With business travel on the rise and traveling business professionals demanding more choice and more autonomy while on the road, selling this market segment is rapidly growing more complicated.
Still, skilled travel professionals, especially those with the support of a strong host agency, can take advantage of plenty of training programs to help navigate the complexities of this lucrative market.
Last week, for example, the nation's top corporate travel agents spent two days brushing up on the newest tips and tools at Corporate CoNexions, a multi-day learning symposium focused exclusively on business travel.
The event, organized by Nexion, a leading host agency, was open by invitation only with participants requiring a minimum of $150,000 in corporate air sales before being extended an invitation.
"People travel for business frequently and experienced travel agents have the skills to make business travel seamless for their clients," said Robbi Hamida, Senior Vice President, Agency Operations of Nexion. "Becoming fluent in the skills of booking corporate travel, and keeping those skills fresh, are important for any travel agent in this profitable niche. Corporate CoNexions is a chance to give these members highly focused content that lets them put those skills to use immediately in their businesses."
Now in its fourth year, Corporate CoNexions featured a trade show, supplier partner presentations, new business travel product showcases, panel discussions and hotel and ticketing updates. Participants were also able to visit several luxury Seattle hotels, including the Thompson Hotel, the Fairmont Olympic and Loews Hotel 1000, for site inspections and food tastings.
"This group of travel agents does a lot of business," commented Hamida. "The attendees at Corporate CoNexions sell over a quarter of all air sold at Nexion. They have specific things they want to learn about, and we are happy to help give them what they need to continue their success."
Travel professional attendees agreed the event was time well spent.
"I have attended all four Corporate CoNexions," said Mike Edic, owner of Pioneer Travel. "Even though I've been a corporate travel agent for 24 years, I always manage to learn new things at Corporate CoNexions to help me with my business. It's a key part of my strategy to be able to offer the best service to my corporate clients and improve my travel agency's profitability."
Corporate CoNexions was underwritten by a Founding Sponsorship by Enterprise Holdings. Other sponsors include Travel Insured International, LaQuinta Inns & Suites, Chubb, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines, as well as Hahn Air, Choice, Carey International, Fairmont Olympic Hotel, Hyatt, Intercontinental Hotel Group, LATAM Airline Group, Loews Hotel 1000, Qatar Airways, Thompson Hotel and Travelport.
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