Guest blogger # 4 - Danny Waine

Danny Waine from Perfect Weddings:

"This year was my second visit to the ITT, although no longer as a student but now working 24/7 (which I´m assured is the norm for the travel industry), I´d been counting down the days until it was time to fly out to Gran Canaria.

"Things couldn´t have got off to a better start, as the guy at check-in at Manchester Airport saw my company name ´Perfect Weddings & Honeymoons´ printed on the ticket, took a quick glance at me and my colleague Rich, put two and two together and made five...

"I know that Gran Canaria is a mecca for gay and lesbian couples but the fact that he upgraded us to extra legroom seats free of charge, as a "honeymoon treat" was rather amusing and a great start to the week.

"The conference itself has excelled the experience of last year; well organised, blessed with good food and even better weather. No longer drowning of sweat in the Omani heat, this week I even managed to get through with dry clothing to spare. A number of frustrating but equally stimulating points have been raised over the past couple of days.

"As ever, the green debate raised its ugly head (not my favourite subject!); but finally in the summing-up of the conference, Tim Hames spoke sense and rightly pointed out that if you stop people travelling then it could wreck a destination´s economy and its peoples´ lives - an issue always overlooked by the green lobby. Bill Bryson encouraged people to take responsibility and clean litter on roadsides and railway embankments - as if our slow, expensive, and usually delayed trains aren´t bad enough the state of the stations and railtracks are a national disgrace.

"One session that I had been particularly looking forward to was Prof. Rhodri Thomas and his findings in to research in to Travel and Tourism graduates intention of joining the industry.

"Although there were some startling results; such as the few students who actually know what ITT stands for and around three-quarters of employers claiming to value someone with a degree - yet many still not offering worthy-enough career opportunities; but once again sadly this failed to spark the debate which is desperately needed. A swift glance around the room showed heads inside magazines and the odd hangover-induced person nodding off.

"Although this short-sightedness by some was picked up on by Ian Pearson, the Futurologist, in an earlier session who said that employers must invest in their staff and lose their arrogance, as what has happened in the past, whether successful or not, does not necessarily guarantee success in the future.

"The flip-side to the disheartening results of the research was the fantastic speech given by Liz Jackson of Great Guns Marketing. As an aspiring entrepreneur, it was an honour to sit intently for the whole session and listen to someone speak so passionately and enthusiastically about what one can achieve if you´re prepared to work hard enough.

"She spoke great sense but with a comic undertone that last night´s Aussie act Tim Michin would have been proud of. Liz left you with the feeling that anything is possible, if you believe in yourself and deservadly received the biggest round of applause of the week, well almost...

"The biggest ovation was actually for a sponsors Ad screened between two sessions. It was the girls from Training for Travel, and their take on the Sugababes hit ´Push The Button´.

"If this ad hasn´t already been leaked to YouTube then it should be! and if the girls haven´t already applied for Eurovision next year then I´d like to offer myself as their agent, free of charge! It´s a dead cert for Europop stardom.

"As the show draws to a close and I get ready for a week of recovery in bed once again (oh no, I´m not a student anymore!) all I can say is, roll on ITT 2008!