1 – 6 p.m.
TREX Floor Open

1:30 – 2:30 p.m.
Spotlight Session: Artificial Intelligence
Speakers: Dan Flores and Mitch Bach

2:45 – 3:45 p.m.
Unified and Unique: Bringing Out the Best in Every Destination
Speakers: John Sutherland, Dawnielle Tehama, and Juraj Sojka

4 – 5 p.m.
International Destination Best Pitch Presentations

“What We’re Looking For”
Panelists: Mandy Hamblett, Fraser Neave, Brittany Dykla

Making the Most of Travel Exchange (for Symposium Attendees)

5:15 – 6 p.m.
All-attendee Reception
Sponsored by Motor Coach Family of Brands

5 – 6 p.m.
ITMI/TripSchool Reception
Sponsored by Button Systems

6 p.m.
First-timer Floor Tour

6:15 – 6:45 p.m.
First-timers Reception

6:45 – 8 p.m.
Continuous shuttle service to Icebreaker
Sponsored by Motor Coach Family of Brands

7 – 10 p.m.
Icebreaker
Sponsored by Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau

8:30 p.m.
Return shuttles from Icebreaker

MONDAY, NOV. 13

 

7 a.m. – 6:15 p.m.
Continuous shuttles from hotels to/from convention center (every 15 minutes)
Sponsored by Motor Coach Family of Brands

7:30 a.m.
Buyer Breakfast (Tour operators, travel planners only)
Sponsored by Visit Clarksville

7:30 – 8:30 a.m.
Continental Breakfast on the Floor
All attendees

8 a.m. – 5:15 p.m.
Registration/NTA Central/TREX Floor Open

8:45 – 9:45 a.m.
Opening General Session: The Belonging Equation
Speaker: Shelley Brown

10 a.m. – noon
North American Sales Missions

Symposium Technology Sessions

The Art of the Group Experience
Speaker: Dr. Angelique Feaster-Evans

12:15 p.m.
Luncheon
Sponsored by Golden Corral

1:30 – 5:30 p.m.
DMO Exchange Session

1:30 – 2:30 p.m.
Kiss Your Customer: Why Sales & Service are Just Like Dating & Relationships
Speaker: Andy Masters

Symposium Interview Prep Session

2 – 4 p.m.
Sweet Suite open

2:45 – 3:45 p.m.
Creating True Customer Loyalty in the New Era of Customer Experience
Speaker: Andy Masters

Don’t Leave Money on the Table
Speakers: Bill Caldwell and Lisa Curtin

4 – 5  p.m.
Tour Supplier Network Forum
Moderator: Holly Williamson

Symposium Fireside Chat

5 – 6 p.m.
Happy Hour
Sponsored by Deadwood Chamber of Commerce and Black Hills and Badlands

International Attendee Meet-up

FTA Member Meet-up
Sponsored by Ed-Ventures

Evening Dine-around

8:30 – 10:30 p.m.
NightCap
Sponsored by Aon Affinity Travel Practice

9 – 10:15 p.m.
Continuous shuttles from NightCap to convention hotels

TUESDAY, NOV. 14

 

7 a.m. – 6:45 p.m.
Continuous shuttles from hotels to/from convention center (every 15 minutes)
Sponsored by Motor Coach Family of Brands

7:30 – 8:30 a.m.
FTA Breakfast & Networking (all attendees)
Speaker: Matt Rawle
Sponsored by Ed-Ventures, Israel Ministry of Tourism, Faith Travel Association

8 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Registration/NTA Central/TREX Floor Open

8:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
DMO Exchange Session

Tour Director Interviews

8:45 – 9:45 a.m.
The Dangers of AI for Tour Suppliers
Speaker: Jeff Ment

10 – 11 a.m.
Marketing for Tour Suppliers in the Age of Digital Transformation
Speaker: Marica Brewster

11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Partnership Panel: Suppliers and Operators
Moderator: Jennifer Morkert
Panelists: Amy DeFrancesco, John Fernandes, Jim Warren, Pam Corderman

12:30 – 1:30 p.m.
Luncheon
Sponsored by Norwegian Cruise Line

1:45 – 2:45 p.m.
Creating Culturally Inclusive Communication
Speaker: Dr. Brandale Mills-Cox

Succession Planning Starts Now
Speakers: Bill Caldwell, Lisa Curtin

Gems, Nuggets, Tips & Tricks

2 – 4 p.m.
Sweet Suite Open
Afternoon Desserts provided by: Visit Hershey & Harrisburg

3 – 5:30 p.m.
Supplier Exchange Session

3 – 4 p.m.
DMO Network Forum
Moderator: Frances Manzitto

Jeff Ment for ITMI/TripSchool
Speaker: Jeff Ment

4:15 – 5:15 p.m.
DMO Itinerary Planning Workshop

Symposium Scavenger Hunt

5:30 pm. – 6:30 p.m.
Fiesta de TREX!
Sponsored by A Closer Look Tours

Evening Dine-around

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 15

 

7 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Continuous shuttles from hotels to/from convention center (every 15 minutes)

Sponsored by Motor Coach Family of Brands

7:30 – 8:30 a.m.
Continental Breakfast on the Floor
All attendees

7:30 – 8:30 a.m.
Tour Operator Network Forum w/Continental Breakfast
Sponsored by Mayflower Cruises & Tours

8 a.m. – noon
Registration/NTA Central Open

8:30 – 11 a.m.
Tour Director Interview Callbacks

8:30 a.m. – noon
Supplier Exchange Session

8:30 – 9:30 a.m.
Top Trends in Tourism Marketing: What DMOs Need to Know
Speaker: Marica Brewster

It’s Cool to Be Culturally Competent
Speaker: Heather Davis

9:45 – 10:45 a.m.
Tourism Trends: Can You Teach an Old Destination New Tricks?Speaker: Tico Soto

Crafting an Unforgettable Tour Day
Speaker: Mitch Bach

11 a.m. – noon
The Demand for Slow Travel: How to Position Your Destination for a New Way of Traveling
Speaker: Lori Sorrentino

Crafting an Unforgettable Tour Day (Workshop)

12:15 – 1:15 p.m.
Luncheon
Sponsored by Huntsville/Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau

1:30 – 5:15 p.m.
Supplier Exchange Session

Taking Care of You So You Can Take Care of the Group
Speaker: Heather Davis

2 – 4 p.m.
Sweet Suite open
Afternoon Desserts provided by: Visit Savannah

2:45 – 3:45 p.m.
Partnership Panel: DMOs and Operators
Moderator: Anjuli King
Panelists: Tobie Fitzpatrick, Debra Asberry, Jerry Varner, Micheal Collins

Where Do I Go From Here?

4 – 5 p.m.
Power Hour
Moderator: Todd Probus

Career Confessional

5:15 – 6 p.m.
Exhibitor Tear Down

6:45 – 8 p.m.
Continuous shuttle service to Icebreaker
Sponsored by Motor Coach Family of Brands

7 – 10 p.m.
NTA ’23 Farewell Tour
Sponsored by Shreveport-Bossier Convention & Tourist Bureau and Explore Louisiana

8:30. – 10:15 pm.
Return shuttles from Icebreaker

THURSDAY, NOV. 16

 

4 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Shuttle service to SHV from Travel Exchange hotels (every 30 minutes)
Sponsored by Motor Coach Family of Brands

4:30 a.m.
Shuttle service to DFW & DAL from Travel Exchange hotels (one departure)
Sponsored by Motor Coach Family of Brands

New Orleans Destination Training for Symposium Attendees (Time and date TBD)