Travel Agent - September 24, 2007 - (Page 38)

Luxury Travel Expo Update The Best of the Best his is my sixth year working on Luxury Travel Expo and every year I continue to be impressed with the quality of the educational program. Virginia Fischer, Luxury Travel Expo’s conference manager, creates the conference program and continues to develop and build upon it from year to year. We are constantly brainstorming new topics and areas that represent the hottest trends and topics in the industry. With our sister publications, Luxury Travel Advisor and Travel Agent magazine, and colleagues in those editorial departments, Virginia is able to stay on top of the latest news and trends and transform that information into a live program. This is something that can’t be found with any other travel show. As I review the program at almost 95 percent complete, I can say that it is truly the best of the best. T test sessions every year. Luxury travel is one of the most lucrative segments of the retail market. Most agents want to expand their luxury business. But today luxury means different things to different people and isn’t easily defined. Finding the right clients and determining what they define as luxury travel is key. This year’s marketing panel will allow you to hear success stories and garner valuable tips from industry experts. Cruise News and Hot Trends The cruise panel has always been another Luxury Travel Expo favorite. This year’s cruise panel will tell you what’s new onboard and onshore in luxury cruise product offerings. The definition of luxury cruising is constantly changing with new product offerings. This panel will tell you what constitutes a luxury cruise. You will also learn how today’s luxury liners are meeting the needs of the next generation of affluent cruise enthusiasts. While there are many favorites that are repeated year to year, there are new sessions covering hot trends. These days, it’s virtually impossible to pick up a magazine or newspaper without being greeted with words such as “green,” “sustainability,” and “eco-fill-in-the- Practical Workshops and Panels The program is a mix of workshops and panels that offer tactical information that can be used upon returning to the office. There are certain topics that are repeated year to year; however, they are continuously refocused to include information that is relevant to the current trends and happenings. The marketing panel is one of the hot- blank.” This year’s program will include a 90-minute session devoted exclusively to the issues surrounding the greening of the hospitality industry. Featuring executives from some of the hotels and airlines at the forefront of the change, this is one session I will not miss. No matter what your opinion about the causes and effects of global warming, it’s impossible not to recognize the impact this newfound environmental sensibility is having on business, and none more so than the tourism and hospitality industry. This session will allow you to hear how the hospitality industry is addressing the “green-hot” issues of the day and to understand what impact they will have on you, your clients and your business. There is much more to the conference program (which can be viewed in its entirety on the web site, www.luxurytravel expo.com) and I truly hope you will be a part of it this year by attending Luxury Travel Expo. It’s truly the best program out there! Alicia Evanko, CMP Show Director aevanko@questex.com Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino To register or for information on exhibiting visit www.LuxuryTravelExpo.com 38 TravelAgent September 24, 2007 http://www.luxurytravelexpo.com http://www.luxurytravelexpo.com http://www.LuxuryTravelExpo.com http://www.LuxuryTravelExpo.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Travel Agent - September 24, 2007

Contents Editor's Letter News You Can Use Agenda: Fam Trips, Calendar of Events, Deal of the Week Cover Story - Down the Stretch: Ramping Up 2007 Sales Central & South America: Anthony’s Key Resort, Roatan, Honduras Florida: Hotel Packages for Cruise-Bound Travelers Cruises: A Tale of Two Lines Agent Exchange Classified Marketplace Luxury Travel Expo Update Advertisers’ Information People & Places

Travel Agent - September 24, 2007

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