It can feel daunting to connect in the travel industry, whether you’re just joining, returning, or wanting to ramp up your networking opportunities. Thankfully, Travel Trade Connect has shown up like a genie, fulfilling that wish to make connecting easier. And your second wish? Also answered, as Travel Trade Connect is free for agents!
With travel booming (hurrah) and teams rebuilding, it’s more important than ever for industry players to connect. Industry innovator Anna Shannon of Travel Agent Finder has created a solution. She commented, “The industry has turned upside down and the traditional model of how agents and industry partners interacted may no longer be suitable. We need to find new ways to connect and move forward. This is where Travel Trade Connect, an Australian travel industry directory, comes in.”
Travel Agent Finder is one of the largest databases of travel agents operating in Australia. Over 550 Australian agents – many independent, home-based or mobile – having joined since launch.
“As the industry rebounds, agents are increasingly busy and time-poor. In an agent survey in January. 100% of respondents expressed a need to easily find contacts for companies who support and value travel agents to help streamline their business. In a more recent check-in six months later, 74% still have difficulty finding the contacts they need.”
“Trade partners are in a similar situation. Pre-pandemic contact lists are outdated, and reduced physical store numbers and live events have reduced the impact of the old ways of networking. It is difficult to find who is still operating and how to contact them.”
Anna continues, “Many companies had to downsize their sales team, and people and processes have changed. Some companies are no longer with us, and agents are seeking alternatives to the product ranges and brands they had come to know and trust. As teams rebuild, Travel Trade Connect provides a one-stop-shop to connect trade partners, BDMs, and representatives with agents.”
Access is via the member-only section of Travel Agent Finder and allows trade partners to list their business contacts and products or services to travel agents via their company profile page.
Agents can search the directory by category or keyword to find and connect with the right person quickly. Agents gain access to valuable resources all in one place, such as trade portals, media asset libraries, incentives, specialist training platforms, campaign updates, partner events, and more. Shannon states, “this is a value-added feature for our travel agent members and is free to all travel agents who join Travel Agent Finder.”
While the directory was built with agents in mind, all members have access to it. Partners may also benefit by finding trade support services or collaboration opportunities. Anna comments, “After the hardest period our industry has ever seen, it’s time to reconnect, rebuild our industry and get Australians travelling again.”
Sign up now
With Travel Trade Connect’s trial phase now complete (over 50 partners are on board!), it’s time to expand, build, and make the platform a valuable resource for agents and the trade. Sign up here, email hello@traveltradeconnect.com.au or reach out to Anna on 02 8599 2880.
