Top Speakers Tapped for Agent Conference in Toronto

The first-ever Travel MarketPlace conference will bring high-profile speakers and industry notables to Toronto, Canada, for two days of education focused on travel agents’ profitability.

Set for June 26 and 27 at the Hilton Toronto Airport Hotel, Travel MarketPlace will feature a diverse and exciting lineup of speakers. They will deliver presentations and workshops designed to help agents grow their businesses, boost profits and tailor their offering to today’s consumer.

Topics covered will include social media, wellness travel, niche travel, legal regulations, customer service, destination marketing, hotel industry tips, email marketing, agent certification and corporate account management.

The conference, co-sponsored by Travel Market Report and Acclaim Meetings, also will bring agents together with suppliers for roundtable discussions, a trade show and networking opportunities designed to foster conversations and connections.

Become an ace marketer
Among featured speakers will be marketing expert Mark Marchev, who will deliver "A New Day, A New Way - Marketing Ideas That Work" during the June 26 general session..

Attendees will learn proven selling strategies, along with tips for generating prospects, improving your value proposition and a simple three-step process for boosting your booking ratio.

Email marketing will be the focus of a presentation by social marketing guru Ron Cates of Constant Contact. A dynamic and entertaining speaker, Cates will outline specific strategies and tactics, including actionable tips on topics such as writing subject lines that work, how often to email customers, etc.

New legal issues for agents
Legal expert Doug Crozier will tackle one of the most important emerging challenges for Canadian agents during the June 27 general session – complying with Canada’s new anti-spam laws (CASL).

Crozier will give agents tips on how to avoid running afoul of the new law, which starts taking effect on July 1, with ramifications for any travel seller who communicates with customers and potential customers electronically.

Consumer focus
A number of seminars will focus on catering to today’s consumer:

•    Anne Dimon, publisher and editor of Travel to Wellness, Inc., will guide agents in understanding and tapping into one of the keenest interests of today’s travelers – wellness travel.

•    Steve Gillick of Talking Travel will discuss niche markets, including how to choose your specialties, pinpoint sales techniques, understanding the niche travelers and more.

•    Jean Newman Glock of JNG Worldwide is an expert in destination marketing who will guide travel professionals in how to sell specific destinations and recommending destinations that will fulfill your clients’ expectations.

Industry concerns
Also on the agenda is a panel on the important role of travel agency associations in today’s changing marketplace, including a discussion of the top issues facing agents today. ACTA president and COO David McCaig and Zane Kerby, president and CEO of ASTA, will be featured panelists.

Networking and fun
Industry leaders will be on tap for networking, along with suppliers and trade association representatives.

Capping off the first day of events will be a welcome reception and performance by the Boogie Wonder Band sponsored by the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Registration info
To receive an early bird rate of CA$65, agents must register by May 7.

After May 7, registration will be priced at $95. However, discounted registration rates of $65 are available to members of travel agency consortia and marketing groups, as well as for agency trade organizations, including ACTA.

Registration for agents covers educational programs, ask the experts, networking, trade show and happy hour, most meals and social events, including an evening event with dancing and live music by the Boogie Wonder Band.

Early bird rates are offered to suppliers as well, and sponsorship packages are available. See travelmarketplace.com for more information.