Luxury Travel Advisor - February 2008 - (Page 69) 7 ence program is the best in the industry. There were more than 30 educational sessions covering cutting-edge topics and areas that cater to today’s luxury travel agent. The program was accredited by the Travel Institute. CLIA’s sessions continue to be one of the most popular components of the program, attracting more than 1,200 travel agents. On Tuesday afternoon, the Travel Institute brought their conference, “Skills You Can Use On Monday Morning,” to Luxury Travel Expo, attracting their largest gathering since its inception. Agents benefited from unique hands-on travel industry training, including a keynote presentation from Horst Schulze, founding president and chief operating officer of Ritz-Carlton. The sold-out exhibit hall, the largest in the show’s history, opened to more than 3,000 agents eager to network with exhibitors ready to educate them on new properties, destinations and promotions. Agents experienced culinary delights and the sights and sounds of the globally represented hall of luxury suppliers, got up close and personal with baby kangaroos, a young zebra and some exotic birds, viewed luxury cars and met television personality Gavin MacLeod. New this year was the addition of an Official Shopping partner, America’s Premier Shopping Places, creating a one-of-a-kind experience for travel agents. Agents received a Premier Passport and a welcome packet with amenities from top retailers, restaurants and attractions in Las Vegas. Wednesday night also saw the addition of the inaugural Luxury After Dark party held at Studio 54 in the MGM Grand. More than 1,500 agents and suppliers danced the night away at this party of the year. Sponsors included the LVCVA and MGM Mirage. Mark your calendar for 2008, as Luxury Travel Expo celebrates its 10th anniversary December 2-4 at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino. A special thank you to event sponsors American Express, Brendan Worldwide Vacations, Classic Vacations, Hawai’i Visitors and Convention Bureau, Insight Vacations, Las Vegas Convention Visitors Authority, MGM Mirage, PromPerú, The Red Carnation Hotel Collection, Small Luxury Hotels of the World, Sol Meliá Hotels & Resorts, Trafalgar Tours, Uniworld Grand River Cruises, Virtuoso and Visit Southern Africa Vacations; supporters CLIA, Ensemble Travel Group, Signature Travel Network and the Travel Institute; official entertainment partners KÀ, Mystère, Phantom-The Las Vegas Spectacular, Monty Python’s Spamalot and Stomp Out Loud; and Official Shopping partner America’s Premier Shopping Places. — Alicia Evanko 8 9 10 11 7. Hertz’s lively booth displayed a Ford Mustang. 8. Terry Dale, president and CEO, Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), takes to the stage for an engaging presentation. 9. Dennis Pinto, managing director, Micato Safaris, discusses the business of luxury travel. 10. Luxury Travel Expo attendees enjoy a late-night party at Studio 54 in the MGM Grand. 11. Peter Kressaty, vice president of Carino Collection, stops by Loews Hotels’ exhibition space to check in with Mark Ginna, vice president, national sales, Loews Hotels. www.luxuryta.com February 2008 | LUXURY TRAVEL ADVISOR 69 http://www.luxuryta.com
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