Advisors, are you looking for an industry event unlike any other to add to your 2024 travel schedule? If the answer is “yes,” you might like Tourism Cares’ North American Meaningful Travel Summit, a conference designed to inspire, educate and activate the tourism industry by growing partnerships, building relationships and sharing best practices in sustainable travel. The summit will take place from September 30 through October 2 in beautiful Eugene, Oregon, and registration is now open, so don’t delay!
Accessible to all travel professionals across the industry, attendees can expect to mix and mingle with everyone from destination managers and travel advisors to community leaders and senior executives. Anyone interested in building a better future for the travel industry is encouraged to attend. Need more deets? According to The Summit website, Tourism Cares expects the crowd to be 10% media, 10% local partners, 15% DMOs, 25% other industry professionals and 40% tour operators/travel advisors and buyers.
“At Tourism Cares, we define meaningful travel as conducting business in a way that directly benefits host communities, protects cultural and environmental assets, and engages guests in a deeper, more responsible way,” said Greg Takehara, CEO of Tourism Cares in a November 2023 press release announcing the event.
As for what’s on the docket, attendees can expect a combination of educational sessions, community experiences, networking and more. In addition to plenty of opportunities for professional development, during their time at the conference, guests will be encouraged to leave the conference center and explore the majestic Willamette Valley, the host destination for this exciting event.
Similar to previous events hosted by Tourism Cares, the Meaningful Travel Summit will have a strong focus on sustainability, something residents of Willamette Valley are particularly passionate about. "Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do in the Willamette Valley. We recognize that our natural landscapes, local businesses, and vibrant communities are all interconnected, and we have a responsibility to protect and nurture them,” said Dawnielle Tehama, executive director of the Willamette Valley Visitors Association in the same November 2023 press release. “By growing our regenerative tourism practices with the support of Tourism Cares, we hope to better preserve our region's unique character, support local economies, and create lasting positive impacts for both residents and visitors. We look forward to hosting the Summit next year and serving as a leader for other travel professionals in destination stewardship and meaningful travel."
Takehara shared Tehama’s enthusiasm, adding, “We are thrilled about Willamette Valley Visitors Association’s investment in our Meaningful Travel Program, and their dedication towards sustainability truly embodies the hard work that needs to happen around meaningful travel. We look forward to engaging with them on their sustainability journey and are excited to host the North America Meaningful Travel Summit with them next fall."
The Meaningful Travel Summit costs $429 for Tourism Cares members and $529 for non-members. Advisors can register by visiting the event website.
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