We can be ‘a travel agent’ just for one day.

It was the first week of November 2018; I was doing my usual Instagram research and PING incoming notification from Banksy:

‘Opening my first ever stall at a trade fair next week. I ‘ve painted a replica separation barrier to promote the Walled Off Hotel; ironically the neighbours have complained it’s too tall. We’ll be at the Palestine stand of the ‘World Travel Market, London Excel Centre 6th & 7th November giving away free stuff. Free to get in if you register online today and pretend to be a travel agent’

Ok so by now you have realized that I am a huge Banksy fan so to receive this and know that this is actually happening is pretty exciting, next move straight on to the World Travel Fair London website and get registering.

I have never been, will be or want to be a travel agent but was really excited to act out my part as instructed. As promised my travel agent’s pass arrived by email and by jingo it’s free entry.  I was just excited to see a new Banksy up close but my experience was even better than that.

I decided to arrive early about 2 hours before the opening of the fair, it was a very strange initial feeling, nothing like an art event (of course) a huge venue with faces that I recognized dotted in and around the corporate fanfare of a huge travel show.

People like me who were clearly not travel agents either were trying to work out the closest entrance to the Palestine stand from the show guide and after a quick cuppa started to line up in a fairly orderly way outside my preferred entrance, all of a sudden masses of people started to join the line and the Buzz was on, tension was mounting.

The ropes went back and it was a quick cavalry charge to the Palestine booth, got really close to the new Wall piece and reception type desk and parked myself there just looking and waiting, nothing much happens for a good while so started to mill about and take it all in, there were a couple of guys filming with serious looking camera’s and all of a sudden one swung into my face.

Can I ask what you are doing here today? (Or something like that was the question) I of course answered that I was in the travel industry and was intrigued to see what all the hullabaloo was about.

That was that he moved on and started filming the booth and seemed to have let’s say ‘very easy’ access. Interestingly, we saw the same camera guy on the opening day of the Gross Domestic Product shop in Croydon, again with a camera filming everything.

So after another little while of just hanging about thinking maybe something/nothing might happen Wisam (Walled Off Hotel Manager) comes out and tells the crowd that he has something for us, in his words ‘ you will not be disappointed’ gets out some boxes and starts to hand out Banksy Visit Historic Palestine Posters – thereby starting an almighty crush, I was at the front and luckily got one but it was uncomfortable, quickly Wisam organized a queuing system going right round the booth so it got better and nice and orderly.

If you have not seen one of these posters they were plain and unstamped, unlike the Walled Off Hotel version, which has the embossed stamp and usually ink stamped to reverse.

Leaving with a poster or two I was a very happy bunny, a great day, great experience and by far the weirdest art event that I have been to, but let us not forget the whole reason Banksy did this the power of Art to bring awareness & education to the masses is just extraordinary.

Steve Stevens

ABTA approved Just for one day.