THETRADESHOW Has Success with New Additions to Show
Alexandria, Va., Nov. 19 – THETRADESHOW (Travel Retailing and Destination Expo) partners are pleased to announce the success of the third annual THETRADESHOW held Sept. 7-9 in Orlando. For three days, 3,188 attendees gathered at the Orange County Convention Center for one-on-one business appointments, travel seminars and exhibits. THETRADESHOW reported 1,068 exhibitors having attended, as well as 356 exhibiting companies (36 percent of which were new to THETRADESHOW), 1,927 travel professionals, 56 media and 194 non-exhibiting suppliers and guests. This years’ THESHOWSTREET, the main ‘road’ in the exhibit hall was the longest in history.
“THETRADESHOW this year was a fantastic opportunity for agents to network and expand their businesses. The seminars from destinations to technology were second to none and gave agents the ability to learn how to blog to becoming a destination specialist. The networking opportunities were abundant and highlighted by what has become one of the biggest networking events in the travel industry, YP Rocks, which spotlights the Young Professionals in the travel industry. THETRADESHOW is the premier event for all travel professionals to attend and my staff can not wait to attend next year in Las Vegas,” said ASTA’s President and CEO, Chris Russo.
While the THETRADESHOW offered agents the chance to meet and network with suppliers, it also offered suppliers an opportunity to present their products to agents in new and unique ways. Some of these included The Presentation Pavilions, Technology Pavilions and THESHOWSTAGE, which hosted nearly 1,995 people over three days; educational classroom sessions, which were attended by more than 1,786 people and product seminars, which were attended by more than 686 people.
Among the exhibiting companies, 62 countries were represented. All told, there were 501 booths. Travel agents met with representatives from:
- 66 domestic and international tourist offices;
- 42 hotel brands/chains/properties;
- 24 cruise lines;
- 78 travel and tour companies;
- 27 technology firms;
- 13 publications;
- 34 transportation companies (air/rail/car rental); and
- 54 other (entertainment, shopping, attractions).
Samantha Brown, popular host of Travel Channel’s Passport Series, was the celebrity guest at THETRADESHOW this year. As Travel Channel’s primary travel maven, Samantha Brown has visited dozens of countries, hundreds of cities and stayed in countless hotels around the world. Presently, she is exploring the perfect travel destinations for weekend getaways in Samantha Brown: Passport to Great Weekends airing Thursdays nights on Travel Channel. She also turns her focus toward Asia in Samantha Brown: Passport to China.
ASTA’s hosted its first-ever Retail Travel Leadership Summit, in conjunction with THETRADESHOW in Orlando. This innovative event brought together industry leaders and executives from top-tier travel companies and foster open discussions and debates on pressing travel industry issues. Former congressman and host of MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” Joe Scarborough, headlined the summit.
Next year, THETRADESHOW will take place Sept. 13-15 in Las Vegas.
THETRADESHOW is created and supported by the travel industry’s leading organizations, including: ACTA, Adventures In Travel Expo, America’s Vacation Center, AirTran, ASTA, ATA, Canadian Travel Press, CLIA, Destination UK Ltd, ETOA, eTurbo News, IGLTA, International Institute for Peace Through Tourism, JAXFAX, ONLY Vegas, MailPound, NACTA, NBTA, NTA, ORLANDO, Recommend, SATH, TourismCares, Travel Age West, Travel Channel, The Travel Institute, TIA, TPOC, Travel Trade, TRAVEL WEEKLY, Turisver Trade Tourism Magazine, USA Today, USTOA and World Religious Travel Association. Official media partners are: Agent@Home, vacationagent and ModernAgent.
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, please call 1.866.870.9333, visit THETRADESHOW.org or e-mail pr@thetradeshow.org
Contact: Kristina Rundquist/Laura Gajewski 703.739.8710
