What
Taking place Sept. 3-5 in Aspen, Colo., the second-annual Future Leaders in Travel Retreat brought together 78 travel professionals for educational content, outdoor activities and social events. Attending travel advisors and suppliers were between the ages of 22 and 37.
Why It Matters
Powered by TravelAge West and Northstar Travel Group, the one-of-a-kind event helped connect travel buyers and sellers. This year’s theme was “Building a Roadmap for Success,” with keynote speeches, workshops, a panel and an open forum focused on topics such as financial goals, consultative selling, client relationships and work/life balance.
Fast Facts
- The 78 travel professionals in attendance included 49 fully hosted travel advisors, in addition to suppliers.
- The event was held at Aspen Meadows Resort, home of the Aspen institute.
- Selected travel advisors were required to complete a rigorous application process, which included being able to demonstrate their personal brand, share thoughts on the industry’s current state and provide professional references.
- The third Future Leaders in Travel Retreat will return to Aspen Meadows Resort from Aug. 31. to Sept. 2, 2020.
What They Are Saying
"Future Leaders is more than an event; it’s a community,” said Mindy Poder, Executive Editor of TravelAge West. “We’ve created a nurturing space that allows for organic connections and provides the motivation and information for this generation of travel professionals to level up not just their businesses, but their lives.”
“We’re all here because we want to learn from one another,” said Max Kabin, a travel agent at Travelwise International. “By networking and sharing at Future Leaders, we can understand how our generation can change the future of the travel industry. And that’s so powerful.”
“One of the biggest benefits of attending last year was the contacts I made,” said Kassey Weaver, a travel advisor and advisory board member at The Joy of Travel. “I met other advisors that I’ve kept in touch with and used as resources throughout the year. Future Leaders brings together a group of young people that are just getting started in their careers in a relaxed environment so they can actually connect rather than just getting down to business.”
“The content here has prompted a lot of thoughtful discussions and provided quality education,” said Gina Bang, Marketing Director of Avanti Destinations. “The travel advisors here are really open to new ideas and we’ve been having engaging conversations."
“The outdoor activities during Future Leaders enable attendees to bond on a personal level, which is very different from the usual business relationship,” said James Allen, business development manager for the Americas at QuebecOriginal. “This bond helps suppliers understand the needs of this generation of travel advisors, allowing us to be better partners.”
The Details
Future Leaders in Travel Retreat
www.futureleadersintravel.com
