Page 12 - StudyTravel Magazine November 2023 Issue

AgenCy Q&A AgenCy of the

Month

industry speAKs

This issue, Pascal carre, President of Belgian
agency association ABelio, talks about recent
outbound student trends and how competition
with public immersion schools is affecting This month, The Lemon Tree www.
student demand. TLTeducation.com in Spain has been
recommended by Scarborough
College www.scarboroughcollege.
co.uk in the UK. Remco Weeda,
Director of Marketing and
Admissions, explains.

remco weeda

www.abelio.org “If I were to
contact@abelio.info recommend an agency of the
month, which I’d love to do, I’d like
Number of members: 8 to recommend The Lemon Tree.
Types of members: belgian outbound agencies I’ve known Oliver from when he
was a group leader. He has been
successful in setting up an agency
what has AbeLIo been up to over the last 12 months? that is not afraid of doing things

ABELIO kept the same number of members, which represent 90 per cent of differently. They have been amazing
the French-speaking market in Belgium and some 50 per cent in the Flemish in adopting a new and young
part. We regularly form working groups for various topics like communication. narrative while maintaining being
We sent a mailing to immersion schools in April to make them aware of our extremely supportive to providers
activities. We have held regular Board meetings either online or live and met and parents.”
for our AGM in a caravan in a restaurant, which is also a library!

How has outbound agency business been in 2023? oliver
Feedback has been rather good and indicates that turnovers will be back rodriguez,
to 2019 levels, maybe even higher in some cases thanks to more long-term The Lemon Tree

programmes. Short-term programmes have suffered slightly from the education, spain
shortening of the summer holidays from eight to six weeks.
“I’ve known Remco for almost 20
what are the main challenges for members? years in different roles he has

Competition with public immersion schools in the French-speaking part developed in the industry and it has
of Belgium which reduces the demand for short courses in Dutch/Flemish always been an absolute pleasure.
dramatically. Accommodation shortages are also a challenge but seem to be He understands the needs of
less acute. Working with the public sector regarding scholarships remains a international agents, puts students
challenge in order to be accredited as operators for all eligible categories. interests first and manages to face

challenges with a truly positive
what does the association have planned for the next year? attitude. Remco has allowed us
We have planned different marketing actions in order to be more visible, in at The Lemon Tree Education to

youth information centres in particular and hope to organise a roadshow. discover the wonders and riches
of Scarborough and for that we are
Read more at: https://studytravel.network/magazine/issues/836 very grateful.”

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