15 Best Travel Conferences to Attend in 2024
Travel conferences across are a goldmine for hotel managers and travel professionals alike. Attending these events is not just about exploring new destinations; it's a strategic move to network, learn about the latest industry trends, and gain insights into customer expectations. With the inclusion of expos and sponsorship opportunities, these gatherings offer unparalleled access to the pulse of that travel market.
Here's a list of the best travel and hotel conferences to attend in 2024 that are sure to provide value to anyone in the travel industry, highlighting the diversity and dynamism of the tourism landscape.
Best Travel Conferences 2024 Shortlist
Here's my shortlist of the best travel conferences I think are worth attending in 2024:
1. Travel & Adventure Show - Denver, LA, Atlanta, and more (January-March 2024)
2. ETOA’s Global European Marketplace (GEM) - Multiple locations in Europe (Various Dates, 2024)
3. International Inbound Travel Association Summit (IITA Summit) - Memphis, Tennessee (February 2024)
4. Destination Australia Conference 2024 - Sydney, Australia (March 2024)
5. Las Vegas Travel Agent Forum (LVTAF) - Las Vegas, Nevada (March 2024)
6. The Travel Summit - Toronto, Canada (April 2024)
7. GBTA Canada Conference - Toronto, Canada (April 2024)
8. TravelCon - Portland, Oregon (May 2024)
9. IPW - Los Angeles, California (May 2024)
10. Australian Tourism Exchange 2024 (ATE24) - Melbourne/Narrm, Australia (May 2024)
11. ASTA Travel Advisor Conference - Dallas, Texas (May 2024)
12. Luxury Travel Advisor's ULTRA Summit - Palm Beach Gardens, Florida (May 2024)
13. GTM West - Las Vegas/Henderson, Nevada (June 2024)
14. Global Travel Market Conference (GTM) - Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood, Florida (July 2024)
15. International Tourism & Travel Show 2024 - Montreal, Canada (November 2024)
Attending a travel conference can help you network and develop a hotel manager skill set through shared experiences and workshops. Find more details about each conference below.
Best Travel Conferences Of 2024
1. Travel & Adventure Show - Denver, LA, Atlanta, and more (January-March 2024)
- Dates: January-March 2024
- Location: Various locations including Denver, LA, Atlanta
- Pricing: Register to see current pricing
- Website: Travel & Adventure Show
- Social Media: Instagram | Facebook | X | LinkedIn
Overview: The Travel & Adventure Show is the leading series of travel events in the United States, designed for travel enthusiasts and professionals looking to discover the latest in travel destinations, adventure travel opportunities, and cultural experiences. The show covers a wide range of topics including travel technology, destination marketing, sustainable travel practices, and more. It features an impressive lineup of speakers from across the travel industry, including renowned travel influencers, destination experts, and industry leaders.
Why You Should Attend: The conference on tourism, slated for next year, is a must-attend for anyone in the travel industry looking to expand their network, discover new destinations, and learn about the latest trends and technologies in travel. With its wide geographic reach and diversity of topics, the Travel & Adventure Show offers unique insights and opportunities for professional development that can help you stay ahead in the fast-paced travel industry. This industry event features keynote speakers renowned for their expertise and contributions to the travel sector, ensuring attendees gain valuable knowledge and insights.
2. ETOA’s Global European Marketplace (GEM) - Multiple locations in Europe (Various Dates, 2024)
- Dates: Various Dates & Locations in 2024
- Location: Hybrid
- Pricing: Register to see current pricing
- Website: ETOA’s Global European Marketplace (GEM)
- Social Media: Facebook | X | LinkedIn
Overview: ETOA's Global European Marketplace (GEM) is a premier B2B event focusing on European tourism, offering a platform for networking and trading among global travel buyers and European suppliers. The conference explores the dynamics of European travel markets, digital innovation in tourism, strategies for sustainable growth, and the impact of policy changes on tourism. Speakers typically include leading figures from major tourism boards, travel technology companies, policymakers, and market specialists.
Why You Should Attend: GEM is invaluable for tourism professionals involved in European travel, aiming to enhance the travel experience for their clients. It provides deep insights into market trends, regulatory changes, and innovative practices. Whether you're looking to expand your network, find new suppliers, or understand the European market better, GEM offers a comprehensive platform to achieve these objectives in a single venue, catering specifically to those dedicated to elevating the standard of travel experiences.
3. International Inbound Travel Association Summit (IITA Summit) - Memphis, Tennessee (February 2024)
- Dates: February 2024
- Location: Memphis, Tennessee
- Pricing: Register to see current pricing
- Website: IITA Summit
- Social Media: Facebook | X | LinkedIn
Overview: The IITA Summit is focused on the inbound travel market to the United States, offering insights into visa policies, destination marketing, economic impacts of international tourists, and best practices for attracting international visitors. The summit features speakers from various sectors of the travel industry, including the U.S. Department of Commerce, international tour operators, and travel marketing experts. The speakers' list contains names such as Karin Aaron, Jennifer Ackerson, and Anthony Bautista.
Why You Should Attend: The IITA Summit offers a unique opportunity for those looking to tap into or expand their share of the international travel market. With discussions on policy, market trends, and marketing strategies, attendees can gain actionable insights to attract more international visitors to their destinations or businesses.
4. Destination Australia Conference 2024 - Sydney, Australia (March 2024)
- Dates: March 2024
- Location: Sydney, Australia
- Pricing: $295 AUD (for in-person attendance)
- $60 AUD (for virtual attendance)
- Website: Destination Australia Conference 2024
- Social Media: LinkedIn
Overview: The Destination Australia Conference is Australia's premier event for tourism leaders to gather and discuss the future of tourism in Australia. It focuses on innovation in tourism marketing, sustainable practices, and ways to enhance the visitor experience. The conference boasts an impressive lineup of speakers, including executives from Tourism Australia, sustainability experts, digital marketing pioneers, and representatives from leading Australian tourism businesses.
Why You Should Attend: This conference is essential for anyone involved in the Australian tourism industry or looking to enter this market. It provides critical insights into consumer trends, marketing strategies, and sustainability initiatives that are shaping the future of tourism in Australia. The event offers valuable networking opportunities and actionable strategies to attract and delight visitors in this unique and diverse destination.
5. Las Vegas Travel Agent Forum (LVTAF) - Las Vegas, Nevada (March 2024)
- Dates: March 2024
- Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
- Pricing: $145 USD
- Website: Las Vegas Travel Agent Forum
- Social Media: Facebook
Overview: The Las Vegas Travel Agent Forum is a dynamic event specifically designed for travel agents, featuring comprehensive educational sessions on travel sales, marketing strategies, and niche markets. The forum includes interactive workshops, networking events, and a trade show with a wide range of suppliers from around the globe. Speakers typically include successful travel agents, marketing, and sales professionals, offering insights into building successful travel businesses. The speakers' list contains names such as Erin Miller, David Chait, and Andrew Hallsfrisch.
Why You Should Attend: This forum offers an unparalleled opportunity for hotel managers and travel professionals to understand the travel agency landscape better. Engaging directly with travel agents and learning about the latest trends in consumer booking patterns can provide invaluable insights into how to tailor your offerings to meet the evolving needs of travelers and drive more bookings.
6. The Travel Summit - Toronto, Canada (April 2024)
- Dates: April 2024
- Location: Toronto, Canada
- Pricing: $399 CAD to $449 CAD
- Website: The Travel Summit
- Social Media: Instagram | Facebook | X
Overview: The Travel Summit is where the future of travel is shaped, focusing on innovation, technology, and customer engagement strategies. This event brings together industry leaders from across the globe to discuss emerging trends, digital transformation, and ways to create memorable customer experiences. The lineup of speakers includes CEOs of leading travel companies, innovators from tech startups, and customer experience experts, all sharing their insights and experiences.
Why You Should Attend: Attending The Travel Summit is crucial for staying ahead of the curve in the rapidly evolving travel industry. The summit's focus on innovation and technology provides hotel managers and travel professionals with actionable insights and strategies to enhance business operations and customer service. This conference is an excellent opportunity to network with industry leaders and gain insights into the future direction of travel.
7. GBTA Canada Conference - Toronto, Canada (April 2024)
- Dates: April 2024
- Location: Toronto, Canada
- Pricing: $795 CAD
- Website: GBTA Canada Conference
- Social Media: Instagram | Facebook | X | LinkedIn
Overview: The GBTA Canada Conference is tailored for the business travel community, focusing on the latest trends and innovations in corporate travel management, sustainability in business travel, and the impact of new technologies on the sector. It brings together corporate travel managers, suppliers, technology providers, and industry experts to share their knowledge and experiences. The conference agenda is filled with informative sessions, panel discussions, and keynote speeches from leaders in the business travel industry.
Why You Should Attend: This conference is a must-attend for those involved in corporate travel management or servicing the business travel sector. The GBTA Canada Conference offers valuable insights into managing business travel more efficiently and sustainably, understanding the latest technological advancements, and networking with peers and experts. It's an excellent opportunity to learn best practices and strategies to improve your business travel offerings and operations.
8. TravelCon - Portland, Oregon (May 2024)
- Dates: May 2024
- Location: Portland, Oregon
- Pricing: $499 USD to $999 USD
- Website: TravelCon
- Social Media: Instagram | Facebook | X | LinkedIn
Overview: TravelCon is designed for travel bloggers, writers, photographers, and content creators, focusing on the art of storytelling, strategies for content monetization, and building a strong online presence. The event features a lineup of successful travel influencers, content strategy experts, and social media gurus who share their journeys, tips, and techniques. The conference offers workshops, breakout sessions, and networking opportunities, aimed at helping attendees elevate their content creation skills and online influence.
Why You Should Attend: For hotel managers and travel professionals looking to enhance their property's visibility and engagement online, TravelCon offers unparalleled insights into content creation and digital marketing. Attending this conference can provide you with the tools and strategies needed to effectively tell your brand's story, engage with your audience on social media, and collaborate with content creators to reach a wider audience.
9. IPW - Los Angeles, California (May 2024)
- Dates: May 2024
- Location: Los Angeles, California
- Pricing: Register to see current pricing
- Website: IPW
- Social Media: Instagram | Facebook | X
Overview: IPW is the leading international inbound travel trade show in the United States, designed to promote U.S. travel products and destinations to international travel buyers through pre-scheduled business appointments. The event covers a wide range of topics, including trends in international travel, marketing strategies, and partnership development. It features keynote speeches and panels with top executives from major travel brands, destination marketing organizations, and government officials discussing the future of travel and tourism.
Why You Should Attend: IPW is an essential event for those looking to expand their international market reach and understand the dynamics of global travel flows. The networking opportunities with international buyers and the insights gained from industry leaders can be invaluable in opening new doors and understanding the needs of international travelers.
10. Australian Tourism Exchange 2024 (ATE24) - Melbourne/Narrm, Australia (May 2024)
- Dates: May 2024
- Location: Melbourne/Narrm, Australia
- Pricing: Register to see current pricing
- Website: Australian Tourism Exchange 2024 (ATE24)
- Social Media: LinkedIn
Overview: ATE24 is Australia's leading tourism trade event, designed to showcase Australian tourism businesses and destinations to international markets. The event focuses on fostering partnerships between Australian tourism providers and global buyers, offering insights into market trends, and highlighting the latest in Australian tourism experiences. Speakers typically include industry leaders, marketing experts, and representatives from key international markets, providing a comprehensive overview of the opportunities within the Australian tourism sector.
Why You Should Attend: This conference is a pivotal event for anyone involved in or looking to enter the Australian tourism industry. ATE24 offers a unique opportunity to meet with international buyers, understand current market trends, and gain insights into how to effectively market Australian experiences. It's an invaluable platform for networking and developing strategic partnerships that can drive growth and expand your reach in the global tourism market.
11. ASTA Travel Advisor Conference - Dallas, Texas (May 2024)
- Dates: May 2024
- Location: Dallas, Texas
- Pricing: Register to see current pricing
- Website: ASTA Travel Advisor Conference
- Social Media: Instagram | Facebook | X | LinkedIn
Overview: The ASTA Travel Advisor Conference is an essential gathering for travel advisors and industry professionals, focusing on the latest trends, tools, and techniques in the travel advising field. The conference features educational sessions, workshops, and keynote addresses from leading figures in the industry, covering topics such as destination insights, marketing strategies, business development, and the impact of technology on travel advising.
Why You Should Attend: This conference offers travel advisors and industry professionals a comprehensive platform to enhance their knowledge, skills, and network. It's an ideal event for those looking to stay ahead of industry trends, improve their service offerings, and connect with peers and leaders in the travel community. Whether you're a seasoned travel advisor or new to the field, the insights and networking opportunities provided can significantly impact your professional growth and business success.
12. Luxury Travel Advisor's ULTRA Summit - Palm Beach Gardens, Florida (May 2024)
- Dates: May 2024
- Location: Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
- Pricing: Register to see current pricing
- Website: Luxury Travel Advisor's ULTRA Summit
- Social Media: Instagram | Facebook | X | LinkedIn
Overview: The ULTRA Summit is a premier event for luxury travel advisors and suppliers, focusing on the high-end travel market. The summit offers a curated experience with one-on-one appointments, expert panels, and networking opportunities designed to foster relationships and business development within the luxury travel sector. Speakers include luxury travel experts, high-profile advisors, and representatives from the world's leading luxury travel brands, discussing trends, challenges, and opportunities in luxury travel.
Why You Should Attend: Attending the ULTRA Summit is crucial for those operating in or targeting the luxury travel market. The event provides insights into the latest trends and consumer expectations in luxury travel, offering strategies for personalizing experiences, enhancing service quality, and building lasting relationships with high-value clients. It's an unmatched opportunity for networking and learning from the top players in the luxury travel industry.
13. GTM West - Las Vegas/Henderson, Nevada (June 2024)
- Dates: June 2024
- Location: Las Vegas/Henderson, Nevada
- Pricing: Register to see current pricing
- Website: GTM West
- Social Media: Facebook | X | LinkedIn
Overview: GTM West is an elite appointment-only event that connects the most influential travel advisors from the West Coast with top global travel suppliers. This intensive networking event is designed to foster meaningful connections through one-on-one appointments, exclusive boardroom sessions, and networking events. The focus is on building profitable relationships and keeping abreast of industry trends and opportunities.
Why You Should Attend: For travel professionals looking to expand their network and gain insights into the latest travel trends and offerings, GTM West is an invaluable opportunity. The event's unique format allows for deep discussions, personalized connections, and strategic partnerships, making it an essential stop for those aiming to enhance their business and offerings in the travel industry.
14. Global Travel Market Conference (GTM) - Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood, Florida (July 2024)
- Dates: July 2024
- Location: Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood, Florida
- Pricing: Register to see current pricing
- Website: Global Travel Market Conference (GTM)
- Social Media: Facebook | X | LinkedIn
Overview: The Global Travel Market Conference is a premier event that brings together a select group of top travel advisors and suppliers from around the world to network, learn, and build business. This exclusive conference is known for its high-caliber attendees, educational sessions, and networking opportunities designed to foster long-term business relationships. The agenda includes workshops, keynote addresses, and market insights from industry leaders, focusing on the latest trends, technologies, and strategies in the global travel market.
Why You Should Attend: GTM offers an unmatched opportunity for travel professionals to engage directly with peers and leaders in the industry, gain insights into global travel trends, and develop strategies to navigate the evolving travel landscape. It's particularly beneficial for those seeking to elevate their business through strategic partnerships and cutting-edge knowledge.
15. International Tourism & Travel Show 2024 - Montreal, Canada (November 2024)
- Dates: November 2024
- Location: Montreal, Canada
- Pricing: Register to see current pricing
- Website: International Tourism & Travel Show 2024
Overview: The International Tourism & Travel Show is a major event that brings together over 400 exhibitors from more than 100 countries, offering a unique opportunity for travel enthusiasts and professionals to explore global travel options, discover new destinations, and learn about the latest trends in the travel industry. The show features country pavilions, cultural performances, and seminars from travel experts, providing attendees with a comprehensive overview of the global tourism landscape.
Why You Should Attend: This show is a must-visit for those looking to expand their knowledge of international travel destinations and trends. It offers an excellent platform for networking with global travel suppliers, gaining insights into emerging travel markets, and exploring new business opportunities. Whether you're a travel professional seeking to broaden your portfolio or simply passionate about travel, the International Tourism & Travel Show offers valuable insights and connections.
Summary
In conclusion, the conferences listed above represent some of the most valuable opportunities for travel professionals to network, learn, and grow their businesses in 2024. Your recommendations can help create a more comprehensive resource for everyone looking to advance in this exciting field.
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