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What’s New This Year At NTA Annual Convention

November 12, 2004

What’s New This Year At NTA Annual Convention
November 12, 2004 – Networking. Education. Fun. It’s all right here at the NTA Annual Convention. The Ultimate Package got underway today, welcoming nearly 3,000 travel and tourism professionals to the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

Last year, NTA introduced a new convention format and this year, we have made even more improvements.

Here are some of the changes to the packaged travel industry’s premier event:

Simplified appointment scheduling – For the first time, DMOs and tour suppliers will be sharing the same Appointment Scheduling Session. The one-hour session will be held from 8-9 a.m. Saturday morning, prior to the DMO Exchange.

More efficient appointment scheduling – Tour supplier appointments will be pre-scheduled in three of four tour supplier Exchange sessions, leaving one session free for each tour supplier to volunteer, attend seminars or conduct impromptu business meetings.

Casual Sunday – Enjoy a relaxed day of sightseeing, seminars and exciting evening activities as Sunday replaces Exchange sessions with the DMO Annual Business Meeting, a Super Session and the Issues Luncheon. Then, be sure to attend the Olympic Spirit and Rock the Foundation events later that evening.

Valuable partnerships – Everyone comes to Convention to network, and this year tour operators from the Ontario Motor Coach Association will be joining us to explore new business opportunities.

Technology Pavilion – This new high-tech area of the Convention Mall brings NTA’s technology members together in one place to demonstrate their products and answer questions about technology products available for NTA member companies.

Areas of Interest and Marketing (AIM) crackerbarrels – The AIM program was launched in July and the Convention crackerbarrels are the first opportunity members have had for face-to-face learning and idea exchanging on the six specific AIM categories.

Other enhancements this year include:

  • Seminars on the Mall floor at the Welcome & Information Center
  • More computers in the Research Center for research and appointment printing
  • DMO workstations are arranged around the perimeter of operator booths for easier access by tour operators and other members for easy lead distribution
  • Formatting options for appointment schedules to help delegates better organize and research their appointments. See Technology Pavilion and Research Center for assistance in printing schedules
  • For the first time, the U.S. Commercial Services will hold their annual Group Meeting at the NTA Convention for the first time.

    A new lead retrieval system has been implemented, which delegates can rent for the week for $110. Delegates can print out leads on site or take information home to use electronically.

Stay tuned for all of the latest updates live from Toronto.

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