If you're looking for a convention or tradeshow featuring a wide range of educational and business seminars on growth markets in tourism, consider attending the upcoming NTA Convention (Travel Exchange), which will be held Jan 2013 in Orlando, FL.
Here are some of the business and educational seminars (on growth markets in tourism) to be held at Travel Exchange: :
+ Adventure travel
+ Accessibility travel
+ Culinary travel
+ Dark tourism
+ Faith-based travel
+ Family travel
+ Sustainable travel
For more information or to view the entire list of available seminars/educational sessions, click here:
http://businessbuilder.ntaonline.com/convention/Education.aspx
300 Trade Professionals & Planners Participated in 9th Annual Going on Faith Conference
Read original article at:
http://www.grouptravelleader.com/Article.aspx?id=991
Nearly 300 faith-based travel planners, travel industry destinations and tour operators gathered in Rock Hill, South Carolina, Aug. 21-23 for the ninth annual Going On Faith Conference operated by The Group Travel Family. The Going On Faith Conference is the group travel industry’s only faith-based travel conference and this year’s event drew delegates from across North America, plus international destinations including Israel, the Bahamas, Jordan and other countries.
“This conference is establishing a loyal following of those travel destinations that truly seek out faith-based travel groups,” said Joe Cappuzzello, CEO of The Group Travel Family. “From pilgrimages to youth retreats and traditional travel groups, faith-based tourism has carved out a recognizable niche within the overall group travel industry.”
Conference highlights included two evening events hosted by the Rock Hill/York County Convention and Visitors Bureau — an opening evening dinner and drama at Narroway Productions, and a gospel performance followed by dine-around dinner options in Rock Hill’s distinctive Old Town.
“Our community believes in family and faith and we embrace opportunities for fellowship,” said the convention bureau’s interim executive director, Mikki Rentschler. “Rock Hill and York County are progressive and bright destinations, and we enjoyed sharing our authentic features with the delegates of Going On Faith.”
Over two days, more than 3,000 business appointments took place between travel buyers and destination representatives, and delegates heard presentations from three distinguished speakers on faith-based travel topics.
Mike Schields, managing director for groups and emerging markets for Globus family of brands, shared his company’s newest research on the $17 billion faith-based travel industry during the conference’s opening session. Jimmy Wallace, former four-time state champion high school football coach and motivational Christian speaker, offered the keynote address. And to wrap thing up, Brian Jewell, executive editor of Going On Faith magazine, shared his outlook on the future of packaged travel for groups based on six travel personalities that tour planners should account for in their programming.
“The educational content this year was superb,” said conference partner Charlie Presley. “Globus’ research validates the huge potential of this market, while Jimmy Wallace was as inspirational as anyone we’ve ever listened to. And Brian Jewell has created a fascinating overview of personality types that today’s travel planners must account for. We appreciate all of their participation in this year’s conference.”
For more information, visit www.visityorkcounty.com and www.gofconference.com.
http://www.grouptravelleader.com/Article.aspx?id=991
Rock Hill puts on a show for GOF Conference
By Mac Lacy
Nearly 300 faith-based travel planners, travel industry destinations and tour operators gathered in Rock Hill, South Carolina, Aug. 21-23 for the ninth annual Going On Faith Conference operated by The Group Travel Family. The Going On Faith Conference is the group travel industry’s only faith-based travel conference and this year’s event drew delegates from across North America, plus international destinations including Israel, the Bahamas, Jordan and other countries.
“This conference is establishing a loyal following of those travel destinations that truly seek out faith-based travel groups,” said Joe Cappuzzello, CEO of The Group Travel Family. “From pilgrimages to youth retreats and traditional travel groups, faith-based tourism has carved out a recognizable niche within the overall group travel industry.”
Conference highlights included two evening events hosted by the Rock Hill/York County Convention and Visitors Bureau — an opening evening dinner and drama at Narroway Productions, and a gospel performance followed by dine-around dinner options in Rock Hill’s distinctive Old Town.
“Our community believes in family and faith and we embrace opportunities for fellowship,” said the convention bureau’s interim executive director, Mikki Rentschler. “Rock Hill and York County are progressive and bright destinations, and we enjoyed sharing our authentic features with the delegates of Going On Faith.”
Over two days, more than 3,000 business appointments took place between travel buyers and destination representatives, and delegates heard presentations from three distinguished speakers on faith-based travel topics.
Mike Schields, managing director for groups and emerging markets for Globus family of brands, shared his company’s newest research on the $17 billion faith-based travel industry during the conference’s opening session. Jimmy Wallace, former four-time state champion high school football coach and motivational Christian speaker, offered the keynote address. And to wrap thing up, Brian Jewell, executive editor of Going On Faith magazine, shared his outlook on the future of packaged travel for groups based on six travel personalities that tour planners should account for in their programming.
“The educational content this year was superb,” said conference partner Charlie Presley. “Globus’ research validates the huge potential of this market, while Jimmy Wallace was as inspirational as anyone we’ve ever listened to. And Brian Jewell has created a fascinating overview of personality types that today’s travel planners must account for. We appreciate all of their participation in this year’s conference.”
For more information, visit www.visityorkcounty.com and www.gofconference.com.
The Elephants Have Packed Their Trunks and Are Heading to Hua Hin for the 11th King’s Cup Elephant Polo Tournament
The highly popular King’s Cup Elephant Polo tournament is celebrating its eleventh anniversary in the royal seaside town of Hua Hin from September 12th to September 16th and promises to have nail-biting action both on and off the field.
With free admission for everyone, spectators can rub shoulders with European and Asian royalty, international sporting stars and local celebrities. The event has something for everyone including a spectacular opening parade through the main streets of Hua Hin, Thailand’s last ‘elephant spirit men’ (Kru Ba Yai), traditional dancers, a baby elephant camp and fun fair and a wide range of food and beverage outlets to tantalise the taste buds.
The tournament this year will see the New Zealand All Black’s Robin Brooke, Olo Brown and Adrian Cashmore go head to head with European royals Prince Carl-Eugen Oettingen-Wallerstein and his wife Princess Anna and daughter Princess Joanna. Miss Tiffany Thailand will also be playing in the tournament for the first time adding a hint of fun and a lot of colour.
International and local celebrities, including US actress Isabelle Fuhrman, Former Thai PM Aphisit Vejjajiva, super models Cindy Bishop, Lukkade Methinee and Australian Marie Claire’s Editor in Chief Jackie Frank have donated their artistic talents by painting a piece of “The Big Picture” elephant-themed painting which will be on display throughout the event and which will be auctioned off for charity at the final gala dinner.
The tournament was introduced to Thailand in 2001 by Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas and has grown to become one of the biggest charitable events in Thailand that has raised almost US$500,000 for projects that better the lives of Thailand’s elephant population including:
- Mahout accommodation at the Thai Elephant Conservation Centre (TECC) and a mobile centrifuge for the TECC’s elephant mobile veterinary clinic.
- Donating an elephant ambulance to the TECC.
The Thai Elephant Therapy Project, which initially provided 16 autistic children with a free clinic to develop their social interaction and emotional skills by using elephants as a working partner with occupational therapists. The official elephant autism clinics commenced in Chiang Mai in 2011, with future clinics to be expanded to include children with Down syndrome and other conditions.
Five elephants were rescued from Thailand’s city streets to participate in the world’s first ever Thai Elephant Therapy Project, in conjunction with Chiang Mai University Department of Occupational Therapy and the Thai Elephant Conservation Centre. Four of these five elephants now live at Anantara Golden Triangle’s Elephant Camp and have retired from active participation.
Funds raised from last year’s event have been donated in helping build the first elephant hospital in Krabi in the southern part of Thailand. A THB 500,000 gantry to help lame elephants stand has been donated to the TECC. 4,000 trees have also been planted in Hua Hin to shelter elephant corridors from electric fencing in the area.
The 11th King’s Cup Elephant Polo Tournament is held at Hua Hin's Suriyothai Army Base approximately 20 minutes from Anantara Hua Hin Resort and Spa. For more information on King’s Cup Elephant Polo, please visit www.anantaraelephantpolo.com. Anantara Hua Hin Resort & Spa is a distinctive Thai village-style resort located on the sunrise coast of the Gulf of Thailand. Hidden amidst 14 acres of luxuriantly landscaped mature gardens and lagoon pools, the picturesque resort enjoys a beachfront location at the quiet end of Thailand’s historic royal seaside town. For more information please visit www.anantara.com.
About Anantara:
For hundreds of years throughout Thailand, people would leave a jar of water outside their house to provide refreshment and extend a welcome to the passing traveler. Anantara is taken from an ancient Sanskrit word that means 'without end', symbolizing this sharing of water and the heartfelt hospitality that lies at the core of every Anantara experience.
From lush jungles to pristine beaches and legendary deserts to cosmopolitan cities, Anantara currently boasts 19 stunning properties located in Thailand, the Maldives, Bali, Vietnam and the United Arab Emirates and will see new openings in China in 2012.
For more information on Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas, please visit www.anantara.com.