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Learn the Inbound Travel Steps to Success™
IITA’s Inbound Insider: Steps to Success™ program helps destinations and tourism suppliers successfully build international travel business by working with the travel trade. You’ll gain the knowledge and tools to work with U.S.-based Inbound Operators, who are your gateway to the international markets because they have vast networks of international tour operators, travel agents, and meetings/events buyers eager to sell the USA.
You’ll be able to develop and implement strategies tailored for your business and, ultimately, increase ROI and market share from key international travel trade partners for year-over-year growth when you need it.
STEP 1 - REGISTER NOW! | STEP 2 - REGISTER NOW! | STEP 3 - REGISTER NOW! |
Step 1, which is an overview of the who, what, why, and how of working with international markets, was first offered during the Washington Hospitality Association Conference. All Steps will be offered virtually after the first of the year. Dates and details are below.
Participants who attend all three Steps and submit a one-pager for review will be awarded the IITA Stamp of Approval.
State of Washington Tourism Steps to Success
STEP 1: Introduction to Inbound Travel Trade
Date: Wednesday, January 10, 2023
Time: 9:00 AM (PST)
Location: Virtual
Steps to Success Trainer: Jennifer Ackerson, President, Alon Tourism Solutions
What You Learn:
Build your understanding of the global network of distributors that make up the international travel trade. Learn the who, what, where, why, and how to work effective with the international travel trade, expanding your business’s reach and visibility to new source markets increasing your customer base. Walk away with set guidelines and resources to enhance your ability to work effectively and efficiently with B2B inbound operators such as:
- Understand the value of working with the international inbound market and how to harness them as a powerful partner to grow your business.
- Learn step-by-step insights on how to prepare for this market including developing sellable products, services and operational resources that follow the protocols of working with the travel trade.
- Gain a strategic understanding of the travel trade distribution channel and how to position it to your benefit.
- Discover fundamental marketing strategies you can use to promote your products and service via the varied distribution channels of the travel trade
State of Washington Tourism Steps to Success
STEP 2: Laying the Groundwork
Date: Wednesday, January 31, 2024
Time: 9:00 AM (PST)
Location: Virtual
Steps to Success Trainer: Jennifer Ackerson, President, Alon Tourism Solutions
What You Learn:
How to position your products to fit the needs of the travel trade to form B2B partnerships. Develop an understanding of the pricing and resource conventions required to make your products appear attractive to this market, ensuring you gain immediate traction and equitable partnerships.
- Dive deeper into the various levels of the travel trade and their unique characteristics to begin to shape your inbound tourism development strategy.
- See how to build a dynamic “business profile” that addresses requirements of a 3rd party seller of travel products and gets traction to sell your business more easily.
- Learn what buzz words and influencing points to include in your key documents that will gain the interest of the travel trade – Review samples, tips and tricks and take your next step to create your own necessary & useful resources.
State of Washington Tourism Steps to Success
STEP 3: Smooth Operations
Date: Wednesday, February 21, 2024
Time: 9:00 AM (PST)
Location: Virtual
Steps to Success Trainer: Jennifer Ackerson, President, Alon Tourism Solutions
What You Learn :
Complete the groundwork as you learn how to strategically price your products and follow the operational protocols needed to build future, repeat base business that can fill your off-peak need periods for consistent year-round volume from the international market!
- Learn how to utilize pricing to manage your seasonality and maintain profitable business during peak and off-peak periods! Use pricing as a tool to incentivize booking off-peak periods.
- Develop your tiered pricing to switch on the travel trade distribution channel. Optimize your reseller funnel to watch your business grow year over year.
- Build your operational support documents so your ground team can seamlessly accommodate this market. Streamlining operations in advance to allow you to scale this business channel.
- Understand the operational intricacies of different buyer categories to set up specific operational practices, internal policies, and systems for effortless success. Welcome FIT, Group and MICE business optimizing the guest experience.
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Attend Steps 1, 2, & 3 and Submit Your One-Pager for Review and earn the
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Brought to you in partnership with:
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