TierOne's Pearl Seaker carries the flag at the opening
Ensemble's pious Halloween party
OJ's Nina Slawek & friends at the Ensemble Halloween party
Ensemble's Lindsay Pearlman with guest speaker Bruce Poon Tip, G Adventures Founder
Ensemble conference tradeshow
The swans outside the cottage
There are times when it feels like the industry really is in it all together. Everyone rowing in the same direction – toward a shared goal. Admittedly, those occasions are few and far between, but the recent Ensemble Conference at the Broadmoor in Colorado Springs did have that sense of unity.
Flying under the banner of “Soaring To New Heights”, the conference’s speakers, such as Peter Sheahan of ChangeLabs and Larry Pimental, read from the same song book: “sell expertise not product.” It’s nothing we haven’t heard before, but somehow, this time, the message seemed to take root among the members.
Sheahan’s company was hired by Ensemble a few years ago to study the business. His conclusion: the timing couldn’t be better for agents to strike. Web weary consumers are coming back in droves. Boomers want expertise. Research models show major growth in niche, luxury and specialization.
Co-President Lindsay Pearlman, always ready with an upbeat comment, was positively bullish: “Based on feedback from our research and other critical business indicators, we’re pleased with 2013, but extremely excited with 2014.” Adding that “Our survey indicates that more than 85% of members forecast an increase in travel sales next year.”
Having spoken to many members myself over the course of the 4 days, not once did I hear a lament, whimper or grumble about well-worn issues such as the lack of commissions. It was not part of the narrative. What was loud and clear is that many retailers are producing more volume than they ever have before and, more importantly, they love what they do.
But what was truly impressive is that for once the main conference room didn’t look like a geriatric ward. I had the pleasure of interviewing a number of young members who are either being groomed by parents to take over the business, or have been recruited within the community. Each says they see a bright future in travel. You gotta love that.
Outside the classrooms there was time and energy mustered for Halloween costumes (here is where real dedication truly comes through), gala dinners and the usual after parties where some hardy travel types do their best negotiating.
All this exuberance took place in one of the most beautiful settings I’ve had the opportunity to enjoy. Swans floated in a natural pool outside my cottage. The mountains in background glistened in the low fall sun. My curtains operated with the push of a button. As did my fireplace. All in all, not too shabby a time was had by … all.
Ensemble Town Hall panel
