顾问和供应商感恩地聚集在布达佩斯,参加ASTA的首届全球河流巡航博览会
经过丹妮丝·凯亚佐(Denise Caiazzo)/
最后,随着大流行已成为世界各地的流行,总部位于美国的500多名旅行顾问在3月16日至20日在布达佩斯举行的美国旅行顾问协会(ASTA)全球河流巡航博览会面对面。来自匈牙利旅游局的全球河流邮轮品牌和欧洲参展商。
The overall feeling was encouraging and optimistic about the return of travel. Attendees were so happy to be able to mix and mingle again, share stories, and strategize together – and, of course, to travel freely once again to one of Europe’s most welcoming and beautiful cities.
ASTA总裁兼首席执行官Zane Kerby说:“ ASTA河巡航博览会以及现在在世界各地发生的旅行限制的撤销,支持大流行正在迅速消失的现实。”“这对我们所有人来说都是个好消息。对于所有准备环游世界的美国人来说,这尤其是个好消息!旅行促进和平,理解和同理心。将再次实现与全球人和地方建立联系的机会。旅行顾问将在那里指导,建议和关注。在我们共同人类的纽带比以往任何时候都需要的时候。”
Just weeks before the start of the ASTA Global River Cruise Expo, when war broke out between neighboring Ukraine and Russia, it may not have been an easy decision for some as to whether to attend or not. But, interestingly, there was only a 1% cancellation rate, as a result of the unrest. To that we say, “Well done, travel advisors, for boldly leading the way for your clients.”
Budapest was chosen to host the event because it is considered the “river capital of the world.” A premier port destination along the Danube River, Budapest is easily accessible via direct flights connecting major cities of North America with Hungary.
更重要的是,几乎所有COVID-r的淘汰elated restrictive measures means that travelers can enter Hungary without the need for any vaccination or immunity certificate or any type of tests. Vaccination certificates and mask-wearing is no longer required to access indoor conferences, accommodations, spas, sporting or cultural events, music and dance festivals, or outdoor events of any type.
“We were thrilled to be partnering with ASTA to host their inaugural Global River Cruise Expo in Budapest,” said László Könnyid, deputy CEO of the Hungarian Tourism Agency. “Our hope is that all travel agents and advisors attending the event will get to know our beautiful capital and the surrounding region with all its off-the-beaten path destinations – to hopefully convince their clients to spend some extra days with us before or after their river cruises. This event once again underlines Hungary’s prominent position among river cruise destinations, and it is an honor that the industry leaders gathered in Budapest for the first time ever for such an occasion.”
匈牙利的最新旅游活动在美国et is launching this month with a focus on theoutstanding architecture of Budapest, 这unique folk traditions, andthe exceptional thermal spa culture国家的。
照片:ASTA
河流邮轮部门的新概念
ASTA’s Global River Cruise Expo is the first event of its kind for the river cruise sector. As Kerby told it, some 18 months ago, it was the brainchild of Bob Duglin, ASTA’s former vice president of international membership (who sadly passed away last July). His idea was for attendees to be able to compare ships side by side, simultaneously, in one relevant river cruise host city.
ASTA团队必须努力使鲍勃的梦想成为现实。而且,在今年的博览会上,在码头进行了船舶检查以及船上的午餐和晚餐,包括:Amadeus河邮轮,Amawaterways,Avalon Waterways,Scen Feneac豪华游轮和旅游,Emerald Cruises,Uniworld Botique River Cruises和Viking。阵容,这并不令人失望。克比还承认,访问匈牙利,安联和名人巡游,以使活动实现。
The Global River Cruise Expo gave travel advisors the chance to build firsthand knowledge of what their river cruise clients experience; and to gather information to help them make safe and responsible travel decisions.
教育和供应商会议
During the general session, Master of Ceremonies Sandra McLemore asked how many travel advisors in attendance were “niche curious about river cruising,” which turned out to be a sizable number, as many of the attendees had not yet been on a river cruise.
Also at the general session, panels of river cruise line executives discussed their unique selling points; the differences between ocean cruising and river cruising; and critically important topics such as sustainability.
Breakout sessions also explored topics such as how to attract new-to-river-cruise clients; how best to partner with river cruise suppliers; a guide to going live on social media in-destination; the importance of selling travel insurance; and the key tourism aspects of Hungary.
许多与会者签署了前后的比赛。博览会现在已经结束,但本周,旅行顾问正在与Ama,Avalon和Emerald一起航行经典和无路的行程。
照片:ASTA
旅行顾问反应
Every travel advisor we spoke to praised the event. “I was truly impressed with Bob Duglin's vision of a River Cruise Expo,” said Suanne Adair, ECCS, LCS, DS, PRTE, of Adair to Travel, LLC. “ASTA did a fabulous job of turning his vision into reality. The number of vendors was impressive and I learned a lot about the area and the surrounding countries. I especially loved being able to tour so many different river ship lines without having to actually fly to Europe several times and cruise a week or more on each one. My new in-depth knowledge of the different lines will definitely help me grow my niche river cruise market and help me assist in matching my clients to the right product. The investment that ASTA put into both us and the river cruise lines was superb, and I really appreciated being able to attend the first annual ASTA River Cruise Expo.”
Let On Travel,LLC的Roberta de Grandis,CIS,CTA,MCC,评论说:“这是一次很棒的经历。除此之外,我可能不会来布达佩斯。我对这座城市感到非常惊讶和高兴。河流巡游的所有主要参与者都在这里。他们派出顶级代表与我们一对一交谈,这令人印象深刻。它显示了他们对旅行顾问的承诺。”
我Do Island婚礼和蜜月的CTIE丽莎·谢尔顿(Lisa Sheldon)签署了明年的博览会,因为他们已经说过会有不同的船只可以看到。这是一个很好的机会,可以看到船只和与当地旅行供应商建立联系。”
What suppliers had to say
河流邮轮公司代表的反馈同样积极。国民账户,风景秀丽的豪华巡游与旅游与翡翠巡游的高级总监理查德·希基(Richard Hickey)指出:“我惊讶于有多少旅行顾问尚未参加河流巡游。尽管我们不是新鲜事物,但我们是美国的年轻品牌,因此该活动为我们提供了展示我们两种产品的机会。顾问走开说:“哇,我不知道……’”
Camille Olivere, chief sales officer, Globus family of brands, which includes Avalon River Cruises, said: “It was incredibly rewarding to have the beautiful Avalon Envision featured side-by-side other river cruise company ships, after so much time apart, at the ASTA River Expo … The trade show itself, and the educational sessions offered, gave Avalon the opportunity to showcase our travel advisor-friendly and profitable group programs as well as our easy-to-use booking engine. It was a great week that we look forward to repeating next year!”
说到这一点,ASTA宣布将于2023年3月15日至18日在布达佩斯再次举行第二次全球河流巡航博览会。Registrationis already open, and judging by the reaction to this year’s event, the 2023 expo will likely also sell out quickly.
Aid to Ukraine
ASTA, as a 90-year-old trade association, has always been committed to supporting its international partners through times of war and global crisis. To assist with the current humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, ASTA announced at the Global River Cruise Expo that the organization made a $25,000 contribution to the Global Empowerment Movement. They are working with a travel agency in Poland, Why Not Travel (a Travel Leaders affiliate) to relocate displaced refugees who have friends and family in safe places across Europe. At the behest of ASTA Vice-Chair Jackie Friedman, Travel Leaders Foundation also donated an additional $10,000 to GEM.
And, ASTA attendees brought a generous amount of supplies, such as blankets and hygiene kits for women and children, with them from the U.S., which were collected onsite during the Global River Cruise Expo and sent directly to the Ukrainian border, with the help of the Hungarian Tourism Agency.