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VOICES OF LEADERSHIP
WAS TRAVEL EXCHANGE really only a month ago ? We ’ ve already jumped into planning for our December event in San Antonio , so it ’ s hard to know where one ended and the new one begins .
However , we have so many memories that will never fade away , thanks to the amazing team at Explore St . Louis , led by Renee Eichelberger , CTP . They did an awesome job of making us feel welcome and showing off their city . St . Louis is an easy drive from our headquarters , and I ’ m looking forward to going back for vacation to really explore on my own .
This was my third Travel Exchange as your president , and each one has been unique . I always walk away thinking I met or hugged or shook hands with everyone , and then I ’ ll see a picture and think , “ Shucks , I missed talking to them .”
One group I did get to know well during our time in St . Louis was those members in pink ribbons , our first-time attendees , who really bonded in our Travel Exchange 101 sessions and at the evening reception and events . They ’ re already planning for San Antonio , too , and want the Class of 2017 to be the best ever !
To all our attendees and our generous sponsors , those folks we can ’ t do without : Thank you for your investment in NTA . My staff and I hope you experienced a productive and fun week with us in St . Louis .
Pam Inman President 101 Prosperous Place , Suite 350 Lexington , KY 40509 USA + 1.859.264.6551 pam . inman @ ntastaff . com
I want to also thank Justin Osbon of Image Tours , who was an outstanding leader for NTA this past year as our chair . As a baby boomer , I thought I was going to teach him a thing or two , but that millennial taught me a lot . Next time you see Justin , thank him for his steady guidance .
Now we begin with a new chair , Jay Smith from Sports Travel and Tours , and his new rallying cry of Just Bring One . During his remarks at Travel Exchange , Jay challenged attendees to bring one new member into the NTA family and to the convention in San Antonio . He knows that with more members , NTA offers more opportunities to create valuable business partners , access new markets and share ideas .
“ Every member at Travel Exchange and every member in NTA represents a unique experience ,” Jay said . “ The more connections we can make , the more hands we can shake , the more product options there are , the more market experts we can tap into , the better it is for each of us and our travelers — so just bring one !”
Watch for Courier ’ s Q & A with your new chair in our June issue , when he ’ ll share more about his mantra and explain how you can benefit by getting involved .
As reported last month , I flew to Delhi ( courtesy of Delta Air Lines ) for the U . S .– India Travel and Tourism Partnership Year Celebration with Brand USA , the U . S . Department of Commerce and the Ministry of Tourism for India . It was a great event , and I connected with longtime NTA members from Creative Travel — brothers Rajeev and Rohit Kohli — and Uday Marwah of Uday Tour & Travel . Uday was kind enough to take me on a tour of Delhi ; our photo is below . There is much growth potential for India , both inbound and outbound , and we will keep you abreast of this emerging market .
It ’ s time to get back to planning for San Antonio ; one member already has sent me an idea for another onstage antic . You ’ ll have to be there to see what it is .
Cheers ,
Where in the World is
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Pam poses with NTA member Uday Marwah in front of a parliament building in Delhi , India . Email your photo with Courier to bob . rouse @ ntastaff . com .
TOP LEFT : NAIM HASAN PHOTOGRAPHY
6 April / May 2017