EDUCATION

SYTA Summit at Sea education is exclusively created and designed for Business Owners and Senior Executives, providing opportunities to network, learn, and discuss critical issues facing student travel companies with their peers.

Friday February 2

Learn how to better work with your partners in 2024 and hear industry updates.

9:20 AM- 9:55 AM | Air & Charter Transportation

Anthony Hilden

Director of Sales for AFC Travel

Emily Donovan

VP of Business Development for Fly My Group

10:00 AM – 10:35 AM | Motorcoach Transportation

Karen Pitcherello

Director of Business Development for Mears Transportation

Kathryn Fischer

Vice President of sales for Transportation Charter Services

Leah Ann Ingram

Director of Sales for Escot Bus Lines

Terry Fischer

President for Transportation Charter Services

10:40 AM – 11:10 AM | Hotel Trends

Amanda Thibeau

National Account Director for Aimbridge Hospitality

Ellen Lurz

Partner for Book My Group

Teresa Vlasic

Sales Manager for Universal Orlando Resort

Saturday February 3

9:00 AM – 12:00 PM | Interactive Workshop with Kevin Brown

Kevin Brown

Learn more about Kevin Brown down below!

Sunday February 4

8:30 AM – 9:00 AM | Cruising with Students: Learn all about how to cruise with student groups, tips & tricks, and unique opportunities when cruising!

Mike Mazzarisi

President for Performing Arts Consultants

Dave Mazzarisi

General Manager for Performing Arts Consultants

9:00 AM – 9:30 AM | SYTA Huddle – join us for announcements!

9:30 AM – 10:00 AM | Sustainability & Travel: The Case for Meaningful Travel – What is it? Why does it matter? How to build it!

Greg Takehara

CEO for Tourism Cares

10:00 AM – 11:00 AM | AI & Legal Considerations

Without a doubt, AI is a force to be reckoned with. When used cautiously, it can make planning tours more efficient. (At least that’s what AI tells us.) But what are the concerns for travel professionals? If you are a tour operator, supplier, or guide, you will soon be faced with understanding how AI can help or hurt you. Does using AI leave you vulnerable for claims? Is it reliable in all applications? Do you need to add some protective language to your terms of service or your terms and conditions? This session (presented by a person, not a computer) will help you navigate these previously uncharted territories.

Jeff Ment

Managing Partner for Ment Law Group

11:15 AM – 12:15 PM | Scaling Your Business for Sustainable Growth

Tour Operators, join Andrea in learning about how to grow your business in 2024, build your team to be stronger, and improve your leadership skills.

Andrea Ross

Business Advisor with Cultivate Advisors

11:15 AM – 12:15 PM | Sponsors, join SYTA staff to learn all about upcoming sponsorship opportunities for 2024.

KEVIN BROWN

Kevin Brown kicked off the 2022 SYTA Annual Conference with standing ovations. Kevin’s unconventional path to business and personal success has taught him that winning in business and in life requires anything but conventional thinking. With a streetwise aptitude and a never quit attitude, he worked his way from the front lines in business to the executive boardroom. For two decades, Kevin was a sales and marketing executive that helped grow a little-known family business into an industry giant with annual revenues reaching two billion dollars.

At the SYTA Summit at Sea, you will have the unique experience of joining your peers in a two-hour workshop led by Kevin with exclusive content and a Q & A session.

Today is Your Legacy™: Turning Everyday Moments into a Lifetime of Excellence

In his signature style, Kevin Brown entertains and inspires leaders to reach beyond the ordinary and embrace the extraordinary.

Today Is Your Legacy was created for those who are passionate about building people and organizations that stand the test of time. This program picks up where The Hero Effect leaves off and teaches how heroes lead, live and influence the world around them in powerful ways.

In this fast-paced session, Kevin infuses all new stories with humor, inspiration and self-reflection that elevate performance and results.

This program is designed to encourage and motivate participants by exploring the following key elements of creating a legacy by design and not by default.

Six legacy questions that define the ultimate influence of high-performance leaders.
A simple RECIPE for creating a culture that drives organizational excellence and customer loyalty.
How to master every moment and create the habit of excellence at work and in life.

Sunday, February 4
8:30 AM – 12:30 PM

AFTERNOON GROUP ACTIVITIES AND THOUGHT LEADER DISCUSSIONS

Sunday, February 4
1:30 PM – 4:30 PM

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.

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.

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!