A Serbian-based agent workshop opened up its attendee list to include agents from neighbouring countries earlier in 2020 as it seeks to cement its place as a regular ’boutique’ agency workshop in the region.
Held in Serbia’s capital Belgrade, the KUB EDUCO Workshop featured educators represented by KUB Travel Enterprises, including junior summer and adult year round language courses, independent and public schools, and universities.
“We decided to up the number of agents this year…and it was a wonderful success”
The 22nd iteration of the event was attended by 16 agencies, including three from both Bosnia and Hercegovina and Croatia, while one each from Slovenia, Hungary, Macedonia, Montenegro and Romania attended. Alongside KUB Travel Enterprises, four additional agencies from Serbia joined.
Executive director of KUB Travel Enterprises and event organiser, Magdalena Jugovic, explained that the success of the workshop was largely due to the opportunity to meet at a “smaller and friendlier venue” than larger events.
“In the last few years we have always had at least one or two agents from the region present at the workshop,” Jugovic said.
“As both the schools and the agents said this was a wonderful opportunity to meet at a smaller and friendlier venue, we decided to up the number of agents this year and see how it goes. And it was a wonderful success,” she added.
Smaller agencies from surrounding countries who do not attend big workshops benefitted from meeting schools face to face, Jugovic noted.
“The main benefit for both was meeting existing partners, but also quite a number of new potential partners.
“This year all the schools present were existing KUB partners, which was also an additional extra for the agents as the schools have already been our trusted partners for years,” she said.
Along with the growth in agencies attending, the number of educators joining also increased to a total of more than 40.
“Although the numbers have grown it has still remained small in comparison to other workshops and had the friendly and relaxed atmosphere for networking,” Jugovic said.
Despite the success of the larger event, KUB has “no plans in growing big”, she added.
In 2021 however, KUB hopes to include agencies from more countries such as Greece, Bulgaria, Turkey, Italy, Jugovic highlighted, but “would definitely like to keep it small and intimate – a “boutique” workshop, where schools and agents can cement their relations during the relaxing social events”.
The next KUB EDUCO event will take place in Belgrade on January 23, 2021. See photos from the event here.
