I worked this weekend. Not selling travel, but at the Good Food Festival (http://www.goodfoodfestival.net/) promoting the Last Minute Club (one of our companies) and handing out business cards to potential clients. I guess the first question is: “Why would a travel agent be at a food show?” The answer, a free booth!

So, we were giving away a free membership to the Last Minute Club (value $55) and a chance to win a free trip for two to Punta Cana at a five star hotel. Not too shabby, but in case you forgot the following details: in the last 10 days, one tour company went bankrupt, a plane was hijacked in Jamaica, and now we have swine flu. Oh did I forget to mention another ship got attacked by pirates off the coast of Somalia again on Friday? Don’t even get me started on that!

Here is the scene of the show. Picture hall 5 at the international centre, filled with row upon row of food vendors, giving out free, did I say free, samples! The greed, and rudeness of so many of the people was unbelieveable. People who come to these shows are a very interesting breed. The walk down the aisles, with granny buggies, suitcases on wheels, or any other type of grocery carry on item with a deep pouch and wheels and looking for the free items. They would take the table cloths off the tables if they thought they were free. (aside, I did manage to obtain 4 sample packages of the free Jello product they were giving away).

It was just the ignorance and rudeness of people that I observed this weekend. We were advertising that we would giving away a “FREE” Sunquest trip. I can’t count how many people actually ‘challenged’ us that Sunquest was the company that went out of business. I finally asked a gentleman, “Sir, do you think we could really give a trip away sponsered by a company that was no longer in business?” I mean really, need I say more? I should state, in case you don’t know, it was CONquest that closed their doors, not SUNquest, who is still VERY much in the travel business.

On the positive side of the weekend’s adventures, I got to spend time with my friend Lorrie chatting, laughing and catching up. We both work from home, so it was great to actually be face to face with each other and the public. Spent money on Planters nut products, Canadian Club BBQ sauce, Kettle creek chips and a HUGE jug of already peeled garlic. They said it will last 4-6 months in the freezer, but I think I will be rid of it a long time before that. I use a lot of garlic, but I think this was a bit obscene, but for the price ($2) I could handle it. Now, if only my car and condo didn’t smell like garlic, I would probably be enjoying it more!