How Industry Events Play a Key Role in Business Planning

Greetings once again readers! We’re about to enter what some would call “festival season” in our local communities. With the weather turning cooler all the fall festivals, state fairs, pumpkin patches and the usual tastes around your town (pumpkin spice anyone?) are on the horizon. This means we’re also entering a busy season of travel industry events. Here at Nexion Travel Group, we have our own annual event hosted at Disneyland Resort. You may find yourself looking forward to an ASTA event, Apple Leisure Group’s Ascend or the ever-popular CruiseWorld. In this season of educational events, I hope that this edition of Travel Hi Five gets you thinking about how you can put all that learning into your business planning.

Yes, I know I talked business planning last month. This is just how important this topic is. When it comes to what we take in at industry events, this may be one of the most important things you read this quarter. Why? Because it will set the stage for your success throughout all of 2023! I know, right? That’s a BIG, bold claim but read on to understand what I mean. This is a quick hit column because the devil is in the details, and I want to make it simple for you to turn this into something actionable.

First, I want you to think back to the many industry-type events you’ve been to in your life, travel or otherwise. How many times have you been to a conference and had your spirits lifted like a freshly filled helium balloon floating on a wave of enthusiasm? Leaving feeling so energized that you’re ready to get back to the office and implement the many ideas you heard about. Then what happens when we get back to the office? Life takes hold and, more often than not, it’s an opportunity lost. Here are my top FIVE tips to prevent that from happening so that you can use that energy for a better year ahead!

1. Bring a small notebook or journal with you and keep it separate from any other notes you take. This book is to capture any thoughts that enter your head throughout the day. Those little things that you think about that have a practical use back at your office. By writing these thoughts down you’ll capture a running tally of everything you want to get done back at the office. This way you get those thoughts out of your head and never have to hope you remember them later.   
2. On the final night of conference or on the plane ride home consider doing this exercise; go through all the thoughts you gathered that can be translated into something actionable and start to write a list of what you want to accomplish. Reorganize that list in order of priority with two to three things at the top of the list to get done first. You will of course have more than that on your list but give yourself three days to a week to get the first ones done and then move to the next ONLY when the others are done. Keep in mind that as humans we can only work on one to two things at a time to get them done with quality.
3. What to do with all those business cards and new contacts you made? Use technology to help you by either taking pictures of cards with your phone as you go, or even better, enter them as contacts that very night so that you are less likely to lose track of them. This will also allow you to jot down any important follow up notes. Speaking of technology; in this day and age the use of a digital card can be both sanitary and cost effective. There’s an app called “QR Me” that I recently discovered where your contact information is turned into a QR code on your screen that someone can use to put your information right into their phone contacts. Give it a try!
4. Many of you may be attending multiple events this fall. Be sure to put what you learned at each into the big picture context of your business. Be REALLY discerning about what is in service to the goals you have set for yourself and the business.  Sometimes we find ourselves working on things that take us AWAY from our goals rather than working towards them. Don’t be afraid to put some things on the back burner or even consider never doing them if it really has no place in meeting the needs of your clients or business goals.
5. This last tip I have is something you have to plan for. October is a great month to sit down and do your strategic business planning for the coming year. I can speak from personal experience on this one; if you can plan to stay at your conference hotel an extra day or two after then do so. Make it a strategy meeting for the “board of directors” of you, yourself and you. And, since it’s a business meeting some cost may be able to be written off (consult your accountant on this one). When everyone else is rushing off to get flights and making a mad rush to finish up that last day of conference you can rest easy knowing you have time on your side. During these extra days do your goal setting for the next year. Maybe even by the pool … This should include your “To Achieve” lists and checking against your goals. Additionally, have the 2023 calendar open and plot out your entire year of events. From industry events, ship inspections, destination/supplier training and oh yes, personal vacations.

So those are my tips. Have any of your own? Comment below and share away.  Earlier I gave you that image of the helium balloon. I’m sure you can relate that there are times between our travels that we feel like a deflated balloon barely hovering above the floor. All it takes is being at the next industry event and once again we’re floating high. Now you can make that “helium” last longer between events because you will hopefully never have that feeling of opportunities lost again. Here’s to Your Success!

Have a topic you think should be considered for future editions of Travel Hi Five? Get in touch with me at mmussey@travelleaders.com.

About the Author

Martin Mussey is a Certified Business Coach, Certified Travel Industry Executive and a Business Development and Education Manager at Nexion Travel Group and Travel Leaders of Tomorrow. #CoachMartin works with travel professionals at all levels using his award winning Business Coaching program. Martin's brand of travel advisor focused consultation where they are the HERO in their own story is on display with Nexion’s newly announced Business Success Journeys program at Nexion Travel Group. When Martin is not coaching or traveling himself he enjoys the arts, both on stage and off. He currently serves on the board of directors for Stomping Ground Comedy Theater in Dallas where they entertain and educate with Improv for Life programs. Coach Martin has presented his own workshops on applied improvisation as it relates to business owner adaptability and success.