Questions & Answers

Q: What is THETRADESHOW?

A: THETRADESHOW—Travel Retail And Destination Expo—is a three-day event connecting thousands of consumers, travel agents and travel suppliers from every segment of the industry in one convenient location.

Q. Why did ASTA replace the World Travel Congress with THETRADESHOW?

A. To benefit agents and suppliers. The traditional model of Congress, hop-scotching between domestic and international destinations, is not compatible with the way today’s agencies budget for shows and suppliers ship freight. With a consistent date and location, THETRADESHOW will allow everyone to plan well in advance to attend, resulting in easier access and lowered costs.

Q: What can agents and suppliers expect at THETRADESHOW?

A: More business. There will be numerous chances to generate more business through an open trade floor, business-to-business appointments, world-class education, a consumer day and two trade-only days. The program will be information-intensive and highly condensed so agents will get even more education and networking opportunities than at Congress but in a shorter amount of time.

Q: What was the turnout for the first THETRADESHOW in Orlando, Sept. 10-12, 2006?

A: The buzz created by the news show was huge, and the first meeting brought over 4,800 agents, suppliers and consumers together.

Q: How is THETRADESHOW differ from other travel trade shows?

A: Most travel shows focus on one particular aspect of travel, like luxury travel or cruises, or they bring in an abridged list of preferred suppliers, like at a consortia or franchise show. But casting a wider net produces a bigger catch. That’s why THETRADESHOW encompasses every aspect of travel, from the least expensive to the most glamorous hotel properties, from the lowest to the highest end cruise lines. Global and inclusive, THETRADESHOW provides the most suppliers and destinations for agents to meet and conduct real business.

Q: Are many industry organizations involved?

A: Yes—it takes many hands to create a show this big. THETRADESHOW is produced and backed by ASTA, ACTA, Adventures in Travel Expo, American Express, CLIA, IGLTA, Messe Berlin, NACTA, NTA, the Travel Institute National Forum, See America, TIA, USA Today and USTOA. ASTA is involved behind the scenes when it comes to the show’s execution and logistics, but the promotion, marketing and planning incorporates input from all these leading organizations to emphasize that THETRADESHOW is the industry event.

Q: What is the Consumer Day?

A: THETRADESHOW is open to consumers for one day to increase public awareness about the value of using travel agents in planning vacations. Suppliers will also be on hand to offer educational mini-seminars that promote travel agents to consumers. The Internet may provide consumers with information, but a travel agent brings expertise to the table. Consumers will leave THETRADESHOW appreciating the exceptional value of that expertise.

Q: How are the partners involved?

A: Adventures in Travel Expo is working to create an “Adventures” pavilion within the show to educate consumers and agents about adventure travel and introduce those exhibitors to the Orlando community. NTA and USTOA are creating a "Tour Operator Pavilion" to reach and educate the agent community on selling tours. The Travel Institute's annual National Forum will take place on the day before THETRADESHOW and NACTA's annual meeting will take place on the day after THETRADESHOW concludes. With organizations such as CLIA, NACTA, ACTA, IGLTA, and ASTA as partners, THETRADESHOW will attract the largest cross-section of agents.