Travel Weekly Blog

Some sceptical responses to Travel Weekly's Agent Reporter scheme have come in. I think it's worth dealing with each of the objections raised in turn…

- Travel agents don’t have journalism skills

To be accepted as an Agent Reporter, agents will have to show specialist training, knowledge and experience, as well as reasonable writing ability.

We - like all comparable media - have long commissioned industry columnists on the same criteria. If an agent fulfils them too, why shouldn’t he or she produce the odd bit of content?

- Travel Weekly's content will suffer

ARs will be reporting back from trade events and fam trips, not covering news beats. We won’t cut back on professional content.

As for quality of writing, AR work will go through the editorial process (sub-editors, desk heads and the rest) like any other article.

- Agents have nothing to say

There are more than 10,000 agent reviews on Travel Weekly's sister online service Gazetteers.com.

Not every one of those reviewers is an expert. But many agents know their stuff. All we are doing is giving a few talented individuals the chance to demonstrate their product knowledge to clients and colleagues.

- Agent Reporters will neglect their jobs

It’s up to managers whether or not they allow their staff to apply. While the scheme will not suit every business, we think some managers will see AR work as potentially beneficial to both agent and agency.

Not only will published work prove an agent’s knowledge of their specialism, it will also earn them points on the ABTA/ITT Accredited Travel Professional scheme.

I hope that clears a few things up. Comments?