Puerto Rico will be hosting the International Destination Expo 2011, the biggest international event this organization sponsors annually.
The Event is expected to generate over 3,000 room nights and a potential economic impact of $2 million to the Island’s economic development.
ASTA’s President Chris Russo and CEO William Maloney made the announcement at Los Cabos, Baja California, during this year’s Chapter President Council Meeting and Board of Director’s Meeting.
The Board chose Puerto Rico, edging out Acapulco and Vietnam for the right to host the event in 2011.
Daphne Barbeito, ASTA Chapter president for Puerto Rico and the USVI, said the people of the Caribbean feel “delighted and overjoyed with the election of Puerto Rico as the host of the International Destination Expo in 2011, one of the most recognized and sought after events in of the tourism industry around the world."
"This is a great opportunity for Puerto Rico and the Caribbean to position themselves as one of the primary destination in the Americas. It also gives us a chance to come together as an industry and as people to show our visitors the best our region and has to offer”.
According to Barbeito, hosting the International Destination Expo has helped develop tourism in other destinations where the event took place in previous years.
Places like: Sun City, South África (2009); Lyon, France (2008); JeJu Island, Korea (2007); and Prague, Czech Republic. The President of the ASTA Chapter feels certain that it will also help develop the tourism industry in the Caribbean.
Between 11-17 of April, nearly 1,000 travel professionals from close to 50 countries will gather in Puerto Rico to learn about the culture, attractions and the business of travel in a destination popularly referred to as the Island of Enchantment.
“Coordinating the visit of potential clients to experience Puerto Rico is one of our best selling tools. Travel agents this time. We are honored to welcome them to our shores and to have been selected as the site host of the International Destination Expo 2011."
"Travel agents are now assuming the role of travel counselors, and are as much involved with the leisure traveler as with groups,” stated Ana María Viscasillas, president and CEO, Puerto Rico Convention Bureau.
“This will be an outstanding occasion for us to showcase our Island to these travel agents through the personal experience they will have during their visit attending the International Destination Expo 2011and thus generating more groups,” concluded Viscasillas.
Puerto Rico expects over 150 supplier companies (totaling more than 200 booths) to exhibit at the Puerto Rico Convention Center, suppliers that will range from: travel agents, suppliers, wholesalers, international tourism offices, hotel chains, travel companies, transportation firms, as well as a large variety of related products and services.
Participants will be treated to an extensive agenda of presentations, meetings, educational activities, lectures, as well as a vast selection of tours and excursions to discover Puerto Rico’s best tourism attractions.
“The PRTC has been working together with the hotels and resorts, airlines, cruise ships, wholesalers and travel agents since January this year in various offers and incentives that produced an increased 96,000 room nights during the year’s first 10 months."
"The fact that we have an aggressive cooperative program, incentives and promotions among the various sectors of our industry will allow tourism to be one of the main revenue producer to safeguard our economic recovery in a sustainable way,” said Mario González Lafuente, acting executive director, Puerto Rico Tourism Company.
“The International Destination Expo 2011 is a unique event that offers specialized education of the host country, hands-on training that cannot be duplicated in the classroom,” said Chris Russo, ASTA president and chair.
“The experience these agents have will enrich their personal knowledge and understanding of the destination, allowing them to better convey the tourism experience of a country upon their return. Today, IDE is more important to travel agents than ever, as we face a competitive global market and experience daily the ever changing requirements of the travel industry.
According to Russo, some of the reasons for selecting Puerto Rico as the host of the International Destination Expo 2011 were that, with great air and sea access, Puerto Rico is very accessible to more than 80% of the ASTA members located in the US.
The island also offers an international flavor with a rich 500 year old history, while providing a great Convention Center and premier accommodations. In addition, being in the Caribbean, it offers a unique opportunity to unify efforts with the Caribbean Hotel Association and the Caribbean Tourism Organization.
The IDE will be held at the Puerto Rico Convention Center
and sponsored by the recently inaugurated Sheraton Puerto Rico Convention Center Hotel & Casino in San Juan, a 503-room facility ideal for business and leisure travel.
The $211 million property features 35,000 square feet of state-of-the-art flexible meeting space in a conference center setting, including a 16,300-square foot ballroom, spa and fitness center, casino, restaurants, shopping, lobby bar, lounge and several outdoor pools.
“The IDE will be a great opportunity for Puerto Rico to present itself to the world as an important destination in the Americas. It should also strengthen the tourism industry, offering a chance to develop great vacation packages, as well as pre and post stays for cruise ships departing from the island. For the Caribbean, it is a great opportunity to reinvent itself and provide an integrated product, in times where the world economy is trying to overcome serious economic hurdles”, Russo explained.
“The International Destination Expo is the only industry event dedicated to destination training,” said William Maloney, CEO of ASTA.
“Attendees will have the chance to experience firsthand the exciting tourism attractions Puerto Rico has to offer, discovering a sample of the old and new continent available in the Island of Enchantment. National, as well as regional suppliers and travel agents, will certainly return home with a better understanding of Puerto Rico and its tourism offerings, which will no doubt entice everyone to make arrangements to visit this premiere destination”.
To this, Barbeito added that ASTA, Puerto Rico and USVI chapter, together with the Puerto Rico Tourism Company, will be offering special “Travel Expert” destination certification to agents taking part of the activities in 2011. They will also be providing a great variety of tours and excursions to the best tourist attractions in all regions of the Island.
ASTA’s IDE is an annual gathering of travel industry professionals, seeking to immerse themselves in the culture, food and sightseeing of a unique destination, with the purpose of educating their clients about the region.
IDE provides destination-focused seminars and certifications, as well as opportunities for travel agents to build a business network with local suppliers. Delegates leave IDE having experienced all that a destination has to offer.
Image: Puerto Rico Convention Center
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