Organisers release sponsor survey results in run-up to ISPY 2010

UK. Organisers of this year’s ISPY (Inflight Sales Person of the Year) cabin crew awards scheme and ISPY+ airline conference have unveiled the results of a sponsor survey.

The survey aims to highlight the benefits to sponsors of the week-long event, which is being organised by Travel Retail Training and will be held this September. Previous sponsors were asked a number of questions related to their participation in past events, and the benefits they expect to receive from attending this year (see their answers below).

An unprecedented number of airlines will be present at this year’s ISPY and ISPY+, report the organisers.

ISPY+, the commercial conference being held from 15 to 17 September, will feature high-profile speakers and over 40 of the world’s leading airline buyers and management. The event aims to provide face-to-face networking, insightful workshops, benchmarking analysis of industry trends, lively social events, leading suppliers and an Oscars-style gala awards ceremony in an historic venue near Heathrow.

ISPY (13-17 September 2010) is a week-long event for airline crew, inflight management, buyers and concessionaires, where cabin crew are trained and assessed. At the end of the week the best-performing crew are rewarded and given public recognition for their sales skills at a motivational gala awards ceremony.

Airlines registered for 2010 are: Aer Lingus, Aer Lingus USA, Air Canada, Air Seychelles, Air Transat, American Airlines, Arik Air, bmibaby, Cathay Pacific, Continental Airlines, Delta, Dragonair, easyJet, Emirates Airline, Etihad Airways, Finnair, Flybe, flydubai, Gulf Air, Jet2.com, Iberia, Lufthansa, Malaysia Airlines, Northwest Airlines, Novair, Pluna, Singapore Airlines, SAS, Surinam Airways, Thomas Cook Airlines, Thomson Airways, TUI Fly, US Airways and Virgin Atlantic Airways.

Attending concessionaires include Alpha, Aeroboutique, DFASS, Gate Way Solutions, Inflight Services Group, ISG and Tourvest.

Sponsors interested in signing up for ISPY 2010 are requested to do so before the end of this month.

Martyn Westbury of Mars International Travel Retail, a major sponsor of the annual ISPY event, is pictured with Aer Lingus Cabin Crew Manager Sales and Service Joe Harvey at ISPY 2009


Click on the arrow in the video screen to view the culmination of ISPY 2009


ISPY SURVEY 2010

What are the main benefits that you have experienced from participating in ISPY?

Jan Kristiansen-Binder, Coty: Closer and more dynamic co-operation with airline management and increased onboard sales through improved product knowledge and skills of the crew.

Martyn Westbury, Mars: Ability to train and interact with crew – they give valuable insights into the reality at 30,000ft. Ability to meet the training and performance management at the airlines and to establish links for future crew support. Opportunity to communicate our global brands and their core values and give brand knowledge to the frontline teams. Innovation is always on our agenda and the crew have masses of ideas as to future developments.

Lance Hayward, Alex Forbes, Alpha: Found it beneficial to discuss trends, new ideas and changes with others within this specific industry. This is also a great networking event.

Kevin Walsh, Premier Portfolio: The benefit to our company is to be able to network with our main buyers at a senior level and get feedback from cabin crew on new product lines during the week. It’s also a great event to catch up with industry friends during the social events.

Bob Franks, Britvic: The main benefits from participating in ISPY are the products’ exposure to a wide range of airlines which would not normally come within reach. Whilst the UK airlines are knowledgeable about the Britvic range, the airlines from Europe/Asia/America are not. ISPY gives us a platform to show these products.

The benefit to our company is to be able to network with our main buyers at a senior level and get feedback from cabin crew on new product lines during the week.
Kevin Walsh
Premier Portfolio

Rosi Chapman, Transformulas: Getting in front of the crew, being able to talk to them in an open, relaxed yet structured atmosphere specifically focused on training.

Alessandra Piccin, Distilleria Bottega: Getting in contact with airline managers, presenting our products, receiving feedback and suggestions from the cabin crew.

Why do you choose ISPY to promote your brand?

Coty: Access to more airlines via ONE platform.

Mars: ISPY is the only crew-focused event for airlines and we see the crew’s development as important as our own salespeople’s development. Internationally recognised as the most important event of its type – perfect for our global brands. Quite simply the best event of its kind, where a genuine effort is made to deliver value back to the sponsors.

Alpha: As a concessionaire we need to inform the airlines and their crews how important we take their part in this industry.

Premier Portfolio: We have supported ISPY from the start and feel that it is a great event for the cabin crew. The ISPY brand has shown true professionalism since its launch and each year gets better and better. We are really proud to have our company associated with ISPY.

Britvic: We choose ISPY to promote our brands because we see ISPY as the premier event for cabin crew training and industry knowledge.

Transformulas: It is dedicated to training, which I fully endorse, and through talking to the airline management, brand and crew it identifies strengths and weaknesses which in turn equals priceless feedback and research. ISPY gives me a great platform to present my brand and my product range to the people who are buying and selling it.

Distilleria Bottega: ISPY was for us the first airline event we attended and we can say that our success and listings onboard the major airlines worldwide is due also to ISPY.

How would you describe ISPY?

Coty: A flight sales environment experienced by our customers, a superb networking opportunity and a motivational boost on many levels.

Mars: A unique opportunity for all stakeholders to benefit – witnessing the crews’ development literally by the hour and being able to develop our relationships with the key people within the airline. The interaction we get provides a real impetus to our developments in this channel. It is a full week of hard work, fun and above all a family feeling that we are all in this together – everyone helps and supports each other.

Alpha: A unique company providing specific knowledge, insight and training to crews and airlines on selling products inflight.

Premier Portfolio: The best cabin crew awards show in the world.

Britvic: ISPY is the foremost event within the UK for cabin crew training. It give an in-depth training programme covering all aspects of inflight services and is greatly regarded within the industry.

Transformulas: Warm, friendly, open, intense and dedicated to bring out the best in all – as individuals and as a team – for the better of! An amazing week which has to be seen to be believed.

Distilleria Bottega: A challenging, exciting and interesting week of exchange of ideas.

How do you hope to benefit from ISPY this year?

Coty: By involving ourselves even further, to reach even more crew than ever before.

Mars: To continue the journey with crews from around the world in explaining our brands and how they can add value to their pax experiences. To forge new alliances and renew existing contacts in developing our airline portfolio and our support for this important segment.

Alpha: Promoting Alpha Flight as a leader in inflight retail, networking with fellow concessionaires, airlines, suppliers and crews.

Premier Portfolio: Same as every year, consolidate our brand’s position in the market, increase product listings and have a great gala evening.

Britvic: This year, with the introduction of ISPY+, I see a far greater opportunity to approach a much wider range of industry contacts on a formal and informal basis.

Transformulas: With the present difficulties within the travel market, the crew are the people that take the brunt of both customer and airline. Being able to talk directly to them and the airline buyers, as a supplier I believe it will help give me a platform that will allow me to develop a service, reinvent and tailor my products to the customer, expand on ideas that will help to keep the Transformulas brand prominent and bring extra incremental sales to our partners.

Distilleria Bottega: As a supplier, of course, I hope to meet new airlines and get new listings.

What would you say to brands that have never experienced ISPY?

Coty: It is easy to think that ISPY is just another industry event, but the fact that ISPY has been going from strength to strength since the start 10 years ago speaks volumes on its own. ISPY is difficult to define in just a few words and I strongly recommend any supplier/brand to try ISPY at least once to understand the opportunities that this programme holds.

Mars: I am delighted that we participated early on and established ourselves as a key sponsor, something we will continue to do.

Alpha: Inflight retailing is a unique industry, with its specific restraints and opportunities. ISPY allows all interested parties to come together discuss and overcome restraints and make even more opportunities.

Premier Portfolio: It’s a great event, the gala awards evening is fantastic. We had one buyer list a product a few years ago and it amounted to sales of over 40,000 units!

Britvic: To those brands that have never experienced ISPY, I would say go along and see for yourself the atmosphere generated during the week. Take in the enthusiasm and enjoyment of all those people taking part.

Transformulas: It is worth pursuing for the experience and the opportunity to meet the key decision makers within a large number of international airlines in a short space of time. It is a great way to keep in touch with your customers and potential customers in a structured yet fabulously social environment. If the inflight retail channel is your business, then you cannot afford to miss this event.

Distilleria Bottega: What I said when I received this question was: “Try it… you’ll come back to me to say thank you”.

What are your expectations of ISPY+?

Coty: An interesting, inspiring and dynamic few days in the company of industry leaders, airline management and fellow suppliers to discuss and exchange points of view, experiences and good ideas.

Mars: A new style of conference looking at new areas and future trends – not simply doing the same old subjects again. To be able to interact and share ideas with the key players in the airline world. A thorough review post event – as always a key feature will be how to make the next one even better.

Alpha: To have the opportunity to look, listen and discuss changes, developments and opportunities, show the industry that Alpha retains its position as a leading inflight retailer.

Premier Portfolio: To present our new product lines to the cabin crew and buyers for potential new business for 2011. Have a great time and catch up with a bit of gossip from our friends from around the globe.

Britvic: I see ISPY+ as a new way forward in UK conferences as it will greatly benefit both suppliers and customers in a way never before tried within the UK. It is a natural progression from ISPY to include senior managers/buyers, etc, to experience the ISPY way.

Transformulas: I am hoping to catch up with my airline customers, meet new people and make new connections, share my product innovations with the crew and the buyers, do some business, learn what’s happening in the industry, find out what the latest thinking and trends are, be inspired and have fun at the same time.

Distilleria Bottega: Great expectations.

About Travel Retail Training

Dedicated to developing the inflight retail sector, Travel Retail Training (TRT) aims to provide clients with workable and cost-effective solutions to their staff motivation and training needs, ensuring the effectiveness of their workforce.

For ISPY enquiries, contact Mads Bushnell at mads@trtuk.com or Steve Auston at steve@trtuk.com

For sponsorship opportunities to promote your brand at ISPY, contact Avril Appleyard at avril@appleyardcommunications.com or call +44 7958 335985.

Visit www.trtuk.com, www.ispy-international.com and www.ispy2010worldtour.com

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