Bestselling Author Mitch Albom to Speak at NTA Convention

July 27, 2005

Bestselling Author Mitch Albom to Speak at NTA Convention
July 27, 2005 – Nationally acclaimed columnist and author Mitch Albom will be the featured speaker at the Tuesday luncheon at the 2005 National Tour Association Annual Convention in Detroit, Nov. 4-8. His book "Tuesdays with Morrie" is now the best-selling memoir of all time, with nearly 10 million copies sold worldwide. Albom’s first novel, "The Five People You Meet in Heaven," was published in 2003 and has been on The New York Times bestsellers list for nearly two years.

"We are very excited to welcome such a world-renowned author," NTA President, Hank Phillips, CTP, said. "As a Detroit resident, a nationally syndicated newspaper columnist for the Detroit Free Press, and a panelist on ESPN’s "Sports Reporters," Albom is sure to add to the amazing week delegates will have at the NTA Convention this year."

Albom, who lives just outside of Detroit in Franklin, Mich., will address the NTA delegation on Nov. 8. He will autograph "The Five People You Meet in Heaven" during a book signing session immediately following the luncheon.

Albom has founded two charities in the Detroit area, "The Dream Fund," established in 1989, which enables disadvantaged children to become involved with the arts and "A Time To Help," founded in 1998, which brings volunteers together to tackle various projects in Detroit, including staffing shelters, building homes with Habitat for Humanity, and operating meals on wheels programs for the elderly.

"Mitch Albom is one of Detroit’s shining stars," Larry Alexander, president and CEO of the Detroit Metro Convention and Visitors Bureau, said. "He is an engaging speaker with warm and humorous experiences to relay that keep his audiences riveted. Mitch is an outstanding addition to the conference lineup."

The National Tour Association has nearly 4,000 tourism professional members from 28 countries involved in the growth and development of the packaged travel industry. Its membership includes tour operators – group, independent, inbound and outbound – and the destinations and suppliers that partner with them. The association is committed to providing business results and information to its members, while offering a collaborative, caring environment in which to build relationships. For more information, please visit http://www.ntaonline.com/.

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