“Our mission and mantra at Connect Travel is to connect the right people at the right time in the right place and in the right format in order to help you expedite the process … so that you be successful.”—Will Seccombe, president, Connect Travel & Connect Marketing as he greeted delegates to the opening of the RTO Summit East last week in New York City. Above is Seccombe, just before he welcomed Summit delegates.
Greg Edevane, director of global development, Chester County (Pa.) CVB, and Stacy Cohen, product development manager, Northeast, Meeting Point International listening to question from the audience during their discussion on how to get independent hotels to embrace the receptive tour operator channel.
Jennifer Costa, director of Go Elizabeth NJ makes a point during a panel discussion on the importance of relationship marketing while another panelist, Mike Prejean, international marketing manager, Louisiana Office of Tourism, listens.
Ann Pilcher (left), tourism sales manager, Pocono Mountains CVB; and Penny Nana-Sinkam, group sales manager at Amish Farm and House.
Sally Berry (left) a tourism industry consultant and featured speaker; and Leah Muller, tourism sales director, Buffalo Niagara CVB
Shari Bailey, director of international, Connect Travel; and Fernando Harb, senior director of sales, Connect Travel.
About to speak to the RTO Summit is Kirsten Breach Baker, founder and CEO of Jeennie, a translation service.
Dan Swain, director of data sales for ARC, just before his presentation to Summit delegates.
Bob Gilbert, president of Captivation Marketing, listening intently to a panel discussion while, at the same time, he waits to make a presentation of his own.
Matt Nagel, director of product, Peek Pro, answers a question from the audience during a panel discussion on channel managers and how they are changing attraction distribution. The panel also included Amanda Johnson (left), channel manager, Fareharbor; and Melanie Wilmesher, also a channel manager from Fareharbor.
Yiling Pan, editor, Jing Travel, spoke with INBOUND following her presentation on trends in Chinese tourism.
Tour Operator Roundtable discussion leader Robin Sammartino, contracting manager, Northeast USA, for World2Meet
Tour Operator Roundtable discussion leader Stacy Cohen, product development manager, Northeast, Meeting Point International.
Tour Operator Roundtable discussion leader Tomás Rey, president Rey Royal
Tour Operator Roundtable discussion leader Esther Roth, general manager, DMC East, ATP (formerly AlliedTPro)
Tour Operator Roundtable discussion leader Anthony Liu, president, American Holidays
Tour Operator Roundtable discussion leader Huey Hu, CEO assistant and marketing specialist, Universal Vision/Jupiter Legend Corp.
Tour Operator Roundtable discussion leader Mahua Seghal, contracting manager, New World Travel
Roxanna Torrens, senior director of travel industry sales, Earl Enterprises; and Jack Lok, founder, L&L Travel
Elaine Kellogg, executive director business development, Gray Line/City Sightseeing New York, welcomes delegates at day two breakfast.
Larry Chen and Holly Zhao—president and general manager, respectively—of Bigdream Tours Enterprise
From New Jersey are: Jennifer M. Costa, director of Go Elizabeth; and Dorian L Perez, sales and marketing manager, Go Elizabeth.
Ivan Selwyn, contract manager, Bonotel Exclusive Travel; and Katelynn Copell, visitors center coordinator, McIlhenny Company (makers of TABASCO® brand products)
Kimberly Hartley, Canadian/International sales manager, Myrtle Beach Area CVB; and Carolyn J. Feimster, travel and tourism manager, SHOP*DINE*PLAY*USA
Mahua Seghal, contracting manager, New World Travel; and Roxanna Torrens, senior director of travel industry sales, Earl Enterprises
Mahua Seghal, contracting manager, New World Travel; and Roxanna Torrens, senior director of travel industry sales, Earl Enterprises
From Mayi Tours we have David Dong, operations department; and Ray Yan.
Harry Wade, tourism marketing manager, Duty Free Americas; and Christina Marcotte, travel trade manager, Niagara Falls Tourism
Colleen Selner, sales manager, Brandywine Valley & Valley Forge; and Greg Edevane, director of global development, Chester County (Pa.) CVB
Tom Sipply, marketing manager, RMP Travel; and Melissa Rose, group sales manager, Corning Museum of Glass
Angela Wiggins (left), regional manager, tripadvisor Experiences; and Blanca Rosa Espinosa, director of sales and marketing, New York City EXPRESS BUS
Julie Payne (left), group sales consultant, Hershey; and Larry Chen and Holly Zhao—president and general manager, respectively—of Bigdream Tours Enterprise
Long-time colleagues at, Gray Line/City Sightseeing New York—Anna Kozma, sales services manager; and Elaine Kellogg, executive director business development
Eugenie Mitichell, vice president of tourism sales for luncheon sponsor Lafayette Louisiana, talks about her destination while Katelynn Copell, visitors center coordinator, McIlhenny Company (makers of TABASCO® brand products), listens.
Tomás Rey, president Rey Royal, with Charlene Hale, leisure manager, Visit Jefferson Parish
Armindo Ferreira, managing director, EMI Global USA; and Rosemarie Reyes, partner in ROSEWORKS Marketing
Renee Eichelberger, director of leisure travel sales, Explore Saint St. Louis; and Josephine Formato, sales manager, special groups and incentives, AmericanTours International
Danielle Dowlin (left), director of sales, plain and fancy, Miller’s and Amish View; and Robin Sammartino, contracting manager, North and East USA, for World2Meet.
Tracy Harris, sales and marketing manager, Attractions USA
Marie Reese (left), product manager-USA/Canada/Caribbean, Flight Centre Travel Groupp; and Kaylynne Defever, tourism specialist, Detroit Metro CVB
It was an unintentional festival of polka dots on display for the three partners in ROSEWORKS marketing—(left to right): Shoshana Puccia, Veronique Hennebelle and Rosemarie Reyes—who showed up from different parts of the globe.
Gifts contributed by suppliers for a closing reception raffle kept delegates at the event until the very end.
Gifts contributed by suppliers for a closing reception raffle kept delegates at the event until the very end.
Just prior to the last business meeting of the day, everyone waved goodbye to the 2019 RTO East Summit.
