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America’s Upscale Travel Programs Gather in French Lick

FRENCH LICK, Indiana — The French Lick Resort and Visit French Lick/West Baden hosted the 2019 Select Traveler Conference February 10-12, drawing more than 300 upscale travel planners and travel industry delegates to the destination’s historic southern Indiana locale.  In addition to planners for banks, chambers of commerce, universities and other high-end organizations, more than two dozen international tour and cruise companies participated in the three-day event.

“Joe Vezzoso, Kristal Painter and all their associates made certain our delegates felt the hospitality that has so long characterized this Indiana resort area,” said conference CEO Joe Cappuzzello.  “From our opening evening at the magnificent West Baden Spring Hotel through our closing luncheon at the resort, our hosts were gracious and generous to our delegation.  Everyone was impressed.”

More than 4,000 business appointments between travel planners and destinations were held during the conference’s three marketplace sessions, and sponsored meals and speakers highlighted time away from the marketplace floor.

Other meal sponsors at the conference included U.S. Tours and Trips, which sponsored breakfasts, Collette and Globus Family of Brands, which hosted luncheons, and Visit Cheyenne, host to the 2020 Select Traveler Conference next March 22-24.

Seminar sessions at the event included a super session delivered by Amber Selking, titled “Think Like a Champion” and a keynote address by Bob Pacanovsky titled “The Value of Loyalty”.  Greg Nahmens of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, also brought delegates up to date on the latest safety measures for motorcoach charter companies being overseen by his department.

“We heard a lot of excitement about going out West next year,” said Cappuzzello.  “Wyoming is such an authentic state, and Jim Walters hosted such a successful Western-themed dinner that I think everyone wants to be with us next March in Cheyenne.”

For information on the 2020 Select Traveler Conference, visit www.selecttravelerconf.com.

Mac Lacy

Mac Lacy is president and publisher of The Group Travel Leader Inc. Mac has been traveling and writing professionally ever since a two-month backpacking trip through Europe upon his graduation with a journalism degree from the University of Evansville in 1978.