July 19, 2007 - Business Travel
Alexandria, Va., July 19, 2007 – Attendees of this year’s THETRADESHOW (Sept. 9-11, Las Vegas) will see a day devoted to the joint themes of business travel and technology with seminars on Tuesday, Sept. 11 focused on the needs of corporate travelers and business-building topics such as employment laws and regulations, procurement, marketing to the global consumer and the latest in travel technology tools.
“It’s vital that today’s business owners be informed and take advantage of every technological tool available. This is even more the case for travel agencies specializing in corporate travel who are under pressure to maximize purchasing power while limiting expenses,” said William Maloney, CTC, chief operating officer and executive vice president of ASTA. “Every type of travel agency can benefit from the specialized business and technology education offered at THETRADESHOW.”
Seminars focusing on the business travel and technology that have already been scheduled are:
· Employment Laws & Regulation. Presented by Wendy Christie. State and federal employment laws and regulations are a rapidly emerging area of concern for employers as states are becoming more active in protecting employee rights. This training session gives an overview of employment laws and regulations.
· Corporate Travel – Learn to Develop Reports That Match or Exceed Your Customers’ Expectations. Presented by Kyle Moser. It’s no secret that the procurement mindset is dominant in today’s business travel arena. In this climate, customers are asking their agencies for solid data to support their managed travel programs and demonstrate to CFOs and purchasing executives that they’re getting the most value for their travel dollar. This session will distill many years of conversations with travel managers and present the realities they face in getting numbers and information from their travel agencies, their vision for a better world and the tactical outcomes they’re looking for in terms of using data to build winning programs.
· How to Make $$$ Selling Travel Insurance. Presented by Bill Dismore. With margins on travel sales continuing to slim down, travel insurance is a place to save a client from headaches while also increasing agency revenue. This session will show the wide variety of insurance options available in the market, the best sales techniques to introduce a client to the idea of insurance and how to make the transaction a win-situation for all parties.
· Marketing to the Global Consumer. Presented by Dottie Sutherland. “Going global” is more than just a fad - nowadays it’s a necessity. But what does “global” mean? Who is the “global consumer?” What are the trends, and how can an agency succeed in an ever-changing global market where phrases like “small is the new large” and “customer convergence” are the new standards? This seminar will show agents how to use these trends to design an online presence that will attract and service these travelers with information on rebranding a company and designing a Web site that will attract global consumers.
· Corporate Travel – Learn the Fundamentals of Business Travel. Courtesy of NBTA. Presented by Kristi Long, CCTE. The Fundamentals of Business Travel is a course offered by the National Business Travel Association that, once successfully completed, leads to the designation of Corporate Travel Expert (CTE). A complete description of the course and highlights of its contents will be the focus of this interactive session aimed at those who are interested in holding a designation in the corporate travel sector.
· Corporate Travel – The Myth of Online Adoption: How to Use Technology to Improve the Bottom Line. Presented by James Dargan. Making and managing a travel reservation is not unlike a traditional manufacturing process. There are several unique steps that need to be completed, and for each step, there is a sub-process to follow. Historically, many of the steps in the travel reservation process have been manual, and this often has led to delays and errors that produce higher costs and lower margins. Today, technology exists to help companies speed up the travel reservation process and improve accuracy. The successful use of this technology has led to lower costs, increased profits and improved customer service. In this session, agents will learn how to identify the right technology to improve your process and reap the rewards of a more efficient travel program.
· Go Go Google. Presented by Carol Fullmer. Explore the amazing phenomenon that is Google from a travel agent''s perspective. Seminar attendees will go far beyond basic keyword searches and learn the hidden secrets and gems of this expanding resource.
· Using Blogs and Web Sites to Attract New Clients. Presented by Scott Ahlsmith, CTC. This session will teach travel professionals what clients value from today’s Web sites and what turns them off. Attendees will leave with three easy-to-implement Web site strategies that will take their site from a static product and price site to an interactive social networking site that improve their visibility with search engines and provide higher client satisfaction.
Presentation Pavilions to be Tuesday on the trade show floor are as follows: Certified Vacations, Funjet, Travel Impressions, GotCorp and Southwest Vacations. Additional product and technology seminars will be held throughout the day. For a complete listing of educational programming, go to: www.thetradeshow.org/education.cfm.
THETRADESHOW is created and supported by the travel industry’s leading organizations, including: ACTA, Adventures in Travel Expo, AirTran, American Express, ASTA, ATA, CLIA, ETOA, IGLTA, Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, NACTA, NBTA, NTA, Orlando Travel & Visitors Bureau, SATH, TourismCares, The Travel Institute, Travel Industry Association of America, USA Today, USTOA and Vacation.com.
For more information on THETRADESHOW, call 1.866.870.9333 or visit THETRADESHOW.
THETRADESHOW (Travel Retailing and Destination Expo) is a 3-day, in-depth networking and educational event. Global and inclusive, THETRADESHOW unites under one roof travel suppliers and buyers from all over the world, representing every segment of the travel and tourism industry. It is the trade show event for travel decision makers. For more information on THETRADESHOW, call 1.866.870.9333 or visit www.THETRADESHOW.org.
Contact: Kristina Rundquist/Jada Irwin 703-739-8710
pr@thetradeshow.org
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Alexandria, Va., July 19, 2007 – Attendees of this year’s THETRADESHOW (Sept. 9-11, Las Vegas) will see a day devoted to the joint themes of business travel and technology with seminars on Tuesday, Sept. 11 focused on the needs of corporate travelers and business-building topics such as employment laws and regulations, procurement, marketing to the global consumer and the latest in travel technology tools.
“It’s vital that today’s business owners be informed and take advantage of every technological tool available. This is even more the case for travel agencies specializing in corporate travel who are under pressure to maximize purchasing power while limiting expenses,” said William Maloney, CTC, chief operating officer and executive vice president of ASTA. “Every type of travel agency can benefit from the specialized business and technology education offered at THETRADESHOW.”
Seminars focusing on the business travel and technology that have already been scheduled are:
· Employment Laws & Regulation. Presented by Wendy Christie. State and federal employment laws and regulations are a rapidly emerging area of concern for employers as states are becoming more active in protecting employee rights. This training session gives an overview of employment laws and regulations.
· Corporate Travel – Learn to Develop Reports That Match or Exceed Your Customers’ Expectations. Presented by Kyle Moser. It’s no secret that the procurement mindset is dominant in today’s business travel arena. In this climate, customers are asking their agencies for solid data to support their managed travel programs and demonstrate to CFOs and purchasing executives that they’re getting the most value for their travel dollar. This session will distill many years of conversations with travel managers and present the realities they face in getting numbers and information from their travel agencies, their vision for a better world and the tactical outcomes they’re looking for in terms of using data to build winning programs.
· How to Make $$$ Selling Travel Insurance. Presented by Bill Dismore. With margins on travel sales continuing to slim down, travel insurance is a place to save a client from headaches while also increasing agency revenue. This session will show the wide variety of insurance options available in the market, the best sales techniques to introduce a client to the idea of insurance and how to make the transaction a win-situation for all parties.
· Marketing to the Global Consumer. Presented by Dottie Sutherland. “Going global” is more than just a fad - nowadays it’s a necessity. But what does “global” mean? Who is the “global consumer?” What are the trends, and how can an agency succeed in an ever-changing global market where phrases like “small is the new large” and “customer convergence” are the new standards? This seminar will show agents how to use these trends to design an online presence that will attract and service these travelers with information on rebranding a company and designing a Web site that will attract global consumers.
· Corporate Travel – Learn the Fundamentals of Business Travel. Courtesy of NBTA. Presented by Kristi Long, CCTE. The Fundamentals of Business Travel is a course offered by the National Business Travel Association that, once successfully completed, leads to the designation of Corporate Travel Expert (CTE). A complete description of the course and highlights of its contents will be the focus of this interactive session aimed at those who are interested in holding a designation in the corporate travel sector.
· Corporate Travel – The Myth of Online Adoption: How to Use Technology to Improve the Bottom Line. Presented by James Dargan. Making and managing a travel reservation is not unlike a traditional manufacturing process. There are several unique steps that need to be completed, and for each step, there is a sub-process to follow. Historically, many of the steps in the travel reservation process have been manual, and this often has led to delays and errors that produce higher costs and lower margins. Today, technology exists to help companies speed up the travel reservation process and improve accuracy. The successful use of this technology has led to lower costs, increased profits and improved customer service. In this session, agents will learn how to identify the right technology to improve your process and reap the rewards of a more efficient travel program.
· Go Go Google. Presented by Carol Fullmer. Explore the amazing phenomenon that is Google from a travel agent's perspective. Seminar attendees will go far beyond basic keyword searches and learn the hidden secrets and gems of this expanding resource.
· Using Blogs and Web Sites to Attract New Clients. Presented by Scott Ahlsmith, CTC. This session will teach travel professionals what clients value from today’s Web sites and what turns them off. Attendees will leave with three easy-to-implement Web site strategies that will take their site from a static product and price site to an interactive social networking site that improve their visibility with search engines and provide higher client satisfaction.
Presentation Pavilions to be Tuesday on the trade show floor are as follows: Certified Vacations, Funjet, Travel Impressions, GotCorp and Southwest Vacations. Additional product and technology seminars will be held throughout the day. For a complete listing of educational programming, go to: www.thetradeshow.org/education.cfm.
THETRADESHOW is created and supported by the travel industry’s leading organizations, including: ACTA, Adventures in Travel Expo, AirTran, American Express, ASTA, ATA, CLIA, ETOA, IGLTA, Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, NACTA, NBTA, NTA, Orlando Travel & Visitors Bureau, SATH, TourismCares, The Travel Institute, Travel Industry Association of America, USA Today, USTOA and Vacation.com.
For more information on THETRADESHOW, call 1.866.870.9333 or visit THETRADESHOW.
THETRADESHOW (Travel Retailing and Destination Expo) is a 3-day, in-depth networking and educational event. Global and inclusive, THETRADESHOW unites under one roof travel suppliers and buyers from all over the world, representing every segment of the travel and tourism industry. It is the trade show event for travel decision makers. For more information on THETRADESHOW, call 1.866.870.9333 or visit www.THETRADESHOW.org.
Contact: Kristina Rundquist/Jada Irwin 703-739-8710
pr@thetradeshow.org
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