More than 150 travel planners for banks, chambers of commerce and alumni associations from across the country gathered in Huntsville, Alabama, March 30-April 1 for the rebranded Select Traveler Conference. Produced as the BankTravel Conference for 18 years, the Select Traveler Conference assembled for the first time three of the most upscale travel segments for one major conference.
“With this very successful conference in Huntsville following on the heels of rebranding Bank Travel Management magazine back in January, Mac and I have completed a transition that marries many of the most prestigious travel buyers in America,” said conference chairman Charlie Presley. “The future is very bright for these high-end travel programs and the companies that serve them.”
Group travel planners from 23 states and Canada attended the three-day conference, where they met with tour operators and destinations from 41 states, Canada, the United Kingdom, Israel and Jordan. The planners took part in business meetings with travel sellers, seminars, breakout sessions and local sightseeing in Huntsville.
“We had a glorious three days in Huntsville with the cherry trees in full bloom and the year’s first warm weather,” said Select Traveler magazine publisher Mac Lacy. “Our newest attendees — planners for chambers of commerce and alumni groups — were impressed not only by how well organized the event was, but also by the vast array of travel destinations and companies they met. We will see exponential growth from these new groups next year in Nashville.”
Huntsville’s opening-evening event was held at Alabama’s most-visited travel attraction, the U.S. Space and Rocket Center. Delegates were treated to an international collection of foods and beverages at tables arranged in the center’s huge Saturn Hall. Many toured its aerospace facilities, including the Space Camp complex that children and adults have enjoyed since 1982.
More than 5,000 six-minute business appointments took place between bank, alumni and chamber travel planners, and representatives from the travel industry. The conference’s huge networking area in the center of the marketplace was a hub of additional meetings over the three days.
