The popular TSAX 'I Heart Travel' merchandise stand

It was overheard in the ladies' bathroom, mumbled over lunch and squealed on the dancefloor: the inaugural Travelscene American Express (TSAX) National Consultants Conference was a success.

"The feedback's been absolutely fantastic," Travelscene American Express General Manager Jacqui Timmins told e-Travel Blackboard.

"The focus [of the conference] on real-world skills and tools to assist our consultants…has proved a winner."

Delegates agreed with Ms Timmins as they left workshops with pages of notes and met with some of the ninety plus suppliers who attended the conference.

"This has been a great opportunity for both young and experienced consultants and new and old suppliers to share their knowledge and learn about the industry," Kim Hatherly from Southside World Travel told e-Travel Blackboard.

"I've met so many people," Corporate Travel Management's Emily Lalor said.

With close to three hundred delegates in attendance, their experience spanning from just three weeks to 43 years, the conference was tailored to "reflect this diversity of experience," Ms Timmins said.

Consultants took part in either advanced or intermediate business workshops and received updates from global marketplace sessions and the lunchtime Flight Lounge.

According to Ms Timmins, suppliers jumped at the chance to attend the conference, recognising the chance to meet, face to face, their frontline representatives.

"As a supplier coming to a Travelscene American Express conference, the opportunities afforded us to network with consultants is invaluable," Bench International National Sales Manager Martin Edwards told e-Travel Blackboard.

"Travel agents are crucial to this industry and when you can join them in a conference situation you can really talk to them about what is new, what is important information for their particular clients and then take any feedback to your office."

Aside from the soft urging from Chief Executive Mike Thompson for consultants to "please do a little bit of work", the importance of socialising was well and truly hammered into the minds of the delegates.

"We want to provide you with the space to network with your peers and our preferred suppliers," Ms Timmins told guests before ending the first day's business proceedings.

Consultants took the advice to heart and went on to party into the wee hours of the morning following an acclaimed Reef and Rainforest Dinner at Cairns Showground.