Convention '09
What's New
| What you need to know...
|
What's New for Convention '09?
NTA announced last year in Pittsburgh that the Convention would be undergoing a facelift to help bring you better, more quality business. You offered us your thoughts and opinions on the proposed model, creating a Convention in Reno, designed by you, that works for the way packaged travel professionals are doing business today.
Below is a look at what's new for 2009:
Schedule Changes
You told us that you wanted your business opportunities more focused, allowing you to choose to spend less time out of the office if your budget and schedule dictated. That's what you'll find in Reno.
Some of the changes to the Convention '09 Schedule that have helped to streamline business and maximize value include:
- Shift of sightseeing to Saturday, allowing for uninterrupted business sessions
- DMO prescheduled appointments on Sunday with the Destination Pavilion open for itinerary planning and added appointments on Monday
- One Appointment Scheduling session on Monday morning for all remaining business time blocks
- Addition of the Fast Pitch session for supplier requested, 5-minute prescheduled appointments on Monday afternoon
- Consecutive Tour & Travel Exchange appointment sessions on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Visit the Convention '09 Schedule of Events for more complete details and timing of events.
Co-location of the World Religious Travel Association's Expo
The World Religious Travel Association is bringing their Expo to Reno, offering more business for everyone without the cost of another trip.
Operators will have free access to the WRTA Expo floor as well as access to the more than 250 WRTA buyers in the Buyer-to-Buyer Exchange. If you, as an operator, have an interest in the faith-based travel market and would like to attend all aspects of the WRTA Expo (including educational programs and other functions that are not done jointly with NTA) you must register with WRTA. As an NTA operator, you will receive a discounted registration fee. Visit the WRTA Expo Web site for more details or to register.
Suppliers and DMOs wishing to access the WRTA Expo floor will also receive discounted registration fees. However, NTA and WRTA will be holding several joint sessions where all attendees can network with each other without any added costs!
Remember, the WRTA Expo is a tradeshow, not an appointment show like NTA. Click here to learn more about the NTA/WRTA co-location and how it can benefit your company.
New Fast Pitch Session
Tour suppliers have the opportunity to add to prescheduled contacts with the new Fast Pitch session. In this session, supplier requested appointments that were not scheduled in the Tour & Travel Exchange will be scheduled in this Monday afternoon session.
Read more about how the new Fast Pitch session will work for you.
Enhanced Destination Pavilion
Tour operators have told us that they want to buy the way they package, with a focus on the destination. From that, the enhanced Destination Pavilion was created.
This new format gives operators the opportunity to meet with and shop for new product ideas in a regional format where the DMOs are seated and the operators are walking. Read more about how the enhanced Destination Pavilion will increase business opportunities and enhance tour operator packaging.
Extended Appointments for Quality Business
Gone are the days of the 7-minute appointments at NTA. With Convention '09, DMO and supplier prescheduled appointments in the Destination Pavilion and the Tour & Travel Exchange have been increased to 10 minutes.
The same goes for the operator partnering appointments in the Buyer-to-Buyer Exchange. You told NTA you wanted more time for meaningful meetings and partnership creation and you got it! Those prescheduled operator-to-operator appointments will also be 10 minutes in length.
More business, higher quality, better value...that's working smarter at Convention '09!