As first reported on the 6th of August here, The InteleTravel Quest (ITQ) conference, took place from September 26-28 in Porto, and was a vibrant event that focused on travel innovation, AI, and global networking, attended by nearly 1,000 independent travel agents from the UK and Ireland. It was Headlined by speakers from Google and Royal Caribbean, to name a few, with the conference featuring sessions on travel trends, AI’s impact, and strategies to overcome challenges like over-tourism.
The event was opened by ‘silver fox’ moderators Andy Harmer, Managing Director, CLIA and Andrew Farr, who had the participants laughing and engaging from the get-go.
James Ferrara, Chief Executive Officer InteleTravel took to the stage to report very impressive annual figures of Globally $1.24 Billion, a growth of 44% on 2023 and UK & Ireland YTD combined £185 Million which was a growth on 53% on 2023, with a projected total sales of £245 Million which will see them end the year on 53% annual growth.
In interview with ITTN’S Sharon Jordan he mentioned that he enjoyed the ‘entreprenurial and relationship nature’ of Irish Agents and also provided some key insights into the number of InteleTravel Agents in Ireland (now over 1,800) and the breakdown of the Ireland Figures of gross sales at +143% and bookings at +165% on 2023 – with land holidays at 61% and cruise bookings being +45% on September 2024.
The conference combined professional development with networking opportunities, including a cocktail Reception at Palacio Da Bolsa and a Gala night in Baron’s Hall, allowing attendees to connect with suppliers, industry leaders, and fellow agents in the beautiful setting of Porto.
Key Themes and Events
Awards and Recognition
The Conference ended with an awards ceremony – congratulations to Lucille Furlong, Patricia Russell and Kelly-Marie NíCheallaigh on their awards!
The location for Intelequest 2026 was announced as Krakow in Poland – with many agents jumping on to book flights straight away.
- Travel Innovation & AI:
The conference theme was “Expanding Your Horizons,” with a major focus on how Artificial Intelligence (AI) will transform the travel industry, impacting everything from search engines to advisor tools.
- Global Trends & Predictions:
Google’s Ludovic Carrasco, flew in from Dublin and shared insights into holiday search trends, consumer social media behavior, and future travel predictions for 2040.
- Industry Insights:
Speakers addressed challenges like over-tourism and Tourism for good were led by ABTA’S Director of Industry relations and Kelly Cookes, InteleTravel’s Commercial Director discussed new booking trends and Parnership strategies for travel agents.
- Networking & Supplier Engagement:
Over 45 travel suppliers attended, offering product updates and engaging in breakout classroom sessions. Including one from our own Carrie Day of Riveria Travel. Aaron Langford, Sales Director of Royal Caribbean International discussed the Power of a Brand on an informative panel discussion.
- Gala Night & City Experience:
Attendees enjoyed networking dinners and a Gala night, and ITTN’s Sharon Jordan caught up with Tricia Handley-Hughes, UK and Ireland Managing Director and Ann-Marie Durkin, Country Manager Ireland, InteleTravel for a quick chat before the Gala event.
Attendees and Venue
- Participants:
The conference brought together approximately 1,000 independent travel agents, making it the biggest InteleTravel Quest to date.
- Location:
The event was held in Porto, a city chosen for its strategic importance to the travel market, with Mr Andre Rodigues from the Porto and North Convention Bureau and Ms Catarina Paiva from Turismo de Portugal expressing pride in hosting the event in Porto.
Highlights
- Google’s First Appearance:
Google was a first-time participant at ITQ, providing valuable insights into consumer behavior and future travel trends.
- High Expectations:
The event was anticipated to be a major highlight of the year for the InteleTravel community, emphasising professional growth and community.
