NACTA Fills Out November Conference Agenda Celebrating 30th Anniversary
by Richard D’Ambrosio /
The National Association of Career Travel Agents (NACTA) Annual Conference, to be held on land and sea Nov. 3-9, will celebrate the organization’s long history of linking independent travel consultants with each other and industry suppliers, so that agents are positioned for success.
“This is our 30th anniversary as an association and the ability to come together, learn and go away inspired and motivated, has never been more important,” said President Ann Chamberlin. NACTA is looking to build on the momentum of more than 400 members attending their 2015 conference in Kona.
This year’s conference will start at the Westin Fort Lauderdale, and then embark on a three-night cruise to the Bahamas on the Celebrity Infinity. Industry suppliers attending the conference include Holland America Line, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Celebrity Cruises, the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau and Visit Anchorage.
One of the key speakers is Sandy Stevens, vice president sales and guest relations, with Paul Gauguin Cruises. “Her ratings were so high at our conference in Hawaii last year, she was such a motivational speaker, that we are bringing her back,” Chamberlin said.
Stevens will speak about how agents should consider “a family approach to business that emphasizes trust and values,” and building “a workplace culture that celebrates opportunities, transparency, and the opinions of all to enrich conversations and diversity of thought.”
Given their recently announced closer collaboration with sister organization The American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA), NACTA has invited ASTA president and CEO Zane Kerby, and senior vice president of government and industry affairs, Eben Peck, to present at this year’s conference.