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Here is an itinerary for the IGLTA Convention in May 2009. Click on each session for more information.
IGLTA's first cyber cafe will be available throughout the convention outside the Hilton Ballroom.
Thursday, 07 May 2009
- Hotel Site Inspections - 9:00am-1:30pm
Tourism Toronto is hosting tour operators, travel agents, and media on hotel site inspections to some of the city's great properties. Itineraries have been created to meet your specific requests notated in the registration process. Note: These site visits are also available Sunday. You can still sign up, just stop by the Welcome Desk! Hosted by Tourism Toronto.
Location: Tour begins at Toronto Hilton
- General Business Meeting - 2:00pm-4:00pm
TThis meeting will include the annual "State of the Organization" presentation from the IGLTA Staff and Board of Directors. It is optional for members, however you are encouraged to come hear about the direction of the organization. In addition, there will be an open forum to discuss IGLTA's operations and strategy with the Board of Directors.
Also at this meeting is the presentations by the Board nominees. Come hear their ideas and goals, if elected to the Board. These candidates will be wearing 'Board Nominee" badges so you can easily identify them throughout the weekend. Voting for the new Board will be during Saturday's morning breakfast/Media Trade Show in the Hilton.
Location:Ballroom, Toronto Hilton
- The Canadian Members Reception - 4:00pm-6:00pm
This reception is open to all Canadian based attendees, as well as tour operators/travel agents interested in selling Canada as a destination. Come meet your fellow Canucks and hear how Travel Gay Canada is marketing our 2009 host nation. Thank you to our partners at the Canadian Tourism Commission, Travel Gay Canada and Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership for hosting this private reception.
Location: Forte Bistro and Lounge, 133 Richmond Street West
- First Timer's Reception - 6:00pm-7:30pm
This annual cocktail reception is a place for newcomers to the IGLTA Convention to network, learn about our organization and mingle with the IGLTA staff and Board of Directors. It is only open to new convention attendees.
Location: Arcadian Court, 2 Blocks from Toronto Hilton
- Opening Reception - 7:30pm-10:00pm
The Opening Reception kicks off the Convention with hors d'oeuvres, cocktails and entertainment. This is your first chance to meet attendees from all over the globe, so come and have a great time! Meet new friends and re-connect with long-time colleagues.
Location: Arcadian Court, 2 Blocks from Toronto Hilton
Friday, 08 May 2009
- Breakfast - 7:30am-9:00am
Continental Breakfast
Location: Adjacent to the Ballroom, Toronto Hilton
- General Session - 9:00am-10:00am
Welcome from the Canadian Tourism Commission, Dan Melesurgo; Tourism Toronto President, David Whittaker; City Councillor, Kyle Rae
Location: Ballroom, Toronto Hilton
- Educational Sessions - 10:30am-12:00pm
Topic - Tour Operations in the Current Economic Climate
- Presenter - Michele Michalewicz, CTP, Chair of the Board for the National Tour Association
- Target Audience - Tour Operators
- Description - Operating a tour company can be challenge enough without the obstacles of the current economic situation. Come to this open, interactive session to hear conversation about working smarter and being more profitable in today's global economy. The session will include small group breakout discussions and a report out from each group on creative approaches to tour operations in the current economic climate.
Topic - Travel Agent Breakout: Weathering the Economic Downturn
- Presenter - Heather Craig-Peddie, Director of Operations, ACTA
- Presenter - John Pittman, Vice President, ASTA
- Target Audience - Travel Agents
- Description - This seminar will explore tips and resources you can implement to help your business weather the economic downturn. Along with a presentation of case studies of travel agents who have already taken creative approaches to shoring up their businesses, participants will be asked to share their unique experiences.
Topic - Getting the most out of the Online Travel Agencies
- Presenter - Yves Pelletier, Orbitz
- Presenter - James Harris, Travelocity
- Target Audience - Accommodations
- Description - Are you getting the most of the online distribution channels? Whether you represent a hotel, a destination or an attraction, this workshop will show you how to get the most out of the O.T.A's. With today's statistics showing that every year more and more people are turning to their computers to plan a vacation or a business trip, meet Market Managers who will share with you best practices to maximize your presence online.
Topic - Beyond Sex - Marketing to gays and lesbians based on who they are and what they need
- Presenter - Laurence Bernstein, Managing Partner, BC3 Strategies
- Target Audience - Open to All
- Description - Taking a strategic approach to the GLBT marketplace by understanding your customer's needs - we will introduce a simple, easily implemented segmentation chart which will help you decide where to spend your marketing dollars and get the greatest ROI.
Location: Toronto Hilton, Rooms TBA
- Lunch - 12:30pm-2:00pm
Lunch Presented by Hyatt Hotels & Resorts
Guest speaker: Mrs. Zeina Gedeon, President and CEO of Air canada Vacations to discuss the challenges and opportunities presented by the current economic slowdown.
Location: Ballroom, Toronto Hilton
- Travel Agent / Tour Operator Reception - 2:30pm-4:00pm
A networking reception for travel agents and tour operators. This event is only open to travel agents, tour operators and media. Presented by EIS Tours and the Sheraton Centre Toronto
Location: Sheraton Centre Toronto, The Club Lounge - 43rd Floor, 1 Block from the Toronto Hilton
- Women's Reception - 3:30pm-5:00pm
A reception exclusively for women to network, get to know each other and put a female perspective on LGBT tourism. This event is only open to women. Presented by the Las Vegas Convention & Visitor's Authority
Optional gay history walking tour is being provided enroute to the Women's Recepetion. Queer history moves up Yonge Street, from the smokey anonymity of swanky hotel piano bars of the 1950's to the grotty backrooms of the 70's and the revolutionary parades and marches of the 1980's. Join in a conversational stroll through the history of the bars, beverage rooms and clubs frequented by gays and lesbians on the Yonge Street strip. Meet at the Hilton front door at 2:30pm for this women's-focused tour.
Your tour hosts are Gerald Hannon, a writer, teacher and director of Pink Triangle Press, and Jane Farrow, a writer, broadcaster and the Executive Director of Jane's Walk and the Centre for City Ecology.
Location: Voglie, a Lesbian Owned Establishment in the Heart of the Gay Village
- Consumer Trade Show Event - 6:00pm-10:00pm
Get ready Toronto! IGLTA is taking over the Gay Village, the heart of Toronto's gay scene, to enable you to showcase your business to the GLBT community. Transportation will be provided from the Toronto Hilton to the historic Maple Leaf Gardens. Make sure you register for a table top if you want to exhibit at this one of a kind event expected to draw thousands of consumers. There will also be a delegate-only networking lounge with cash bar for your business to business needs. Sponsored by TD Bank.
Optional gay history walking tour is being provided enroute to the Maple Leaf Gardens. Queer history moves up Yonge Street, from the smokey anonymity of swanky hotel piano bars of the 1950's to the grotty backrooms of the 70's and the revolutionary parades and marches of the 1980's. Join in a conversational stroll through the history of the bars, beverage rooms and clubs frequented by gays and lesbians on the Yonge Street strip. Meet at the Hilton front door at 5pm. Your tour hosts are Gerald Hannon, a writer, teacher and director of Pink Triangle Press, and Jane Farrow, a writer, broadcaster and the Executive Director of Jane's Walk and the Centre for City Ecology.
Location: Historic Maple Leaf Gardens - the Heart of the Gay Village
Saturday, 09 May 2009
- Media Trade Show Breakfast - 8:30am-10:30am
Our media attendees will be hosting booths showcasing their publications and services while a continental breakfast will be available. The breakfast is sponsored by Harrah's Entertainment and the media trade show is sponsored by Comcast Spotlight.
Voting of Board nominees.
Location: Adjacent to the Ballroom, Toronto Hilton
- Educational Sessions - 10:45am-12:15pm
Topic - We're Here, We're Queer, We Volunteer: LGBT Travelers on a Mission
- Presenter - Shannon Wentworth - CEO, Sweet
- Target Audience - Open to All
- Description - A discussion on how LGBT travelers put the party into the voluntourism and eco-tourism travel trends. Sweet is on a mission to prove that creating a new kind of guilt-free, impactful vacation experience can harness the massive power of the travel industry - both LGBT and mainstream - to change the world for the better.
Topic - The Trans Market, how to market ready your business for the Transgender consumers
- Presenter - Michelle Boyce
- Target Audience - All Members
- Description - Explanation of the Trans experience, how it effects travelers, and how destinations can make their facilities more friendly for Trans Consumers including the Human Rights Code and its implementation.
Topic - TDCT's PREMIUM TRAVEL CARD, The Most Flexible Travel Rewards Credit Card in the Marketplace
- Presenter - Anita Ghosh, Group Manager, TD Canada Trust
- Target Audience - Canadian-based Tour operators and Travel Agents
- Description - Grow your revenues through an exclusive partnership with TD Canada Trust, Canada's highest ranked bank in customer satisfaction.
It's out. It's about. It's yours!- Discover the marketing, service and revenue edge this card will give you.
- Learn why your clients will love their TD First Class Travel Rewards Card; increase their loyalty and their travels with your agency / travel business.
- Be first in your marketplace with this fantastic revenue generating sales tool.
- Get ten ideas on how to use your TDCT card to generate new business.
- Discover how you can receive sales training from our dedicated TDCT team.
Topic - Diversifying your product and relationships to support your operation/business in these challenging times
- Presenter - Tracey Sandilands - Executive Director, Pride Toronto
- Presenter - Liz Devine - Conxity / Rainbow High Vacations
- Presenter - Christopher Barry - Tourism Toronto
- Target Audience - All Members
- Description - A case study exploring the challenges and demonstrating some of the 'Cartwheels' that are performed in order to position your festival, travel company and destination in a fresh and inspiring manner. The generation of new relationships, outreaches and programming to deliver strong results and raise the bar.
Location: Toronto Hilton, Rooms TBA
- Lunch - 12:30pm-2:00pm
A hi-tech presentation and overview of how IGLTA is using the internet to promote your business. Presented by Richard Brower (Project Manager - IGLTA) and Matt Skallerud (Owner - Pink Banana Media). Sponsored by Tourism Quebec and Tourism Montreal.
Location: Ballroom, Toronto Hilton
- Educational Sessions - 2:15pm-3:45pm
Topic - Strategic Corporate Social Responsibility in the Travel Industry
- Presenter - Andrew Walker, Green Events Specialist, Zerofootprint
- Presenter - Gwen Migita, Director of Corporate Responsibility, Harrah's Entertainment
- Presenter - Andrew Weir, Vice President, Communications, Tourism Toronto
- Target Audience - Open to All
- Description - These days, everyone is talking about climate change, sustainability and corporate social responsibility (CSR). Countless hospitality and tourism companies are investing a great deal of resources into programs that minimize their environmental impact and give back to the communities in which they operate, while driving economic benefits for stakeholders...but how strategic are they? The reality is no single organization can solve all of society's problems nor can they afford to do so; instead, each company must select the issues that intersect with their particular business. This session will explore the concept of strategic CSR and present several case studies from the travel industry.
Topic: Creating a Cost-Effective Marketing Strategy
- Presenter - Ian Johnson, Out Now Consulting
- Target Audience - Marketing Managers & Small Business
- Description - In the current economic climate, all businesses need to make money spent on marketing work harder than ever before. Ian Johnson presents an information-rich workshop on how managers can achieve far greater reach with limited budgets through implementing smarter marketing. For a limited budget Out Now created the very successful "So Gay" advertising campaign - described by AdWeek as "the year's most talked about tourism ads". Learn how your business can increase sales through cost-effective use of PR, networking, partnerships, PPC advertising, database marketing, and also Web 2.0 technologies such as Facebook, Blogger, Flickr and YouTube. This session will present cost-effective sales boosters that any business can learn from and easily implement.
Topic - How to get the most out of your IGLTA Membership
- Presenters - IGLTA Staff
- Target Audience - All Members
- Description - So you've joined IGLTA, now what? The IGLTA staff is here to answer your questions and show you ways to market your business via the IGLTA website, social marketing, brochure distribution, etc.
Topic - TDCT's PREMIUM TRAVEL CARD, The Most Flexible Travel Rewards Credit Card in the Marketplace
- Presenter - Anita Ghosh, Group Manager, TD Canada Trust
- Target Audience - Canadian-based Tour operators and Travel Agents
- Description - Grow your revenues through an exclusive partnership with TD Canada Trust, Canada's highest ranked bank in customer satisfaction.
It's out. It's about. It's yours!- Discover the marketing, service and revenue edge this card will give you.
- Learn why your clients will love their TD First Class Travel Rewards Card; increase their loyalty and their travels with your agency / travel business.
- Be first in your marketplace with this fantastic revenue generating sales tool.
- Get ten ideas on how to use your TDCT card to generate new business.
- Discover how you can receive sales training from our dedicated TDCT team.
Location: Toronto Hilton, Rooms TBA
- VIP Reception - 4:30pm-6:30pm
A special invite-only reception for IGLTA's proud partners and sponsors. Sponsored by LOGOonline and Toronto Hilton.
- Pre-Gala Cocktail Reception - 6:30pm-8:00pm
Join us for a special cocktail reception leading into the Gala Dinner.
Location: Adjacent to the Ballroom, Toronto Hilton
- Annual Gala Dinner - 8:00pm-10:00pm
Our annual Gala Dinner is where IGLTA celebrates the achievements we all have made in the world of GLBT tourism across the globe. Dress up to the nines and show everybody and Toronto just how chic you can be! Attire: Optional Black Tie or Festive Attire. Presented by Tourism Toronto and Air Canada
We are proud to announce this year's honorees:
Chairman's Award: Juan P. Juliá Blanch from Axel Hotels
Hall of Fame Award: Andrew Stokes from Marketing Manchester
Location: Ballroom, Toronto Hilton
- Belgian Chocolate Dessert & Dance Party - 10:00pm-12:00am
Prepare to end the convention with a post-gala reception featuring wonderful chocolates from Belgium. Say goodbye in style as we raise a toast to Toronto and Antwerp as they hand over the torch! Music and dance floor await you!
Location: Ballroom, Toronto Hilton
Sunday, 10 May 2009
- Hotel Site Inspections - 9:00am-1:30pm
Tourism Toronto is hosting tour operators, travel agents, and media on hotel site inspections to some of the city's great properties. Itineraries have been created to meet your specific requests notated in the registration process. You can still sign up, just stop by the Welcome Desk! Hosted by Tourism Toronto.
Location: Tour begins at Toronto Hilton, the Host Hotel
- The Sound of Music - 1:00pm or 6:30pm
End your visit to Toronto with the most beloved musical of all time, THE SOUND OF MUSIC, now on stage in Toronto. With a score that touches the hearts of all ages and with some of the most beautiful sets and costumes ever created for the musical stage, this is a show the Toronto Star says that you “ought to, need to, have to see right now. Don’t miss it!”
See it Sunday, May 10 at 1:00 PM or 6:30 PM at a special price.
1:00 PM matinee – regularly $110CDN now only $85CDN
6:30 PM matinee – regularly $110CDN now only $74CDN
Call TicketKing at 1-800-461-3333
Online at www.mirvish.com
Use code SOMCONF when ordering.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS: Offer valid for the Sunday, May 10 performances only. All prices in Canadian dollars and include 5% GST and $2.00 CIF. Seating subject to availability. Offer not valid on previously purchased tickets and cannot be combined with any other offers. The producers have the right to terminate the offer at any time. No refunds or exchanges. Services charges apply.
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