2013 Education

• THURSDAY, 2 MAY

   KEYNOTE: David Scowsill, President/CEO, World Travel & Tourism Council
  BREAKOUT: SOCIAL MEDIA PANEL
  Moderated by Matt Skallerud, Pink Banana Media
  What does the future of social media have in store? Our savvy panelists share tips for improving your LGBT social media reach and getting ahead of the pack as new tools enter the market.

  BREAKOUT: LGBT ASIA
  Moderated by Bryan Herb, Zoom Vacations
  Sponsored by Hotel Granvia Kyoto
  For the first time, IGLTA hosts a panel discussion on doing business in one of the fastest-growing parts of the world. Panelists: Jacob Cefolia, United; Masaki Higashida, Qocci; Tobias Hofelt, MB Market Makers; Uwern Jong, Out There.

  BREAKOUT: Marking your territory in the LGBT Travel Industry
  Jody Cole, Wild Rainbow African Safaris & David Ryan, Rhino Africa
  Using imagery and personal stories these two longtime IGLTA members will share lessons learned about business from life and wildlife in the African bush.

  BREAKOUT: Reaching the Lesbian Market
  Moderated by Tanya Churchmuch, Tourism Montreal
  This popular session returns to delve further into the mysteries of navigating the lesbian market. Panelists include Kathy Belge, About.com and Manuela Kay, Special Media SDL.

  BREAKOUT: The Game Has Changed – Examining Good Service and Experiences for the New Generations of Travelers
  Jay Karen, Professional Association of Innkeepers International
  Sponsored by Puerto Vallarta Tourism Board
  What can the hospitality industry do to capture and engage those in their 20s, 30s and 40s? We’ll discuss everything from decor to databases, and food to the “f” word. There is a whole new generation of travelers out there with more choices in front of them than ever and with different characteristics than their parents. If you’re not on your game, they might completely bypass you. Come learn how Gen X and Y may be the best generations of customers ever!

  BREAKOUT: Promoting Safe & Informed Travel for LGBT Persons
  Jack Markey, African Division Chief/American Citizen Services/Bureau of Consular Affairs, U.S. Department of State; Esperanza Tilghman, Public Affairs Officer/Bureau of Consular Affairs, U.S. Department of State
  This session will highlight recent Department of State initiatives that supports and promotes the rights of LGBT persons around the world.

  GENERAL SESSION: CEO PANEL
  Moderated by Terry Dale, President of USTOA
  The annual CEO Panel will discuss broad trends and strategies in various segments of tourism/hospitality. The panel includes Jon Munoz, Senior Director – Global Diversity & Inclusion for Hilton Worldwide; Nico Zenner, President of Brendan Vacations; Barney Harford, CEO Orbitz Worldwide; Victoria Isley, Chief Operating Officer of DMAI, Executive Director of Foundation; and more.

  FRIDAY, 3 MAY

  BREAKOUT: Building Your Brand One Story at a Time
  Bill Baker, BB&Co. Strategic Storytelling
  Storytelling was, is and most likely always will be the most effective communication technology available to us. Among all our advancements in marketing communications, storytelling has endured because it works. In this session, Bill will outline the fundamentals of strategic storytelling; provide insights on how you can leverage this timeless art of humanity to position, promote and build movement toward your brand; as well as give examples of companies in the tourism and travel industries that are successfully doing the same.

  BREAKOUT: Luxury Travel Panel
  The LGBT market has long been associated with luxury, from tours to hotel brands to retail. Hear from leaders in the industry who specialize in selling upscale experiences. Panelists include Tom Alderink, Orient-Express; David Rubin, DavidTravel; Marcelo Molinari, Chic Outlet Shopping.

  GENERAL SESSION: MEDIA PANEL
  Moderated by Bob Witeck, Witeck Communications
  Join a lively dialogue with a global group of journalists who offer tales from the road as well as from behind the editor’s desk. You’ll come away with a better sense of how to make your business feature worthy and the trends in travel media coverage. Panelists: Briand Bedford, Spartacus International Gay Guide; Andre Fischer, MixBrasil; Aaron Hicklin, OUT; Merryn Johns, Curve.

  MINI SESSION: Interline Air Services
  Andreas Ochse, Hahn Air
  Sponsored by AirBerlin
  FOR TRAVEL AGENTS: Interline air ticketing is making a big resurgence. Streamline your job by avoiding long phone calls to airlines or website bookings; travel agents can utilize their existing GDS systems to book and ticket their customers’ most desired destinations while avoiding losing the sale or causing frustration. Travel agents attending this session will learn the benefits of interline ticketing and can enter to win an iPad at the conclusion.

  MINI SESSION: Navigating the Domain Namespace Explosion
  Jamie Baxter, dotgay LLC
  Sponsored by AirBerlin
  Prepare to navigate the pending expansion of the Internet domain namespace in a session that addresses rights protections, domain portfolio expansion, eligibility and rollout plans. Unlike when “.travel” was launched, the new wave could include up to 1,000 new domains per year, offering many more options to punctuate your domain name, including “.gay.” We’ll examine the key factors that organizations and business owners should be thinking about (and planning for) as the 21st century version of the Wild West begins.

  SATURDAY, 4 MAY

  BREAKOUT: Gay Travel/Gay Rights: A 30 Year History/A Bright Future
  Billy Kolber, ManAboutWorld
  Looking back at 30 Years of Gay Travel, this session examines how the industry has contributed to the advancement of LGBTQIA rights, and its implication for the global advancement of those rights going forward. We will recap significant milestones, and discuss ways that gay travelers can effect positive change around the world with their presence and economic clout.

  BREAKOUT: Today’s LGBT Household -From Two Mommies to PFLAG Parents and… Fido Makes Family
  Tom Roth and David Paisley, Community Marketing Inc.; Gregg Kaminsky, R Family Vacations; and Kim Simes, Midwest Regional Manager, Family Equality Council
  The face of the modern family is no better reflected than by the LGBT social unit. With a plethora of legal recognitions (or not) of same-gender relationships, we have formed our own vision of the family composition. And that doesn’t always mean “relatives” in the traditional sense. What are the demographics of LGBT homes? What are the opportunities to reach them, and increase market share? This presentation will include the latest LGBT consumer research, a review of some best practices, and several case studies demonstrating how corporate America is speaking to this increasingly important emerging market.

  BREAKOUT: The Three Forces Transforming Travel
  Brian Payea, TripAdvisor
  How travelers plan trips has changed dramatically in the last 10 years. With the advent of social media, mobile, and review sites, many of the traditional advertising channels carry much less weight. So where do you reach today’s travelers, and how do you influence their booking decisions? Hear about the latest trends around the world and for LGBT travelers, and how to best capitalize on today’s social landscape.

  General Session: Making the Web Work for LGBT Travel
  Brandon Feldman, Google
  The web has radically changed the daily lives of millions of LGBT consumers around the world. We’re using the web to do practically anything – learn, connect, discover, work, shop, create, entertain.These are the moments that matter – when people use the Internet to make their lives better, every day. When members of the LGBT community begin planning that next big trip, it’s important that you be part of the conversation in a way that resonates and the web is an outstanding opportunity to do just that. In this session we’ll walk through how you can use these advances in technology to uncover the right insights about your LGBT customers, win moments that matter, make better decisions and go bigger, faster.