With a little more than one month to go, there is still time for travel agents to register for the 25th Annual Caribbean Tourism Conference (CTC-25), taking place Oct. 28-31, 2002 at Our Lucaya Beach and Golf Resort, Grand Bahama Island, The Bahamas.The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) has put together an exciting program for travel agents attending this year’s conference.
“Travel agents interested in increasing their knowledge about the Caribbean and The Islands of The Bahamas should register for this conference,” said Hugh Riley, CTO’s director of marketing for the Americas.  “This year’s conference offers informative product tours, workshops and general sessions designed to enhance an agent’s selling power,” he added.
Agents interested in attending the conference can register at www.onecaribbean.org or call CTO’s New York office at 212-635-9530.  The travel agent’s registration package includes five-nights accommodations at Our Lucaya; roundtrip airport-hotel transfers; attendance at all business sessions, programmed meals and social events; and applicable tax and service charges.  The registration package is priced at $275 per person, based on double occupancy, and $425 per person for single occupancy.  The registration price for travel agents who do not require hotel accommodations is $150 per person.
This year’s conference, themed “Reinventing Caribbean Tourism,” features two motivational sales workshops designed specifically with the travel agents’ needs in mind.  Barbara Mangini, president, The Mangini Consulting Group, presents the first workshop called “Making Your Travel Business Sizzle with Group Sales Know-How.”  Ms. Mangini will advise agents about multiplying profits and raising bottom lines.  This “how to” session teaches agents to address travel trends in order to attract and sell group travel.
Keith Powell, business revivalist, Powell & Associates, will deliver the second workshop called “Dream It, Believe It, Achieve It - Breaking Through the Barriers to Success in the Travel Business.”  Mr. Powell will provide insightful tips for a successful business and how to use change as a catalyst for growth.

Agents can attend general sessions; spotlight presentations; orientation and cocktail party; product tours of Grand Bahama Island; and a farewell party at the Pirates of the Bahamas.
Optional post-tours of Grand Bahama Island, Nassau/Paradise Island and the Out Islands are available for agents to purchase.
CTO has negotiated discounted roundtrip airline tickets to Grand Bahama Island for travel agents attending CTC-25 with Air Canada, Air Jamaica, AirTran Airways, American Airlines, BahamasAir, BWIA West Indies Airways, Continental Airlines, Grand Bahama Vacations and USAirways.  In addition, Discovery Cruises, out of Fort Lauderdale, is offering a special rate for all agents attending the conference from this gateway.  For exact discounts and booking instructions visit www.onecaribbean.org for links to airline discounts, registration forms and conference details.
CTC, the only inclusive annual regional tourism convention, provides a dynamic forum for regional tourism industry professionals to interact with their global peers.  Through this interaction, solutions to the concerns affecting the development of a viable and sustainable tourism product are developed.
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