Pictured: Ruthanne Terrero, VP/editorial director of Luxury Travel Advisor; Marilyn McHugh, VP of Global Events for Questex; and John McMahon, EVP and group publisher, Luxury Travel Advisor, open the Exchange floor on Wednesday
Luxury Travel Exchange International (LTX), which took place September 10-12, 2013, at The Venetian Las Vegas and Sands Expo Convention Center, brought top-producing advisors of luxury and premium niche travel together with leading suppliers for three full days of interactive networking, accredited educational programming and one-to-one meeting options. LTX, presented by Luxury Travel Advisor and Travel Agent magazine, organized more than 5,000 one-to-one meetings among over 900 professional travel advisors and 300 luxury travel suppliers. The hybrid event offered a traditional trade show and intimate, one-to-one meetings on its signature LTX Exchange floor.
Key educational topics for this year’s event, guided by the LTX advisory board—composed of experts representing the top-producing North American luxury travel agencies and global supplier partners, many of whom have graced the cover of Luxury Travel Advisor—included sales and marketing, professional development and overall service experience.
A robust lineup of LTX speakers included Juliet Funt, daughter of Candid Camera’s Allen Funt and founder of WhiteSpace; Anne Morgan Scully, president of McCabe World Travel; Scott Koepf, vice president of sales for Avoya Travel; Jack Mannix, founder and principal of Jack E. Mannix & Associates; and Lane Douglas, principal of social media solutions at MarketBridge, who discussed social media influences on travel, and best practices for customer acquisition and revenue generation.
One of the most popular sessions was the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) Specialty and Luxury Showcase, an exclusive educational seminar for advisors looking to build cruise bookings. The seminar highlighted the diverse opportunities within the river cruising and luxury specialty cruising markets, while enabling advisors to receive CLIA credit.
Key supplier partners and supporters included AMResorts, Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), Down Under Answers, Japan National Tourism Organization, and the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Jim Strong, Strong Travel Services; Tony Gonchar, VP of Consumer Travel Network at American Express; and keynote speaker Lane Douglas chat with John McMahon during the general session
Advisors attend the VIP Networking Luncheon with keynoter Lane Douglas
Chris Austin of Starwood Hotels and Resorts during seminar “Let Us Wow Your Clients: A Supplier’s Perspective”
Advisors and suppliers network on the Exchange floor
Anne Morgan Scully, president of McCabe World Travel, presents “From Agent to Advisor” for the Professional Development education track
Representatives from Incredible India speaking with advisors at their booth
Young Leaders Conference participants Hannah Lohmer, Jamie Anderson, Chris O’Connor, and Sarah Nelson at Luxury After Dark
Japan National Tourism Organization’s booth on the Exchange floor.
A one-to-one meeting on the Exchange floor
Cella Baker presents the CLIA training seminar, “The New Face of Luxury Cruising,” which was brand new for Luxury Travel Exchange 2013
Sarah Nelson, A World Of Travel, and Ron Fenska, director of sales, G Adventures
Willie Montano of CIE Tours International presenting their product training seminar
Attendees during the annual Luxury After Dark party at LAVO at The Palazzo
Marilyn McHugh, Greg DeClemente of Courtyard Travel and John McMahon with speaker Juliet Funt of WhiteSpace
At the “How to Sell Luxury” Japan seminar: Pawel Sewera, manager, JTB USA; Kaori Takahashi, operations manager, IACE Travel; and Kazuya Oshiro, coordinator, Okinawa Convention & Visitors Bureau
Jack Mannix, of Jack E. Mannix & Associates, presents the “Fundamentals of Customer Service”
The cast of Las Vegas’ Rock of Ages wowed attendees at the opening general session of the Luxury Travel Exchange International 2013.