SAN ANTONIO
BEFORE YOU GO
Best advice for business appointments
Travel Exchange offers you the opportunity to meet face-to-face with colleagues during the Supplier Exchange and Destination Pavilion sessions . To maximize this benefit , make sure you know how to get the most out of NTA ’ s online appointment system and networking on the Travel Exchange floor .
Prescheduled appointments : Research pays off
NTA ’ s online request system enables you to develop a list of the companies you hope to meet with during your business appointments , and it provides information on appointmenttaking attendees . Appointment scheduling opened Oct . 11 , and you have until Nov . 11 to finalize and submit your requests . After the system does the matching , you ’ ll receive your list of meetings by email .
Direct request scheduling : Your first follow-up
After you receive your appointment schedule , you can add more meetings before you arrive in San Antonio by again using the online request system . Reach out to colleagues who have the same open time slots as you and see if you can schedule a meeting . Each request that ’ s accepted will be automatically added to your schedule — and theirs . Direct request scheduling closes Dec . 8 .
More appointments : Work the floor
You might have requested companies and missed getting an appointment with their representatives . Those are the members you can seek out on-site . ( You can download a list of your unscheduled requests ). Your best option is while tour operators are seated during the Supplier Exchange . Approach a company ’ s representative who is not engaged in a meeting and ask if you can schedule an appointment during a time you both have open . If one ’ s not available , you can introduce yourself and leave your profile form and business card — and chat with them later at a meal or social function .
Need an intro — or refresher — course ?
NTA has many resources to prepare you for your time at Travel Exchange .
First is the Travel Exchange 101 seminar and tour of the convention floor in San Antonio . This session , which will be offered Thursday at 3:15 p . m . and Saturday at 2 p . m ., will be followed by a convention floor tour to help you get the lay of the land .
NTAonline . com / convention contains everything you need , ranging from the full schedule and information on seminars , evening events , appointment scheduling and sightseeing tours . You also can listen to an archived recording of the Travel Exchange 101 webinar and find links to seminars from previous conventions at NTAonline . com / education .
The Travel Exchange First-timers page ( NTAonline . com / travelexchange-first-timers ) features tips from members who were recent Travel Exchange newcomers , as well as information on this year ’ s Travel Exchange Ambassadors . If you have a question as you get ready for San Antonio , you can reach out directly to any of the veteran NTA members in this group for peer-to-peer advice about the show . Photos and bios of each of the following ambassadors are available on that page :
Jim Coggin , Virginia Beach Convention & Visitor Bureau Laura Elkin , Crescent Hotels & Resorts Scott Hartcorn , Shilo Inns Suites Hotels Melody Johnson , Falcon ’ s Crest John Shaffer , Luray Caverns Mindy Shea , Visit Savannah
Suzanne Slavitter , Sports Empire & Authentic California Vacations
Christian Utpatel , Terra Lu Travel & Consult GmbH Michael Weinberg , Hiltons of Chicago Clayton Whitehead , Sports Leisure Vacations
NAIM HASAN PHOTOGRAPHY
30 November 2017