2022 New York Travel & Adventure Show | Travel Summit & FAM-TAS Program

Will you be a winner in the biggest wave in bookings in decades?

As the world re-opens and the Covid-19 pandemic moves to a full endemic stage much has changed in the travel & tourism industry.

The recovery is in full swing, airlines are adding capacity, cruise lines are sailing, traveler sentiment is increasing and all eyes are on increasing bookings in what is to be the biggest “WAVE SEASON” in years.

But navigating this brave new world of travel is fraught with pitfalls and opportunity. To be sure there will be winners and losers. To claim your share of this coming market share knife fight you need to be armed with the latest data, information, and tactics to come out on top.

On March 18th, 2022, in one afternoon, the Travel Trade Summit @ The NY Travel & Adventure Show will gather top executives in the travel industry to arm you with the insights and information you need to win that you just won’t find anywhere else!

Produced by Travel Market Report and the Travel & Adventure Show you can be sure this event will be packed with tactical AND strategic information. Prepare your business plans, marketing and sales strategies with timely takeaway information including:

• Psycho-graphics and demographics of today’s traveler.
• Everything you need to know about a reopening world of tourism.
• Will domestic travel boom even more in 2022 & 2023?
• Cruising – what exactly is the future and how can you sell it?
• International travel – will it recover and when?
• Group Tours – How and Who will lead the recovery?
• And a first time ever candid discussion of leading travel celebrity experts.

The Travel Trade Summit’s hard hitting, fast paced agenda is designed to be consumed by Travel Advisors, marketers, tourism executives and travel trade professionals. Then the Travel & Adventure Show floor opens up for a 2 hour VIP reception from 5pm – 7pm.

We recommend a team approach as the information is both deep and running in concurrent and general sessions.

So gather your organization's leaders and book you seat today.

Capacity is strictly limited so don’t delay.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD SPEAKERS AND FULL AGENDA!

Session Highlights:

Today’s American Traveler:

Join Destination Analysts CEO, Erin Francis-Cummings, a go-to expert resource in the destination marketing industry with her work featured on CNN, The Wall Street Journal, the New York Times and USA Today.

Key Insights include:

• The State of the American Traveler – Post pandemic
• Boomers, Gen Z, Millennials? Who is ready to travel and how can you sell them?
• Psycho-graphics have become more important them demographics.
• All the Statistics you need to plan your 2022/23 business strategy.

The Power Of A Collective Voice:

Moderated by Anne Marie Moebes, Publisher, Travel Market Report

Lessons form the pandemic have made all of us aware that Associations and Advocacy are critical in navigating industry upheavals. More than ever understanding and being part of Travel Associations is a must to insure your business' success!

Associations are built for education, consumer awareness and advocacy on behalf of their members. Understanding the importance of each association in travel and how they interact and partner is key to understanding what they do and how they succeed. Learn how these association executives lead, inspire educate and lobby on behalf of their members and how you can help.

Panelists:

• Terry Dale, President and CEO - United States Tour Operators Association
• Kelly Craighead, President & CEO - Cruise Lines International Association
• Enrique Penson
• Eben Peck, EVP, Advocacy - American Society of Travel Advisors

Luxury Update: The World Is Reopening, Here’s Everything You Need to Know to Shape a Growth Strategy For Luxury Travel

Yes the travel industry is recovering and bookings are starting to surge. But the road ahead is not linear and if you don’t have a nimble strategy you could step on a land mine and set your organization back. The fastest recovering segment is Luxury as pent up demand and dollars are ready to flow.

Learn the Fundamentals of Developing a Sales Strategy That Will Grow Your List of High Net Worth Individuals and Boost Your Luxury Sales

Panelists:

• Shannon Cunningham, Membership and Engagement Specialist- Gifted Travel Network
• Angela Hughes, Owner - Trips & Ships Luxury Travel 

Domestic Travel: How and Why Travel Advisors are Finding the U.S. Destination as their New Sweet Spot?

Moderated by Dan McCarthy, Editor-in-Chief, Travel Market Report join some of the sharpest minds in domestic travel marketing as they discuss the winners and losers of the past two years.

There is no doubt American travelers turned inward during the pandemic. Many U.S. based destinations, properties and products set records, others withered.

But now, two years after the start of the pandemic, are domestic destinations still trending upward? Understanding what’s going on now in some of the best U.S. cities will help travel advisors expand their portfolio of travel services and continue to cater to clients who have fallen in love with close-to-home destinations, or those who still want the option to have vacations with less travel time.

Learn:

• Key strategies and tactics that domestic travel marketers are adopting to prosper post covid-19.
• Best practices on how to be best positioned to come out of the pandemic stronger.
• When all the data was wrong – what and who do you trust when making plans?

Panelists:

• David Kasser, VP, Tourism Development & Sales - Alaska Land & Sea Adventures
• Tracy Vaughan, Senior Vice President, Tourism & Travel Industry Sales - Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention and Visitors Bureau
• Miriam Dotson, Communications Manager - Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau
• Betsy O'Rourke, Chief Marketing Officer - Xanterra Travel Collection

Cruise - Charting the Course Forward:

Renewing Client Interest and Preparing for 2022

We have assembled some of the best tactical executives from the cruise industry for a power session moderated by Charles Sylvia, VP, Industry & Trade Relations, CLIA.

The cruise industry was one of the most affected segments of travel during the pandemic. False starts, rescheduled itineraries, cancellations and even failures have hampered travel recovery. But through the fog some cruise lines emerged with stunning success in managing ever changing protocols, politics and headwinds.

As we move to an open for business environment you’ll learn:

• What is new in products
• The latest in services, and health and safety protocols.
• How to sell and market cruises effectively.
• Consumer trends in groups, multi generational travel, and solo travel.
• How Cruise Lines and their Sales Channels rebuild confidence.
• How to market to your clients and close more sales.

Panelists:

• Lisa Falango, Director of Sales, Northeast Region - Royal Caribbean Cruises
• Cory Wallace, National Accounts Manager - Celebrity Cruises
• Derek Lloyd, VP – Agency Sales, North America - Norwegian Cruise Line

International Travel: It’s Time to See the World!

Let’s face it, international travel took a back seat during the pandemic as U.S. travelers turned to domestic. Yet there were some winners and others who chose to sit out. We have assembled a panel of international DMO executives moderated by Jackie Friedman, President of Nexion for a timely frank discussion of how International Destinations have prepared for the future and consumer trends they are seeing will help you identify and sell key international markets.

To increase bookings internationally you just can’t miss this session where you will learn:

• After closing, reopening, re-closing learn about new products and services.
• How destinations work with airlines, hotels, tour companies, cruises and Destination Management companies.
• A frank look at different international tourism strategies, services and marketing initiatives during post pandemic and, what you can expect going forward.
• How will international destinations rebuild their sales channel relationships with Travel Advisors?

Panelists:

• Chad Martin, Director, Northeast Region - Israel Ministry of Tourism
• Maria José Abuabara Brülhart, Director of Tourism - ProColumbia
• Alison Metcalf, Chair of ETC’s US Chapter, EVP North America - Tourism Ireland
• Enrique Penson
• Dr. Iva Bahunek, CEO of Croatian National Tourism Board, Los Angeles

Host Agency & Consortia Update

Leadership and the Importance of Consortia Franchisors and Host Agencies that Represent your Interests.”

The pandemic impacted the travel retailing and travel advisor industry in a way that has changed it forever. Mass layoffs, exits from the industry have changed the workforce extensively. Yet from the ashes came a new wave of entrepreneurial spirit and new entries to the business as the U.S. workforce soul searched.

We’ve assembled ‘a who’s who’ of travel models, including host agency/franchise & consortia executives to share best practices of top tier producers within their organizations.

Thought provoking questions will be discussed such as:

• Has the pandemic made a positive lasting move by consumers to advisors, or will it revert to online?
• How will Host agency, franchise, consortia support travel advisors going forward?
• How does the travel agency distribution channel work together to bring new entrants to the business while educating consumers on their importance.

Panelists:

• Ignacio Maza, Executive Vice President - Signature Travel Network
• Nancy Bennett, Senior Vice President, Global Sales - TRAVELSAVERS
• Dan Hicks, VP of Franchise Development - Cruise Planners
• Jackie Friedman, President -Nexion
• James R. Ferrara, Co-founder and President - InteleTravel

Tours Are the New Big Trend - How Do You Find, Plan and Sell to Your Clients

For those seeking a way to resume travel despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, group tours offer an alternative to going it alone. However, after stopping all tours for months, tour operators responded to the changed landscape by developing new protocols and offering new services.

Join Moderator Brian Israel, Associate Publisher of Travel Market Report as he takes four of the world’s top tour operator executives on a candid discussion on the future of guided, all inclusive, and tour vacations.

Selling guided and all-inclusive vacations and tours are their areas of expertise and they understand the importance of selling through the travel agency channel. Learn how this segment can be highly profitable!

In this session you will examine:

• What’s new in product, services, destinations
• How will technology affect sales
• What's changed in health and wellness protocols
• How these companies have succeeded in packaging new components to be attractive post pandemic.

Boots On the Ground - What You Need to Know From the Experts Who Have Been There

We have read their books and articles, seen them on TV and watched their exploits. Perhaps no other group of travel experts have put more time and miles during the pandemic into exploring destinations than these award-winning travel experts.

Join this first time ever panel of Travel & Adventure Show Celebrity Travel Experts as they engage you with an exciting and inspirational discussion of what the world is like now and how consumers perceive it.

Panelists:

• Samantha Brown, Emmy Award-Winning Host, Samantha Brown’s Places to Love
• Peter Greenberg, Emmy Award-Winning Investigative Reporter and Producer and CBS News Travel Editor
• Pauline Frommer, Editorial Director of The Frommer’s Guides and Publisher of Frommers.com

Travel Advisor - Show Day Programs

The Acclaimed Travel & Adventure Show FAM-TAS Program Features Destination Specific Workshops

Join like-minded travel professionals in your area for a valuable networking and educational event experience on day one of the New York Travel & Adventure Show. This is your opportunity to connect with leading global destination representatives and suppliers through a dynamic itinerary of three catered destination focused sessions on Saturday, and an interactive passport program on the show floor and more!

What's more you'll sport the BLACK CARD VIP BADGE - which sets you apart on the show floor as a Top Tier Advisor for VIP treatment from our Exhibitors.

You'll meet:

• VIP Breakfast by United States Virgin Islands
• Dominican Republic (enjoy lunch and refreshments during the workshop)
• Alaska Land & Sea Adventures (enjoy coffee, tea and refreshments during the workshop)

And much more!

FAM- TAS Program Show Hours:

Saturday, March 19: 9:00 am – 3:00 pm

BONUS: Additional Access to the Travel & Adventure Show:

Saturday, March 19: 9:30 am - 6:00 pm

Sunday, March 20: 11:00 am – 5:00 pm

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Show Floor Only Admission: For travel advisors/travel industry trade. Includes show floor access only. (Must register for FAM-TAS Program for admission to catered sessions, passport program, etc.)

Saturday, March 19: 9:30 am – 6:00 pm

Sunday, March 20: 11:00 am – 5:00 pm

For more information, visit TravelShows.com

NOTE: This registration is for Travel Advisors/Travel Industry Trade ONLY.  Registrations will be reviewed and non-trade registrations will be canceled.

Solicitation of show exhibitors is strictly prohibited.

FAQs

Where do I find the list of speakers and travel seminars schedule?

Click here for Travel Summit agenda

Click here for FAM-TAS presentation schedule

Click here for the exhibit hall theater schedule

What are my transport/parking options getting to the event?

For parking and transportation information, click here

How do I update my registration information or transfer my ticket to another person?

Click here to see how to update your registration information or transfer your ticket to another person

Do I have to bring my printed ticket to the event?

You must bring your ticket to the event.  Tickets may be printed or displayed on your mobile device (in the Eventbrite app).

Where can I contact the organizer with questions about the FAM-TAS Program?

203-878-2577 or famtas@travelshows.com