CONFERENCES
YOUR GUIDE TO ALL 3 DAYS!
THURSDAY
Conference for meetings & Events Professionals
10:00-10:50am
- The Ultimate Inflation Hack-Crowdsourcing 100+Cost-Saving and Cost-Avoidance Ideas, Panel presentation by PCMA, Room 3
- Two Takes on Incentive Travel: "Leadership" vs. "Participant" inSITEs, Speakers: Michaela Foley and Lumi Hilchey, SITE, Room 4
10:30-11:00am
- Performance by dancers and music from Ukraine. Presented by Aria Entertainment and Rebuilding Ukraine Foundation, Room 1
11:00-11:30am
- EXCLUSIVELY for Exhibitors - “The Future of Destinations Marketing: How to Break Through with Today’s Travelers” Speaker: Amanda Blackman, Chief Strategy Officer, AKA North America Room 1
11:00-11:50am
- From Order-Taker to Trusted Advisor: Proving Your Value with the C-Suite. Speaker: Howard Givner, PCMA, Room 3
- State of the Exhibition Industry: Future Trends and Considerations. Speaker: Cathy Breden, IAEE and CEIR, Room 2
- The Incentive Travel Index: A first look at results from the 2023 edition.Speakers: Michaela Foley and Lumi Hilchey, SITE, Room 4
12:00-12:30pm
- Refreshments & Networking. Sponsor: CIBT, Official Show Sponsor of Passport & Visa Services, Room 1
12:30-1:25pm
- Issues Impacting the Meetings and Events Industry, and Solutions Currently Being Developed. Moderator: Howard Givner, PCMA Speakers: Don Welsh, Destinations International; Sherrif Karamat, President, PCMA; Cathy Breden, COO, IAEE and CEIR; and Alan Steel, Javits Convention Center, NYC, Room 1
1:30-2:30pm
- Negotiating with Venues-Strategies for Being a Better Negotiator.Speaker: Howard Givner, PCMA, Room 3
- The Visa & Passport Equation: Balancing Various Risks For Travelers & Meeting Planners.Speaker: Sam McKnight, CIBT, Room 4
3:30-6:30pm
- Alon Tourism Solutions NY State Marketplace (Invitation Only)
6:30-9:00pm
- ITS2023 Sunset Cruise Reception Sponsored by La Barca Cantina, New York Cruise Lines, AKA, ALON Marketing and Travel + Leisure GO.
La Barca Cantina, NYCL Boat Pier 81, W 41 Street & 12th Avenue New York, NY 10036
FRIDAY
CONFERENCE FOR TRAVEL PROFESSIONALS
10:00-10:50am
- Refreshments, Room 1
- Travel Experts Give Their Predictions for 2024, Including the Top Travel Trends for 2024. Speakers: Daniel Durazo, Allianz Partners USA and Lee Abbamonte, Allianz Travel Advisor, Room 1
11:00-11:30am
- EXCLUSIVELY for Exhibitors - “The Future of Destinations Marketing: How to Break Through with Today’s Travelers” Speaker: Amanda Blackman, Chief Strategy Officer, AKA North America Room 1
11:00-11:50am
- How Tours Make You Money and the World More Sustainable. Moderator: Terry Dale, President, USTOA; Speakers: Kevin Hichour, Downtown; Tara Lano, GOGO Vacations; Jeff Klainberg, Sceptre Vacations; Guy Young, The Travel Corporation USA, Room 2
- The Impact of AI in the Travel Industry: Challenges & Opportunities for Travel Advisors, Tourism Professionals, & Journalists. Presented by SATW; Introduction: Kim Foley MacKinnon, Past-President of SATW; Moderator: Tonya Fitzpatrick, Esq., Maryland Tourism Development Board; Panelists: Seth Borko, Skift; Ian Fitzpatrick, Esq., World Footprints; Michael Schottey, American Society of Travel Advisors; Shelonda Stokes, Downtown Partnership of Baltimore; Chun Wright, Esq., Law Office of Chun T. Wright, Room 3
- "Marketing to Diverse Audiences: Case Studies from New York State"Moderator: Ross Levi, Executive Director / Vice President, NYS Division of Tourism / I LOVE NY Panelists from NYS Division of Tourism: David Turley, Director of Tourism Programs and Education; Sara Emmert, Sr. Director of Tourism Policy & Operations; and Danae Jones-Persip, Senior Manager, Travel Trade and Programs ROOM 4
12:00-12:50pm
- Passport To Africa. Presented by Africa Tourism Association. Moderator: Naledi Khabo, Speakers: Tiffanie Anderson, Away To Africa; Ben Anane Nsiah, Deputy CEO of General Services, Ghana Tourism Authority; David Germain, Africa & The Americas, Tourism Seychelles, Room 2
- Latest Trends in Asia Pacific — Strong Travel Demand for Sustainable Tourism and Remarkable Destinations. Presented by NY PATA, Speakers: Elizabeth Chin, ECI Travelworld; Boris Miketic, Boris World of Travel; Kevin Hichour, Holidays with Downtown, Room 3
- Cuba Travel: Still Hard To Reach…But So Rewarding When You Arrive. Presented by John McAuliff, Cuba/US People to People Partnership; Speakers: Rita McNiff, Like a Cuban; Talek Nantes, Travels with Talek; Manny Kopstein, Cuba Travel Adventures Group.
1:00-1:50pm
- Keynote: FOOD, an inextricable part of Travel!
Presentation and discussion with Chef David Burke
2:00-2:50pm
- Elevate and Excel: Maximize Earnings in Your Travel Advisor Career. Speakers: Amy Reed, Travel+Leisure Co.; Michelle Payette, VAX Vacation Access, Room 3
- Why the Student Market Matters to Your Business. Presented by Carylann Assante, SYTA and the SYTA Youth Foundation; Guarav Namit, Four Winds Tours; Adam White, Atlas Workshops; and Bruce Rickert, Peak Group Travel, Room 4
3:00-3:50pm
- "The Future of Air Travel: World-class airlines meet world-class airports - and how public art is helping”Moderator: Reginald Charlot, Senior Vice President, Tourism Market Development, NYC Tourism Speakers: Derek Utter, Chief Development Officer, Port Authority of New York & New Jersey; Gail Grimmett, Senior Vice President of Sustainability Performance and Strategic Partnerships, Delta Airlines; Dorothy Davila, Director Creative Partnerships, Public Art Fund Room 2
- The Future of Ocean Cruise: Make Every Day a Perfect Day with Royal Caribbean"
Speaker: Mike Artz, Strategic Account Manager, Royal Caribbean International Room 3 - Family Travel Trends & Results of Annual Survey Research.
Presented by Peter Bopp, FTA Research Advisor; and Anna Abelson, NYU SPS Tisch Center of Hospitality Room 4
4:00-4:50pm
- The Visa & Passport Equation: Balancing Various Risks For Travelers & Meeting Planners.Speaker: Sam McKnight, CIBT, Room 2
- The Middle East: New Openings and New Alliances Open Up Ancient Destinations. Moderator: Michael Luongo, Freelance Journalist & Instructor, Purdue University Hospitality & Tourism Management Speakers: Amalia Lazarov, Travel + Leisure Top Travel Advisor: Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and U.A.E. Specialist; Turki Alattas, Saudi Arabia Travel; Aaron Kuehn, North American Regional Director, Qatar Tourism. Room 3
- What Does the Future of LGBTQ+ Travel Look Like? Presented by IGLTA Moderator: Aurelio Giordano, Owner/Travel Agent, Ace World Travel Speakers: Renato Gagliardi, Global Membership Director, IGLTA; Meg Ten Eyck, CEO of EveryQueer; and Titus Negrescu, The Beekman. Room 4
5:00-5:50pm
- Better Together — A Focus on Adventure. Presented by ATTA. Moderator: Russell Walters, Adventure Travel Trade Association Speakers: Christina Koontz, The Nordics; Gilles Simard, Ecoaventure Boreale, Quebec; and Nikki Padilla Rivera, Atlas Obscura Adventures, Room 3
5:00-7:00pm
- Travel Industry Reception. ITS2023 and Sponsors, T+L GO and Entriva, Exhibition Hall
6:00-7:30pm
- Adventure Connect ATTA Reception. Hosted by ATTA and The Nordics, Room 3
SATURDAY
SEMINARS FOR CONSUMER TRAVELERS
11:30-12:20pm
- “Hidden Gems Of Travel” Speaker: Darley Newman, Room 1
- "News From Ukraine Travel"Moderator: Sasha Vosk, Rebuilding Ukraine Foundation; Ukraine Performers; Wayne Lee Jr., Waynes’ World Media; and Taras Lozynskyi, Tourism & Resorts Department, Lviv Regional State Administration, Ukraine Room 4
12:30-1:20pm
- How to Plan a Life-Changing Vacation — and One That Won’t Break the Bank. Speaker: Pauline Frommer, Room 1
1:30-2:20pm
- Live Your Wildest Dreams Using Miles and Points. Speaker: Dave Grossman, MilesTalk, Room 1
- Breathe Easy, Journey Better: How to Secure Your Visa to Ensure a Seamless and Stress-Free Trip. Speaker: Silvia Medina, Entriva, Room 4
2:30-3:20pm
- Undiscovered Italy: Italy Beyond Rome, Amalfi and Tuscany. Speaker: Steve Perillo, Perillo Tours.
- The Middle East: New Openings and New Alliances Open Up Ancient Destinations. Moderated by Michael Luongo, Purdue University Hospitality & Tourism Management; Speakers — Amalia Lazarov, Travel + Leisure Top Travel Advisor: Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and U.A.E. Specialist; Rasha Shaath, Saudi Tourism Authority; Aaron Kuehn, Qatar Tourism, Room 4
3:30-4:20pm
- Rediscover the Romance of Travel: Explore the Most Romantic Destinations and Most Incredible Adventures in the World. Speaker: Nancy Barkley, Honeymoons and Get-A-Ways, Room 1
3:30-4:00pm
- Performance of Brazilian Culture by Dancers & Musicians Room 4
4:15-5:15pm
- "Cuba Travel: Still Hard To Reach … But So Rewarding When You Arrive"Presented by John McAuliff, Cuba/US People to People Partnership; Speakers: Rita McNiff, Like a Cuban; Talek Nantes, Travels with Talek; Manny Kopstein, Cuba Travel Adventures Group. Room 4
