Thank you to all colleagues for making ETC 2010 a success!

Click here to read what attendees, speakers, and partners have said about their experience at the 2010 Educational Travel Conference. Stay tuned for details on ETC's 25th anniversary conference to be held in 2011.

More than 450 Educational Travel planners, suppliers, operators, and destinations from 41 countries gathered in Providence, Rhode Island, from February 3-6, 2010, to “Consider the Possibilities” and to chart a new course for affinity and nonprofit travel. As a post-industrial city that rebounded in spite of much adversity, Providence provided a fitting setting for candid and difficult, yet lively, conversations and sessions focusing on how to fortify businesses, dig deeper into marketplace challenges, look beyond traditional constituencies for future growth, and utilize new and different models of programming and marketing.

While today’s challenges cannot be understated, expert speakers and industry veterans also spoke to the unprecedented opportunities for educational travel development and growth. Tracks on Marketing and New Media, Trends and Influencers, Experiences & Education, Benchmarking & Shop Talk, Connecting & Collaborating, Emerging Issues & Management, and Responsible Tourism addressed the questions of the day:

•How to respond rapidly and adapt to unprecedented consumer, economic, and technological demands?
•How to re-envision program offerings, shift business models, and expand marketing strategies at a time when funds are tight,
resources few, and staff slim?
•What is the future of affinity travel?
•How are companies restructuring marketing strategies and partnerships in a new commercial environment?
•Where can sales increase in a tough economy, and how?
•How can companies and organizations improve their bottom line, benefit from untapped opportunities, and strengthen client relationships?

After 2.5 days of back-to-back educational sessions, collegial roundtables, business-to-business meetings, and networking events, attendees returned home with an understanding that now is a time for the affinity and nonprofit travel business to think differently about how to turn current challenges into future opportunities; and, many had action plans in-hand. As speaker Gary Leopold, President and CEO of ism. travel & lifestyle marketing, said in his opening keynote address: “Never let a good crisis go to waste.” Quoting this phrase from the U.S. president's chief of staff, Leopold drove home why the ability to recognize and respond to the fundamental shifts happening in businesses and in the marketplace is key to future success.

Why Attend ETC

“Sessions are top-notch and information-packed.” —Alea Cot, Assistant Vice Chancellor, Univ. of New Orleans
Why Attend ETC

“I have recommended ETC for its quality, not quantity of contacts, to other destinations and tour operators that have products appropriate for this audience, and will continue to do so.” —Katrina White, Travel Trade Mgr., Rhode Island Tourism Div.
Why Attend ETC

“Best place to network and continue to learn about this business. I don’t care how many years you do this work, there is always someone doing something new and different.” —Roberta Moore, Director, Alumni Continuing Education & Travel, Dartmouth
Why Attend ETC

“I always leave with a renewed sense of purpose and new ideas, which then has a trickle-down effect in my office. Others get inspired to try new travel programs or techniques learned at ETC.” —Amy Uhde, Dir. of Prog. Dvlp., Alaska Wildland Adventures
Why Attend ETC

“Extremely specific and very high quality educational experience for those involved in educational, non-profit, specialty travel programming.” —Annie Lucas, Vice President, MIR Corporation
Why Attend ETC

“The information and the networking opportunities are exceptional year after year. This is a very valuable conference for me.” —Mark Garland, Travel Program Coordinator, Audubon Naturalist Society
Why Attend ETC

“Wonderful networking opportunities and stimulating educational sessions… a must if you are working in the affinity market!” —Karen Kuttner-Capato, Vice President of Affinity & Charter Sales, Lindblad Expeditions
Why Attend ETC

“The quality of the speakers at ETC far surpasses that of any other professional conference or educational event I have attended.” —Susan Goodale, Prog. Dir. & Gaucho Getaways Coord., U.C. Santa Barbara Alumni Assoc.
Why Attend ETC

“The conference offers superb, relevant information that is useful year-round.”  —Melissa Gresh, Dir. of Alumni Travel Prog., MIT Alumni Assoc.
Why Attend ETC

“Trends conversations help you think outside the box and try to take your program in a new  direction.” —Jenna Mace, former Product Design & Development Specialist, Habitat for Humanity Int'l
Why Attend ETC

“ETC is a wonderful opportunity to meet with like-minded professionals who also share a passion for educational travel. I always come away from the conference with more ideas than I know what to do with.” —Meredith Mason, COO, Global Adrenaline
Why Attend ETC

“Great opportunity to not only network but educate oneself.” —Catherine Merrill, Founder and Owner, Epiculinary, Inc.
Why Attend ETC

“Alumni and Museum travel programs are a unique market. Because this conference focuses on this niche, it is the best venue to learn more about enrichment, and educational travel.” —Judee Kaplan, Director of Sales, Select Travel Service
Why Attend ETC

“ETC gives us a sense of unity, healthy competition, and an opportunity to develop lasting friendships in a fun environment. ETC is the highlight of my working year!”—Elizabeth Bigwood, Asst. Dir. for Travel, Alumnae Assoc. of Smith College
Why Attend ETC

"I have high expectations for this conference, and ETC always delivers. It hits all the marks on providing practical information and great opportunities to network.” —Heidi Quiram, Study Travel Director, St. Olaf College
Why Attend ETC

“At ETC I gain a broader sense of how affinity travel programs are faring in the  marketplace.” —Karen Ledwin, V.P. of Programming & Operations, National Geographic Expeditions
Why Attend ETC

“[ETC provides an] opportunity to meet with the key players in this market segment.”  —Lou Macaluso, Director-U.S. Leisure Sales, Canadian Tourism Commission
Why Attend ETC

“ETC affords a space for learning about new operators and destinations, interacting with the people we do business with, and getting to know each other better.” —Michelle Bell, Asst. Dir., Univ. of Arkansas Alumni Assoc.
ETC 2010 Kudos

"We really felt welcomed by the warm, enthusiastic, and engaged ETC community. I’ve never seen a conference quite like ETC!" —Stephen Reily, Founder/CEO, VibrantNation.com
ETC 2010 Kudos

"Thank you…for the opportunity to attend such a helpful, informative session for executive directors. I returned to Auburn with a wealth of information and quite inspired." —Debbie L. Shaw, Vice Pres. Alumni Affairs & Exec. Dir., Auburn Alumni Assoc.
ETC 2010 Kudos

"ETC 2010 was a great conference. Great speakers, good meeting space, and definitely lots of attention to detail. It’s always one of the highlights of my year." —Clark Oldroyd, Associate Director, University of Colorado at Boulder Alumni Association
ETC 2010 Kudos

"Many thanks for the Mentor Meet and Greet session. I benefited a lot from my mentor's experience and guidance. I am indebted for this arrangement. It was an excellent conference!” —Samuel Seyoum, CTC, Manager Marketing and Groups, Picasso Travel
ETC 2010 Kudos

"Wanted to congratulate you on yet another successful ETC in Rhode Island. Overall the substance was solid! That's what matters. I look forward to attending many more ETCs.” —Rumit Mehta, Founder, Immersion Journeys
ETC 2010 Kudos

"The conference was very well organized and offered a great range of subjects. The topics that focused on technology and social media will prove very valuable."—Barbara Anglisz, Adept Technologies

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