The New York Times Travel Show, presented by American Express is scheduling seminars for travel industry professionals on Friday, 24 February. The event will be significantly expanded from previous years.
The show will feature nearly 500 exhibitors who focus on travel destinations and packages, as well as tour operators and cruise lines. Several pavilions on the show floor will focus on different regions of the world including Africa, Asia, Australia/South Pacific, Canada, the Caribbean, Europe, Mexico/Central America and South America.

It will be the largest travel trade day of its kind, consisting of four simultaneous conferences featuring education and product seminars as well as access to nearly 500 show exhibitors.

The four concurrent conferences will cater to the specific interests of the professionals attending: senior travel executives, tourism board executives, travel writers and travel agents. This trade day will focus on the evolving marketplace and new approaches to doing business. The New York Times Travel Show and the travel industry conferences will be held at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City.

“Our third annual Travel Show will be even bigger and better for all of our sponsors and exhibitors,” said Jyll F. Holzman, senior vice president, advertising, The New York Times. “The new and expanded trade day and its four conferences are a terrific example of our ongoing commitment to making The New York Times Travel Show a must for industry leaders.”

The trade program is supported by leading travel industry organizations, including: Travel Business Roundtable, Destination Marketing Association International, Society of American Travel Writers, Cruise Lines International Association, The Travel Institute, Pacific Asia Travel Association, Caribbean Tourism Organization, American Express/Travel Impressions, Carnival Cruise Lines, GoGo Worldwide Vacations, Apple Vacations, Travel Agent Magazine and Tauck World Discovery.

The trade program includes the following events:

TRAVEL EXECUTIVE CONFERENCE ($249) - The Travel Business Roundtable presents a Travel Executive Conference designed to provide industry executives with insight into current and future trends and innovations. Attendees will hear from noted industry experts and executives on the economic realities of travel and tourism, learn how to capitalize on market trends and new technology, find out what is in store for air travel, discover how government policies can be modified positively for tourism, and see how brand extensions can make or break destinations, attractions and hotel chains. This conference includes a luncheon, an industry preview of the travel show floor, and an opening reception. Confirmed presenters include:

—Jonathan Tisch, Chairman and CEO - Loews Hotels, and Chairman - Travel Business Roundtable.

—David Wyss, Chief Economist - Standard & Poor’s

—John Bray, VP Advisory Services - PhoCusWright

—Jim May, President/CEO - Air Transport Association

—David Neeleman, Chairman and CEO - JetBlue Airways

—Dr. Lalia Rach, Associate Dean, Tisch Center for Hospitality, Tourism and Sports Management - New York University

—Charles Merin, Managing Director - BKSH & Associates, and Chief Washington Lobbyist - Travel Business Roundtable

TOURISM BOARD CONFERENCE ($99) - Destination Marketing Association International presents a Tourism Board Conference to assist tourism destinations to incorporate operating issues and marketing opportunities into their planning efforts. Participants will learn how to create an integrated destination marketing campaign, hear how government tourism entities can effectively work with the tourism industry, and gain an overview of key destination marketing technology uses and customer relationship management practices. This conference includes a luncheon, an industry preview of the travel show floor, and an opening reception. Confirmed presenters include:

—Jack Wert, Executive Director - Naples, Marco Island and Everglades CVB

—David Wyss, Chief Economist - Standard & Poor’s

—Maura Allen Gast, Executive Director - Irving CVB

TRAVEL WRITER CONFERENCE (No Charge with Valid Media ID) - For the Travel Writer Conference, the Society of American Travel Writers teams up with Lonely Planet guidebooks to provide writers with information on how to plan for visits to South American destinations and write effectively about their adventures. This conference includes an industry preview of the travel show floor, and an opening reception.

TRAVEL AGENT CONFERENCE ($49) - At the Travel Agent Conference, participants will receive expert advice and continuing education credits from industry organizations and tour operator companies. Topics are geared toward helping travel agents improve their sales success and better meet their clients’ needs. This conference includes a luncheon, an industry preview of the travel show floor, and an opening reception.

Seating is limited. To register or get more information about all four conferences, visit www.nytimes.com/travelshow.
——-