Location: AZUL Clubhouse

Location: Hotel Lobby Summit Early Arrivals Wednesday night hotel is not included in Summit Registration Fee. Attendees can add this night to their registration for $294.00 plus tax. Extra night can be added through December 16th, 2024. For more information, click here. 

Location: Hotel LobbySummit Early ArrivalsWednesday night hotel is not included in Summit Registration Fee.Attendees can add this night to their registration for $294.00 plus tax. Extra night can be added through December 16th, 2024.

Location: AZUL ClubhouseUnwind and connect with colleagues at our optional evening reception during happy hour. Join us in the hotel lounge for refreshing beverages and casual conversation in a relaxed setting. Attendance is optional!

Location: Scottsdale

Location: AZUL Clubhouse

Location: Desert-Encanto l    SYTA Central is your one-stop destination to kick off your event experience! Here, you’ll check in for registration, pick up your badge, tour tickets for Thursday activities, and event materials. Grab a quick snack to fuel your day.

Location: Encanto ll - Fiesta

Location: SYTA CentralIncludes a ticket to Western Spirit: Scottsdale's Museum of the West and Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art.Enjoy Old Town Scottsdale. Attendees may walk (1 mile) or take a short ride to Old Town Scottsdale.  Along the way you will pass Fashion Square Mall (open until 9:00pm) and arrive at Old Town. The shops […]

Location: SYTA CentralDiscover the rich and vibrant world of American Indian art, from traditional artworks to contemporary creations at the Heard Museum, Phoenix. Then experience the beautiful Desert Botanical Garden and learn about the plants and animals that thrive in the desert. Lunch on own at Museum or at the Garden. For more information on the […]

Location: SYTA Central  Spend some time exploring the Sonoran Desert with a guide. Learn about the plants and animals of the Phoenix area while you hike through the rocky landscape in the desert. The hike is designed for mild to medium levels.A minimum of 12 attendees are required for the desert hike. The hike will […]

Buses will be available to depart the Embassy Suites at 4:30pm and loop back again for another pick up at 5:00pm

Location: Hotel Valley Ho RooftopAdmire panoramic views of Camelback Mountain and Downtown Scottsdale on the rooftop of the legendary Valley Ho Hotel. Sunset is scheduled for 5:44pm so arrive early and experience the beautiful desert sky with your friends and colleagues. Enjoy a heavy cocktail reception with a signature mocktail to kick off the evening. […]

Location: Old Town Scottsdale Keep the evening going with our optional Afterglow! Take this opportunity to explore the charm and vibrancy of Old Town Scottsdale at your own pace. With its lively nightlife, unique boutiques, art galleries, and a variety of restaurants and bars, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Whether you’re looking to relax […]

Location: Hotel Lobby/Walk/Run Scottsdale Join Summit attendees for a fun walk/run of the local area. Dress warmly and meet in the lobby by 6:00am. We will informally connect walkers and runners. No sign up necessary.   

Location: AZUL Clubhouse

Location: Desert-Encanto 1, IISYTA Central is your one-stop destination to kick off your event experience! Here, you’ll check in for registration, pick up your badge, tour tickets for Thursday activities, and event materials. Grab a quick snack to fuel your day.

Location: Silverman FoyerStart your day right with our morning 'Joe' coffee break! Whether you’re fueling up or catching up after a missed breakfast, enjoy freshly brewed coffee paired with a selection of pastries to power you through the morning. It’s the perfect pick-me-up to kick off a productive day!

Location: Hacienda 1-Paloma III  Bring your cup of Joe to the traditional Summit Welcome by your SYTA President, Courtenay Betts. Don’t miss your opportunity to be recognized in front of your colleagues.

Location: Hacienda 1-Paloma III    Speaker: Sheri JacobsUnleash Your Creativity: Empowering Your Team to Take Risks and Innovate What does it take for an organization to thrive—not just survive—in today's environment? If you think it's connected to the value your organization offers, you're not wrong. The problem is that with increasing competition and a rapidly […]

Location: Silverman FoyerEnjoy your “second cup of joe” and morning healthy snack.

Location: Hacienda 1 - Paloma lll    Round Tables. Tour Operators and Summit Supporters (divided between two sessions) will connect during this interactive session.

Location: Paloma I

Location: Hacienda l - Paloma lll       This luncheon discussion aims to inspire and equip Summit attendees with practical steps to operationalize meaningful travel initiatives. Each of our panelists has approached their sustainability journeys in a different way and have unique stories to tell about how they started incorporating more responsible practices into their […]

Location: Transportation Area-Conference Center

Location: Medieval Times“Cultural tourism is backed by a desire to discover, learn about and enjoy the tangible and intangible cultural assets offered in a tourism destination, ranging from heritage, performing arts, handicrafts, rituals and gastronomy.” -UNESCOSummit attendees will spend the afternoon with the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community (SRPMIC), an established sovereign tribe experiencing their […]

Location: Talking Stick Golf Club

Location: Transportation to Casino, HotelExtend your evening with our optional Afterglow! Head over to Talking Stick Casino to test your luck and enjoy its vibrant atmosphere, or return to the hotel for a more relaxed end to your night. Whether you’re in the mood for excitement or unwinding, the choice is yours to make the […]

Location: Hotel LobbyWalk or Run Scottsdale! Join Summit attendees for a fun walk/run of the local area. Dress warmly and meet in the lobby by 6:00am. We will informally connect walkers and runners. No sign up necessary.

Location: AZUL Clubhouse

Location: Desert-Encanto 1, II  SYTA Central is your one-stop destination to kick off your event experience! Here, you’ll check in for registration, pick up your badge, tour tickets for Thursday activities, and event materials. Grab a quick snack to fuel your day.

Location: Silverman FoyerStart your day right with our morning 'Joe' coffee break! Whether you’re fueling up or catching up after a missed breakfast, enjoy freshly brewed coffee paired with a selection of pastries to power you through the morning. It’s the perfect pick-me-up to kick off a productive day!

Location: Hacienda l - Paloma lll

Location: Kiva HaciendaClare Sisky will share the results of a multi-year study focused on how educators in schools (and their partners) are equipping and empowering students to take action in response to climate change through travel experiences. Sisky will share real world examples that will help your teams respond to clients asking for more sustainable […]

Location: Silverman Foyer

Location: Hacienda 1-Paloma III  Round Tables. Tour Operators and Summit Supporters (divided between two sessions) will connect during this interactive session.

Location: Hacienda l - Paloma lll  In this presentation, Andrew McCauley will explore the critical reasons why embracing AI is no longer optional for businesses in the tourism Industry. He will highlight how AI-driven technologies can streamline operations, enhance customer experiences, and provide personalized, data-driven insights that drive growth. Through real-world examples, McCauley will demonstrate […]

Location: Paloma 1

Location: Transportation Area - Conference Center

Location: MIMSExperience this unique museum with a collection of 7,500 instruments from more than 200 world countries and territories. MIM began with a vision to create a musical instrument museum that would be truly global. MIM’s founder Bob Ulrich (then CEO of Target Corporation) was inspired to develop a new kind of museum that would […]

Location: Silverman Terrace, Embassy Suites HotelSaddle up for an unforgettable evening at our Rodeo Chic reception and dinner! Join us outdoors under the stars for a night of rustic charm and modern flair. Embrace the theme with your best western-inspired attire and enjoy a lively atmosphere filled with great food, refreshing drinks, and good company.

Location: AZUL Clubhouse

Location: Paloma IIIJoin us for an engaging and interactive workshop designed to enhance your skills and knowledge in risk and safety management. This workshop will cover key concepts and practical applications while providing hands-on activities to encourage collaboration and creativity. It is free to attend, and multiple attendees from the same company are welcome. Whether […]

Location: Paloma I

Location: Paloma II

Location: Paloma I

Location: AZUL ClubhouseUnwind and connect with colleagues at our optional evening reception during happy hour. Join us in the hotel lounge for refreshing beverages and casual conversation in a relaxed setting. Attendance is optional!

Location: The Cavalier Hotel and Beach Club

Location: The Cavalier Hotel and Beach Club

Draft Schedule (as of October, 2025) Leave The Cavalier Hotel at 9:00am Return to hotel by 3:00pm   Virginia Beach: Where the Atlantic Ocean and the Chesapeake Bay meet, Virginia Beach offers a mix of education, performing arts, adventure, and fun!   Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center- 800, 000-plus gallons of aquariums, hands-on exhibits, […]

Crown Salon, The Cavalier Hotel

Visited by over 100,000 global visitors, the A.R.E. Headquarters in Virginia Beach is the heart of Edgar Cayce’s visionary legacy. Discover the transformative insights of his psychic readings and explore their modern-day applications in health, spirituality, meditation, intuition, and holistic living. Experience a place where timeless wisdom meets personal and global spiritual growth.

SeaHill Spa - Luxury Spa and Salon, The Cavalier Deluxe Fitness Center, The Cavalier Virginia Beach Boardwalk - Explore the Iconic Oceanfront by foot or bicycle Visit with colleagues in SYTA Central

Enjoy an elegant reception featuring heavy hors d’oeuvres and classic Old Fashioned cocktails in the iconic Raleigh Room & Great Lawn Loggia at The Cavalier Hotel.

Meet in the lobby of the Marriott Oceanfront Resort.

Crown Room, The Cavalier Hotel

Salon E, Marriott Oceanfront Resort.

Salon E, Marriott Oceanfront Resort — Kick off the Summit with a warm welcome from the SYTA President as he outlines SYTA’s priorities for 2026. Take this opportunity to ask questions, share concerns and discuss the future of student travel. Discussion will include our advocacy efforts with allied associations and how our industry is working […]

Salon E, Marriott Oceanfront Resort.

Location: Salon E, Marriott Oceanfront Resort.Keynote Speaker — Stacey Hanke, CEO, speaker and author of Elevate Influence will lead an interactive workshop and provide practical and actionable steps backed by the latest research to 10x your influence during all interactions. Attendees will receive a copy of her book, Influence Elevated. 

Location: Salon E, Marriott Oceanfront Resort. Luncheon Speaker — Christopher W. Naughton, Esq. CEO of the Edgar Cayce Foundation and A.R.E. will welcome attendees and share a brief overview of their work. The Edgar Cayce Foundation and The Cavalier Hotel opened at the same time in the early 1920's and share a mutual history in […]

Location: Salon E, Marriott Oceanfront Resort. Dreams and Meditation: A Practical Approach to Self-Discovery explores how dreams and meditation together can unlock deeper self-awareness. Blending psychology and mindfulness, it offers practical exercises for recalling, interpreting, and meditating on dreams to reveal hidden emotions, resolve inner conflicts, and promote personal growth. Karen Wright, MA, MHt is a Master […]

Salon E, Marriott Oceanfront Resort.

Salon E, Marriott Oceanfront Resort.

Salon E, Marriott Oceanfront Resort.

Crown Room, The Cavalier Hotel

Location: The Cavalier HotelEnjoy casual dining and entertainment in front of the fireplace in the Hunt Room at The Cavalier Hotel.  Throughout the evening, attendees may also enjoy a tour and tasting at the Tarnished Truth Distillery.Tarnished Truth Distillery

Salon E, Marriott Oceanfront Resort.