Agent@Home Expo, one of the biggest home-based shows of the year will take place this month, March 26-27, and it will cost you nothing to attend. Right now, as I write this and we go to press, more than 3,000 home-based travel agents have registered. You can go to the Virtual Travel Events website to register free for this event.

Take the number of agents attending our virtual Agent@Home Expo this month into context when you compare it to any physical show in the industry. You’ll understand why you need to attend as a travel agent, as it could very well be the largest travel agent show of the year.

This year’s format will be different from what you’ve seen in the past, and far different from the typical tradeshow you attend in person. Instead of the “pay-to-play” model where the speaker at a show is simply the person who spent the most, we are reaching out to our award-winning editors and contributors, as we have always done, to provide content that’s most important for your business.

Insights on Cruises
For instance, you’ll be able to go online and engage with Theresa Masek, the indisputable queen of the cruise beat, as she shares her insights and answers your questions about all things cruise. One of her recent articles on the Norovirus outbreaks, featured on TravelPulse, went viral as thousands of consumers, as well as agents, read her perspective. Maybe it was the title that got their attention: ATTENTION MEDIA… since the media had blown the actual story well out of proportion. Theresa will help you get to the truth about selling more cruises, something that’s very important to every home-based agent.

You’ll also see Nick Verrastro, the managing editor for travAlliancemedia, and former editor in chief of Travel Trade, online. Nick will engage with home-based agents on all things hosted. He will provide insights and perspective on how to choose the right host and get you the answers you need, all in a live interaction.

We also have a surprise guest who is a specialist in public relations. Her name is Anna De Souza and she runs a firm based out of New York that has clients in travel, beauty, medical and more. She will provide her insights on how to get published, how to write a blog and how to use all the tools at your disposal. Full disclosure: Anna is my personal publicist who handles all of those television bookings you see me on. You don’t want to miss the chance to learn from this pro!

Tradeshow Exhibitors
So what happens at these events besides interactions with the editors? We’ll have a number of suppliers and destinations exhibiting, but not nearly as many as you’d expect, given the number of agents who will be attending. Wherever you go at the event you’ll see videos, training, online chat interactions and social engagement. Given all that activity, where might those suppliers be, you ask?

Unfortunately, you’ll notice that many of the suppliers who profess to support you, are absent from the show. How can this be? After an initial euphoria over the concept of online shows, akin to a housing or stock bubble, the industry wrote off the idea of online events…but not completely. Indeed, suppliers host webinars, online videos and even host online “chat” sessions via Facebook and Twitter. So what’s the issue with virtual travel events? In a word: confusion.

One venue to reach agents
For some reason, one that only a supplier or destination can answer, they can’t put two and two together in the online world. What I really mean to say is they can’t seem to fathom the connection between what they are already doing on a disjointed basis across multiple platforms and how all of those same pieces come together into a single online virtual event like this month’s Agent@Home Expo, March 26-27.

Since we started doing live virtual events back in 2008 we have engaged with more than 51,000 unique travel agents in an online interactive environment. For those agents who have attended, you’ve seen the benefit firsthand. Take that message to your suppliers and let them know the value, and savings, of online events.

And don’t forget to register at www.VirtualTravelEvents.com for the March 26-27 Agent@Home Expo.