Home-Based Travel Agent - February 2008 - (Page 32)

TRAVEL AGENT EXPO The Home-Based Travel Agent Expo & Conference, produced by HomeBased Travel Agent and Travel Agent magazines, saw 2,300 agents converge on Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas. Building on the success of the inaugural event in 2006, the second annual show proved to be a signiﬁcant facilitator of education and networking for home-based agents. Educational programming began with pre-event accredited workshops by CLIA, the Niche Cruise Marketing Alliance (NCMA) and The Travel Institute. The expo’s general session included keynote presentations from industry leaders Kerry J. Cannon, Jr., group publisher, Travel Agent Media Group; Michael Drever, president and chief executive officer, CruiseShipCenters International; Debbie Maier, vice president of sales and marketing, SMART Travel Technologies and MailPound; and David Speakman, chairman and founder, Travel Counsellors. Agents entered to win one of three $500 gift certificates to the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace, courtesy of Shop Las Vegas. From Classroom to Exhibit Hall More than 50 travel professionals participating as speakers shared their expertise in the popular conference program. There were over 20 educational sessions where home-based agents could gain product knowledge, business tips and contacts to grow their businesses. The program was accredited by The Travel Institute. Agents were able to apply the information learned during these sessions to the trade show floor, where they could meet with upward of 200 domestic and international travel suppliers representing such commissionable travel options as cruises, vacation packages, hotel/resort properties, air consolidators and attractions, as well as representatives from companies offering business and technology solutions. With another successful year complete, the Home-Based Travel Agent Expo & Conference is excited to begin planning for 2008. Save the dates for the third annual event’s return to Mandalay Bay: December 2-4. The Home-Based Travel Agent Expo & Conference is grateful for the support of event sponsors Celebrity Cruises, CruiseShipCenters International, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, Magic Johnson Travel Group, Royal Caribbean International and Tourlite; supporters Caribbean Tourism Organization, Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), MailPound, National Association of Commissioned Travel Agents (NACTA), NEST, Niche Cruise Marketing Alliance, Professional Association of Travel Hosts (PATH) and The Travel Institute; and official entertainment sponsors Phantom–The Las Vegas Spectacular, The Rat Pack Is Back, Stomp Out Loud, World’s Greatest Magic Show and V–The Ultimate Variety Show. Home-Based 1 2 ALL PHOTOS BY COSTELLO PHOTOGRAPHY 32 Home-BasedTravelAgent F EB RUARY 2008

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Home-Based Travel Agent - February 2008

Home-Based Travel Agent - January/February 2008 Editor's Note Publisher's Note Your Lifeline Agent Spotlight: Tracy Dennis News Hot Deals Reader Survey All-Inclusive Resorts Home-Based Travel Agent Expo Portugal New York Bermuda Cover Story: Singapore Cruise: What's New Tours: Adventure New Products

Home-Based Travel Agent - February 2008

For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.