Workshops and Keynotes for Travellers, Groups and Clubs
Travel Safety...Travel Scams
SHOULD I STAY OR SHOULD I GO?
Everyone has a scary travel anecdote about how they or someone they know was robbed, duped, ripped off, fooled and/or taken advantage of. Travel scams have been around ever since the first person ‘travelled’ but today scam artists are quite sophisticated, and believable. Steve Gillick started collecting examples of travel scams many years ago and wrote two booklets about scams as well as authoring a travel column for many years called “Scam Watch”. He has been featured on television and radio to talk about travel safety; how to recognize when scams are about to take place—and how to avoid them.
The second part of this session involves the question that many of you ask when you read about an incident that occurred in the country you had intended to visit, or in a neighbouring country: Should I stay at home, or should I continue with my travel plans. We’ll talk about some travel scenarios as well as the travel insurance factor, and how you can obtain the most updated information on your destination.
This is an educational, sometimes humorous Keynote or Workshop that will cover many contemporary travel scams as well as provide great information on travelling both safe and smart.
Dreaming of Working in the Travel Industry
DISCOVER THE WORLD OF A TRAVEL PROFESSIONAL
We travel, we go online to check out airfares, we check out destinations on Google and are loyal fans of Trip Advisor. We have visited travel agents over the years and the booking process seems so easy. With all the freebies that agents receive from industry suppliers, isn’t it time that we set our second career goal on becoming a travel agent ourselves? Well….not so fast!
This Keynote or Workshop talks about the reality of what travel agents (also called counsellors, planners, advisors, specialists) actually do, the training that is available and the constant demands of an ever-changing industry. We will review myths about travel, talk about salaries and perks and freebies, and then provide ideas on ‘next steps’ for you to follow to pursue your dream. No matter what ‘format’ of agent you are considering (agency-based, home-based, leisure, corporate, destination specialist, call centre and more), this session will provide great insight into the profession.
ARE YOU SMARTER THAN THE AVERAGE TRAVEL PROFESSIONAL?
Taking a cue from a popular game show, this is a great Keynote for your conference or meeting, or it can be presented as an active Workshop. How does your knowledge stack up against the average professional? Do you have the ‘smarts’ to arrange your own vacation including the destination that best suits your needs, transportation, accommodation, activities, insurance, documentation, special add-ons and what to do when something goes wrong? Do you know your geography? How 24-hour clocks work? Can you translate exactly what the terms in the travel brochure actually mean?
This session is very interactive, where members of the audience can test their knowledge, but at the same time, gain valuable insight into the skills of a travel professional.
Destination Anywhere
PRESENTING, THE MOST EXCITING DESTINATION IN THE WORLD!
This Keynote or Workshop is customized to your global desires! Talks are available on any of the 196 countries in the world, as well as the territories, colonies, non-fully independent places and other earthly destinations. Or choose a specific area of the world, or a Continent. Talking Travel specializes in extraordinary destination presentations with creative visuals, music, thoroughness, ‘edu-tainment’, and impact. Get out the map and give us a call!
Energizing and Just "Plane' Fun
MEETING UP WITH LAPTOP LOUIE AND BERTHA THE HUT
On a flight from Toronto to Vancouver, Steve met up with many airline characters with whom he was previously acquainted. There was Sammy Sniffler, who had a cold and sniffed very 30 seconds for the entire five hour flight. There was ‘Aisle Be There Alice” who sat on various people’s armrests while chatting with business associates and consistently blocking the aisle. And of course there was Laptop Louie who noisily tapped on his keyboard from the second the fasten seat belt sign was turned off until seconds before we landed at destination.
This is a humorous conference Keynote, delivered with high energy and humour, while providing some cautionary advice about travel common sense.
What's Cooking?
EATING AND DRINKING YOUR WAY AROUND THE WORLD
Culinary Travel is one of the fastest growing niche markets in travel today. Fueled by Food TV and famous cooking personalities, travellers are eager to learn about foods and preparation, from shopping at the morning market, to plating and tasting the finished dish, from an understanding of how local wines or alcoholic beverages are produced, to the skill of matching the drink with the food being served.
This Keynote or Workshop presentation breaks the globe into bite-size chunks and features the food and drinks of different areas. We also provide insight into some of the terms used in cooking, eating and drinking. Lastly, we cover how you can share your comments on your restaurant experiences with other travellers, establish a reputation for truth and fairness, and possibly even begin a career as a food critic!
