Travel agents looking for innovative ways to expand sales will benefit from the National Association of Career Travel Agents’ (NACTA) regional meetings called the NACTA Destinationals. The Destinationals combine valuable training sessions with top suppliers and domestic familiarization tours of the city in which they are held. The program has won support from convention and business bureaus and U.S. and Canadian tour operators.
“These events are specially designed to meet the unique needs of travel professionals, equipping them with valuable marketing advice and tools of the trade,” NACTA says. Participants in these multi-day events will hear practical, step-by-step tips and insights on how to build a successful travel business and have the opportunity to learn about the city they are immersed in.
One of the first is to be held in Charleston, SC at the Holiday Inn Historic District, March 5-8. Additional Destinationals will be held in Baltimore/Washington, D.C. May 29-April 2; Vancouver, June 6-9; San Diego, August 20-23; and Kissimmee/Orlando, September 14-18, 2010.
“Our Destinational program debuted last year to rave reviews by all the travel agents and suppliers who participated,” Scott Koepf, NACTA’s president said. “We have teamed up with local convention and visitors bureaus and have put together a fabulous program including in depth tours of the city and surrounding areas, meals and attractions and even theater options on some itineraries. In today’s economy it’s imperative that travel agents find additional sources of revenue and a pre- or post- cruise stay in these destinations is definitely one way to increase revenue and offer clients a wonderful start or end to their cruise vacation.” Koepf added.
With an early bird registration fee of $100, which includes most meals, evening social events and supplier seminars, agents will leave with marketing advice and tools of the trade.
NACTA has partnered with Trafalgar Tours and The Group Tour Company to produce these events. Visit www.nacta.com and click on events and education tab. Space is limited so agents are encouraged to reserve their space soon. All home-based agency owners, staff travel agents, and outside agents are invited to attend.