Travel Industry Exchange 2017 from TIX on Vimeo.
Travel Industry Exchange Moves to Fully Hosted Buyer Format in 2017
NEW YORK (March 3, 2017) ─ Questex Travel Group, organizers of the original specialization event Travel Industry Exchange, announced it will change its program from an expo to a fully hosted buyer format and destination focused conference. Travel Industry Exchange … Continue reading
New Format for 2017
Want to know what’s new for Travel Industry Exchange? Well let’s start with the basics. First, this event will go from an expo to a fully hosted buyer event. What does that mean? It means that all attending travel agents … Continue reading
Travel Industry Exchange Event Closes with Audience Praise, Heads to New Orleans in 2017
Returning Suppliers Rewarded with Loyalty Discount for Next Year’s Spot
NEW YORK (December 16, 2016) ─ Questex Travel Group today announced that its next Travel Industry Exchange event will be held October 12-14, 2017 at the Sheraton New Orleans in New Orleans, Louisiana.
The second annual event came to a successful close yesterday at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront in San Diego, California, underscoring the value to travel professionals of becoming more niche-focused.
The innovative event’s over 50 sessions focused on revenue-generating niche segments, including certification programs in luxury, cruise, romance and family travel, as well as concentrated educational programming in millennial travel, and social media and branding.
John McMahon, Questex Travel Group executive vice president, said specialization is “a major business driver” that represents the next “great wave of opportunity” for travel professionals, based on the company’s research and consumer trends and feedback.
“The positive feedback we received from both travel professionals and global suppliers has been tremendous,” he said. “Attendees were able to really immerse themselves in these segments and learn how to match the right customer to the right vacation within their specialty, ensuring incremental growth from potential clients they may not have considered in the past.”
Suppliers surveyed on site expressed serious interest in returning next year, describing the event as well “worth the investment” and attributing its success to their one-to-one meetings with pre-qualified agents, a pillar of the brand, and staple that will continue into next year’s show. Suppliers this year included destinations, hoteliers, resorts, cruise lines, tour operators, transportation providers, and technology companies from around the world.
Suppliers who participated in the 2016 show are being offered a special discounted loyalty rate for next year’s New Orleans event if they secure their place by December 31, 2016, McMahon said.
The event is supported by seven industry associations including the Association for the Promotion of Tourism to Africa (APTA), Africa Travel Association (ATA), Caribbean Tourism Association (CTA), Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), Destination Wedding & Honeymoon Specialists Association (DWHSA), Family Travel Association, and the PATA San Diego & SoCal Chapters.
Sponsors included AM Resorts, Apple Vacations, Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Dominican Republic Tourism Board, GoGo/Worldwide Travel, Hawai’i Visitors and Convention Bureau, India Tourism, Kimpton Hotels San Diego, Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, Nevada Tourism, Puerto Rico Tourism Company, St. Martin Tourism Board, Tourism Australia, Tourism Fiji, Viking Cruises.
Travel Industry Exchange brings travel professionals and lifestyle specialists together with international suppliers, including destinations, hoteliers, resorts, cruise lines, tour operators, transportation providers, and technology companies. The event includes over seven hours of one-to-one meetings, comprehensive education including agent specialty training and networking events and receptions. For more information visit www.travelindustryexchange.com.
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Extreme Low Rates! Book Now Before They’re Gone!
Fantastic low rates are available until November 27, 2016 at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront for travel agents and suppliers attending this year’s Travel Industry Exchange being held December 13-15 in beautiful San Diego, California.
Travel agents and suppliers can book their hotel stay by visiting www.travelindustryexchange.com and clicking on the “Hotel Reservations” tab in the main menu.
The Hilton San Diego Bayfront offers not only stunning views of downtown San Diego, but a central location, beautiful guest rooms, and some pretty gorgeous pools!
Pool at the Hilton San Diego Bayfont, San Diego, CA.
Book your stay now for the #1 event for specialization before these amazing rates are gone! We look forward to seeing you in San Diego next month!
Clayton Reid to Keynote Travel Industry Exchange
Clayton Reid, president and CEO of MMGY Global, will present the keynote address “Up, 
Up and Away into 2017…What the Next Year(s) Ahead Offer as the Traveler Becomes More Defined, More Mobile, and More Interesting,” at the second annual Travel Industry Exchange, to be held December 13-15 at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront in San Diego, California. The keynote session will be sponsored by Viking Cruises.
Organized by Questex Travel Group, publishers of Travel Agent and Luxury Travel Advisor magazines, Travel Industry Exchange emphasizes agent specialization, with more than 50 sessions focused on revenue-generating niche segments, including certification programs in luxury, cruise, romance, and family travel, as well as concentrated programs in social media and branding, and Millennial travel.
Travel Industry Exchange will bring travel professionals and lifestyle specialists together with international and local travel suppliers including destinations, hoteliers, cruise lines, tour operators, transportation providers, technology companies, spas and resorts. The event will include over seven hours of one-to-one meetings, comprehensive education including agent specialty training and networking events and receptions.
The one-to-one appointments and networking events are designed to help attendees build on their specializations and grow their businesses. For more information or to register, visit www.travelindustryexchange.com.
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Leading Speakers Announced for Travel Industry Exchange in San Diego
NEW YORK (October 5, 2016) ─ Questex Travel Group today announced an impressive line-up of speakers who will lead panel discussions and educational seminars for its Travel Industry Exchange event December 13-15, 2016 at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront in San Diego, California.
The event, emphasizing travel specialization, will offer over 50 sessions focused on revenue-generating niche segments, including certification programs in cruise, romance, luxury, and family travel, as well as concentrated programs in social media and branding, and millennial travel.
Questex has announced the following leading industry speakers who will present dynamic educational content on topics relevant to attendees’ business development:
Cruise Travel Specialists:
- Tracy Anderson, Carefree Vacations
- Ricardo Bethel, St. Martin Tourism
- Kristen DeAngelo, Dream Excapes
- Kim Guimaraes, Crystal Cruises
- Eva Jenner, Holland America Line and Seabourn
- Heidi Olson, Cruise Lines International Association
- Maureen Rouleau, Journeys by Maureen
- Charles Sylvia, Cruise Lines International Association
Luxury Travel Specialists:
- Gemma Claridge, Sooke Harbour House Resort Hotel
- Jane Coloccia, JC Communications
- Aaron Gagnon, Aaron Gagnon Problems Blog
- Don Jones, Cadence
- Andrea Malis, Camelback Odyssey Travel
- Anastasia Mann, Corniche
- Laura Massoni, See Italy
- Susan Moynihan, The Honeymoonist, Inc.
- Ken Neibauer, Cardoza Bungey Travel, A Worldview Travel Company
- Katelyn O’Shaugnessy, TripScope
- Melissa Porzak, ProTravel International
- David Rubin, DavidTravel
- Jill Romano, Dimensions in Travel
- Robert Romano, Fugazi Travel
- Andrea Ross, Journeys Within
- Hope Smith, Born to Travel
- Sandy Staples, Artistico Travel Consultants, Inc.
- Jill Taylor, Jet Set World Travel
- Ruthanne Terrero, Luxury Travel Advisor
- Myste Wright, ProTravel International
Branding and Social Media
- Alvin Adriano, Travelwise International
- Jane Coloccia, JC Communications
- Sara Crane, Ascendas
- Daniela Harrison, Avenues of the World
- Angela Hughes, Trips, Inc.
- Jeanie Johnston, CrossPoint Tours and Travel
- Samantha Murdock, Jus Adventures Travel Services
- Sheena Murphy, Travel Industry Professionals
- Katelyn O’Shaughnessy, TripScope
- Stephen Scott, Travel Hub 365, Inc.
Romance Travel Specialists
- Sharon Campbell Little, Weddings and Honeymoons Travel
- Dixie Fitzpatrick, Gadabout Travel, a Frosch Division
- Robin Hawkey, Virtual Honeymoon
- Teri Laursen, Travel Nevada
- Pamela Leonard, Maritime Travel
- Gretchen Macknight, Perfect Honeymoons & Perfect Getaways
- Susan Moynihan, The Honeymoonist, Inc.
- Barbara Oliver, All Together Now Travel
- Pamela “PJ” Ott, Wildside Destinations & Destination Weddings & Travel
- Connie Riker, Create the Moment Travel at Wedding & Honeymoon Travel
- Adrienne Sasson, Rubinsohn Travel
- Alyssa Scott, Zoetic Travel, a member of ProTravel International
- Lisa Sheldon, Destination Wedding & Honeymoons Specialists Association
- Harmony Walton, The Bridal Bar
Millennial Travelers and Advisors
- Kristen DeAngelo, Dream Excapes
- Brianna Glenn, Milk and Honey Travels
- Pamela Leonard, Maritime Travel
- Andrea Malis, Camelback Odyssey Travel
- Samantha Murdock, Jus Adventures Travel Services
- Katelyn O’Shaughnessy, TripScope
- Joe Pike, Travel Agent magazine
- David Rubin, DavidTravel
- Tammy Searle, Tammy & Friends, LLC
- Andrey Zakharenko, Russian Connections
Family Travel Specialists:
- Tracy Anderson, Carefree Vacations
- Margot Cushing, FROSCH New York
- Joyce Dentt, Kahala Travel
- Katie Dillon, La Jolla Living, LLC
- Caitlan Etchevers, Greater Fort Lauderdale CVB
- Ron Fenska, Fathom
- Jennifer Fontaine, Outdoor Families Magazine
- Rainer Jenss, Family Travel Association
- Noshane King, Sandals & Beaches Resorts
- Alexis Kokkinos, Coastline Travel Advisors
- Teri Laursen, Travel Nevada
- Suzette Mack, Brownell Travel
- Amber Maiman, Global Munchkins
- Obenne Mbaakaoi, Botswana Tourism Organization
- Andrea Ross, Journeys Within
- Tammy Searle, Tammy & Friends LLC
- Mia Taylor, Travel Writer
- Nicole Thibault, Magical Storytelling
The full schedule can be viewed at http://www.travelindustryexchange.com/schedule.
Travel Industry Exchange will bring travel professionals and lifestyle specialists together with international suppliers, including destinations, hoteliers, cruise lines, tour operators, transportation providers, technology companies, spas and resorts. The event will include over seven hours of one-to-one meetings, comprehensive education including agent specialty training and networking events and receptions.
The one-to-one appointments and networking events are designed to help attendees build on their specializations and grow their businesses. For more information or to register, travel professionals may visit www.travelindustryexchange.com.
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Four Certificate Programs and Robust Education Announced for Travel Industry Exchange
NEW YORK (September 16, 2016) ─ Questex Travel Group today announced a robust roster of panel discussions and educational seminars for its second annual Travel Industry Exchange event, which will take place December 13-15, 2016 at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront in San Diego, California.
The event, emphasizing on travel specialization, will offer over 50 sessions focused on revenue-generating niche segments, including certification programs in cruise, romance, luxury, and family travel, as well as concentrated programs in social media & branding, and millennial travel.
“Travel Industry Exchange will bring together the industry’s most knowledgeable and experienced executives in specialization,” said John McMahon, Questex Travel Group executive vice president. “Parlaying on the enormous success of our inaugural event in 2015, we have raised the bar even higher going into this year and expect travel professionals to come away with the tools they need to become even more valuable to their clientele, who are growing at a tremendous pace especially within the burgeoning millennial market, and are seeking more than just a ‘one size fits all vacation.’ This is an opportunity agents cannot pass up.”
To offer attendees dynamic educational content on topics relevant to their business development, Questex has partnered with leading industry associations. Key educational tracks and sessions will include:
- Cruise Travel Specialist Certification, in partnership with Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA):
- Selling Up: Beyond the Cruise and the Hotel to Next-Level Planning
- Full Steam Ahead: The Future of Cruising Including Itineraries and New Ships
- The Wonderful World of Ship Inspections — Everything You Need to Know About Ship Inspections
- The Next Frontier in Cruising: Alaska, the Pacific, and the Northwest
- River Cruising: How to Successfully Introduce and Sell More to Your Cruise Clientele
- Why Planes, Trains, and Automobiles Can Make or Break a Great Cruise Experience
- Turn Their Heads — Grow Your Business Through 1st Time Cruisers
- Attracting the Right Clientele to the Right Cruise for Millennials and Generations Beyond
- Romance Travel Specialist Certification, in partnership with the Destination Wedding & Honeymoon Specialists Association (DWHSA) and sponsored by the Nevada Division of Tourism:
- Love at First Site: Romance and Destination Wedding Travel 101: Getting Started
- Best Practices: How To Fast-Track Your Romance Travel Business Growth
- Strange Love: Why “Something New” Beats Out “Something Borrowed” in Today’s Destination Weddings Market
- The Building Blocks of Profitable Partnerships: Better Working Processes for Vendor Relationships and Success
- The Bridal Show Buy-In: Getting Your Investments to Pay Off
- She (or He) Said “Yes”: Prospecting and Closing For Business Success in the Destination Wedding Market
- Practice What You Preach: Selling Luxury Weddings with Panache
- Luxury Travel Specialist Certification, in partnership with Luxury Travel Advisor:
- The New Luxury Group Business: Celebrations, Reunions, and “Oh, Look, I’m Turning 30”
- Managing Your Mindset: Am I Worthy of Selling Luxury?
- What’s NEXT in Luxury: Extreme Destinations, Getting to Know the Wildest and Hottest Trends in 2017 & Beyond
- Expanding Your Luxury Business: Should You Go It Alone or Take a Partner?
- Selling Up: Beyond the Cruise and the Hotel to Next-Level Planning
- Establishing YOUR Luxury Brand
- The Luxury Niche Overview
- Practice What You Preach: Selling Luxury Weddings with Panache
- Family Travel Specialist Certification, in partnership with the Family Travel Association:
- Lions and Tigers and Bears! Oh My! Redefining the Family Vacation
- Finding the Elusive “Fun” Family Vacation: How To Make Family-Friendly Appeal to All Ages
- Multigenerational Travel: What’s Driving the Fastest Growing Segment in Travel
- Building Your Family Travel Business and Becoming A Specialist
- Challenging Assumptions: Family Travelers Don’t Always Favor All-Inclusives
- Hot Destinations for Families and Why “Tour” Is Not a Four-Letter Word!
- The Great Outdoors is Great Once More
- Millennial Travel Track, sponsored by Apple Vacations:
- Going Alone or Going Along: Is It Time to Assert Your Independence?
- Celebration Travel Continues to Rise to the Occasion
- How Thinking Small Can Lead to Bigger Earnings: Know Thy Niche
- Attracting the Right Clientele to the Right Cruise for Millennials and Generations Beyond
- Social Media & Branding Track:
- Your Social Media Presence in Practice: Real Life Scenarios and Examples of DOs & DON’Ts in Social Media
- Who Says Business and Emotion Don’t Mix? The Dos & Don’ts of Emotional Branding
- Stop Wasting Time on Social Media: Start Creating LEADS and BUISNESS with Efficient Processes in Social Media
- Social Media Tactics Which Are Currently Effective in the Consumer Travel Market
- How Customized Tours Can Build Your Brand and Guide You to More Sales
- Selling Yourself and Fine-Tuning Your Sales Techniques Critical to Success as an Agent
The full schedule can be viewed at http://www.travelindustryexchange.com/schedule.
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Travel Industry Exchange Now Open for Registration with Special Early Bird Pricing
Early bird discount offers savings of over 45% for travel professionals.
Questex Travel Group today announced early bird pricing of $75 for travel professionals who register by August 31 for its Travel Industry Exchange event, which will take place December 13-15 in San Diego, California at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront are set to increase on September 1, 2016.
The event will emphasize niche travel and specialization and feature one-to-one appointments, networking events, and educational programs designed to help travel professionals and global suppliers build on their specializations and grow their businesses.
Travel Industry Exchange will offer over 50 sessions focused on specific revenue-generating niche segments including certification programs in luxury, cruise, romance, and family travel as well as concentrated programs in brand building, social media, destinations, and millennial travel.
The event is being organized by the Questex Travel Group, publishers of Travel Agent and Luxury Travel Advisor magazines, which has pioneered the specialization concept into the mainstream travel industry.
“Specialization is a major business driver,” said John McMahon, Questex Travel Group executive vice president. “As more consumers look to travel professionals for expert advice, we see untapped potential in specialty markets, with the millennial generation leading the pack.”
The early bird savings will be applied during the registration process. One-day, exhibit-floor, and upgraded packages are also available. For more information or to register, travel professionals may visit www.travelindustryexchange.com.
The second edition of Travel Industry Exchange will bring travel professionals and lifestyle specialists together with international suppliers, including destinations, hoteliers, cruise lines, tour operators, transportation providers, technology companies, spas, and resorts. The even will include one-to-one meetings, comprehensive education including agent specialty training, and networking events and receptions.
In Pursuit of Passion: A Love Story in Learning to Sell Travel
Passion is what moves people to greatness. The building of Rome, the crafting of a fine wine, the solo trip made across the globe—all these things accomplished by people who are passionate about what they do.
Translating into every part of life, the need for passion is especially true for today’s travel agent. In a world filled with distraction, consumers are inundated with endless options from what to eat for dinner to how to plan the trip of their wildest imaginings.
Most of today’s travelers crave an authentic travel experience; the beaten path and the cliché will no longer do—and with this in mind it is time to start thinking outside of the box when it comes to serving your clients and growing your market.
The path begins with identifying the destinations and types of travel that excite you—that you love and that you’re passionate about— and exploring and researching everything there is to know in order to sell to your clients.
This process once meant hours of endless web searches, but with Travel Agent University, you have the premier e-learning tool that will help you assess, prioritize, and take action to close more business, prospect new markets, and upsell your clients by growing your knowledge of destinations and travel suppliers. The fact is, when agents specialize in a product or destination, they sell more of it and at higher yields!
Loaded with resources, such as supplier training courses, webinars, itineraries, and other resources that you can share with your clients, here is how TAU can work for you and put more money in your pocket.
→ Seal The Deal: Closing Existing Business
Continuing your education with TAU will help you close more business. Completing supplier courses will keep you in the know about special promotions and extra perks that will get your clients to sign on the dotted line.
→ A Whole New World: Prospecting New Markets
The variety of product training courses is the way to explore and prospect new markets and discover new passions. 97% of TAU graduates thought they had a better understanding of a supplier’s unique selling points after completing courses on TAU. Becoming a specialist gives you the confidence to sell new clients the trips and adventures that they want, now that you are armed with the knowledge to give them the best travel experience they’ve ever had.
→ The Sky’s The Limit: Upselling Your Clients
TAU will increase your commissions by helping you upsell your clients. Each supplier course offers you valuable insider tips on how to upsell your clients with cabin upgrades, tour add-ons, and suite promotions. Providing these “nice-to-haves” and “extras” to your clients will grow your commissions and ensure that they come back to you for their next trip.
TAU is critical to propelling your business forward— nearly 40% of TAU graduates book $1million+ in annual sales by continuing their education and building their supplier knowledge. By learning more about the destinations you love and discovering new ones, you can serve your existing clients and close more business, grow and prospect new markets, upsell your clients, and grow your commissions by following your passion.
Travel Industry Exchange Blog 