Top 10 Travel Marketing Conferences of 2017
I’ve put together our list of the 10 must-attend travel marketing conferences of 2017 for anyone looking to network with top travel professionals, learn about emerging trends, and build out an innovative tourism marketing strategy that speaks to today’s travelers.
The NY Times Travel Show: New York City, NY (January 27–29 2017)
Featuring cultural performances spread across five stages, the New York Times Travel show takes visitors on a trip around the globe while offering a wide range of activities, forums, and exhibits for travelers and travel industry professionals alike. Seminars focused on specific regions and types of travel allow participants to delve into the unique issues and trends among those travelers. With over 500 exhibitor booths, 250 industry speakers and experts, 100 cultural presentations, and 29,000 travelers and industry professional attendees, NYT Travel Show offers a unique opportunity to connect with industry leaders and consumers from around the world.
Skift Global Forum — Europe: London, England (April 4 2017)
Being called the TED of Travel, Skift Global Forum is the first conference focused on top marketers, strategists, and technologists in the travel industry. Skift aims to change the way that the travel industry sees itself and how it’s seen by the world by analyzing the changing trends in the digital age of travel and the way that marketing and technology intersect. If you’re looking to network with key stakeholders from Trivago, Lonely Planet, Google, and many more, then Skift Global Forum is for you! Can’t make it to London? They’ll have another forum in New York City in September that promises keep building on the big-picture future of Travel in 2017 and beyond!
HT-Next: Orlando, FL (April 10–13 2017)
Produced by Hospitality Tech, HT-Next is where business and technology meet. Hotel decision-makers and influencers come together to talk about technology, eCommerce, digital marketing, data, and analytics as they relate to the travel industry. The theme of 2017 conference is eradicating friction by utilizing technology to ensure that all phases of the guest experience are seamless, effortless, and smooth. With attendees from Hard Rock International, AccorHotels, and Wyndham Destination Network, HT-Next will provide a space for vendors and IT professionals to work together to create the future of the travel industry.
Eye for Travel: San Francisco, CA (April 24–27 2017)
Touted as the largest digital travel conference on the West Coast, Eye for Travel Summit is separated into three separate themes: Mobile and Tech Innovation Strategies; Social Media, Marketing, and Data Strategies; and Startup Village. With the goal of helping companies to compete for bookings like digitally native brands, they’ll bring together key stakeholders across different verticals and discuss marketing and social media strategies. Notable brands from the 2016 conference included: United Airlines, Trip Advisor, Twitter, and Intercontinental Hotel Group. The 2017 lineup is no less impressive, boasting speakers from Booking.com, Lonely Planet, and Hilton Worldwide.
Digital Travel Summit: Henderson, NV (May 8–10 2017)
Brought to life by the creators of eTail, the Digital Travel Summit is the event that connects digital marketing, eCommerce strategy, and customer engagement for travel, hospitality, and leisure companies. With a focus on harnessing technology and enhancing the customer experience to build customer loyalty, the summit brings together key stakeholders to discuss how acting more like retailers can not only foster loyalty, but convert customers into brand cheerleaders. Speakers for the summit include executives from MGM Resorts International, Korean Air, and Choice Hotels International.
PR Society of America Travel & Tourism Conference: Palm Springs, CA (May 21–24 2017)
PR Society of America puts public relations and brand perception front and center during the American Travel & Tourism Conference! Hot topics like experiential marketing, social media influencers, brand perception will be discussed by leading practitioners, media, and thought leaders in the travel industry. Marquis speakers include Editor in Chief of National Geographic, Editorial Director of Modern Luxury, and the Managing Editor for Walt Disney World.
Future Travel Experience Global: Las Vegas, NV (September 6–8 2017)
Future Travel Experience Global is using it’s 12th show to bring together top travel industry professionals to reveal their latest customer experience visions and collaborate on what the end-to-end passenger experience of the future will be like. Split into three categories: ‘Up In The Air’, ‘Terminal Design & Delivery’, and ‘Labs and Start-up Symposium’, FTE aims to unite all aspects of travel to create a seamless experience from start to finish. Past keynote speakers have included Uber, Jet Blue, and Microsoft.
No Vacancy: Sydney, Australia (October 2017)
With a focus on bringing together Australian accommodation providers, tech companies, and digital marketers, No Vacancy is a dynamic one-day event that tackles all aspects of booking and guest experience. Past speakers have included CEO of Ovolo Hotels, Travelzoo, and Airbnb. The format is a mix of presentations, data, debates, panels, and small-group discussions on topics like online reputation management in the age of social media, automations and robotics within the hospitality industry, and generating consumer loyalty.
Phocuswright Conference: Hollywood, Florida (November 6–9 2017)
Over the last 20 years, Phocuswright Conference has cemented it’s standing in the ranking of the best travel conferences to attend. Combining top names in travel, hospitality, transportation, and the technology that unites it all, this is a unique opportunity to network with major players and learn about the latest trends in the industry! Past speakers include Co-Founder and CEO of Kayak, CBO of Lyft, and the Head of Global Hospitality and Strategy of Airbnb. Phocuswright also features competitive pitches. Innovation gets competitive during live events like Battle Ground, Summit, and Launch where companies are given their chance to demonstrate their innovations in front of a panel of ruthless judges and a live audience.
USTOA Annual Conference & Marketplace: Hollywood, FL (November 28-December 2 2017)
Split into two parts, The USTOA Annual Conference and Marketplace offers both an “Active Member” portion and an “Associate Member” program. Offering participants a uniquely intimate setting to network with some of America’s most respected and renowned tour operators, all activities offer invaluable insight into the North American travel market. Top US-based travel industry leaders and decision makers will introduce case studies and new tools and tactics while sharing thought-provoking ideas and analysis of recent trends affecting the industry and travelers all over the world. Bringing together travel companies with a combined annual sales volume of over $11 billion, USTOA promises to deliver unique opportunities to network, make new contacts, and conduct business with over 700 travel professionals.
