Events
Summits

Record Number of Members Attend the 2008 Annual Travel Summit

The 2008 Student and Youth Travel Summit, presented by SYTA, was the most successful Travel Summit to date. This year's theme "Step Out Of the Box & SOAR to The Summit" got the participants geared up for this event.

One of the Summit's many highlights was keynote speaker, Peter Yesawich. Yesawich is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Ypartnership, one of America's leading marketing, advertising and public relations agency serving travel, leisure and lifestyle clients. Peter was named one of the "25 Most Extraordinary Marketing Minds" by HSMAI, and is a member of the board of directors of the Travel Industry Association of America. Peter's session was just what the members needed as they began their journey of "Stepping out of the Box and Soaring".

This year the Summit was packed with educational sessions. The session topics were developed from membership requests with input from the Professional Development Committee. The educational sessions for the Summit were:

• How to Control Costs (small companies). This panel discussion was designed for Tour Operator companies with less than 10 employees in an effort to identify proven solutions for controlling or reducing operating costs. Click here for presentation materials.
• How to Control Costs (large companies). This panel discussion was designed for Tour Operator companies with more than 10 employees in an effort to identify proven solutions for controlling or reducing operating costs. Click here for presentation materials.
• Negotiating Tactics for Hotel Contracts. This session provided tips to Tour Operators in negotiating hotel contracts including attrition clauses, cancellation clauses and deposits issues. Click here for presentation materials.
• PR on a Shoe String. This session helped participants focus on methods that tour operators could use to develop their own low cost and effective marketing and PR kit. Click here for presentation materials.
• Training & Managing Tour Directors. Participants learned the skills required to identify the Tour Director that is going to provide the biggest "bang for your buck".
• Managing for Creativity and Innovation. Attendees obtained ideas to implement solutions that attract customers and utilize their creative juices.

A mini-FAM of Tampa was available for members to experience the treasures of Tampa Bay. Attendees were treated to lunch at Giordano's Pizza before spending the afternoon exploring the Florida Aquarium. Though inclement weather forced us to stay indoors (missing the highly anticipated Dolphin Cruise), Tampa rose to the occasion and showed each Summit participant an enjoyable afternoon.

The evening events were amongst the best in the history of the Summit. Everyone enjoyed the opportunity to visit The Florida Aquarium, Busch Gardens Africa, the Museum of Science & Industry (MOSI) and Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo. A special thanks goes to all of the staff who helped to make each of these evening events special for our Summit participants.

Click the following for a listing of those people who participated in the Summit.

A special thanks to all of our sponsors, hosts and volunteers for insuring the success of another historic SYTA event!

International Alliance Day

This first of its kind SYTA event was held prior to the Travel Summit on January 16, 2008. International Alliance Day served as an opportunity for SYTA members to be introduced to international suppliers, receptive operators and other tourism organizations from around the world. International Alliance Day offered European and Latin America panel presentations, one-on-one business meetings, roundtable discussions, a networking luncheon and concluded with a brainstorming session. Some of the countries represented were Australia, Costa Rica, Dominica, France, Ghana, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Netherlands, South Africa and the UK.

Click the following for a full list of participants in the inaugural International Alliance Day.

SYF Day

The SYTA Youth Foundation (SYF), the association's philanthropic sister organization, hosted its fundraising event on January 19 in conjunction with the 2008 Student and Youth Travel Summit. SYF Foundation Day celebrated both ‘old' and ‘new' Tampa. The event started at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino with a champagne brunch before participants were invited to spend the rest of the day leisurely gambling, playing shuffleboard and volleyball, swimming in the pool or just mingling in one of the SYF private cabanas. The evening activities included dinner at Columbia Restaurant in Ybor City, cigar rolling and flamenco dancing. A wonderful time was had by all attending. Many thanks to all who participated, donated, hosted and sponsored. For more information about the SYTA Youth Foundation and its Travel scholarships and programs visit www.SYTAYouthFoundation.org

Thank You to Our Sponsors

2008 Travel Summit Sponsors

2008 Summit Hosts

2008 International Alliance Day Sponsors

2008 SYTA Youth Foundation Day Sponsors

See Future Events for information on upcoming events!