NTA, USTOA to Participate in Joint Panel at THETRADESHOW
June 1, 2006
NTA, USTOA to Participate in Joint Panel at THETRADESHOW
June 1, 2006 – The National Tour Association and the United States Tour Operators Association will participate in a joint panel at THETRADESHOW, held in Orlando, Sept. 10 – 12, 2006.
The tour operator panel, titled "The Road to Profitability – Selling Vacation Packages," will educate delegates on how to grow their business by focusing on the lucrative package vacation market. Panelists will discuss the latest destinations, trends and tips on increasing packaged travel sales.
The confirmed panelists are: Mayflower Tours CEO/Owner John Stachnik Sr.; NTA President Hank Phillips, CTP; Sports Empire Inc Owner Suzanne Slavitter, CTP, CTIE; and USTOA President Robert Whitley. Tauck World Discovery President Robin Tauck also is an invited panelist. James Shillinglaw, editor-in-chief of ModernAgent magazine, The Travel Pulse and Agent@Home magazine, will moderate the panel.
"NTA was the first to sign on as a strategic partner with THETRADESHOW as part of the association’s effort to build member value through alliances with other leaders in the travel industry," said Phillips. "Participating in this panel represents another integral step in the longstanding relationship between travel agents and tour operators. NTA looks forward to assisting THETRADESHOW attendees in learning more about the value of packaged travel."
"USTOA has always been in the forefront of supporting travel agent initiatives and in activities that help educate travel agents on how to better sell tours and vacation packages," says Bob Whitley, USTOA president. "We are pleased to participate in a panel with a group of other industry leaders who will share their valuable input with THETRADESHOW attendees."
The Association of Canadian Travel Agencies, Cruise Lines International Association, Adventures in Travel Expo, International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association, ITB Berlin, Performance Media Group, LLC (Agent@Home, Cruise & Vacation Agent and Modern Agent) Travel Agent, Travel Trade, Travel Weekly, eturboNews, JaxFax, Recommend, Canadian Travel Press, TravelAge West, National Association of Commissioned Travel Agents, National Tour Association, Travel Industry Association of America, The Travel Institute, U.S. Tour Operators Association and USA Today have signed on as partners of THETRADESHOW.
For more information on THETRADESHOW, call 1.866.870.9333 or visit www.THETRADESHOW.org
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THETRADESHOW is a three-day, in-depth networking and educational event. Global and inclusive, THETRADESHOW, powered by ASTA and ITB Berlin, unites under one roof travel suppliers and buyers from all over the world, representing every segment of the travel and tourism industry. It is the trade show event for travel decision makers. For more information on THETRADESHOW, call 1.866.870.9333 or visit www.THETRADESHOW.org.
The National Tour Association has a global membership of tourism professionals involved in the growth and development of the packaged travel industry. Its membership includes more than 600 tour operator companies – 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://preseason.ntaonline.com/www.NTA.travel.
USTOA is comprised of nearly 130 of the top brands in tours and vacation packages. The association’s members represent tour operators and wholesalers serving domestic and international destinations, with offices in the U.S. To qualify for membership, a company must meet the travel industry’s highest standards. More information on USTOA is available at http://preseason.ntaonline.com/www.ustoa.com.