2023 FULL SCHEDULE
SATURDAY, NOV. 11
10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Shuttle service from airport (SHV) to Travel Exchange hotels (every 30 minutes)
Sponsored by Motor Coach Family of Brands
9:45 a.m. – 3:45 p.m.
NTA Board Meeting & Working Lunch
6 – 8 p.m.
NTA Past Presidents/Chair/BOD Reception & Dinner
Sponsored by Sweet Home Alabama and Sports Leisure Vacations
SUNDAY, NOV. 12
7 a.m. – 6:15 p.m.
Shuttles from hotels to/from convention center
Sponsored by Motor Coach Family of Brands
7:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Registration/NTA Central open
8 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
NTA exhibitor move–in
8 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.
Sightseeing Tours
Sponsored by Shreveport-Bossier Convention & Tourist Bureau
10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Shuttle service from airport (SHV) to Travel Exchange hotels (every 30 minutes)
Sponsored by Motor Coach Family of Brands
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)