travel leaders conference 2023

May 8, 2023

EDGE is at its heart a celebration of our travel advisor members. John Lovell, President, Travel Leaders Group

International Conference to Host over 1,700 Members, Suppliers and Staff 

ALEXANDRIA, VA (May 8, 2023) – Travel Leaders Network’s annual EDGE conference has officially begun. In the opening General Session, Travel Leaders Network President Roger Block welcomed an audience of over 1,700 to one of the year’s most anticipated travel events. EDGE will run from May 8-10 and is hosted at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville.

“EDGE is at its heart a celebration of our travel advisor members,” said John Lovell, President of Travel Leaders Group. “They will leave the conference with new knowledge they can use to build their agencies, and valuable new connections with our supplier partners. But my hope is that they also leave with the knowledge that their work is important, and that nothing can replace the knowledge and service they bring to their travelers.”

Comprised of 1,700 TLN members, staff and supplier partners, EDGE offers over 200 workshops, six General Sessions, an Experience Lounge so attendees can learn about Travel Leaders Network offerings, informative speakers and a gala awards dinner to close the conference out. At the gala, member awards will be announced, and those who have achieved Specialist Certifications will be honored.

On Sunday, May 7, there were two pre-EDGE events for two of the Leaders Alliances. The Luxury Leaders Alliance hosted the Luxury Forum, and the Independent Advisor Leaders Alliance will had the Host Agency Forum. Both groups had a day of intense learning and networking in their respective areas, with talks by leading supplier partners. TLN’s members represent some of the largest host agencies in the industry, and the Network is one of the top sellers of luxury travel in the world.

EDGE’s keynote speaker will be Freddie Ravel, Grammy-nominated artist and speaker who has worked with artists like Madonna, Prince and Earth, Wind & Fire. He will show EDGE attendees how they can tap into the power of music for greater success.

EDGE attendees and the general public will have the chance to support  the Family Bonds Foundation . In honor of the EDGE gathering, Family Bonds will hold a silent auction and raffle with prizes like luxury cruises and vacation packages, hotel stays, premium airline tickets, electronic devices, and more. The fundraiser will run close at the end of EDGE, at 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, May 10. Bids may be placed, and raffle tickets purchased by texting “BondsEDGE” to 243725.

“I am looking forward to an amazing conference,” said Roger E. Block, President of Travel Leaders Network. “EDGE is a highlight of the year for many, including me. As the pandemic recedes into the horizon, we are beginning to see the rise of AI and explore how travel advisors can navigate that and harness its power for the good of our industry. The bonds forged and new friendships made every year at EDGE are significant, and as we come together to make those connections, it is a powerful testimony about the power of the human touch a travel advisor provides. It’s the best three days of the year, and since every EDGE conference is better than the last, I can’t wait to see the memories from EDGE 2023 in Nashville.”

For travel agencies interested in learning more about the award-winning programs and diverse offerings of Travel Leaders Network in leisure and luxury travel, business travel, honeymoon and destination weddings — as well as active and adventure travel — visit TravelLeadersNetwork.com.

About Travel Leaders Network

Travel Leaders Network (www.TravelLeaders.com) assists millions of leisure and business travelers annually and is one of the largest sellers of luxury travel, cruises and tours in the travel agency industry, with approximately 5,700 travel agency locations across the United States and Canada. Travel Leaders Network is part of Travel Leaders Group, a division of Internova Travel Group.

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6 Travel Conferences You Must Attend in 2023 – 2024

After two years of darkened hotel ballrooms and piles of chairs locked up in conference room corners, the lights are finally switching on. The cobwebs have been swept away, experts contacted, and now the digital ads are in full swing. Travel trade shows are back and with them, enormous opportunity.

Travel agent events like conferences connect travel professionals from around the world to share knowledge, meet vendors and create new partnerships. And let’s be honest, it’s about time we abandon our desks and computer screens and see the world.

That said, below are 6 travel agents trade shows and conferences coming up in 2023-2024 to inspire you with exciting new ideas and help you expand your business vision.

1. Adventure Travel World Summit; Hokkaido, Japan

Do you sell adventure? Or are you looking to pivot into that niche?

The Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA) sponsors a summit every year for tour operators, travel writers, industry partners and tourism boards who are involved in the adventure travel industry. But it’s much more than a conference. Summit participants join offsite trips in addition to hearing from keynote speakers, maximizing endless networking opportunities, sharing industry information and pitching new story ideas during Media Connect sessions.

The ATTA has already reserved Hokkaido, Japan for September 2023. The event will include adventures into the surrounding wilderness, business meetings and networking opportunities, and time for travel leaders to connect.

2. FITUR 2024; Madrid, Spain

FITUR is an International Tourism Trade Fair organized by IFEMA MADRID. In January 2022, Fitur hosted 600 exhibitors from 107 countries and welcomed over 100,000 visitors. Fitur serves as a meeting place for tourism professionals from around the world. It’s also the leading trade fair for inbound and outbound markets in Latin America.

Fitur targets both mass tourism and niche markets, showcasing new sectors each year as the tourism industry becomes more diverse. It also presents cutting edge technology including artificial intelligence, smart tourist destinations and big data.

Fitur will hold its 44th tourism trade show from January 24th – 28th, 2024. Targeting hotel chains, agencies, tour operators, technological companies, suppliers, transportation and institutions from around the world, Fitur 2024 will focus on how to strengthen post pandemic tourism and how to generate new business opportunities.

3. ITB 2024; Berlin, Germany

ITB takes place at the Berlin ExpoCenter City exhibition center. With more than 10,000 exhibitors, ITB is the largest convention in the travel industry. The convention presents informational stands on countries, destinations, hotels and tourism associations as well as on specialist suppliers, booking systems and transport operators. ITB is a platform for B2B travel industry leaders to meet and network.

ITB’s event will take place in Berlin from March 5th – 7th, 2024. The guest country of ITB 2023 will be Georgia.

4. IPW; San Antonio, Texas

How about a trip to the USA?

US travel exhibitors convene once a year in San Antonio, Texas for the U.S. Travel Association’s IPW international inbound travel trade show. At IPW, US travel exhibitors connect with travel buyers and media from more than 70 countries to share their products and build new business relationships. IPW showcases the American travel industry to its international visitors to promote and increase tourism in the USA.

The U.S. Travel Association’s IPW is the leading international inbound travel trade show. The next convention will take place from May 20th-24th, 2023.

5. ETOA’s Global European Marketplace (GEM); London, UK

For ETOA members only, GEM is ETOA’s annual travel trade event. Not just another tour operators’ event, here tourism suppliers meet new leads and reconnect with existing business contacts. With preset appointments based on business profile and goals, buyers and suppliers meet one-on-one throughout the event.

Participants also attend educational and networking sessions. Close to 400 global and intra-European buyers are invited to GEM’s upcoming event, which will take place from November 2nd – 3rd, 2023 in London, UK.

6. Travel Expo-Travel and Adventure Show

Looking for an excuse to visit a metropolitan center in the USA?

The Travel and Adventure Show is a traveling expo, which will meet in 9 different cities across the USA in 2023 including Chicago, Boston, NY, Washington DC, Los Angeles, Denver, San Francisco, Atlanta and Dallas.

For tour operators, travel agents and tourists alike, the Travel and Adventure Show gives travel companies the opportunity to maximize their marketing and sales by presenting to prescreened audiences. Buyers can obtain the most up-to-date travel and itinerary options, safety protocols directly from the source.

In addition, visitors can attend one or more of the dozens of educational and informational travel workshops that take place throughout the day.

Travel trade shows: are they worth attending?

The last two years wreaked havoc on the travel industry. According to the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), global tourism experienced its worst year on record in 2020. Destinations worldwide suffered a decrease by one billion in international arrivals as compared to the previous year due to the massive drop in demand and the serious travel restrictions.

But with travel restrictions lifting, the travel industry is returning in full force. According to a recent Pulse survey , 73% of business travelers agree that a general increase in business travel is extremely likely and 62% anticipate an increase in their own business travel compared to 2021.

With demand on the rise, it behooves any travel professional to continue networking, building strategic relationships and marketing their products in person at travel trade shows. If the expense was worth it to you in the past, then now, in the current travel industry, the ROI should prove to be even greater.

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Travel Leaders Network Kicks Off EDGE 2023 in Nashville

Travel Leaders Network’s annual EDGE conference officially begun on 08MAY, running until 10MAY at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville.

In the opening General Session, Travel Leaders Network President Roger Block welcomed an audience of over 1,700.

“EDGE is at its heart a celebration of our travel advisor members,” said John Lovell, President of Travel Leaders Group. “They will leave the conference with new knowledge they can use to build their agencies, and valuable new connections with our supplier partners. But my hope is that they also leave with the knowledge that their work is important, and that nothing can replace the knowledge and service they bring to their travelers.”

Comprised of 1,700 TLN members, staff and supplier partners, EDGE offers over 200 workshops, six General Sessions, an Experience Lounge so attendees can learn about Travel Leaders Network offerings, speakers and a gala awards dinner to close the conference out. At the gala, Travel Leaders Network notes that member awards will be announced, and those who have achieved Specialist Certifications will be honored.

On Sunday, 07MAY, there were two pre-EDGE events for two of the Leaders Alliances. The Luxury Leaders Alliance hosted the Luxury Forum, and the Independent Advisor Leaders Alliance hosted the Host Agency Forum. Both groups had a day of learning and networking in their respective areas, with talks by supplier partners.

EDGE’s keynote speaker is Freddie Ravel, Grammy-nominated artist and speaker, who aims to "show EDGE attendees how they can tap into the power of music for greater success."

Additionally, EDGE attendees and the general public will have the chance to support the Family Bonds Foundation . In honor of the EDGE gathering, Family Bonds will hold a silent auction and raffle with prizes like luxury cruises and vacation packages, hotel stays, airline tickets, electronic devices, and more. The fundraiser will run close at the end of EDGE, at 11:59 p.m. CDT on 10MAY.

“I am looking forward to an amazing conference,” said Roger E. Block, President of Travel Leaders Network. “The bonds forged and new friendships made every year at EDGE are significant, and as we come together to make those connections, it is a powerful testimony about the power of the human touch a travel advisor provides."

For more information on Travel Leaders Network, visit its website .

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Travel Leaders Network’s EDGE recap: Awards, record leads & new Leaders Alliance

Post date: May 12 2023

Date: May 12 2023

By: Travelweek

NASHVILLE — That’s a wrap on EDGE 2023, Travel Leaders Network’s annual conference, which took place this year in Nashville, Tennessee.

Some 1,700 TLN members, staff and supplier partners descended upon the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center from May 8-10 for the conference, which included workshops, General Sessions and the ‘Power of the Partnership (POP) Awards’ where both travel agencies and suppliers were honoured.

On the winning agencies, Christine James, Vice President of Travel Leaders Network Canada, said: “Travel Leaders Network is proud to recognize and honour these member agencies for their outstanding success, demonstrated partnership with preferred suppliers and dedication o serving their clients. Each of our outstanding member winners has excelled in their profit-making ability and personalized customer service and has worked diligently to earn this distinction.”

This year’s travel agency winners included:

• Chairman’s Pinnacle Award: Travel Best Bets, Burnaby, BC
• Chairman’s Elite Award: KVI Travel, Victoria, BC
• Chairman’s Host Award: Centre Holiday Inc., Mississauga, ON
• President’s Circle Award, Large agency: Northstar Travel, Kitchener, ON
• President’s Circle Award, Midsize agency: Cruise Holidays, Oakville, ON
• President’s Circle Award, Small agency: McPhail Travel, Moosomin, SK
• Member of the Year Award: The Travel Agent Next Door Inc., Surrey, BC
• New Member Award: 510 Travel, Scarborough, ON

The Member of the Year Award is presented to the agency with top network sales performance. The Chairman’s Pinnacle Award is presented to the affiliate member agency with the highest referred supplier sales. The Chairman’s Elite Award recognizes outstanding sales performance and overall support of the Travel Leaders Network partnership. The Chairman’s Host Award goes to the top host agency overall.

The President’s Award honours agencies in three size categories that had the greatest year-over-year growth with Travel Leaders Network Preferred Supplier Sales. The new Member Award recognizes the top new affiliate member agency.

On the supplier side, winners were chosen based on providing tremendous support in areas of agent interest such as marketing, technology, sales support and education and training. 

This year’s Sales and Service Partner of the Year was awarded to TravelBrands, while the Overall Support Partner of the Year went to Sunwing.

Other supplier winners included:

• Mass Market Tour Partner: WestJet Vacations
• Escorted Tour Partner of the Year: Globus family of brands
• Top Resort/Hotel Partner: Sandals
• Adventure Tour Partner: G Adventures
• Best Educational Programmes: Manulife
• Most Creative Marketing: AmaWaterways

“This year’s supplier partner honorees continually go above and beyond for our TL Network Canada agencies and their clients,” added James. “These awards are voted in by our membership, recognizing these suppliers for their commitment to our industry and our Travel Leaders Network family as inspiring, powerful and woven within our most cherished value – our partnerships.”

RECORD NUMBER OF LEADS

During EDGE 2023, TL Network also announced the delivery of a record-breaking number of leads to its members in 2022. Last year, over 12,000 leads were delivered, representing a 224% growth from 2021 and a 145% growth from the pre-pandemic high of 2019. These leads represented $20 million in sales with preferred supplier partners and $2.5 million in commission earned by members.

As of the end of the first quarter of 2023, TLN members had received 97,000 leads since Jan. 1, 2023, putting lead generation numbers on the path to surpass 2022 by 54%.

“Bringing in solid leads that will become bookings is a core priority for most travel advisors,” said Stephen McGillivray, Chief Marketing Officer of Travel Leaders Group. “With the post-pandemic travel boom, the issue has become not only how do advisors get clients, but hos do travellers find the perfect advisor for their trip? TravelLeaders.com, powered by Agent Profiler, is the answer that ‘matchmakes’ these two groups for a great solution for both.”

In the past year, TLN introduced the ‘Super Agent’ designation, where heavy users of Agent Profiler can earn a badge that will bring them to the top of searches, making it easy for advisors to be noticed and travellers to zero in on experts. CanadianTravelAgents.ca also now offers a multi-facet search for pinpointed search results based on location, destination and travel niche, all at once. Users can even see sample itineraries when using CanadianTravelAgents.ca to search for an advisor.

NEW LEADERS ALLIANCE COMING Q4

Travel Leaders Network’s Leaders Alliances, launched in 2021, continue to provide top-performing members with communities of their own, focused on their niches. The network currently has three thriving Alliances, with a fourth starting this quarter.

The Luxury Leaders Alliance and the Independent Advisor Networks Leaders Alliance both launched in 2021. This was followed by the Honeymoon & Destination Wedding Leaders Alliance in February 2023. Coming in Q4 this year will be the Technology Leaders Alliance, available only to owner and manager-level members and acting as a platform to share and learn about tools that exist outside of Travel Leaders Network. 

“Because of TLN’s size, we are fortunate enough to have many members who are incredibly successful in their areas,” said Roger E. Block, President of Travel Leaders Network. “It made sense to develop communities where these people could learn from their peers. Alliance members have proven their expertise through their sales, and by banding together, can have better access to supplier partners in their area, new ideas and new contacts.”

For more information go to www.TravelLeadersNetwork.com .

Tags: Lead Story, Travel Leaders Network

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December 11, 2023

4 minute read

InteleTravel Joins Travel Leaders Network

Announcement at annual InteleTravelQuest conference brings together the largest host travel agency and travel agency consortium

Delray Beach, Fla. (Dec. 11, 2023) — InteleTravel, the world’s largest host travel agency, will join Travel Leaders Network (TLN), the largest travel agency consortium. The announcement was made by InteleTravel President and Co-founder James R. Ferrara on Sunday during the opening session of the 29th annual InteleTravelQuest conference at the Moon Palace All-Inclusive Resort in Cancun.

After sharing the news with thousands of advisors, travel brands, and suppliers in attendance at InteleTravelQuest, Ferrara welcomed TLN Senior Vice President Lindsay Pearlman on-stage for remarks about the partnership, which brings together the largest host travel agency and largest travel agency consortium and will provide significant opportunities and benefits for both organizations, as well as travelers, travel advisors, industry partners, and suppliers.  

InteleTravel’s announcement comes as the mega-host travel agency continues expanding its network of independent travel advisors while growing exponentially year over year due in part to its advanced training, educational resources, and technologies that help advisors expand their business. In 2023, InteleTravel is on track to reach more than $800 million in sales, which represents an annual growth of over 50% and an all-time high for the company since being established in 1991.

“InteleTravel continues to experience huge growth, and as we continue to improve advisor education and resources, we’ve found that our goals and needs have changed,” said Ferrara. “While we loved our previous partnerships, we’ve decided that Travel Leaders Network has become more aligned with our growth, and we are excited to join forces.”

TLN comprises nearly 6,000 travel agency locations and is the largest North American seller of luxury travel, cruises, river cruises and tours in the travel agency industry. As its membership continues to grow, TLN introduced new partnerships with suppliers and destinations this past year as well as expanded its best-in-class programs. The Network’s award-winning Agent Profiler lead generation tool set a record of over 300,000 consumer leads distributed to members in 2023. Several new Leaders Alliances programs have opened up to top-selling advisors. And the ultra-luxury OLTRE magazine has been added to TLN’s consumer marketing options. 

“We are very pleased that InteleTravel is coming back to our Network,” said Roger E. Block, President of Travel Leaders Network. “As members of TLN, they will find great value in all the solutions we offer our members—including the many new programs and tools Travel Leaders Network has developed since our last association. TLN has a long history of supporting all business models including the independent contractor model so we are the right home for one of the oldest and largest host agencies.  InteleTravel in turn will contribute market-leading sales growth, a culture that values intensive education and a high energy that will benefit the entire TLN organization.” 

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Headquarter Happenings: Travel Leaders Network Execs Talk Surging Growth, Mass Market Perception, & New Products at EDGE Conference

Roger Block welcomes attendees to the 2023 EDGE conference in Nashville, Tennessee. Photo: Travel Leaders Network

It's not just the rhinestones shining brightly in Nashville, Tennessee this week.

When it comes to the travel industry, "the news today is excellent and the forecast for tomorrow is even better," Roger Block, president of Travel Leaders Network, told more than 1,700 attendees at this year's Travel Leaders Network EDGE conference.

The numbers and trends, he added, are all pointing the right direction.

Those numbers include:

• Some 1,300 travel advisors attending the sold out EDGE conference, which Block added, could have surpassed 2,000 had the space at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center allowed it.
• 86 new Travel Leaders Network Affiliate members in 2023 Q1 alone (48 in Canada in 2022, the highest-ever in a single year)
• 215,000 leads – representing $324 million in sales and $29 million in commission – delivered to members in 2022 – 43% higher than in 2021 and 24% higher than the pre-pandemic high of 2019
• 97,000 leads since January 1, 2023, putting lead generation numbers on the path to surpass 2022 by 54%
• Billions – The number of dollars Travel Leaders Network sells in cruise alone

"A year ago, we spoke about travel rebounding quickly and building some serious momentum," Block said. "It turns out people from every corner of the country couldn't wait to travel again and they come to you, their trusted travel advisors to make that happen. Not only did bookings and sales bound back, but we've experienced a significant higher average sale per transaction. This is the news we've literally waited years to report… the news in the travel industry today is excellent and the forecast for tomorrow is even better."

Luxury Perception Problem While the numbers for Travel Leaders Network are almost better than they've ever been, one area in which Block says the consortium continues to lag behind is the perception of the group as a mass market-focused group.

"A lot of people consider us nothing but mass market retailers. It's anything but that," he said.

"Perception is one of those things that's hard to break," he told TMR in a sit-down interview. "I think people are surprised when they look at our numbers."

Suppliers, he added, are less surprised. "They now realize who and what we're doing," he said.

Without naming names, John Lovell, president of Travel Leaders Group, told trade press during a media session that the amount of luxury bookings Travel Leaders Network makes outpaces any of the more well-known luxury consortia.

"In some cases, it's not even close," Lovell said, adding "I can talk to any luxury supplier, they know our value. And, our value, in some cases, can be 40% of their overall business."

But while Block said he'd like to see the industry as a whole have a better understanding of Travel Leaders Network's luxury capabilities and numbers, he added he doesn't need Travel Leaders Network to be known as a luxury consortium.

Because of its massive size, Travel Leaders Network can be all things to all advisors. An advisor that wants to focus on mass market or premium will find all the preferred suppliers and tools they need to be successful, just as an advisor that wants to only focus on luxury travel will.

What's New In addition to sharing the rosy outlook for advisors, Travel Leaders Network executives talked about what's new with the consortium including two new Leader Alliances and an all-new cruise booking platform currently in beta testing.

Cruise Complete Travel Leaders Network is tossing out its CruisePro cruise booking system, which has been in place since 2012, and replacing it with an all-new booking engine.

"Thousands of agents have relied on CruisePro for the past decade to book cruises for their clients," said Cory Voss, vice president of technology for Travel Leaders Group. "Over the past three years it has become increasingly clear that CruisePro was no longer meeting your needs and therefore no longer meeting our needs."

Complete, which Voss referred to as a "silver bullet," allows advisors to access real time pricing and availability for 22 major ocean and river cruise lines.

The one-stop shop enables advisors to provide clients with emailed quick quotes, book into their own agency groups, compare and share up to four sailings across four different brands in a single email, book up to four cabins (each with different passenger counts, stateroom categories, and prices) on the same sailing at the same time, and allows for full post-booking modifications, as well as the ability to work on three different itineraries for three different clients at the same time.

Cruise Complete also integrates fully with ClientBase and AgentMate, and Canadian advisors using the system will find all pricing in Canadian dollars.

The booking engine, which comes fully online by the end of June is free for members to use for the first six months, then costs $300 per agency for the year. However, for every booking made on the system, agencies will earn a $5 per booking credit, up to $300 annually to offset the cost.

New Leader Alliances Travel Leaders Network's Leaders Alliances are sub-communities for like-minded agencies to network and help each other. The Alliances launched in 2021 with the Luxury Leaders Alliance and the Independent Advisor Networks Leaders Alliance.

"Because of TLN's size, we are fortunate enough to have many member who are incredibly successful in their areas," said Block. "It made sense to develop communities where these people could learn from their peers. Alliance members have proven their expertise through their sales, and by banding together, can have better access to supplier partners in their area, new ideas, and new contacts."

This past February, TLN launched the Honeymoon & Destination Wedding Leaders Alliance, which is open to TLN members with more than $500,000 in annual honeymoon and/or destination wedding sales. Some 53 agencies and/or advisors have already been accepted into the Alliance.

Starting in June, Travel Leaders will launch the Technology Leaders Alliance, open only to owner and manager-level members who use technology to increase sales and productivity.

Other tech and marketing enhancements within the Travel Leaders Network this year are:

• Social Share Pro (complimentary), which, when given permission, shifts the responsibility of posting pre-populated social media content from the advisor to Travel Leaders
• Agent Profiler "Super Agent" (complimentary), which gives advisors the opportunity to earn "Super Agent" status and rise to the top of TravelLeaders.com consumer searches by enhancing their Agent Profiler profiles with customer reviews, multiple bios, photo albums and more
• Direct mail photos, which will see all direct mailers sent to clients be printed with a photo of their travel advisor on them

This year's EDGE conference offers more than 200 workshops, six general sessions, a half-day trade show, an Experience Lounge for attendees to learn about Travel Leaders Network's proprietary services, and more. Two pre-EDGE events included a Luxury Forum for members of the Luxury Leaders Alliance and a Host Agency Forum for members of the Independent Advisor Leaders Alliance.

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TOURISM BUSINESS COUNCIL OF SOUTH AFRICA

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TBCSA Annual Tourism Leadership Conference 2023

Counting down to, the tourism leadership  conference '23.

ABOUT THE CONFERENCE

For this to happen, the private sector, public sector, academia, and media, will come together to share knowledge and focus on how to help South Africa achieve its goal of 21 million arrivals by 2030.

Some of the topics that will be discussed at this year’s conference include but not limited to;

• Tourism safety
• The working relationship between the private and public sector for the good of tourism
• The sustainability of SMMEs in the tourism sector
• How to improve the marketing of destination South Africa

A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

WHY SHOULD YOU ATTEND?

The annual TBCSA Tourism Leadership Conference brings together tourism industry professionals and leading experts to connect, learn, share, and collaborate on various topical industry-related issues.

There are many reasons why you should join us in the North West for the two-day conference:

• World-class program: Our speakers will share innovative, salient thought leadership, and industry-related guidance during plenary and breakaway sessions
• Enhance your knowledge: Hear from world-renowned speakers and industry experts, with interactive Q&A sessions for live and online audiences
• Expand your network: Engage with industry leaders, professional colleagues and international companies to expand your industry connections

WHO IS ATTENDING?

The annual TBCSA Tourism Leadership Conference is expected to attract just over 400 delegates. Registration will close in August 2023.

WHAT WILL IT COST ME?

Attendance to this year’s conference will be R990.00. This includes entrance to the conference, all meals, and entertainment.

The TBCSA has arranged shuttles from ORT to Sun City for delegates attending from outside Gauteng – For more info please click on the button below:

ACCOMMODATION

The TBCSA has secured accommodation for delegates at a discounted rate from 6 – 8 September 2023 as follows:

LEISURE ACTIVITIES

Mankwe GAMETRACKERS, based at the iconic Sun City resort next to the malaria free Big Five Pilanesberg National Park, is the largest outdoor adventure activity business in the North West province of South Africa. We conduct Game Drives, Bush Walks and Hot Air Balloon Safaris inside Pilanesberg National Park, and Quad Biking, Archery, Chimp & Zee rope adventure course, Team Building activities, and The Wallow, (a catered venue), inside the resort.

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Top Travel Conferences To Attend in 2023

With the new year quickly approaching, now is the perfect time to plan your 2023 travels! While vacations and getaways are probably top of most people’s lists, remember to plan your travel schedule for events and conferences that will provide learning and networking opportunities!

Conferences are a great way to kill two birds with one stone. First, you can travel to a new destination and experience all it has to offer while using the conference to take your career and passions to the next level.

Travel conferences can focus on anything from diversity to sustainability. Most conferences also connect attendees to thought leaders and brand leaders in their industry. It’s the perfect place to land your next paid collaboration! If you want to travel and network in 2023, check out these conferences below and add them to your calendar now!

Black Travel Summit

The Black Travel Summit is back and is taking place from October 20th-22 in beautiful Miami, Florida. The mission of Black Travel Summit is to support, expand and enhance the voice of Black travel professionals, travelers, and influencers. Black Travel Summit is passionate about disseminating knowledge on destinations, cultures, trends, and travel products that are inclusive of people of color. This event will surely give travelers the connections and community they’ve sought. You can learn more and register here.

Women in Travel Summit

WITS is a dynamic and inclusive conference taking place May 19th-21 in Puerto Rico! As if you need any other reason to visit Puerto Rico, WTIS will be a fun-filled weekend. WITS is the premier event for travel’s top marketing talent. Creative entrepreneurs, influencers, DMOs, and industry come together to discuss future innovations, build dynamic collaborations, and change travel worldwide, all while supporting and empowering a diverse community. You can learn more and register here.

Travel Adventure Show

The Travel Adventures Show takes place in multiple locations throughout the states on different weekends. So you can attend the weekend that aligns with your schedule best. The Travel Adventure Show is making stops in major cities such as Washington D.C., Chicago, Atlanta, Denver, and many more! It’s the go-to conference for travelers, tour operators, and cruise line providers and is the top conference for networking within the travel and hospitality industry. You can learn more and register here.

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Business tourist flow from India to Moscow on the rise: Evgeny Kozlov

Business + Leisure Travel and MICE 2023 opened on 29 th of September with a keynote speech from the Chairman of The Moscow City Tourism Committee, Evgeny Kozlov. In his speech, the Chairman spoke about the potential for MICE and business tourism in Moscow and the growing number of Indian businessmen who are choosing Moscow as their preferred destination for business events.

Evgeny Kozlov highlighted that the number of business tourists is expected to grow in the coming years. One of the factors supporting the growth of interest from Indian businessmen was the launch of electronic visa program. From August 1, 2023, it has become easier for Indian citizens to organize a trip to Moscow – they can come simply by applying for an electronic visa. The validity period of an e-visa is 60 days from the date of its issuance. You can stay with it in Russia for 16 days. An e-visa has several advantages over a traditional visa. To obtain it, you do not need to go to consulates or embassies, and the only documents required are a digital photograph of your face and a scan of the page with your passport data.

“Before the pandemic, the tourist flow from India grew by 12-15 percent annually. Now we are on the road to recovery – all the conditions have been created for this. Every year hundreds of international exhibitions, forums, congresses and conferences are held in Moscow. Over the past year, about 3.5 million people visited the capital for business purposes and a significant share of them are from India” – he said.

Evgeny Kozlov emphasized that Moscow is a growing hub for international business events and Indian businessmen could benefit from attending these events to expand their network and explore potential business opportunities. The Moscow MICE Ambassadors program, which also premiered at the exhibition, aims to promote Moscow as a preferred destination for business tourism, and Indian businessmen who have completed the program can serve as valuable resources for organizing conferences and events in Moscow. Furthermore, Moscow offers a range of world-class facilities and services for business travelers, including conference centers, hotels, transportation, and sightseeing. He also mentioned that Moscow’s rich cultural heritage and vibrant nightlife could provide Indian businessmen with unique experiences that could enhance their overall business trip.

In conclusion, Evgeny Kozlov expressed his optimism for the future of MICE and business tourism in Moscow. Thus, in October 2023, Moscow will host the largest MICE Congress in Russia. Among the participants are 14 countries, including Indians. The event will provide a platform for businesses in the travel and tourism industry to showcase their products and services.

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We can also organize a real life or digital event for you and find thought leader speakers as well as industry leaders, who could be your potential partners, to join the event. We also run some awards programmes which give you an opportunity to be recognized for your achievements during the year and you can join this as a participant or a sponsor.

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Travel Industry Experts from India Participated in International Event for MICE Tourism in Moscow

New Delhi, Delhi, India (NewsVoir) A large-scale international event in the field of business tourism Meet Global MICE Congress took place in Moscow from 6 to 8 October. It brought together more than 300 representatives of the travel industry from 14 countries, including India, China, and the countries of the Middle East and South-East Asia. The event became one of the key platforms for communication between representatives of the MICE industry. The conference included numerous business events of various formats: business sessions, discussions, debates, and B2B negotiations. Participants discussed the key factors cities should focus on to appeal to business tourists, the priorities for this specific group of travellers, and the potential growth opportunities within the industry. The development of business tourism is important for Moscow as business travellers account for one-fifth of all tourist traffic to the capital. Indian tourists rank third in the number of business travellers from outside the CIS countries. “Moscow serves as a thriving business hub equipped with all the necessary infrastructure to host international business events. In the first half of 2023, two million business tourists visited the capital - this is 10 per cent more than that in the same period last year. The segment of business travel has not only fully recovered to pre-COVID levels, but has also surpassed them,” stated Evgeny Kozlov, Chairman of the Moscow City Tourism Committee. The city is concurrently implementing multiple initiatives aimed at enhancing its appeal to tourists. The Moscow City Tourism Committee places considerable emphasis on business tourism, collaborating with travel agencies to establish a consistent and substantial influx of tourists to the city. “I've been to Moscow many times before, and I can say that in recent years, Moscow has taken its level of hospitality to a new level as I see a lot of development taking place. The city has changed in many areas: digital innovation, technology, gastronomy, and infrastructure. The capital of Russia offers excellent opportunities and high-quality tourist products for both business and leisure travellers from India. Moreover, Moscow is a very safe city that ensures worry-free stay for all,” said Ashis K. Das, Representative of Wanderers Leisure Travels Pvt. Ltd. Moscow presents a wide range of services capable of fulfilling the diverse requirements of business travellers. In addition, the capital offers a well-developed congress and exhibition infrastructure. There are at least 30 venues for large congresses, exhibitions, and business events in the city, which can accommodate more than 40,000 people. Moscow boasts a diverse array of amenities, including over 1,900 hotels and 18,500 cafes and restaurants spanning various segments. Moreover, the city has thoughtfully provided English signage at key locations to ensure the utmost comfort and convenience for its guests. This August Russia launched e-visas for citizens of 55 countries, including India. Based on data from the first month alone, over 30,000 tourists have availed of this service. The validity period of an e-visa is 60 days from the date of its issuance. It allows a tourist to stay in Russia for 16 days. An e-visa has several advantages over a traditional visa. To obtain it, you do not need to go to consulates or embassies, and the only documents required are a digital photograph of your face and a scan of your passport data page. (Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with Newsvoir and PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.). PTI PWR PWR

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)

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Dreamville Festival leaders and Raleigh staff talk preps with event days away

Raleigh's Dreamville Festival is just four days away.

With the transformation of Dorothea Dix Park underway, festival leaders and City of Raleigh staff hosted a news conference to discuss preparations and how things may be different for the 2024 festival.

In 2023, Dreamville attracted 100,000 festival-goers from around the world.

While most people have already booked their accommodations, Hannah Talbott with The Longleaf Hotel said some rooms are still available.

"It's gonna be busy, it's gonna be bustling," she said noting that the hotel is 95 percent booked up. "We want people to know that we're here. So 100% occupancy would obviously across Friday Saturday Sunday night would be the greatest. That's what we're really hoping to hit."

According to a City of Raleigh press release, patrons were from all 50 U.S. states and 23 countries across four continents.

"Dreamville Festival brings visitors from all over the world, and they create a lot of excitement and energy in Raleigh. While we are sad when the festival concludes and the artists and the crowds leave, their celebration creates a positive and lasting impact for our City," Evan Raleigh, Assistant City Manager for Raleigh said.

"We're very proud to be a catalyst for visitors coming into Raleigh. And visitors you're seeing this year is a culmination of what has been an active year for Dreamville as a brand," Dreamville President Adam Roy said.

The festival quickly became an economic engine for the city , taking in millions of dollars for the local economy.

"This type of event amplifies not only the brand from a regional and state perspective, but the US and global perspective. And we love that," Visit Raleigh Executive Vice President Loren Gold said.

WATCH | Businesses brace for surge of customers during Dreamville Festival in Raleigh: 'Biggest Party'

According to the 2023 Economic Impact report , the two-day event provided the equivalent of over 1,300 full-time jobs.

The report also showed the boost was the greatest in the areas of hotel, food and beverage and ground transportation.

Several hotels sold out a month before the festival in 2023.

Wake County hotel occupancy reached 94 percent on Saturday night of the 2023 festival, up 2.6 percent compared to the previous year. The number of rooms sold also was up 11.7 percent compared to the previous year on Sunday.

"Dreamville continues to be a major driver of visitor direct economic impact to our hotels, restaurants and retailers throughout Wake County. There are high expectations that 2024 will continue to see 80% or more of the tickets held for the two-day festival to be from visitors from all (50) US States and (20+) international countries. A truly global event for Raleigh!" Loren Gold, Executive Vice President of Visit Raleigh, said.

According to the press release, Dreamville organizers invested in bringing a diverse lineup of music acts, vendors and small businesses in Raleigh and across the state. There will be two dozen music performers, along with 75 food vendors found across North Carolina.

It was announced Monday that 50 Cent will replace Dreamville headliner Chris Brow n because of unforeseen circumstances. Nicki Minaj and J Cole still plan to take the stage.