Club Med, the esteemed leader in all-inclusive luxury travel, has set a new benchmark in the travel industry with its first-ever Home-Based Advisors Conference, HBA 2024. Designed exclusively to support and elevate the business potential of home-based travel advisors across Australia, this visionary event unfolded from November 4 to 7 at the stunning Club Med Bali. HBA 2024 brought together over 60 advisors for an immersive experience tailored to their unique needs, blending professional growth with unforgettable moments of inspiration, connection, and community-building.

This inaugural conference is not just another industry event but a groundbreaking initiative, custom-built to address the distinctive needs of home-based advisors (HBAs) who play an increasingly influential role in Australia’s evolving travel landscape. Through a robust lineup of expert-led sessions, interactive workshops, and a focus on personal branding, the event empowered attendees with practical tools and invaluable insights to drive success in a competitive marketplace.

A Vision for Transformation: Keynote Highlights and Inspiring Workshops

HBA 2024 featured an impressive range of speakers, from renowned entrepreneurs to industry veterans, who shared their expertise on topics crucial to modern advisors. The event opened with Kristina Karlsson, founder of stationery giant Kikki K, whose talk resonated with the audience as she recounted her journey of overcoming business adversity and adapting through the COVID-19 pandemic. Karlsson’s “Dreaming Big” keynote inspired attendees to envision larger goals and embrace new possibilities. Following her address, she led a workshop challenging advisors to craft a powerful vision for their business and personal lives, pushing the boundaries of what they thought possible.

Jorge Fernandez, Managing Director of Applied Sense, led a session focused on the future of Australian outbound tourism, highlighting current trends and opportunities. Fernandez provided practical tools for attendees to integrate immediately into their business strategies, further empowering each advisor with knowledge on capitalizing on the ever-changing travel landscape.

Adela Backhouse, a trailblazing personal travel expert, captivated attendees with her innovative strategies for leveraging social media to elevate their brand presence. Sharing real-life examples and actionable advice, Backhouse’s session gave advisors a fresh perspective on using digital tools to reach new markets and build strong client relationships. The social media theme continued with Belinda Jennings, founder of Mum Central Network, who alleviated fears around navigating social platforms. Her practical insights into creating content that resonates with clients were instantly applicable and a clear favourite among attendees.

Community Building and Practical Skill Enhancement

Beyond keynote presentations, HBA 2024 emphasized hands-on, interactive learning. Under the guidance of Chiara Burdo, Trade Marketing Manager for Club Med Pacific, attendees participated in tailored workshops that covered topics such as social photography and digital design on platforms like Canva. These workshops catered to the need for enhanced personal branding, helping advisors craft a compelling and visually engaging online presence.

Evie Farrell, the founder of Mumpack Travel, rounded out the event’s speaker sessions by sharing her insights on niche marketing and audience engagement. Farrell’s experience-driven talk encouraged advisors to pinpoint their unique selling points, strengthen personal branding, and establish deeper client trust through storytelling.

Lisa Bacon, Head of Sales for Club Med Pacific and the visionary behind HBA 2024 underscored the conference’s goals: “We aimed to bring together a mix of themes and topics, ensuring a lineup of speakers who would inspire, engage, and support the unique needs of our valued advisors. Every advisor is on a different path in their business journey, so we crafted sessions that resonated broadly but also provided personal takeaways for each attendee.”

A Platform for Feedback and a Foundation for Growth

Michelle Davies, General Manager for Club Med Pacific, lauded the event’s success, noting its value in connecting Club Med directly with one of its fastest-growing client segments. “We were thrilled to host such a diverse group of delegates, representing home-based advisors from all corners of Australia. This segment is critical to Club Med’s growth, now accounting for 22% of our business. We recognized that HBAs require specific resources and strategies that differ from traditional agencies, and HBA 2024 was designed to cater to those needs.”

Davies also highlighted the conference’s role as a feedback loop: “This event allowed us to listen actively to our advisors, understand their challenges, and implement a strategy for 2025 that empowers them to continue excelling with Club Med by their side.”

A Touch of Community Spirit: Giving Back to Bali’s Local Children

HBA 2024 wasn’t all business; the event included a heartwarming community engagement initiative with Bali Life, a local charity and one of Club Med’s ongoing partners. A memorable afternoon saw 100 children from Bali Life’s school and orphanage invited to join the resort for a day of joy, games, and friendship. Advisors and Club Med staff shared laughter and smiles with the children through activities like potato sack races and soccer, creating an electric atmosphere of camaraderie. The session concluded with a meaningful gift exchange, where advisors provided backpacks and school supplies to the children, a moment that profoundly impacted all involved.

A Resounding Success and a Promising Future for HBAs

Richard Taylor, Director of Memberships and Industry Affairs at the Australian Travel Industry Association (ATIA), admired Club Med’s efforts in pioneering HBA 2024. “This event represents a huge step forward for home-based advisors, offering an inspiring and productive space tailored to their needs. It’s been special to witness the advisors’ enthusiasm and see how Club Med has thoughtfully created an environment where they feel supported, valued, and prepared for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.”

With a thriving community of HBAs now invigorated by new skills, connections, and inspiration, Club Med is poised to maintain its status as a leading travel partner. The inaugural HBA 2024 is a powerful example of the company’s commitment to advancing the travel industry, strengthening the business acumen of its advisors, and reinforcing its reputation as a trusted name in global travel.

As the travel sector prepares for new horizons in 2025, Club Med’s success with HBA 2024 is a clear testament to the potential of home-based advisors and their essential role in the future of travel.

For further details on Club Med and its ongoing support of travel advisors, visit Club Med’s official travel agents portal.

 

 

 

Written by: Michelle Warner

 

 

 

 

 

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