SYTA Conference 2024

Tour Operator Lunch: THE BEST OF BROADWAY: UP CLOSE & PERSONAL
2024-08-12 13:15 - 14:15 UTC
Group Sales Box Office’s Broadway Cooperative is thrilled to present a celebration of live theatre that could happen “Only in New York.” This tour operator-only lunchtime event will offer an intimate, up close and personal experience with Broadway professionals, exploring the life-changing impact that Broadway has on students and emphasizing the importance of arts education, exposure to live theatre, and connecting these themes with student group travel. THE BEST OF BROADWAY: Up Close & Personal…be in the room where it happens!

Presented by Group Sales Box Office at Broadway.com

Education Session: Beyond the Brochure
2024-08-12 11:15 - 12:15
Location: Chelsea Room, Executive Conference Center, Lower Level

Museums and monuments are boring! Teens don’t want to see things; they want to do things. From attending Gladiator School in Rome to serving in a giant soup kitchen in India, learn Kellie’s tips for making educational travel fun, memorable, and meaningful.
Sponsored by Universal Destinations & Experiences

Speaker: Kellie McIntyre from 4 Worn Passports

For more information, click here.

Education Session: Human Trafficking in the Hospitality and Travel Industries
2024-08-12 11:15 - 12:15, 2024-08-12 10:00 - 11:00
Location: Sugar Hill Room, Executive Conference Center, Lower Level

Human trafficking is a form of abuse where people profit from the control and exploitation of others. The International Labor Organization estimates there are over 40 million victims globally – 1 in 4 of which is a child. Victims are often sold in hotel rooms and transported via airlines and commercial buses. Those in the hospitality and travel industries are uniquely situated to identify and report suspicious activity. In this session you will learn some of the indicators victims and traffickers exhibit, how to respond safely to suspected trafficking cases and various resources available for your industries.

Speaker: Maressa Jaikumar from We Are Pact

For more information, click here.

Branson's Ice Cream Social
2024-08-12 10:00 - 12:00, 2024-08-11 14:00 - 16:00
Join us for the Branson Ice Cream Social! Get the scoop on Branson at our delightful ice cream cart. Enjoy delicious treats while learning about all the fun and exciting things Branson has to offer. Don’t miss out on this sweet experience at the SYTA annual conference!
Sponsored by Explore Branson.

Education Session: De-Escalation Training
2024-08-12 10:00 - 11:00
Location: Chelsea Room, Executive Conference Center, Lower Level

Kill them with kindness, right? Well, no, not exactly. How do you feel when an upset guest, client, or employee approaches you? Panic and dread? Calm and confident? Join us to learn additional tools to quickly lower the emotional impact, gain tools that help you build confidence in dealing with dramatic, heightened, emotional situations that come your way.

Speakers: Heather Davis & Dayne Whitehurst

For more information, click here.

Business Appointment Session V Begins
2024-08-12 10:00

Connection Corner
2024-08-12 09:30 - 17:00

Tour Operator Lounge
2024-08-12 09:30 - 17:00
Sponsored by: Canada Tourism & Fly My Group.

Barista Bar
2024-08-12 09:30 - 11:30, 2024-08-11 14:30 - 16:30
Discover Puerto Rico is proud to sponsor SYTA’s coffee break. Puerto Rico’s coffee is in itself a unique tradition, and you will be able to savor one of the Island’s authentic flavors as you network and gather with peers and colleagues during the event.

SYTA Central and Foundation Networking Lounge
2024-08-12 09:00 - 17:30

SYTA Youth Foundation Auction & Chance Drawing
2024-08-12 09:00 - 12:30
Click here for more information.

General Session: Presidential Speeches/Visit Savannah
2024-08-12 08:15 - 09:45
Sponsored By: Universal Destinations & Experiences – Kellie McIntyre is a traveler, speaker, and author of THE PASSPORT PROJECT. Her quest for culture and adventure has taken her to 50 countries across seven continents. In 2013, Kellie and her family packed one suitcase each and embarked on a five-month journey around the world. Now, she challenges others to travel boldly. Kellie speaks to schools and groups about the impact of experiential travel on cultural intelligence (CQ). She shares tips for planning and surviving global family (mis)adventures—like being detained in a communist country—at 4WornPassports.com.

Morning Joe & Light Breakfast
2024-08-12 07:00 - 08:15
Sponsored by: Visit Savannah

Wellness Lounge
2024-08-12 05:30 - 17:30
Sponsored by Visit Williamsburg.

Experience rejuvenation at our conference wellness room: greet the day with morning yoga sessions, unwind with chair massages available upon signup, and find tranquility in our serene meditation room—a haven for relaxation and focus. Elevate your conference experience with moments dedicated to your well-being.
See schedule below and sign up for services HERE.

6:00 am- 7:00 am Yoga Session in Columbus CircleJumpstart your morning with a gentle yoga flow. Open to all experience levels, this yoga class will focus on mindful mobility and will feature a combination of movements including joint activations, gentle stretching, flows to get your blood moving, strength work and restorative poses. You can also expect to be guided through a simple meditative practice aimed to leave you feeling clear, grounded, and hopeful. Class led by FitToursNYC

6:00 am – 5:30 pm Meditation Room Open in Madison Square

9:00 am – 5:30 pm Chair Massages in Bryant Park (2 at a time, every 15 minutes)(lunch break for therapists from 11:30am-12:30pm)

After Show Reception: at Madame Tussauds
2024-08-11 21:00 - 23:30
SYTA is stepping into the spotlight! Madame Tussauds is hosting an extraordinary evening, where fantasy and reality collide in the most spectacular way. Whether you choose to sip on drinks with A-list celebrities or share a bite to eat with your favorite sports hero, this private SYTA experience promises to be nothing short of extraordinary.

Food and beverage provided by Yard House.

Lion King Performance: THE LION KING on Broadway
2024-08-11 18:30 - 21:15
Join us for a SYTA Annual Conference exclusive performance of THE LION KING on Broadway! This private performance at the Minskoff Theater is for all Conference attendees. Additional details will come closer to the conference.
Sponsored by: Disney on Broadway and Disney Imagination Campus

Location: Minskoff Theatre

Light Reception
2024-08-11 17:30 - 18:30
Location: Minskoff Theatre

Business Appointment Session IV Ends
2024-08-11 17:03

Education Session: SYTA Youth Foundation
2024-08-11 16:15 - 17:15
Location: Chelsea Room, Executive Conference Center, Lower Level

Come learn about how the SYTA Youth Foundation has inspired and impacted youth by providing travel experiences and learn how you can support the Foundation!

Speaker: Allison French, SYF Chair and members of the Board of Trustees

For more information, click here.

Education Session: Researching the Future of Student & Youth Travel
2024-08-11 16:15 - 17:15
Location: Sugar Hill Room, Executive Conference Center, Lower Level

The student/youth audience makes up for one-fourth of the entire travel market – and yet research and attention on this segment is lacking. The vibrant youth audience is ready and able to travel but is seeking out experiences that meet their very specific set of values – namely: social impact, sustainability, technology usage, safety, and diversity and inclusion. This session brings together customer preference insights and data to assist in understanding the future of this market, providing in-depth knowledge and perspectives from educators, tour operators, and travel researchers. This session was organized by the SYTA Research Committee.

Speakers: Panel of speakers will be shared in mid-July.

For more information, click here.

Education Session: Building a Sustainable and Impactful Travel Itinerary
2024-08-11 15:00 - 16:00
Location: Sugar Hill Room, Executive Conference Center, Lower Level

Sponsored by Visit Anchorage

Speakers: Greg Takehara and Ken Frohling

For more information, click here.

Education Session: Customer Journey for the Team
2024-08-11 15:00 - 16:00
Location: Chelsea Room, Executive Conference Center, Lower Level

Explore the customer journey and think through your role in it. This is perfect for team members in marketing, sales, and operations.

Speaker: Andrea Ross with Cultivate Advisors

For more information, click here.

Afternoon Refreshments for Suppliers
2024-08-11 14:30 - 16:30
Location: Connection Corner

Business Sessions IV Begins
2024-08-11 14:30

Explore NYC: Lunch on Own (all attendees)
2024-08-11 13:15 - 14:15

Business Appointment Session III Ends
2024-08-11 13:01

Education Session: Preparing for the Worst
2024-08-11 11:15 - 12:15
Location: Sugar Hill Room, Executive Conference Center, Lower Level

Utilizing Crisis Simulations to Understand Roles and Responsibilities When Disasters Occur – Once your organization has developed a Crisis Response Plan and your team members have been trained in order to understand the role each of them play in a crisis response, it is important to practice so everyone knows how to use the Plan. A Crisis Simulation activity allows team members to act out their part as if the simulation were a real crisis. It gives an opportunity for team members to develop a reference point and memory that they can call upon to help ensure they will react appropriately during a real-life event. Join our panel to participate in a live crisis simulation activity and come away with an experience and resources you can take back to your organization to make sure you are prepared for the worst. This session was organized by the SYTA Health & Safety Committee.
Sponsored by AFC Travel.

Speakers: Dave Dennis with Cornerstone Safety Group and members of SYTA’s Health & Safety Committee

For more information, click here.
