Travel Agent and Barbados Tourism Authority Host First Annual 30Under30 Destination Immersion Summit

Travel Agent and the Barbados Tourism Authority recently held the first annual 30Under30 Destination Immersion Summit from May 17-21, 2012.

Open exclusively to 30Under30 recipients, the summit brought together past year's honorees in Barbados for four days of site inspections, networking events at the island’s most famed resorts and restaurants as well as activities unique to Barbados - all designed to familiarize attending agents with the diverse attractions and accommodations that await their clients.

Additionally, the program included the first ever 30Under30 Industry Roundtable featuring 30Under30 agents and hand-picked suppliers with a vested interested in relating to the needs of the next generation of top agents. Travel Agent magazine’s July 16 issue will include complete coverage of the event and highlights can be viewed here.

“We wanted to show our continued support of the younger generation by offering a unique forum for 30Under30 honorees to engage in interactive discussion with other rising stars while cultivating future business and deepening supplier relationships,” said Ruthanne Terrero, vice president of content/editorial director for Questex Travel Group. “The Barbados Tourism Authority provided a perfect hands-on approach to destination education which, in just four days, gave each agent the expertise needed to sell a region which might not have already been on their radar.”

“While I’ve had the pleasure of meeting various 30Under30 agents at different events, the Destination Immersion Summit took networking to a whole new level. Not only was I able to have in-depth conversations with several 30Under30’ers all at once but I was also able to learn firsthand what was most important to them when scouting a new destination for clients,” said Joe Pike, senior editor, Travel Agent magazine. “I was personally impressed with their enthusiasm for the industry as a whole as well as their insights into the Generation X and Y traveler.”

“It is our honor to invite this year’s award recipients to our home so that they may experience the island in its true form,” stated Peter Mayers, senior business development manager of the Barbados Tourism Authority. “Our hope is that these outstanding professionals share their experience with both their colleagues and clients.”

The Barbados Tourism Authority will once again host the 30Under30 Destination Immersion Summit in Spring 2013. Agent attendance will be open exclusively to 2008-2012 30Under30 recipients. The 2012 30Under30 nomination application will open in September. Additionally, a special 30Under30 feature will be held at Young Leaders Conference 2012, in conjunction with Luxury Travel Exchange International (LTX) taking place November 27-29, 2012. For more information about the Young Leaders Conference, visit YoungTravelLeaders.com.