Convention will be a priceless insight into the industry. I’m very much looking forward to it!
Branch Manager, Colchester Travel
Firstly I am overwhelmed to be invited by Gold Medal/Travel2 to attend this year’s Travel Convention in Japan. I have never attended ABTA's Convention before even though I have been in the travel industry for over 24 years so this is a fantastic opportunity for me and my business. Japan will be amazing, I have never been and we have a big demand for Japan as a destination in our area. This will help a great deal to experience the country first-hand. We have customer in store destination events and Japan is next on our list, so I want to learn as much as I can about Japan.This is a part of the world I have never experienced before and am looking forward to learning more and experiencing the culture, food and meeting new people.
Abbie Blackford
Honeymoon Specialist, Honeymoon Dreams
I’m very excited to visit Japan for The Travel Convention this year! I can’t wait to attend the Convention to learn and be inspired by top industry leaders and experts about new innovations and their thoughts on the future of travel. Japan is somewhere I’ve always wanted to visit and didn’t think I’d ever get the chance to do so. With Japan becoming an increasing popular destination, I’m looking forward to experiencing Japan’s unique culture from the traditional to its futuristic technology and also during the Rugby World Cup!
Managing Director - Tour Operations, Gold Medal/Travel 2
Gold Medal and Travel 2 will host 30 agents in Japan. As a new destination for many, it is seeing strong growth and is out-performing the market.Our Hosted Agents will gather useful content during the Convention, plus experience Japan in a way that supports the continued growth with a wider knowledge base.
Richard Singer
Chief Executive, Icelolly.com
The Travel Convention is the most significant and productive event in the travel calendar, providing the opportunity to meet with peers, industry leaders and to listen to some of the most thought-provoking talks from keynote speakers. The added element of excitement this year is that it is being held in Japan, a country steeped in history, culture and at the forefront of technological innovation. Not only am I looking forward to the Convention, but also to experience a country that I have never been to and have always wanted to visit.
Director of Global Travel and Partnerships,
Avis Budget Group
At Avis Budget Group we are wildly excited to join The Travel Convention this year in Japan. This is such an inspirational destination and an exceptionally important one for the travel industry to recognise, with the huge growth of Asia both inbound and outbound. Japan brings us tourism experience, culture learning and is in the forefront of tech and innovation - all massively important to us in our developments at Avis and our brands.
Ruairidh Roberts
Head of Travel, Google
ABTA's Travel Convention has always been a mainstay in my calendar, since joining the world of travel. This year, in particular, the excitement is clear. The destination is intriguing, beautiful, vibrant and will demonstrate what hospitality is really all about. Tokyo will not only prove to be a great destination to explore for the potential holiday market, but is doing justice by bringing a great collection of the travel industry together. For me, the event is as much about the network in attendance as it is about the content. For this year, we are in for a treat on both counts. The theme of Brave New World should be far less the generic audience profile of Huxley's vision and much more a recognition of personalised experience both in the research and the travel experience itself!
Chief Executive Officer, Cosmos
I am really looking forward to the Convention as it will be my first ever time in Japan and we are hosting a Cosmos Tour to see some key highlights. The theme of Brave New World also feels really timely in such a turbulent period for the UK and I am hoping to hear from some great speakers and have some valuable networking time whilst in Tokyo.
Ben Bouldin
Associate Vice President & Managing Director UK & ROI,
Royal Caribbean
We can’t wait to bring our extraordinary Royal Caribbean offering to life for delegates at this year’s Convention. This is a prime opportunity to engage and share updates with key decision makers, while receiving invaluable feedback from our agents and operators.