The Benefits of ETC Community Membership

There are two ways to become an ETC Member:

Conference Registration: If you attended ETC 2012 in Orlando, your virtual membership was discounted by $100 and is valid through December 15, 2012.

Virtual Membership: If you did not attend ETC 2012 and want to become a Virtual Member, the membership fee valid through December 15, 2012 is $175 for Travel Planners and $475 for Destinations, Operators, and Suppliers. For Virtual Membership click here.

The ETC Community strengthens its membership through both the structured and informal sharing of information, as well as by reinforcing the collaborative work of the ETC Community.

Benefits include:

• The e-Community Resource Directory, profiling a community membership list and key program features of nonprofit travel programs and travel companies, suppliers and destinations

• MP3 downloads of recorded Conference sessions, plus e-handouts.

• Access to members-only web features such as publications, specialty research, and white papers exclusively produced for and within this niche market.

• Creation of organizational profiles establishing the foundation of a sophisticated networking resource and online searches of Community members, organizations and product offerings.

• Professional development programs for the Educational Travel Community to include Jumpstart for Travel Planners and the Executive Forum for CEOs and senior management overseeing travel programs.

• Member-to-member communications and access through e-Communities with online discussion groups/listserv.

• Posting of announcements and jobs, and access to search these listings.

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The Educational Travel Community:
Advancing, supporting, and
promoting affinity and
nonprofit educational travel
for 25 years

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

"The conference has given me a great couple of days to step out of the trenches, refocus, and get new ideas...meet new colleagues, and talk about benchmarks." -Katie Maschman, Travel Programs Manager, National Parks Conservation Association
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

"Thank you for another great conference! I am still sorting through all that I learned!" —Chase Poffenberger, Executive Vice President, Academic Travel Abroad, Inc.
Why Attend ETC

"No other conference gives you the educational components in travel like this conference." —Karen Anthony, Retired Director of Alumni Travel, University of Notre Dame Alumni Association
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.
Why Attend ETC

"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
Why Attend ETC

"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.
Why Attend ETC

"What a fabulous conference you all organized yet again. I came away with so much from just the one day I was able to attend. I think ETC is one of the most valuable conferences ever."—Elaine Liles, Asst Director, Alumni Programs, Rollins College
Why Attend ETC

"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
Why Attend ETC

"I really enjoyed the ETC conference—my first. I went to many sessions and enjoyed most of them immensely. The conference allowed us to think of new ways to market our programs."—Ingrid Bortner, The Community College of Baltimore County
Why Attend ETC

"What an amazing conference! There could not be a better forum to learn and share innovative ideas about best practices and achieving best results in the field of educational travel." —Maria Gross, Consultant, Travel Sales and Marketing
Why Attend ETC

"The contacts I have made and experiences you've provided have been invaluable to our young company. Thank you!" —Gina Carmo, Inspire Travel-Brazil
Why Attend ETC

"ETC 2012 was an enriching and fulfilling experience. I want to thank you and let you know how much this conference and the entire ETC community helps me to improve my travel program."—Scott Olson, Director of Travel, Utah State University
Why Attend ETC

"I enjoyed ETC 2012 a lot. This was the best ETC for me in the past 20 years!"—Charlotte Xu, Executive Director, China Advocates
Why Attend ETC

"[ETC 2012] sessions were most helpful and, at the social events, I made more connections than I had at the other two ETC's I've attended (Baltimore and New Orleans)"—Lisa Hill, Mgr of Travel & Special Programs, Santa Barbara Museum of Art
Why Attend ETC

"Whether you are new to the field or an old-timer, there is always something to gain [at ETC], and what you gain is both necessary and timely."—Lisa Hill, Mgr of Travel & Special Programs, Santa Barbara Museum of Art
Why Attend ETC

"I felt I made more connections with other travel planners [at ETC 2012], and this was likely due to the first travel planner day—which was a great aspect of the conference."—Lisa Hill, Mgr of Travel & Special Programs, Santa Barbara Museum of Art
Why Attend ETC

"I really enjoyed ETC this year, but I have every year! I very much enjoyed the Travel Planner sessions the first day."—Lisa Valentine, Director, UA Alumni Travel, University of Arizona Alumni Assn
Why Attend ETC

"I thought this year's programs [at the ETC 2012 conference] were great. I particularly value the sessions with Sree (Sreenivasan) and hope that he can return next year. He's really the best!"—MaryBeth Mullen, Marketing Director, Smithsonian Journeys
Why Attend ETC

"The conference was great. I learned so much more practical information than last year. Part of that may have been that I was new to Vassar last year and to this aspect of tour planning."—Susan Quade, Assoc. Dir. of Alumnae/i Affairs, Vassar College
Why Attend ETC

"The [ETC] conference allowed us to think of new ways to market our programs, and we met with many new vendors with whom we now hope to do business. Thank you so much."—Ingrid Bortner, Office of Travel Studies, Community College of Baltimore County