ABOUT

SYTA Summit at Sea 2024 is a unique networking retreat for student group tour operators and key industry partners to connect and recharge during a three-day immersive learning experience. The SYTA Summit was reimagined in 2012 and since then, the Summit has inspired more than 900 participants—95% of whom say they plan to attend again. The Summit’s success is also due to the destinations and experiences that change each year. We are proud of our host destinations listed below.

SUMMIT AT SEA 2024
Friday, February 2 – Monday, February 5, 2024

In 2015, we held our first Summit at Sea and in 2024 we will be returning to the Ocean, leaving from Port Canaveral, Florida (45 miles from Orlando International Airport). This will be a great opportunity for tour operators to experience the value that many student groups find in booking a student experience at sea. For our sponsors, Summit offers an all-inclusive environment to network and learn with clients.

Click here to view an educator recommendation for students at sea.

WHAT WILL YOU GAIN BY PARTICIPATING IN THE SYTA SUMMIT?

The SYTA Summit at Sea leverages peer-engagement to increase connections between great ideas, trends, and real-world scenarios, to find solutions that you can use to prepare your business for the future. The first morning will be a facilitated session with a leading speaker and the second day will be round table discussions among attendees.

New! This year we are excited to announce an immersive leadership experience with speaker, author and consultant, Kevin Brown, who is passionate about helping people and organizations. Kevin spoke at the 2022 SYTA Annual Conference opening luncheon and transformed the audience with his motivational and inspiring keynote. At the Summit at Sea, he will roll up his sleeves and deliver a workshop designed specifically for our attendees.

Over the course of three days, you’ll be inspired and challenged by a line-up of engaging speakers and successful industry leaders from diverse backgrounds who will offer thought-provoking points of view on new and old issues.

SUMMIT AT SEA PROGRAM & YEARBOOK

Scan the QR code’s below to view this years SYTA Summit at Sea Program and Yearbook!

TOUR OPERATORS

We are excited to partner with Visit Orlando and Receptively Yours to offer an insider’s “fam tour” of Orlando and its partners. This is prior to the Summit at Sea and includes two nights’ hotel, tours, presentations, and a round table for tour operators. The tours and activities will be on Thursday, February 1, 2024, and the morning of Friday, February 2nd, prior to Summit at Sea departure at 12:00 pm.

SUMMIT AT SEA SPONSORS

The proximity to Orlando offers sponsors the opportunity to come in early and meet with clients and local partners, January 31-February 2, 2024. Summit at Sea sponsors are welcome to reserve a room and visit their clients in Orlando on Thursday and participate in the SYTA Social. Transportation for the cruise will be provided from the hotel and departs at 12:00 pm. Hotel rooms are available on Wednesday, January 31st for an additional charge. Please update your profile if you plan to attend the SYTA Social. Local SYTA members will be able to attend. If you are flying back on Monday, February 5th, please note that the ship does not guarantee a time before 9:00 AM to depart the ship. If you are taking the shuttle back to MCO, you must reserve in advance. Ubers and taxis are available at the Port.

LIST OF 2023 ATTENDEES

SYTA THANKS ALL OF OUR SUMMIT DESTINATIONS

Anaheim	Irvine
Banff Lake Louise	New Orleans
Branson	NYC
Cancun	Puerto Rico
Chicago	Puerto Rico
Colorado Springs	Punta Cana
Colorado Springs	Quebec
Costa Rica	San Diego
Cruise Bahamas	St.Louis
Fort Myers	Tampa
Hawaii	Toronto

Dr. Michael A. Mazzarisi, President, Performing Arts Consultants

The best part of a SYTA SUMMIT is that it provides the opportunity for travel professionals to meet in a conversable setting without the pressure of a 7 minute meeting or have to deal with the barrage of conference masses. Every tour operator has unique abilities, and since I am a big proponent of partnerships, SUMMIT becomes an ideal network to forge plans for new and exciting joint ventures.

Kara Mihalevich, President, Adventure Student Travel, LLC

To me, SYTA Summit is the most valuable conference that I attend. I always find the educational seminars very useful and because it is a smaller, more intimate conference, you get to build a much deeper relationship with the sponsors. This is also the only conference that I have ever really had the opportunity to get to know other attendees. I absolutely LOVE SYTA Summit!

Steve Maehl, Global Travel Alliance

It was over ten years ago that I attended my very first SYTA event at the 2009 Summit. I learned a lot, and made new friendships, but what impressed me the most was discovering an organization that desired to come together to collectively improve our industry and continually works together to change young lives for good through travel.

Tara Hippensteel, National Director of Tourism, City Cruises

SYTA Summit provides an unique opportunity to get up close with my SYTA partners and many of our buyers. The environment lends itself to a causal, natural environment – no pressure just building my network!