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Join 500+ colleagues for the annual event of our industry!
Do you offer trips to members, donors, and alumni? If so, this is a must-do conference!
"ETC has become a very important part of my professional life and a key ingredient in the success of Cornell's alumni education program." Ralph Janis, Former Director, Cornell's Adult University
Learn:
"Having attended ETC on two sides of the business, as both an operator and now as an alumni travel planner, I can attest to the conference's positive position as the most important learning event of the year. I can and do vociferously tout ETC as the place to go for quality instruction and guidance from (and brainstorming with) the most talented and thoughtful group of colleagues one could assemble." Leslie Jennings Rowley, Executive Manager, Princeton Journeys
Inspire:
"One of my favorite aspects of ETC is that it is a complex, multi-layered experience. At its most basic level, it is a conference, and at this task it excels: replete with provocative guest speakers, the bustling bazaar, and exciting events/dinners. On another, deeper level, it is an annual gathering of friends and family, a magical international shin dig of epic proportions. And on the deepest level, it is a sound, productive, benevolent, year-round community, active in the most essential, meaningful ways, whether it be empathetic calls among competitors during crisis, who feel less competitive after so many years of meeting at ETC, or meticulously planned initiatives, small groups of us working together for sustainable development, leveraging tourism and our (largely ETC related) relationships for poverty alleviation, community development, and conservation." Alicia Stevens, Director of Global Programs, Columbia University School of the Arts
Network:
"Each year's ETC conference is a MUST DO conference. The networking is so important for each of us - as you know, we are all far too busy to stay in touch otherwise and to be able to devote 3-4 days with colleagues to learn more, share more and just be friends has been something we can all look forward to each year."
Sheri Hicks, Director, Alumni Travel, Wisconsin Alumni Association, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Grow:
"This is my 5th year attending ETC. Each year I take away not only a wealth of new information from the seminars, but also from the new people who I meet each year. ETC has been an important part of the growth of the Georgia Tech Alumni Travel program and my own growth as a travel planner." Martin Ludwig, Director of Travel, Georgia Tech Alumni Association
"Having attended ETC on two sides of the business, as both an operator and now as an alumni travel planner, I can attest to the conference's positive position as the most important learning event of the year. I can and do vociferously tout ETC as the place to go for quality instruction and guidance from (and brainstorming with) the most talented and thoughtful group of colleagues one could assemble."
Leslie Jennings Rowley, Executive Manager, Princeton Journeys
"One of my favorite aspects of ETC is that it is a complex, multi-layered experience. At its most basic level, it is a conference, and at this task it excels: replete with provocative guest speakers, the bustling bazaar, and exciting events/dinners. On another, deeper level, it is an annual gathering of friends and family, a magical international shin dig of epic proportions. And on the deepest level, it is a sound, productive, benevolent, year-round community, active in the most essential, meaningful ways, whether it be empathetic calls among competitors during crisis, who feel less competitive after so many years of meeting at ETC, or meticulously planned initiatives, small groups of us working together for sustainable development, leveraging tourism and our (largely ETC related) relationships for poverty alleviation, community development, and conservation."
Alicia Stevens, Former Director, American Museum of Natural History Expeditions
"Each year's ETC conference is a MUST DO conference. The networking is so important for each of us - as you know, we are all far too busy to stay in touch otherwise and to be able to devote 3-4 days with colleagues to learn more, share more and just be friends has been something we can all look forward to each year."
Sheri Hicks, Director, Alumni Travel, Wisconsin Alumni Association, University of Wisconsin-Madison
"This is my 5th year attending ETC. Each year I take away not only a wealth of new information from the seminars, but also from the new people who I meet each year. ETC has been an important part of the growth of the Georgia Tech Alumni Travel program and my own growth as a travel planner."
Martin Ludwig, Director of Travel, Georgia Tech Alumni Association
- Develop the contacts, knowledge and skills you need to be successful in your organization:
"The Educational Travel Conference - a dynamic educational exchange - is without a doubt, one of the highlights of my year. I first attended while I was working at Penn State University as Director of Alumni Education. From my previous experience at ETC, I knew that to be successful leading Dartmouth's program I had to get back to ETC. In as little as three years I took Dartmouth from 14 trips per year for 300 travelers to 42 trips with over 700 travelers. We have improved the efficiency of our operations and we are providing more services to our travelers than ever before. I see ETC as the major influence for the success and expansion of the travel program at Dartmouth. I look forward to each conference for inspiration, learning, and new friendships." Roberta Moore, Director, Alumni Continuing Education and Travel, Office of Alumni Relations at Dartmouth College
- Network with your colleagues and share best practices and challenges:
"One of the best things I find at each ETC is the willingness of all attendees to share information, insight, tips and experience. I think of ETC as this huge one-stop market designed just for the affinity travel industry. It's a great, convenient and affordable way to meet face-to-face with other travel planners, the tour operators and other vendors, plus attend outstanding educational sessions." Eileen Gordon, Former Alumni Travel Program Director, University of Colorado at Boulder Alumni Association
"One of the best things I find at each ETC is the willingness of all attendees to share information, insight, tips and experience. I think of ETC as this huge one-stop market designed just for the affinity travel industry. It's a great, convenient and affordable way to meet face-to-face with other travel planners, the tour operators and other vendors, plus attend outstanding educational sessions."
Eileen Gordon, Former Alumni Travel Program Director, University of Colorado at Boulder Alumni Association
- Learn the nuts and bolts and tools needed to expand your program:
"ETC is a well attended, well-run, and much appreciated event for all of us in the nonprofit travel industry. I have attended this event with Smithsonian Journeys since 2001, and in 2006 it will be my first year attending as the head of ParkScapes program with NPCA. This event has been a wonderful way for me to understand the industry and helped me grow professionally." Wendy Audie, Associate Director, Travel and Donor Programs, National Parks Conservation Association
- Learn which destinations are hot from those who know:
"Managing our travel program has been a challenging and invigorating experience. I've attended the conference every year since 2002. The informative sessions and the chance to come together for a common purpose have been so valuable ... with the world events over the past few years, I can't imagine going through these challenges without ETC." Cathy Greene, Director of Travel Programs, Miami University Alumni Association
"Managing our travel program has been a challenging and invigorating experience and I can't imagine going through this without ETC. I've attended the conference every year since 2002. The informative sessions and the chance to come together for a common purpose have been so valuable ... with the world events over the past few years, I can't imagine going through these challenges without ETC."
Cathy Greene, Director of Travel Programs, Miami University Alumni Association
- Identify industry trends from travel experts and ways to increase revenues:
"As a relative newcomer, I have found the conference to be an extraordinary opportunity. The conference is a valuable venue for continuing learning about travel planning from an association's point of view (in my case), making connections with travel suppliers and meeting amazing colleagues who freely share their knowledge ... all this while having a very enjoyable time." Usha Nand Sellers, Director, Tufts Travel-Learn Program, Tufts University
"As a relative newcomer, I have found the conference to be an extraordinary opportunity. The conference is a valuable venue for continuing learning about travel planning from an association's point of view (in my case), making connections with travel suppliers and meeting amazing colleagues who freely share their knowledge ... all this while having a very enjoyable time."
Usha Nand Sellers, Director, Tufts Travel-Learn Program, Tufts University
- Learn how to grow and enhance your program—strategically and tactically:
"As a group of volunteers supporting the Art Department of the OMCA, we became interested in providing art-focused travel to our membership about 10 years ago. A travel program seemed like a great way to provide education, outreach and fund raising to our membership. And it has, thanks to ETC's organization and conference. Without attending the conference, meeting fellow travel planners, wonderful providers, as well as experienced professionals in the non-profit travel arena, we would have been lost. We have sent two representatives to the conference each year for the last 8 years - nearly all of our committee has attended - and we hold in high regard the many people we have met and dealt with at ETC. We especially respect and appreciate very much the organization of ETC and the leadership that has continued to offer such a valuable, enlightening and exciting place for everyone in educational travel to meet once a year." Sandy Kessenick, Travel Planner, Oakland Museum of California Art Guild
"As a group of volunteers supporting the Art Department of the OMCA, we became interested in providing art-focused travel to our membership about 10 years ago. A travel program seemed like a great way to provide education, outreach and fund raising to our membership. And it has, thanks to ETC's organization and conference. Without attending the conference, meeting fellow travel planners, wonderful providers, as well as experienced professionals in the non-profit travel arena, we would have been lost. We have sent two representatives to the conference each year for the last 8 years - nearly all of our committee has attended - and we hold in high regard the many people we have met and dealt with at ETC. We especially respect and appreciate very much the organization of ETC and the leadership that has continued to offer such a valuable, enlightening and exciting place for everyone in educational travel to meet once a year."
Sandy Kessenick, Travel Planner, Oakland Museum of California Art Guild
- Why attend a conference when there is no time to breathe or sleep?
"I cannot begin to tell you what a big part the annual ETC Conference plays in running the UCLA Alumni Travel program. It is here that I learn, get new ideas, and get energized for the coming year. Not only has the conference been a huge part of my professional life, but also my personal life, as I met many of my friends over the years at ETC." Christel Pailet, Director, UCLA Alumni Travel
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