2026 SYTA Annual Conference Schedule at a Glance
Schedule below is an example draft and is subject to change. Updates will be made regularly.
Thursday, August 20
9:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Exhibitor Set Up
DLCC Concourse C
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Conference Committee Reception, Sponsored by Visit Savannah
Shorty’s Pins x Pints
Attendee Dinner – On Your Own
Friday, August 21
All Day
Pittsburgh Sightseeing Tours
TBD
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Exhibitor Set Up
Hall C
7:30 AM – 7:30 PM
SYTA Annual Conference Registration
Concourse C
3:30 PM – 4:30 PM
Thought Leadership Session 1: From Steel to Sustainable: Exploring the Impact Levy and DLCC Are Making in Pittsburgh
Meeting Room 328
3:30 PM – 4:30 PM
Thought Leadership Session 2: Social Media Trends 2026: What to Start, Stop, & Keep
Meeting Room 329
5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Leadership Reception, Sponsored by VisitPITTSBURGH (by invitation only)
August Wilson
6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
New Attendee Get Together & Orientation
Meeting Room 330
7:00 PM – 9:30 PM
Opening Night Event: An Evening in Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh Convention Center – Rooftop Terrace
Saturday, August 22
8:00 AM – 9:30 AM
General Session & Breakfast
Spirit of Pittsburgh Ballroom
7:30 AM – 6:00 PM
SYTA Annual Conference Registration
Concourse C
9:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Showcase Floor Open
Hall C
9:30 AM – 12:30 PM
SYTA Central
Hall C
9:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Connection Corner, Sponsored by Museum of the Bible
Hall C
9:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Barista Bar, Sponsored by Discover Puerto Rico
Hall C
9:30 AM – 12:30 PM
SYTA Youth Foundation Auction
Hall C
9:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Picnic Ice Cream Booth, Sponsored by Branson (ice cream served TBD)
Hall C
9:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Tour Operator Lounge, Sponsored by Canadian Tourism Partners and Fly My Group
Hall C
9:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Innovation Station, Sponsored by Group Collect
Hall C
9:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Power Lounge, Sponsored by Visit Richmond
Hall C
9:30 AM – 12:15 PM
Wellness Lounge, Sponsored by Visit Williamsburg (Massages available 9:30 AM – 12:15 PM)
Hall C
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Puppy Park, Sponsored by Edge at Hudson Yard
Hall C
10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Global Citizens Challenge
Meeting Room 311
10:00 AM – 12:26 PM
Business Appointment Session I
Hall C
10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Thought Leader Session 3: A Year in Review: Health & Safety Lessons from the Student Travel Industry
Meeting Room 328
10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Thought Leader Session 4: The Human Future of Tourism: Everything is Marketing, Everything is Technology
Meeting Room 329
11:15 AM – 12:15 PM
Thought Leader Session 5: Insurance & Risk Management – Examining School, Parent and Supplier Agreement Concerns
Meeting Room 328
11:15 AM – 12:15 PM
Thought Leader Session 6: Between Expectations & Operations: Designing the Perfect Student Itinerary
Meeting Room 329
12:30 PM – 2:30 PM
Welcome Luncheon and Keynote, Sponsored by Disney
Spirit of Pittsburgh Ballroom
2:30 PM – 5:30 PM
Showcase Floor Open
Hall C
2:30 PM – 5:30 PM
SYTA Central
Hall C
2:30 PM – 5:30 PM
Barista Bar, Sponsored by Discover Puerto Rico
Hall C
2:30 PM – 5:30 PM
SYTA Youth Foundation Auction
Hall C
2:30 PM – 5:30 PM
Connection Corner, Sponsored by Museum of the Bible
Hall C
2:30 PM – 5:30 PM
Picnic Ice Cream Booth, Sponsored by Branson (ice cream served TBD)
Hall C
2:30 PM – 5:30 PM
Tour Operator Lounge, Sponsored by Canadian Tourism Partners and Fly My Group
Hall C
2:30 PM – 5:30 PM
Innovation Station, Sponsored by Group Collect
Hall C
2:30 PM – 5:30 PM
Power Lounge, Sponsored by Visit Richmond
Hall C
2:30 PM – 5:15 PM
Wellness Lounge, Sponsored by Visit Williamsburg (Massages available 2:30 PM – 5:15 PM)
Hall C
3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Puppy Park, Sponsored by Edge at Hudson Yard
Hall C
3:00 PM – 5:19 PM
Business Appointment Session II
Hall C
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Thought Leader Session 7: When Cost is the Barrier: How the SYTA Youth Foundation Helps Groups Travel
Meeting Room 328
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Thought Leader Session 8: Beyond the Room Night: Measuring and Communicating the True Impact of Group Travel
Meeting Room 329
4:15 PM – 5:15 PM
Thought Leader Session 9: Working with International Operators
Meeting Room 328
4:15 PM – 5:15 PM
Thought Leader Session 10: Welcoming Student Performance Groups: Best Practices for Venues
Meeting Room 329
Sunday, August 23
6:00 AM – 7:45 AM
Run/Walk/Slumber, Sponsored by TCS, Royal, and Polynesian Adventures
The Westin Pittsburgh
7:45 AM – 8:30 AM
Tour Operator Breakfast (Tour Operators Only)
Meeting Rooms 401/402
7:45 AM – 8:30 AM
Supplier Breakfast (Suppliers Only)
Spirit of Pittsburgh Ballroom
8:30 AM – 9:30 AM
Supplier Forum
Spirit of Pittsburgh Ballroom
8:45 AM – 9:30 AM
Travel Talk: Valley Forge Tourism and Convention Board
Meeting Room 403
8:45 AM – 9:30 AM
Travel Talk: Alabama Tourism
Meeting Room 404
8:45 AM – 9:30 AM
Travel Talk: Virginia Tourism Corporation
Meeting Room 405
9:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Showcase Floor Open
Hall C
9:30 AM – 12:30 PM
SYTA Central
Hall C
9:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Barista Bar, Sponsored by Discover Puerto Rico
Hall C
9:30 AM – 12:30 PM
SYTA Youth Foundation Auction
Hall C
9:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Connection Corner, Sponsored by Museum of the Bible
Hall C
9:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Picnic Ice Cream Booth, Sponsored by Branson (ice cream served TBD)
Hall C
9:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Tour Operator Lounge, Sponsored by Canadian Tourism Partners and Fly My Group
Hall C
9:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Innovation Station, Sponsored by Group Collect
Hall C
9:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Power Lounge, Sponsored by Visit Richmond
Hall C
9:30 AM – 12:15 PM
Wellness Lounge, Sponsored by Visit Williamsburg (Massages available 9:30 AM – 12:15 PM)
Hall C
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Puppy Park, Sponsored by Edge at Hudson Yard
Hall C
10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Global Citizens Challenge
Meeting Room 311
10:00 AM – 12:26 PM
Business Appointment Session III
Hall C
10:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Thought Leader Session 11: The Legal Realities of Managing Your People, Customers, and Travel Partners
Meeting Room 328
10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Thought Leader Session 12
Meeting Room 329
11:15 AM – 12:15 PM
Thought Leader Session 13: Traveling with Asia
Meeting Room 328
11:15 AM – 12:15 PM
Thought Leader Session 14: Find Your Vital Signs: Taking Ownership of Your Data & Your Story
Meeting Room 329
12:30 PM – 2:30 PM
International Luncheon (All attendees)
Spirit of Pittsburgh Ballroom
2:30 PM – 5:30 PM
Showcase Floor Open
Hall C
2:30 PM – 5:30 PM
SYTA Central
Hall C
2:30 PM – 5:30 PM
Barista Bar, Sponsored by Discover Puerto Rico
Hall C
2:30 PM – 5:30 PM
SYTA Youth Foundation Auction
Hall C
2:30 PM – 5:30 PM
Connection Corner, Sponsored by Museum of the Bible
Hall C
2:30 PM – 5:30 PM
Picnic Ice Cream Booth, Sponsored by Branson (ice cream served TBD)
Hall C
2:30 PM – 5:30 PM
Tour Operator Lounge, Sponsored by Canadian Tourism Partners and Fly My Group
Hall C
2:30 PM – 5:30 PM
Innovation Station, Sponsored by Group Collect
Hall C
2:30 PM – 5:30 PM
Power Lounge, Sponsored by Visit Richmond
Hall C
2:30 PM – 5:15 PM
Wellness Lounge, Sponsored by Visit Williamsburg (Massages available 2:30 PM – 5:15 PM)
Hall C
3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Puppy Park, Sponsored by Edge at Hudson Yard
Hall C
3:00 PM – 5:19 PM
Business Appointment Session IV
Hall C
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Thought Leader Session 15: They Don’t Buy Like They Used To: Why Impressions Still Matter
Meeting Room 328
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Thought Leader Session 16: Unlocking the Global Sports Travel Opportunity – The Next Growth Engine for Youth Travel
Meeting Room 329
4:15 PM – 5:15 PM
Thought Leader Session 17: Accessible Tourism and Serving Travelers with Disabilities
Meeting Room 328
4:15 PM – 5:15 PM
Thought Leader Session 18: Student Travel in 2026: Trends, Challenges, and Opportunities Shaping the Industry
Meeting Room 329
9:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Afterglow: Under the Stars, Sponsored by Branson (ticketed event, proceeds benefit the SYTA Youth Foundation; separate registration required) Register here!
Kamin Science Center
Monday, August 24
8:00 AM – 9:30 AM
General Session & Breakfast (All Attendees)
Spirit of Pittsburgh Ballroom
9:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Showcase Floor Open
Hall C
9:30 AM – 12:30 PM
SYTA Central
Hall C
9:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Barista Bar, Sponsored by Discover Puerto Rico
Hall C
9:30 AM – 12:30 PM
SYTA Youth Foundation Auction
Hall C
9:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Connection Corner, Sponsored by Museum of the Bible
Hall C
9:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Picnic Ice Cream Booth, Sponsored by Branson (ice cream served TBD)
Hall C
9:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Tour Operator Lounge, Sponsored by Canadian Tourism Partners and Fly My Group
Hall C
9:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Innovation Station, Sponsored by Group Collect
Hall C
9:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Power Lounge, Sponsored by Visit Richmond
Hall C
9:30 AM – 12:15 PM
Wellness Lounge, Sponsored by Visit Williamsburg (Massages available 9:30 AM – 12:15 PM)
Hall C
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Puppy Park, Sponsored by Edge at Hudson Yard
Hall C
9:45 AM – 12:11 PM
Business Appointment Session V
Hall C
10:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Thought Leader Session 19: From Vague Prompts to Useful Results: Practical AI Skills for Travel Professionals
Meeting Room 328
10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Thought Leader Session 20: Safeguarding the Travel Experience: Cybersecurity Strategies for Tourism Organizations
Meeting Room 329
12:30 PM – 2:30 PM
Best of Broadway Luncheon (All Attendees)
Spirit of Pittsburgh Ballroom
2:30 PM – 5:30 PM
Showcase Floor Open
Hall C
2:30 PM – 5:30 PM
SYTA Central
Hall C
2:30 PM – 5:30 PM
Barista Bar, Sponsored by Discover Puerto Rico
Hall C
2:30 PM – 5:30 PM
SYTA Youth Foundation Auction
Hall C
2:30 PM – 5:30 PM
Connection Corner, Sponsored by Museum of the Bible
Hall C
2:30 PM – 5:30 PM
Picnic Ice Cream Booth, Sponsored by Branson (ice cream served TBD)
Hall C
2:30 PM – 5:30 PM
Tour Operator Lounge, Sponsored by Canadian Tourism Partners and Fly My Group
Hall C
2:30 PM – 5:30 PM
Innovation Station, Sponsored by Group Collect
Hall C
2:30 PM – 5:15 PM
Wellness Lounge, Sponsored by Visit Williamsburg (Massages available 2:30 PM – 5:15 PM)
Hall C
3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Puppy Park, Sponsored by Edge at Hudson Yard
Hall C
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Thought Leader Session 21: Designing Better Travel: Practical Approaches to Responsible Tourism
Meeting Room 328
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Thought Leader Session 22: Thought Leader Session: Performance Management & Feedback
Meeting Room 329
3:00 PM – 5:19 PM
Business Appointment Session VI
Hall C
7:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Closing Event (All Attendees)
PNC Park
9:30 PM – 12:00 PM
SYTA Band
Stage AE
Tuesday, August 25
All day
Attendee Departures