Go West Summit
Palm Springs Convention Center
277 North Avenida Caballeros Palm Springs, CA 92262-6440 United States
IITA Education Sessions on Tuesday, January 7
10:40 - 11:50 AM - National Parks update
| Moderator: | Lisa Simon, IITA |
| Panelists: | Peter van Berkel, Travalco |
| Samantha Towery, National Park Service | |
| Jason Murray, Southwest Adventure Tours |
This popular GWS session will provide an update on the short- and long-term plans of the National Parks Service and the major national parks, including the CUA program for Road-based Commercial Tours, reservation systems managing visitation and congestion. NPS, IITA and other tour industry associations are collaborating to find mutually beneficial solutions that will ensure the best possible visitor experiences.
2:40 - 3:30 PM - The Importance of Relationships in a High-Tech World
| Moderator: | Lena Ross, President and COO, America 4 You |
| Panelists: | Hylton Fothergill, Bonotel |
| Chris Pilley, Rocky Mountain Holiday Tours | |
| Quintin Blair, Blair Hotels |
Connectivity has been driving change in the travel distribution system in recent years, and while technology is a tool for solving distribution inefficiencies, it can also detract from the personal touch that the travel industry was built on. This panel will share insights on how suppliers and DMOs can build business with inbound operator partners in a dynamically changing business environment.
3:40 - 4:30 PM - Ask the Operator:
| Moderator: | Robert Graff, Travel Nevada |
| Panelists: | Aniseh Dalju, Onward |
| Brian Murphy, Utah Luxury Tours | |
| Julie Katz, TourMappers North America |
Hear from this panel of IITA inbound operators about international market trends, their role in the inbound industry and how you can effectively work with them to build your international business. Learn what their expectations are and the opportunities they see ahead from inbound markets. This is an interactive session. Please come with your questions in hand, as the operators are eager to answer them.