NEW YORK — This year’s Ensemble Conference will look a little different: it’s heading outside of North America for the first time in more than a decade.
Set for Oct. 24-28, the upcoming 2018 Ensemble Travel Group International Conference will take place at the Grand Hyatt Baha Mar in Nassau, the Bahamas, marking the first time in 11 years that the annual gathering will be held outside of its primary U.S. and Canadian borders.
More than 900 Ensemble travel agency owners, frontline counsellors and preferred partners are expected to attend.
This year’s program will feature the theme, ‘FASTForward: On the Shoulders of GIANTS’ in recognition of the organization’s 50th anniversary, said Co-President Libbie Rice.
“Throughout conference we will honour our roots as the Greater Independent Association of National Travel Services as well as reveal how we are strategically positioned to thrive in the years ahead.”
Rice and Co-President Lindsay Pearlman will officially kick off the conference with their state-of-the-organization address on Oct. 24. Following the opening general session, Ensemble owners/managers will engage in a private business meeting while frontline advisors adjourn to a special lunch with participating hoteliers and On Location partners.
On Oct. 26, river cruising will take centre stage as Jeff Drew, CTC, moderates a panel of executives that will include Ellen Bettridge of Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection, Paula Hayes of Globus family of brands, Gary Murphy of AmaWaterways, and Michele Saegesser of Viking Cruises.
This year’s conference keynote speaker is Kindra Hall, a former sales and marketing executive for a multi-million-dollar enterprise and 2014 recipient of the Storytelling World Award. She will speak on Thursday morning, Oct. 25.
Also in attendance will be a powerhouse lineup of general session speakers, including David Meerman Scott, marketing & sales authority, Scott Steinberg, leading futurist consultant and business strategist, Judi Holler, personal branding and performance coach, and Eric Papp, leadership and motivational trainer.
Attendees will also get the chance to network during events like the ‘Travel Your World of Hotel & Destination Experiences’ and one-on-one appointments. They’ll also attend a welcome reception, Circle of Excellence gala, and a Make-A-Wish auction.
Plus, daily supplier ‘Happy Hours’ will feature partners that include: American Queen Steamboat Company; Azamara Club Cruises; Carey International; Delta Air Lines; Club Med; Hawaii Tourism; Hurtigruten; Tourism New Zealand; TravCorp (Trafalgar); Travel Impressions; Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection; and Viking Cruises.
The conference will end on a high note with a beachside Junkanoo carnival party, complete with fireworks.
For more information go to joinensemble.com.
