Must See Travel Conference: New York Times Travel Show 2014

The New York Times Travel Show kicks off its annual event next week. It will host a Trade Day for industry professionals on Friday, February 28, which will be filled with travel seminars and an industry-only preview of the Travel Show exhibition. The Travel Show is the largest trade and consumer travel event in North America–there will be almost 500 exhibitors from all over the world! From Asia to Africa, Australia to Canada, the list goes on.

The Travel Industry Conference starts at 9am on Friday, February 28th. Speakers are some of the biggest and brightest leaders in the industry. The Keynote speaker will be Yana Carter Gutierrez, American Express Consumer Travel vice president. Seminars will focus on everything from Adventure travel to wellness to luxury. You’ll hear from professionals about travel to Africa to Europe to the Caribbean. Here are just a few names to get you excited about:

• Kate Auletta, founding editor, Huffington Post Travel
• Terry Dale, president, United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA)
• Doug Duda, immediate past president, International Association of Culinary Professionals (IACP)
• Tiru Irani, chairman, Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA)-NY
• Yvette De Vries, Association for the Promotion of Tourism
• John Peters, Travel Media Group, USA Today
• Michael Yessis,  AOL Travel

On Friday, February 28, the Travel Industry Conference seminars will be held from 9am-5pm. The exhibition hall will be open for exclusive viewing by travel trade professionals from 2pm -7pm. My friends who are members of the press may apply for Travel Show press credentials here. The event will then open to consumers on Saturday, March 1, from 10am-6pm and on Sunday, March 2, from 11am-5pm. The show will be held at Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City.

Admission to the Travel Industry conference is $35 in advance or $45 at the door. Admission to the exhibition hall is included with Trade Day admission. Registration at the door for Trade Day begins at 7:30am. For a schedule of seminars and exhibitors, and to register online, visit www.NYTimes.com/TravelShow.

Oh, and I almost forgot to mention the best part, there will be special travel discounts for attendees! To view all announced discounts and deals, and for more information about the Travel Show, visit www.NYTTravelShow.com.