A Look Back at Luxury Travel Expo 2011

Based on feedback from agents, this year’s Luxury Travel Expo delivered more educational and networking opportunities while continuing popular events like the Leaders in Luxury awards program, Luxury Travel Exchange and the Young Leaders Conference. The show by Luxury Travel Advisor and Travel Agent took place December 6 to 8 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, drawing 1,889 travel advisors, over 550 luxury suppliers and featuring over 25 learning sessions.

“Based on the demand for more education, our goal was to deliver relevant content that advisors can implement into their businesses immediately,” said Jennifer Fernandez, show and event director, Questex Travel Group. “We are receiving a great deal of positive feedback on the new learning opportunities to our already popular program and will continue to evolve not only the educational component but the overall show experience in 2012.”

Luxury Travel Expo will return next year at the Palazzo Las Vegas from November 27 to 29, 2012.

 

Winners from the Wednesday Learning Luncheon

New Educational Opportunities

The Wednesday Learning Luncheon was an interactive game-show style presentation from American Express where agents were eligible to win thousands of dollars while learning how to create more revenue. CLIA’s Christine Duffy and executives from luxury cruise lines spoke on the state of the cruise industry in a panel moderated by Bill Smith, vice president, cruise sales and exclusive product, Virtuoso. The panelists included: Mark Conroy, president, Regent Seven Seas Cruises; Gregg Michel, president, Crystal Cruises; Peter Shanks, president and managing director, Cunard Line; and Ken Watson, chief operating officer, Silversea Cruises.

During the Thursday Power Hour, President and CEO of Azamara Club Cruises Larry Pimentel offered tips on reaching affluent clients in the current economic climate.

The Fast Track to Luxury Profits Mini-Modules on Thursday offered half hour sessions in which attendees could gain knowledge directly from participating suppliers.

 

Luxury Travel Exchange

Returning Events

The second annual Luxury Travel Exchange brought together invitation-only luxury suppliers and pre-qualified luxury advisors for three hours of one-on-one meetings. The appointment-based formula helped advisors form new relationships and uncover new business.

On Tuesday, we honored four industry leaders in our 2011 Leaders in Luxury awards. The winners were Greg Tepper, president, Exeter International (Tour); Richard Sasso, president and chief executive officer, MSC Cruises (USA), Inc. (Cruise); Nicholas Clayton, president, Viceroy Hotel Group (Hotel); and Gary D. Davis, president, All About Travel, Inc. (Travel Professional).

Also starting Tuesday, the second annual Young Leaders Conference brought together about 100 under-40 attendees for a two-day networking conference aimed at fostering the next generation in travel selling. This conference also honored the winners of this year’s 35 Under 30 from Travel Agent magazine.

The fifth annual Luxury After Dark Party, sponsored by the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority, Palms Casino Resort, N9NE Group and Rain Nightclub, welcomed over 2,000 travel professionals to the Rain Nightclub Wednesday night.

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