World Religious Travel Expo: Official News and Announcements

WRTA 2011

2011-02-08T08:42:00.000-07:00

Read full story at:
http://www.travelpulse.com/world-religious-travel-association-files-for-bankruptcy-protection.html

WRTA’s mission was to shine a spotlight on the religious travel market, make the travel industry aware of a large and powerful market that was not clearly recognized, and help provide a focal point through which the market could grow. Wright told Travel Pulse that he believes the association did succeed in establishing faith-based tourism as a key pillar of the travel industry.

Incorporated in November 2006, WRTA established itself as a recognized voice for the 300 million-traveler-a-year religious tourism and hospitality market. WRTA hosted three World Religious Travel Expos attracting organizations and professionals from more than 30 countries on six continents. The association’s members and partners included travel agents, tour operators, travel wholesalers, ground/incoming operators, cruise lines, destinations, suppliers, trade associations, religious organizations, and group planners.

WRTA Debuts Special Offer for World Religious Travel Expo: “Bring Agent/Planner, Both Go For Free”

2010-10-26T15:40:00.001-06:00

LEXINGTON, Ky.– The World Religious Travel Association (WRTA) announced its “Bring an Agent/Planner, Both Go for Free” campaign for its upcoming Expo. Travel agents seeking new sources of revenues and clientele, while being mindful of their budgets, can bring a fellow travel agent professional or group planner, such as a religious leader or travel ministry organizer, to the November 13-16 World Religious Travel Expo in Montreal. Both will receive complimentary registration; regular admission for a travel agent or planner is $35.

“We are very excited to roll out this new special offer for Expo buyers and attendees,” said Kevin J. Wright, WRTA president. “The promotional campaign is in response to hearing from many travel agents and planners that finances are their top concern. If we can somehow help alleviate this challenge for them, they’ll then be able to successfully attend the upcoming World Religious Travel Expo.”

Wright views the program as a win-win arrangement. “If a travel agent brings another travel agent or planner, not only do they both go for free, but it also helps WRTA and our Expo by increasing the overall number of qualified attendees for sellers,” Wright said. “Everybody wins in this scenario.”

To take advantage of the special offer by WRTA and the World Religious Travel Expo, the following criteria must be met:
• A sponsoring travel agent must contact WRTA staff and provide registration information for the travel agent(s) or planner(s) he or she wishes to bring to the Expo.
• The travel agents and planners who are accompanying the sponsoring travel agent will be contacted by WRTA to verify their contact information and affiliation with the sponsoring travel agent.
• Once the sponsoring and contact information of all parties is verified by WRTA staff, the registrations will be processed (and Expo registration fees waived).
• The “Bring an Agent/Planner, Both Go For Free” offer is valid ONLY through the pre-registration period, ending on Friday, November 5, 2010. The offer is not valid after November 5, 2010, or on-site in Montreal.

The World Religious Travel Expo is the world’s pre-eminent faith tourism marketplace gathering, with hundreds of professionals and tourism organizations from more than 30 countries in attendance. November’s Expo will be held in conjunction with the NTA Convention for the second consecutive year, providing a combined gathering of 2,000-plus travel professionals and tourism organizations. Through this collaboration with NTA, the leading association for travel professionals, both associations can offer its members opportunities for education, business expansion and networking, along with access to new markets.

For more information about the special offer, contact the World Religious Travel Association by phone at 888.255.WRTA (9782) or +1.859.219.3529 or by e-mail at headquarters(at)WRTAreligioustravel.com. For more information about the WRTA Expo, visit www.WRTAexpo.com. You can also find WRTA and the World Religious Travel Expo on Facebook.

The World Religious Travel Association is the leading global network for the $18 billion faith tourism industry. WRTA's primary purpose is to guide, enrich and expand religious travel and hospitality around the globe. WRTA membership includes travel agents, tour operators, tourism boards, attractions, accommodations, suppliers, media and other organizations involved in tourism. For more information visit www.WRTAreligioustravel.com or www.WRTAexpo.com.

Transform your business with renewed creativity, purpose and focus

2010-10-25T13:35:00.001-06:00

Keith Powell, The Business Revivalist, has a mission to educate, facilitate and motivate people to take action. At the 2010 World Religious Travel Expo in Montréal, Keith will share the wisdom gained from his extensive business and personal experiences in a seminar entitled "Igniting the Creative Spark for Your Faith-Based Business." Go to Keith's YouTube Channel http://www.youtube.com/user/CoffeeWithKeith to see some quick video tips, and get a glimpse of what you will see at this year' Expo!

Note from Torre Ossmo of Faithful Holidays about Montreal and the Expected Growth of Faith Tourism

2010-10-21T15:04:00.001-06:00

From the Desk of Torre Ossmo
Vice President & General Manager, Faithful Holidays

Hey, did you see this news story?
http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/TopStories/20101017/brother-andre-canonized-101017

This means travel to Montréal is going to be booming soon, especially for religious groups (which is an $18 billion industry!).

I’m heading to the World Religious Travel Expo in Montréal Nov 13-15. It’s just $35 for travel agents, you’ll get one free hotel room night, plus the entertainment is going to be great – 12 Broadway Show acts at just one of the luncheons. Plus there are some great seminars there too.

Best yet.....if you bring a fellow travel agent or religious planner (i.e. religious leader) - BOTH of you receive FREE Expo admission. Can't beat that!

Join me at Expo 2010. You can register here:

http://www.wrtaexpo.com/WRTA+Expo/About+Expo/Registration.htm

Hope to see you in Montréal soon!

Torre
=================
Torre Ossmo
Vice President & General Manager
Faithful Holidays
1225 Warren Avenue
PO Box 490
Downers Grove, Illinois 60515
630.435.8272
torre@faithfulholidays.com
http://www.faithfulholidays.com/

Faithful Holidays is a division of Mayflower Tours, Inc. Based in the Midwest, Mayflower Tours is in its 31st year of service to the traveling public. Over the years Mayflower recognized a need for a more specialized type of travel – one where all the happiness and excitement of a destination is enhanced by emphasizing attractions and events that reinforce our beliefs.

Faithful Holidays (through its parent Mayflower Tours) is well suited to accomplish this. The company is family-owned and operated. Its employees cumulatively represent hundreds of years of experience in hospitality management. Mayflower posts a $1,000,000 Travelers Assistance bond with the United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA) as sign of good faith that travelers’ monies are secure.

We offer churches, organizations and other affiliated groups the opportunity to travel together to those places that will enhance their beliefs. We also make available to travelers who do not belong to such a group the chance to be with like-minded people.

Clergy and group organizers are encouraged to contact us. Faithful Holidays can enhance the experience of faith-based travel while contributing to the overall well-being and enthusiasm of your spiritual family.

Expo Buzz Newsletter - Oct 20, 2010

2010-10-20T16:06:00.001-06:00

WRTA Expo = Two Shows in One Means Big Savings!

Attending the World Religious Travel Expo in Montréal is more economical than ever. New this year, WRTA delegates will have more access to the NTA (National Tour Association) Annual Convention on Nov. 13-15, including education, networking events and most meals.

For just a $35 registration fee for travel agents and religious travel planners, you get:

• Five complimentary meals
• Reception with open bar
• Live performances from more than 12 Broadway shows
• Access to more than 30 education sessions
• Access to over 100 exhibitors, including over 30 different countries
WRTA Exhibitors NTA Exhibitors
• Complimentary overnight FAM trip to Québec’s National Sanctuaries (for first 50 registrants, if you sign up by Oct. 22)

For more information or to register, contact us at members@wrtareligioustravel.com or call 888-255-WRTA U.S./Canada or +1.859-219-3529.

WRTA President Speaks on Canonization of Brother André

WRTA President Kevin J. Wright was interviewed on CTV News Channel last Sunday as part of the media coverage garnered by the canonization of Brother André Bessette. The Québec monk who founded Montréal's St. Joseph's Oratory was named a saint by Pope Benedict in a ceremony at the Vatican last weekend. Read more here.

CBS Newsmaker to Speak at Expo

Steve Hartman, an Emmy-award-winning correspondent for The CBS Evening News with Katie Couric ("Assignment America"), will open the co-located World Religious Travel Expo and NTA Convention in Montréal at the Opening Ceremony on Sunday, Nov. 14. Full Article.

Top 5 Bragging Rights to Attend Expo 2010 in Montréal
by WRTA President Kevin J. Wright
1. Participate in the largest gathering in faith tourism.
2. Spectacularly enrich your religious travel program and products.
3. Garner wild new success and expanded clientele in 2011.
4. Become an enviable “Who’s Who” in faith tourism and hospitality.
5. Discover Montréal firsthand, an up-and-coming destination in religious tourism.
Bonus!
6. You’ll be seen as the local market expert in faith tourism!

PyroMarketing - A New Way to Think About Marketing

"The era of mass marketing is ending. The promotion of a single product or service to everyone through undifferentiated media reached its peak in the 1960's and its success convinced most marketers it was the only way." (from www.pyromarketing.com). Join Greg Stielstra at the World Religious Travel Expo in Montréal to discover his revolutionary PyroMarketing principles and apply them to your business! Learn more about PyroMarketing by watching this quick video from Creo Productions.

World Religious Travel Expo
Nov. 13 -16, 2010
Palais des congrès de Montréal
(Montréal Convention Center)
Montréal, Québec

For info or to register visit www.WRTAexpo.com

SPECIAL EXPO OFFER: BRING AN AGENT OR PLANNER; BOTH GO FOR FREE!!!

2010-10-19T22:39:00.001-06:00

HURRY!!!

Pre-register for the World Religious Travel Expo by October 27 and bring a fellow travel agent or travel planner - AND you both get a FREE registration!

To register or for more info, visit www.WRTAexpo.com or call 859-219-3529.

Wright’s Interview on CTV News Channel Regarding Brother Andre's Canonization as Canadian Saint

2010-10-18T17:30:00.000-06:00

Here's the link to the article featuring my interview on CTV News Channel (Canada):
Read full story here: http://ottawa.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20101017/brother-andre-canonized-101017/20101017/?hub=OttawaHome

Selections of article:
His elevation to sainthood will carry some worldly benefits for St. Andre's hometown, according to Kevin Wright, the president of the U.S.-based world religious travel association.

"When an individual is declared a saint, their shrines attract significant numbers of visitors," Wright told CTV News Channel. "And we're going to see that in Montreal."

He said that while the oratory that St. Andre founded is not as big a draw as sites like the French shrine at Lourdes, it already attracts an estimated one million pilgrims a year.

And Wright said that St. Andre's sanctification will only boost those numbers.

"Over the next couple of years we could see that double and get up to three, four or even five million people. And that's incredible."

Prime Minister Stephen Harper said in a statement that the newly canonized St. Andre was "a great Canadian."

"Brother Andre's canonization is an important inspiration to us all, and the Oratory will continue to serve as a central landmark of spiritual strength and faith for Quebecers and all Canadians."

"Brother Andre's canonization is an important inspiration to us all, and the Oratory will continue to serve as a central landmark of spiritual strength and faith for Quebecers and all Canadians."

Kanon Cultural Tours invites you to World Religious Travel Expo

2010-10-17T12:48:00.002-06:00

THE 2010 WORLD RELIGIOUS TRAVEL EXPO
November 13 – 16 in Montreal, Canada

The World Religious Travel Expo is the largest annual gathering of its kind in the industry.
The Expo has become ‘the place to be’ for any organization or travel professional that wishes to buy, sell, and network in the religious marketplace.

Kanon Cultural Tours* will attend the 2010 WRTA Expo in Montreal, Canada and will present the newest product in religious tours in Greece, Turkey and the Mediterranean.

The route of St Paul in Greece.
The route of St Paul in Turkey.
The route of St Paul in Syria & Cyprus.
The Holy Land.
Mt Athos monastic state.
The religious monuments in Greece.
Land of Saints and Martyrs.
The holy island of Tinos.
The holy island of Patmos & the Revelation.
Miraculous icons and other holy objects.

We’ll be happy to see you there and discuss our new itineraries.
Please check the attachment.

Best regards
The Kanon* team

*ΚΑΝΩΝ (English: kanon or canon, pronounced: kanɔ’:n ).
Rule, norm, general principle, model, paradigm, the Holy Scripture.
Canon[s] may refer to:
The body of canonical legislation of the Church.
The Biblical canon.
Canon (hymnography).
Canon of the Mass.
Canon (music).
Aesthetic canon.
Canon law.

KANON CULTURAL TOURS & EXPEDITIONS
P.P. GERMANOU 22
THESSALONIKI 54622
GREECE
PHONE: +30 231 0237066 & +30 231 0274045
FAX: +30 231 0263334
EMAIL: info@kanon.gr
WEBSITE: http://www.kanon.gr/

CBS Newsmaker to Open Co-Located WRTA/NTA Event

2010-10-13T19:10:00.001-06:00

Steve Hartman, correspondent for The CBS Evening News with Katie Couric ("Assignment America"), will open the co-located World Religious Travel Expo and NTA Convention in Montreal at the Opening Ceremony on Sunday, Nov. 14. Hartman is best known for his series of news reports, "Everybody in the World Has a Story," which have earned him several major journalism awards, including an Emmy, a Columbia Journalism DuPont award, and four Edward R. Murrow awards.

Full Article
http://www.ntaonline.com/articles/index.cfm?action=view&articleID=2147§ionID=32

Broadway is Coming to Montréal!

2010-10-12T18:38:00.000-06:00

Where can you get lunch and 12 live Broadway performances free?
Only at the World Religious Travel Expo & Educational Conference in Montréal. Broadway.com/Groups is hosting the luncheon for delegates on Monday, Nov. 15, and the luncheon is just part of the incredible experience. Registration is just $35. Visit www.WRTAexpo.com to register today and reserve your spot!

40-plus Industry Experts Headline Industry’s Largest Faith Tourism Business Seminar Program at Expo 2010

2010-09-30T15:23:00.001-06:00

For Immediate Release
September 30, 2010

LEXINGTON, Ky.– The World Religious Travel Association business seminars for the November 13–16 World Religious Travel Expo 2010 will serve as the industry’s most comprehensive educational program on faith-based tourism and hospitality. The two-day curriculum will feature 40-plus industry experts, including several published authors. For the third straight year, travel agents and providers can earn up to three continuing educational units through The Travel Institute www.thetravelinstitute.com by attending and participating in the Expo business and educational seminar program.

“As sharing business acumen and education about the religious travel market is a key mission of WRTA and our annual Expo, we are ecstatic about this year’s lineup of speakers and seminars,” said Kevin J. Wright, WRTA president. “The topics cover virtually every segment of the industry from product development to sales to consumer service to word-of-mouth-marketing and much more. In addition, we’ll host several open forums whereby delegates can ask their own questions and share stories of success with fellow religious travel professionals, colleagues and experts.”

The business and educational seminar topics for the World Religious Travel Expo 2010 include:

• Who is Today’s Religious Traveler Consumer? How Can You Best Serve Them?
• How to Most Effectively Market and Sell to today’s Religious Travel Consumer.
• How Can You Find the Right Tour/Ground Operator for Your Religious Travel Program—and Why is it Key to Your Success?
• Discover the Holy Land and Enrich Your Biblical Lands Portfolio.
• Develop a Winning and Diverse Portfolio to the World’s Most Visited Religious Sites.
• Discover Faith-based Vacations, Attractions, & Events—Right Here in North America.
• Enrich Your Religious Travel Program with New Faith-based Vacations: Cruises, Volunteer Vacations, Local Getaways, Attractions and Much More.
• Open Forum: Q&A with Biblical Lands Representatives.
• Open Forum: Q&A Plus Discover New Ideas for Your Religious Travel Program.
• Open Forum: Q&A with International Ground Operators for Your Religious Travel Program.

In addition, two prominent published authors, Keith Powell and Greg Stielstra, will host the following business and educational seminars at Expo 2010:

• Igniting the Creative Spark for Your Faith Based Business—Keith Powell, The Business Revivalist and Author of The Transforming Power of Achievement
• Discover the Principles of PyroMarketing—Greg Stielstra, Author of Pyromarketing and Faith-based Marketing

The World Religious Travel Expo is the world’s pre-eminent faith tourism marketplace gathering with more than 500 travel professionals and tourism organizations from over 30 countries in attendance. This November’s Expo will be held in conjunction with the NTA Convention for the second year, providing a combined gathering of 2,000-plus travel professionals and tourism organizations. Through this collaboration with NTA, the leading association for travel professionals, both associations can offer its members opportunities for education, business expansion, networking and access to new markets.

For more information about attending the World Religious Travel Expo, contact the World Religious Travel Association at 888.255.WRTA (9782) or +1.859.219.3529 or by e-mail at headquarters@WRTAreligioustravel.com. For more information about the WRTA Expo, visit http://www.wrtaexpo.com/

Who Will Be at World Religious Travel Expo 2010

2010-09-10T15:25:00.002-06:00

Who Will Be at Expo 2010 ?

Click here to see who's coming! The most important question is, will you be there?

Register today and take advantage of all the new ideas and contacts you can make at the World Religious Travel Expo.

Register online
Register by Phone: 888.255.9782, Ext 101 (U.S. and Canada) or +1.859.219.3529 Register by e-mail: headquarters@WRTAreligioustravel.com

First 25 Travel Agents to Register for World Religious Travel Expo Receive Free Fam Tour of Quebec’s Shrines

2010-09-10T06:09:00.001-06:00

LEXINGTON, Ky.– The first 25 travel agents to register for World Religious Travel Expo 2010 will qualify for a complimentary VIP Fam tour of Quebec’s famed shrines and religious sites. Escorted by WRTA President and The Christian Travel Planner author Kevin J. Wright, the Fam tour is valued at $500 and includes motorcoach transportation, local tourist guides, one-night lodging, meals and educational materials about the Canadian sanctuaries.

The Fam trip departs Montréal on the morning of November 16, the day following the Expo Final Night Dinner, and concludes at Montréal’s Trudeau International Airport Wed., Nov. 17, at 1 p.m. The province of Québec is home to four of Canada’s five National Sanctuaries:

· Oratoire Saint-Joseph (Montréal)
· Notre-Dame-du-Cap Sanctuary (Mauricie)
· Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré Basilica (Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré)
· Ermitage Saint-Antoine (Lac-Bouchette)

In addition, tour participants will enjoy an excursion to the spectacular Saguenay/Lac-Saint-Jean area and its breathtaking fjord. Agents who partake in the FAM trip will not only discover the celebrated shrines of Québec, but will also learn how to develop an itinerary around them and sell the travel package to clients.

For more information about attending the World Religious Travel Expo and qualifying for the post-Fam tour, contact the World Religious Travel Association at 888.255.WRTA (9782) or +1.859.219.3529 or by e-mail at headquarters@WRTAreligioustravel.com. For more information about the WRTA Expo, visit www.WRTAexpo.com .

The World Religious Travel Expo is the world’s pre-eminent faith tourism marketplace gathering with more than 500 travel professionals and tourism organizations from over 30 countries in attendance. This November’s Expo will be held in conjunction with the NTA Convention for the second year, providing a combined gathering of 2,000-plus travel professionals and tourism organizations. Through this collaboration with NTA, the leading association for travel professionals, both associations can offer its members opportunities for education, business expansion, networking and access to new markets.

Expo 2010: Your Registration Goes Further!

2010-08-28T08:21:00.000-06:00

This November, the World Religious Travel Expo will co-locate with the NTA Convention.

This means your WRTA Expo registration dollars go further, providing access to the largest gathering of religious travel providers and suppliers in the world, as well as the tour operators, suppliers and destinations at NTA’s Convention—all on one tradeshow floor!

With a combined 2,000-plus travel professionals in attendance, this incredible opportunity of two shows in one destination is a “one-stop shop” for all your planning and religious travel program needs.

Highlights of Expo 2010 include:
• Back by popular demand, North America’s top faith marketing expert Greg Stielstra will keynote at Expo 2010 in Montreal. Stielstra is co-author of Faith-based Marketing and the mastermind behind the strategy of “PyroMarketing.”
• Meet and network with tour operators, suppliers, and destinations from across 30 countries.

• Attend the industry’s most comprehensive educational program in religious tourism and hospitality.
How Can You Receive a FREE Expo Fam Trip to Quebec’s Shrines?
The first 25 buyers to register for Expo 2010 will enjoy a complimentary VIP Fam tour of Montréal valued at $500.

How to Register for Expo Today?
Register online
Register by Phone: 888.255.9782, Ext 101 (U.S. and Canada) or +1.859.219.3529
Register by e-mail: headquarters@WRTAreligioustravel.com

Top faith marketing expert Greg Stielstra to keynote World Religious Travel expo 2010

2010-08-28T07:52:00.000-06:00

Back by popular demand, North America's top faith marketing expert Greg Stielstra will keynote for the second year at the World Religious Travel Expo 2010. The recipient of numerous praises and accolades among Expo delegates, Stielstra is the co-author of Faith-based Marketing: The Guide to Reaching 140 Million Christian Customers (Wiley, 2009) and the mind behind the strategy of "PyroMarketing" to help businesses reach and retain markets. Stielstra also served as the marketing director behind the highly acclaimed The Purpose Driven Life, a faith-based marketing phenomenon and the fastest selling hardcover book in American history.

"We are so excited about bringing Greg Stielstra back as our Expo Keynote speaker," said Kevin J. Wright, WRTA president. "Greg wowed all of our attendees and exhibitors last year with his remarkable insight and practical wisdom in how to effectively reach the faith-based consumer and traveler. It was clear from the onset, Greg was a crowd favorite."

Greg Stielstra worked in marketing for the world's leading Christian publishers for 17 years where he planned the promotions for dozens of bestselling books. An expert in word-of-mouth, faith-based and social network marketing as well as an innovative thinker, speaker and consultant, Stielstra is today author of two books: PyroMarketing: the Four-Step Strategy to Ignite Customer Evangelists and Keep Them for Life (HarperCollins, 2005) and Faith-Based Marketing: The Guide to Reaching 140 Million Christian Customers (Wiley, 2009). His writings and work have been covered by The Economist, Advertising Age, Point Magazine, Business Week, Forbes, Wireless Age, Knowledge at Wharton, the Wharton Leadership Journal, and the book 9 Minds on Marketing. Stielstra currently teaches marketing at Vanderbilt University and operates PyroMarketing, a social media marketing agency in Franklin, TN.

"People have long known that word-of-mouth is the most powerful form of advertising," said Stielstra. "What they may not realize, however, is that faith communities spread word-of-mouth more effectively than any other group. What's more, people of faith represent the largest demographic segment in the world. When you combine the size and connectivity of the faith community with new social media technologies you can create incredibly powerful opportunities to promote religious travel that are also affordable. I look forward to sharing this good news with religious travel professionals and seeing them use it to further advance religious travel worldwide."

The World Religious Travel Expo has developed into the world's pre-eminent faith tourism marketplace gathering with more than 500 travel professionals and tourism organizations from 30-plus countries in attendance. This November's World Religious Travel Expo will be held in conjunction with the NTA Convention for the second year providing a combined gathering of 2,000-plus travel professionals and tourism organizations. Through this collaboration with NTA, the leading association for travel professionals, both associations can offer its members unprecedented opportunities for education, business expansion, networking, and new market opportunities.

For more information about attending or exhibiting at the World Religious Travel Expo, contact the World Religious Travel Association at 888-255-WRTA (9782) or +1-859-219-3529 or by e-mail at headquarters@WRTAreligioustravel.com. For more information about the WRTA Expo, visit www.WRTAexpo.com .

Travel Ministry Conference Comes to Montreal & World Religious Travel Expo

2010-08-10T09:51:00.000-06:00

LEXINGTON, Ky. (August 3, 2010) – The World Religious Travel Association has announced it will bring its popular Travel Ministry Conference concept to this fall’s World Religious Travel Expo in Montreal, Quebec (Canada). As part of its declaration of 2010 as the “Year of Travel Ministry,” WRTA recently debuted these half-day gatherings to educate local pastors, ministry leaders and group planners on how to build a successful travel program at their respective faith communities.

Thanks to the popularity of the Travel Ministry Conferences, WRTA will now integrate the event into the World Religious Travel Expo, and it’s scheduled for Monday, Nov. 15.

“Several years ago I wrote in one of my guidebooks how every faith community should have a travel program. I discussed the many wonderful fruits and benefits that travel brings about among members - especially the experience of fellowship,” said Kevin J. Wright, WRTA president. “It’s for reasons such as these, I am elated with WRTA’s recent successful launch of our Travel Ministry Conferences. These events bring us one step closer to realizing the goal of every faith community having a travel program. And now thanks to the Expo, we’re bringing this gathering to Montreal and the surrounding region.”

WRTA’s Travel Ministry Conferences offer educational seminars, networking opportunities, shared meals, and a group activity workshop. In Montreal, the Travel Ministry Conference will be integrated into the final day of the World Religious Travel Expo. This will give Travel Ministry Conference attendees access to the WRTA Expo tradeshow floor featuring destinations, travel suppliers and tour operators from around the world.

In the meantime, the kudos continue to stream in from attendees of WRTA’s recent Travel Ministry Conferences:

"Thanks again for the opportunity to be a part of the WRTA Travel Ministry Conference in Nashville. The event was a wonderful experience and I enjoyed the fellowship! As a pastor who's planned and led church groups to 50 states and 14 countries for 30-plus years, I am very excited and passionate about all aspects of Travel Ministry. Keep up the good work! It's definitely making a difference."
- Roger McCurry, Pastor Activities & Senior Adults

"WRTA Travel Ministry Conference in Chicago was a valuable tool providing insight for both the planner and suppliers on the challenges and benefits of creating a travel program. The opportunity to work directly with the planners as they learn how to develop a tour was invaluable. I made wonderful contacts that I know will turn into bookings."
- Jean Flynn
Group Sales Manager Fireside Dinner Theatre

“It was truly a pleasure attending the very well executed WRTA Travel Ministry Conference in Chicago. The presentations were concise and the format creative. The Conference opened up a new world of travel groups for me.”
- Faith Mulvihill
Director of Sales and Events Skydeck Chicago

This fall’s World Religious Travel Expo will be held in conjunction again with the NTA Convention, making for a combined gathering of 2,000-plus travel professionals and tourism organizations. Through this collaboration with NTA, the leading association for travel professionals, both associations can offer its members unprecedented opportunities for education, business expansion, networking, and new market opportunities.

For more information about attending or exhibiting at the World Religious Travel Expo, contact the World Religious Travel Association at 888-255-WRTA (9782) or +1-859-219-3529 or by email headquarters at WRTAreligioustravel.com. For more information about WRTA and the Expo, visit the WRTA and Expo websites respectively.

Register today for World Religious Travel Expo 2010

2010-08-09T08:50:00.000-06:00

The World Religious Travel Expo is the ONLY event of its kind that brings together over 500 travel professionals along with tourism organizations specializing in faith tourism from more than 30 countries. In 2010 we will again be co-locating with the NTA Convention, who will draw an additional 2,000 plus travel and tourism professionals to this unique event. It all adds up to an incredible opportunity to learn, discover, network and to buy/sell with your peers.
If you are part of or want to join in this $18 billion dollar marketplace, the World Religious Travel Expo is tailor-made to your needs. Attendees and exhibitors will:

Buy and sell faith-based travel products and services.
Discover how to develop a flourishing religious travel program.
Meet and rub elbows with the “Who’s Who” in faith tourism.
Learn how to become recognized leaders in their local marketplaces.

“Rendez-vous” in North-America’s top destination for international meetings - Montréal, as we showcase our “savoir-faire” as religious travel professionals.

Register today!
Tel 888-255-9782 or 859-219-3529
Email headquarters@WRTAreligioustravel.com
www.WRTAexpo.com

Nov. 13 -16, 2010
Palais des congrès de Montréal
Montréal, Québec, Canada

Expo Buzz Newsletter Aug 5, 2010

2010-08-09T08:46:00.001-06:00

WRTA's Expo Buzz

Greg Stielstra is Back to Ignite Your Marketing Fire
The highly-rated speaker from Expo 2009 and author of PyroMarketing, Greg Stielstra, has just signed on for Expo 2010! He will be the keynote speaker during the Sunday luncheon.

Greg is excited and honored to be coming back to speak at Expo and see everyone again. Be sure to watch for our formal press release to the industry regarding this special announcement. In the meantime, want to learn more about Greg Stielstra and his topics of Faith-based Marketing and PyroMarketing – including his books? Visit Greg’s website: http://www.pyromarketing.com/

Buyers: Explore Mauricie & Québec City
on WRTA's Dime
The first registered 25 buyers to contact us will receive the $500 post-Fam tour of the Montréal area at no cost! The tour departs Montréal Tuesday, Nov. 16 at 8 a.m. with an overnight in Québec City. The tour concludes at Montréal’s Trudeau Int’l Airport Wednesday, Nov. 17 at 1 p.m. To register or read more about the post-Fam, visit the Expo Web site: http://www.wrtaexpo.com/

Just Announced!
Travel Ministry Conference Coming to Montréal
Based on the tremendous response of attendees at our new Travel Ministry Conferences, WRTA is elated to announce the new addition of our Travel Ministry Conferences to our Expo in Montréal. Travel Ministry Conferences are smaller, more intimate gatherings designed specifically for pastors, religious/ministry leaders, and other group planners. More details to come soon. Stay tuned!

For $ 5,000, you can become an official co-sponsor of the Montréal Travel Ministry Conference, along side Palestine. This sponsorship includes 5 minutes of promotional time and the opportunity to distribute marking materials at the event. This sponsorship also qualifies you for Silver Level Expo benefits: two Expo registrations, premium 10x10 exhibit space, recognition as an official WRTA sponsor, sponsor signage, sponsor listing on Expo Web site, sponsor icon with listing in Expo Program (part of the NTA Convention Catalog – giving you additional exposure to the 1800 NTA delegates), participation in e-mail blast to WRTA members and Expo delegates and sponsor ribbon with badge.

Due to limited availability, this offer won’t be on the market for long. Call +1.859.226.4402 or email sales@WRTAstaff.com today to reserve your spot!

WRTA Expo
Nov. 13 -16, 2010
Palais des congrès de Montréal
Montréal, Québec, Canada

Expo Host City: Montreal Named #1 North American Host City

2010-05-27T15:44:00.002-06:00

WRTA's 2010 Expo will be held in the top host city in North America for international associative events, according to the 2009 ICCA International Congress and Convention Association's official rankings.

Final 2009 North American Rankings:
(Number of international associative events)
Montréal (57)
Vancouver (46)
Toronto (36)
Boston (35)
Mexico City (33)
Washington (31)
NYC (28)

This ranking speaks to the city's dynamism and its power to draw major international associations, despite the increasingly wider options offered in recent years.

Read the official news release from Montréal. Congratulations, Montréal!

Book Your Exhibit Space by June 15 for Special Offer

2010-05-27T15:43:00.000-06:00

WRTA Sellers' Special

Sellers – Book your Exhibit Space by June 15 and receive a rotating logo with link to your Web site on WRTA’s homepage for a month (value of $500)! Reserve your spot today

Expo Host City Montreal: Religion a Focal Point in the City's History

2010-05-27T15:42:00.001-06:00

Religion: A Focal Point in Montréal’s History provided by Expo's host city, Tourisme Montréal

In 1535 the Iroquoian village of Hochelaga was visited by French explorer Jacques Cartier, and approximately 100 years later Sieur de Maisonneuve founded the settlement of Ville-Marie, Montréal’s former name. The first sign of Christianity was the cross planted in 1643 atop Mount Royal.

While still the highest monument in Montréal, it’s far from being the only religious symbol in a city of more than 80 ethnic groups. The legacy of religion in Montréal can be seen in the hundreds of church steeples that point to the heavens and heard in the sounds that flow from the city’s more than 600 places of worship. For anyone with an interest in religious art, architecture and music, the “Rome of America,” as Montréal was once known, is one of the most enriched cities on the continent.

WRTA Proclaims 2010 The Year of Travel Ministry

2010-05-16T13:26:00.000-06:00

The World Religious Travel Association to host Travel Ministry Conferences in Nashville, Denver, Chicago, Philadelphia and San Diego.

LEXINGTON, KY. – The World Religious Travel Association has designated 2010 The Year of Travel Ministry. Serving as a year-long campaign promoting the benefits of travel direct to faith-based communities and individuals, the purpose and goal of the new theme is three-fold: (1) Encourage people to integrate travel with their faith. (2) Assist faith communities in developing travel programs. (3) Promote and increase awareness of the many faith-based vacation opportunities available.

To kickoff the celebrations, WRTA has announced the hosting of five Travel Ministry Conferences across the United States throughout the summer in Nashville, Denver, Chicago, Philadelphia and San Diego. Each half-day event is designed for religious leaders as well as group travel planners and individual travelers to learn and discover how to build (or enrich) a travel program at their respective faith community. This year’s theme and focus follows on the heels of WRTA’s 2009 declaration as The Year of Faith Tourism.

“Of the many wonderful initiatives we’ve put into place here at WRTA, we are especially excited about our travel ministry conferences,” said Kevin J. Wright, WRTA president. “For several years both the travel trade and faith-based communities have been asking us to host such events. With our new announcement, we’ll be making a lot of people joyful in 2010 and we expect these new conferences to be both very successful, as well as the start of a new era for WRTA’s regional activities.”

The Travel Ministry Conferences also provide an excellent venue for travel providers and tourism organizations to meet and interact with attendees, religious leaders and travelers. Members of the travel trade can attend, exhibit at, or sponsor any or all of the conferences.

For more information about the Travel Ministry Conferences visit www.WRTAreligioustravel.com. For faith-based communities, organizations and individuals interested in attending and participating in the Travel Ministry Conferences, contact WRTA staff at 859.219.3529 or 888.255.WRTA, ext. 101.

For travel trade companies and professionals interested in attending, exhibiting at, or sponsoring the Travel Ministry Conference events, contact Kami Risk.

WRTA OPENS REGISTRATIONS TO WORLD RELIGIOUS TRAVEL EXPO 2010

2010-03-18T12:53:00.001-06:00

3rd Annual World Religious Travel Expo Provides New and Expanded Market Opportunities

WRTA opens exhibitor reservations to the industry’s largest religious tourism and hospitality tradeshow

LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 18, 2010) – The World Religious Travel Association has opened exhibitor reservations for the 3rd Annual World Religious Travel Expo & Educational Conference. WRTA also unveiled the official theme of Expo 2010: Discover the World of Faith Tourism. The tradeshow will be held for the first time internationally in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, from November 13-16, 2010.

“The World Religious Travel Expo is the largest annual gathering of its kind in the industry, so I’m thrilled to open up this opportunity to travel companies, destinations, and suppliers eager to take part in this remarkable event,” said Kevin J. Wright, WRTA president. “As we prepare to highlight the year in faith tourism, we’re expecting record attendance again at this fall’s tradeshow, especially with our second co-location with the annual NTA Convention. The Expo remains ‘the place to be’ for any organization or travel professional that wishes to buy, sell, and network in the religious marketplace.”

Faith-based travel and hospitality has evolved into a major market and pillar of the global travel industry. More than 300 million people each year embark on trips or events with their faith communities including pilgrimages, cruises, leisure vacations, conferences/events, missionary travel, volunteer vacations, adventure travel, safaris, and more. The World Religious Travel Expo attracts tour operators, tourist offices, convention and visitor bureaus, motorcoach companies, hotels, attractions, suppliers, media, travel agents, and other tourism companies/professionals from throughout North America and around the world.

“We are excited about the upcoming WRTA Expo in Montreal and very much look forward to it,” said Mirko Capodanno, Manager Central USA and Canada. “Switzerland Tourism and our partners will be participating for the third consecutive time and the Expo marks an important and key event for us. Not only will it be a platform to promote faith-based travel in Zurich, Lucerne and the Ticino, but we’ll also be able to highlight train travel in Switzerland and our new partnership with Sunstar Hotels. Plus, it’s always a great opportunity to meet with the religious travel industry which is vital for us and also a lot of fun – an opportunity not to be missed!”

For Expo 2010, WRTA is excited to welcome new sponsors such as the Italian Government Tourist Board, Palestinian Ministry of Tourism & Antiquities, Innsbruck Tourist Board, and Tourisme Montréal. As well as our returning sponsors Switzerland Tourism, Theatre Direct & Broadway.com/groups, and VisitRochester.

The World Religious Travel Association will host this fall’s Expo again in conjunction with the NTA Convention. Through this collaboration with NTA, the leading association for travel professionals, both associations can offer its members unprecedented opportunities for education, business expansion, networking, and new market opportunities. Last year’s WRTA Expo 2009 featured the theme “Make 2010 Year Best Year Ever” and the event’s Gold and Silver Sponsors included Reno-Tahoe, Theatre Direct & Broadway.com/groups, Globus family of brands, Switzerland Tourism, Jordan Tourism Board N.A., German National Tourist Office, Leipzig Tourism and Marketing Company, Routes to Luther, VisitBritain, VisitScotland, Canterbury Cathedral, VisitRochester, PhotoVision, Epiphany Media, LifeWay, and TBN Holy Land Experience.

For more information about attending or exhibiting at the World Religious Travel Expo, contact the World Religious Travel Association http://www.wrtareligioustravel.com/ or http://www.wrtaexpo.com/.

WRTA PROCLAIMS 2010 THE YEAR OF TRAVEL MINISTRY

2010-03-09T09:25:00.001-07:00

WRTA PROCLAIMS 2010 THE YEAR OF TRAVEL MINISTRY

The World Religious Travel Association to host Travel Ministry Conferences in Nashville, Denver, Chicago, Philadelphia, and San Diego

LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 4, 2010) – The World Religious Travel Association has designated 2010 The Year of Travel Ministry. Serving as a year-long campaign promoting the benefits of travel direct to faith-based communities and individuals, the purpose and goal of the new theme is three-fold: (1) Encourage people to integrate travel with their faith. (2) Assist faith communities in developing travel programs. (3) Promote and increase awareness of the many faith-based vacation opportunities available.

To kickoff the celebrations, WRTA has announced the hosting of five Travel Ministry Conferences across the United States throughout the summer in Nashville, Denver, Chicago, Philadelphia, and San Diego. Each half-day event is designed for religious leaders as well as group travel planners and individual travelers to learn and discover how to build (or enrich) a travel program at their respective faith community. This year’s theme and focus follows on the heels of WRTA’s 2009 declaration as The Year of Faith Tourism.

“Of the many wonderful initiatives we’ve put into place here at WRTA, we are especially excited about our Travel Ministry Conferences,” said Kevin J. Wright, WRTA president. “For several years both the travel trade and faith-based communities have been asking us to host such events. With our new announcement, we’ll be making a lot of people joyful in 2010 and we expect these new conferences to be both very successful, as well as the start of a new era for WRTA’s regional activities.”

The Travel Ministry Conferences also provide an excellent venue for travel providers and tourism organizations to meet and interact with attendees, religious leaders, and travelers. Members of the travel trade can attend, exhibit at, or sponsor any or all of the Travel Ministry Conferences.

For more information about the Travel Ministry Conferences visit https://nymail.imgworld.com/owa/redir.aspx?C=bfe31953613b4b8b82c68ac1db947630&URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.wrtareligioustravel.com%2f. For faith-based communities, organizations and individuals interested in attending and participating in the Travel Ministry Conferences, contact WRTA staff.

WRTA LAUNCHES CONSULTING FIRM AND SPEAKERS BUREAU FOR RELIGIOUS TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY

2010-02-18T08:43:00.001-07:00

WRTA LAUNCHES CONSULTING FIRM AND SPEAKERS BUREAU FOR RELIGIOUS TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY

Based on growing marketplace demands,the World Religious Travel Association expands its business services

LEXINGTON, Ky. (February 18, 2010) – In launching a new consulting program and speakers bureau, the World Religious Travel Association is expanding its business services to meet the growing demands of the $18 billion religious travel and hospitality industry.

“We’re thrilled with the debut of these two new enterprises,” said Kevin J. Wright, WRTA president. “As more organizations and companies enter religious tourism from throughout the United States and around the world, we’ve seen the demand rise for specialized consulting as well as requests for expert speakers within the marketplace. With the launch of these ground-breaking business services, WRTA will not only continue to facilitate the growth of the industry, but also further enrich and empower it.”

Since its inception, WRTA has provided select contracted services to destinations, travel providers, and suppliers that requested further assistance in tapping the religious market.
In response to the increased interest, WRTA is now making its specialized consulting services available to the industry. Each new project will be taken on a case-by-case basis and must fall outside the scope of WRTA’s traditional membership benefits. Current and past clients include international tourist offices, convention and visitors bureaus, tour operators, suppliers, retailers, and theme parks/attractions among others.

To accommodate the blossoming and ongoing demand for its speaking services, WRTA is also launching a Speakers Bureau. With the new venture, WRTA will continue to best fulfill and meet the ever-expanding needs and requests of the faith-based travel marketplace. WRTA president and four-time published travel author, Kevin J. Wright, will continue to serve as the bureau’s featured speaker. Wright has spoken at dozens of tradeshows, conferences, and events globally and nationally.

For companies and organizations interested in hiring WRTA’s consulting, speakers bureau, or video development services, or to submit a proposal, contact Jim Wright, WRTA VP Sales & Marketing at http://www.wrtareligioustravel.com/.

Leisure Group Travel: Top 10 Emerging Destinations in Faith-based Tourism

2010-01-31T14:21:00.001-07:00

Cover story for Leisure Group Travel Magazine (February 2010 Issue)
Top 10 Emerging Destinations in Faith-based Tourism
View the entire story at http://bit.ly/EmergingDestinationsFaithTourism2010

The president of the World Religious Travel Association identifies 10 places ripe for religious group tours.
1) Armenia
2) Colombia
3) Lebanon
4) Syria
5) India
6) Cyprus
7) Palestine
8) Ethiopia
9) Poland
10) Quebec, Canada

Join the World Religious Travel Association at a new low rate!

2010-01-21T18:16:00.000-07:00

Join WRTA Now & Make 2010 Your Best Year Ever!

Now is your opportunity to join the premier association for faith-based travel at a new low rate!

The World Religious Travel Association is offering a low $499 rate for all destinations, attractions and suppliers looking to target the 300 million traveler religious market in 2010. Travel agents also have a low rate at $99.

Make 2010 your best year ever by becoming part of one of the fastest growing and most resilient markets in the travel industry -- Religious Travel and Hospitality.

WRTA is the only global association dedicated to the Religious Travel and Hospitality Industry. Our members come from 30-plus countries on 6 continents and include the entire "infrastructure" of the faith tourism marketplace including wholesalers, suppliers, destinations, travel agents, and planners.

Religious travel and hospitality is an industry comprised of 300 million travelers globally and is recognized as one of the fastest growing segments in the travel marketplace. Religious travel and hospitality today features virtually every type of travel and event including pilgrimages, conventions/ meetings, leisure vacations, cruising, adventure/ safaris, attractions, missionary travel, volunteer vacations, and much more. It is one of the most resilient markets.

To join WRTA, contact the staff or click here: http://bit.ly/JoinWRTA2010

USA TODAY: Religious Tourism Top Travel Trend for 2010

2010-01-11T16:24:00.002-07:00

The top ten travel trends for 2010
USA Today
By Laura Bly

Religious Travel ranks as Top 10 Travel Trend for 2010.

Read full story at http://bit.ly/USATODAYReligiousTravelTopTrend2010

Expo 2009 Highlights Video - Just Released

2009-12-08T09:55:00.002-07:00

Enjoy highlights from the recent World Religious Travel Expo 2009 in Reno, Nevada (USA).

To watch the video, click on either of the following:
http://bit.ly/Expo2009Highlights
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRjuKe28X8M

PASTORS, MINISTRY LEADERS & THOSE INTERESTED IN FAITH-BASED TRAVEL INVITED TO WORLD RELIGIOUS TRAVEL EXPO

2009-10-27T18:03:00.000-06:00

PASTORS, MINISTRY LEADERS & THOSE INTERESTED IN FAITH-BASED TRAVEL REGISTER TODAY! FOR THE WORLD RELIGIOUS TRAVEL EXPO.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE!

Have you continued to do the same trips year after year? Are you looking to plan new, exciting trips that will entice new members of your fellowship to travel? If so, we would love to invite you to attend the first-ever travel show for religious leaders and faith-based travelers- the World Religious Travel Expo.

Why Attend this Year?
Explore the diverse world of faith-based travel including pilgrimages, mission trips, Volunteer vacations, fellowship cruises, and more

Discover how to build a thriving travel program/ministry
Meet personally with tourism/travel officials from Israel, Jordan, Palestine, Egypt, Cyprus,
Greece,Turkey, Switzerland, Britain, Scotland, Korea, India, Pakistan & more
Discuss opportunities with missionary travel companies such as MTS Travel and volunteer vacation companies such as Lifetree Adventures
Plan trips with leading pilgrimage tour companies such as Regina Tours, Unitours, as well as overseas Christian tour companies from Palestine, Turkey, Africa, Greece, Germany, and much more
Explore Christian and faith-based attractions such as TBN's The Holy Land Experience, and The Shrine of Christ's Passion
Design a fellowship cruise with faith-based cruise companies such as Premier Christian Cruises
Discuss opportunities with retreat conference centers such as Lifeway Conference Centers
Get ready for Oberammergau with The German National Tourist Office, as well as other local German tourism officials who can help you plan and prepare for your trip to next year's renowned Passion Play
Tickets purchased in advance are $20...plus you get an autographed copy of The Christian Travel Planner! Books are limited so please fax back the below registration today to ensure your copy.

Tickets at the door are $35 (book not included).

FAX YOUR REGISTRATION TODAY TO RESERVE YOUR BOOK! (859.226.4434)

Download your registration.

Questions or would you like to register over the phone? Contact WRTA/Expo Staff at 859.226.4203 or visit

ASTA’s IDE 2010: Discover How to Build a Thriving Faith-based Travel Program Centered on the World's Top Religious Sites in the Holy Land

2009-10-25T18:23:00.003-06:00

Read full story at http://www.asta.org/News/PRDetail.cfm?itemnumber=5937

Niche Session
Discover How to Build a Thriving Faith-based Travel Program Centered on the World's Top Religious Sites in the Middle East and Holy Land.
Moderator: Kevin J. Wright, President - World Religious Travel Association.
Panelists will include leading tourism representatives from Middle Eastern Destinations.

Travel agents will discover how to develop a thriving and diverse faith-based travel program centered on the great religious itineraries stretching across these ancient and biblically-rich lands such as Turkey, Armenia, Greece, Cyprus, Israel, Jordan, Palestine, and much more. Attendees will return home equipped with the much-needed knowledge and strategies to immediately impact their faith-based travel program, no matter whether they are new to religious tourism or a long-term expert.

Qualified travel agents and journalists who register to attend IDE will also receive free accommodation for the four nights of the conference, April 19-22, in Istanbul. Check www.ASTA.org/expo to register for IDE and see which hotels are available. For more information or to register, go to ASTA.org/events.

ABOUT ASTA
ASTA's (American Society of Travel Agents) mission is to facilitate the business of selling travel through effective representation, shared knowledge and the enhancement of professionalism. ASTA seeks a retail travel marketplace that is profitable, growing and a rewarding place to work, invest and do business.

Tourism Cares announces partnership with the World Religious Travel Association

2009-10-13T09:35:00.000-06:00

Canton, Mass. (October 13, 2009) – Tourism Cares, the tourism industry’s premier charitable organization for preservation, conservation, restoration and education, has announced its association partnership with the World Religious Travel Association (WRTA), the leading global network for the 300 million traveler faith tourism industry.

“We are excited and privileged to name Tourism Cares as WRTA’s official philanthropy,” said Kevin J. Wright, WRTA President. “Preserving the travel experience for future generations is imperative for all segments of the tourism industry. For this reason, WRTA looks forward to promoting and supporting Tourism Cares’ many important events, including this fall’s Tourism Rocks at the co-located NTA Convention and World Religious Travel Expo in Reno, Nevada.”

WRTA exists to serve as a networking and educational venue for religious tourism, including both trade and traveler. WRTA’s role is to also promote the faith-based travel experience around the world. The partnership with Tourism Cares provides the travel industry with another significant voice to preserving the travel experience for future generations.

“There are no travelers in the world more conscious of culture and antiquities than those who travel to discover the roots of religion. Part of Tourism Cares’ mission is to make sure these treasures are there when they arrive.”, said Bruce Beckham, Executive Director, Tourism Cares. “I am sure the WRTA members will be avid supporters of our cause.”

As part of the partnership, WRTA will be highlighting direct to its members the many ways they can get involved with the mission of Tourism Cares. This includes everything from promoting Tourism Rocks to the NTA Convention Auction to volunteering time at Tourism Cares projects and much more.

About Tourism Cares:
Tourism Cares is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public charity that benefits society by preserving the travel experience for future generations by awarding grants to natural, cultural and historic sites worldwide; by presenting academic and service-focused scholarships to students of hospitality and tourism; and by organizing volunteer efforts to restore tourism-related sites in need of care and rejuvenation. For additional information about Tourism Cares, please visit www.tourismcares.org.

WRTA Expo to Host Industry’s Largest-Ever Educational and Business Seminar Program on Faith Tourism

2009-10-13T08:58:00.000-06:00

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct 7, 2009) – After hosting the industry’s first-ever, historic international gathering for the $18 billion religious travel marketplace in fall 2008, the World Religious Travel Association is expanding its vision and reach yet again in 2009. At this fall’s 2nd annual World Religious Travel Expo, WRTA will host the industry’s largest and most comprehensive educational seminar and business program ever assembled. As a result of the remarkable caliber of the event and presentations scheduled, Expo delegates can earn a maximum of 3 CEUs through The Travel Institute.

The all-star line-up of impressive speakers includes the globally-recognized religious travel expert, Kevin J. Wright, WRTA president; North America’s top faith-based marketing authority, Greg Stielstra, Faith-based Marketing and Pyromarketing author; travel industry’s leading retail expert and NACTA president, Scott Koepf; as well as government officials including Jordan Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Her Excellency Mrs. Maha Khatib, and Palestine Minister of Tourism & Antiquities, Her Excellency Dr. Khouloud Daibes.

Numerous travel industry executives and authorities have also been selected to speak including Torre Ossmo, vice president Faithful Holidays/Division of Mayflower Tours; Bob Faucett, vice president Unitours; George Vella, sales manager North America, German National Tourist Board, Jim Buddendorf, president MTS Travel; George Van der Wath, president Groups 2 Africa; Mirko Capodanno, Switzerland Tourism; Fuad Kattan, president ACA Travel & Tourism (Palestine); Michelle Clavijo-Diaz, Lifetree Adventures; Cindi Brodhecker, president Faith Travel Development and Consulting, and many more. With dozens of speakers planned for Expo 2009, the presenters represent a wide variety of backgrounds and destinations including India, Armenia, Cyprus, Africa, Germany, Switzerland, Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Canada, Mexico, the United States, and more.

“I’m like a kid in a candy store with this remarkable array of speakers,” said Kevin J. Wright, WRTA president. “The sheer wealth of knowledge and wisdom among these speakers is exactly what is needed for every Expo delegate to plan and prepare for their best year ever in 2010. It is simply a tremendous honor for WRTA to host such an extraordinary and inspiring group of speakers. This is a testament to the power and prestige of today’s faith tourism marketplace.”
The Expo 2009 General Sessions and Educational Seminars are listed as follows, each expanding upon the convention theme: Make 2010 Your Best Year Ever. For a complete listing of all educational opportunities and speakers, visit www.wrtaexpo.com/WRTA+Expo/Education/.

GENERAL SESSIONS
* Soundbites from the Global Faith Tourism Industry: What’s Happening & What’s to Come in 2010 (Speakers include leading tourism representatives)
* Faith-based Marketing: How to effectively reach, and serve, America's highest spending consumer group (Greg Stielstra, North America’s Top Authority on Faith-based Marketing)
* Five things to do to Make 2010 your Best Year Ever! (Scott Koepf, NACTA President)
* Signature Event: The Holy Land Panel Moderated by Malia Asfour, Director North America, Jordan Tourism plus leading tourism officials from Israel, Palestine, Egypt, Cyprus, and Greece

EDUCATIONAL SEMINARS
* How to build a thriving religious travel program with the right products, experiences, and quality. Moderator: Cindi Brodhecker, President, Faith Travel Development and Consulting
* Discover fascinating new trends, destinations and faith vacation experiences for the 21st century religious traveler: Faith-based cruises, missionary travel, African safaris, India, Armenia, and much more. Moderator: Darrell Burrow, Director of Sales, Premier Christian Cruises
* Make 2010 your best year ever in religious group travel: Learn about Oberammergau, Santiago de Compostela’s Holy Year, Shroud of Turin, Year of the Priest, and Much More Moderator: Bob Faucett, Vice President, Unitours
* How to effectively use Social Media and PR to build your religious clientele: Includes LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, blogging, creating your own social network, writing press releases and much more. Moderator, Kevin J. Wright, WRTA President
* PyroMarketing: Igniting “group travel planner” evangelists and keeping them for life Moderator: Greg Stielstra plus prominent group planners/leaders

"As a speaker and exhibitor for the second year, I am honored to play such an important part again this year," said Torre Ossmo, vice president and general manager for Faithful Holidays. "I want to congratulate and thank WRTA for having such a great line up for the educational conference this year. The presentations, discussion topics and information provided at the educational conference will be crucial to the attendees, especially as we’re all looking for success as we address the market challenges ahead."WRTA is currently taking registrations for the Word Religious Travel Expo & Educational Conference 2009, which will be held November 14-16, 2009, at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center in Reno, Nevada (USA). Serving as the most important meeting and tradeshow in the religious travel and hospitality industry, the event is expected to draw tourism organizations, travel professionals, and group planners from 30-plus countries.

A new highlight for the Expo includes co-locating with the National Tour Association Convention ‘09, offering members of both associations unprecedented opportunities for business growth, networking, and access to new market opportunities.

Expo newest video for Travel Agents available

2009-09-29T15:17:00.003-06:00

Our newest "Smilebox" video for Travel agents interested in possibly attending the upcoming World Religious Travel Expo is now available: http://bit.ly/WRTABuyerSlideshow

World Religious Travel Expo Provides Opportunity to Increase Revenues Twelve-fold and Profits Four-fold

2009-09-24T17:51:00.002-06:00

World Religious Travel Expo Provides an Opportunity
to Increase Revenues Twelve-fold and Profits Four-fold

LEXINGTON, Ky. (September 24, 2009) – Numbers don’t lie. A landmark study finds that for every dollar invested in travel for face-to-face meetings, companies can expect an average twelve-fold increase ($12.50) in revenues and four-fold increase ($3.80) in new profits. The World Religious Travel Expo 2009 is no exception as the tradeshow presents travel providers an opportunity to dramatically increase their revenues and profits in the $18 billion faith-based travel and hospitality industry.
The study commissioned by the U.S. Travel Association and completed by global research firm Oxford Economics, shows measurable negative impacts of cutting business travel and trade show attendance from the budget:
» The average business in the U.S. would forfeit 17% of its profits in the first year by eliminating business travel
» It would take three years to recover those lost profits

“These statistics clearly demonstrate the immense value of attending tradeshows, but even more, confirm once and for all the return on investment provided to conference attendees,” said Kevin J. Wright, WRTA president. “This is all the more important in the burgeoning religious travel industry, where doing business face-to-face is simply expected in this marketplace. The World Religious Travel Expo features the premier venue for buying, selling and discovering new suppliers/product ideas in faith tourism.”

The WRTA Expo is positioned to provide delegates an even higher ROI, especially when taking into account the exceptional rates to attend the Expo, as well as the very affordable overnight hotel rates. Travel agents pay just $35 (for WRTA Members) and $85 (for non-WRTA Members) to attend the World Religious Travel Expo, which includes meal functions, tradeshow floor access, educational seminars, and entertainment events. Hotel rates at the official Expo host hotel (Atlantis Resort and Spa) in Reno, Nevada, begin at just $59 per night.

WRTA is currently taking registrations for the Word Religious Travel Expo & Educational Conference 2009, which will be held November 14-16, 2009, at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center in Reno, Nevada (USA). Serving as the most important meeting and tradeshow in the religious travel and hospitality industry, the event is expected to once again draw hundreds of tourism organizations, travel professionals, agents, and group planners from 30-plus countries.
A new highlight for the Expo includes co-locating with the National Tour Association Convention ‘09, offering members of both associations unprecedented opportunities for business growth, networking and access to new market opportunities.
For more information about attending or exhibiting at the World Religious Travel Expo, contact WRTA at: 888-255-WRTA (9872) or +1-859-219-3529

Exhibitors! New Expo 2009 video released for you....

2009-09-23T13:12:00.002-06:00

We just released our newest 1-minute video for Expo 2009 Exhibitors (either confirmed or interested).

Just click here to view and enjoy: http://bit.ly/2009ExpoExhibitors

New NTA Convention Panel Announced: Faith-based Marketing Revenue Secrets featuring Greg Stielstra

2009-09-21T14:31:00.002-06:00

Faith-based Marketing Revenue Secrets: Featuring Two Industry Experts
Wednesday, Nov. 18, 10:15–11:30 a.m.
Featured Speakers:
Kevin J. Wright, president, World Religious Travel Association
Greg Stielstra, author, Faith-based Marketing and Pyromarketing

An Industry First! Join Kevin J. Wright, president of NTA strategic partner the World Religious Travel Association, and Greg Stielstra, North America’s top faith-based marketing authority, as together they lead a fascinating and remarkable discussion on how to effectively work with the $18 billion faith-based market. From pilgrimages, missions and conventions to adventure trips, leisure vacations and cruises, “religious travel and hospitality” is much broader than most people think. With two industry-leading experts at the helm, Kevin and Greg will change the way you do business forever with this new clientele and revenue opportunity.

For more info about the NTA Convention and above panel, visit http://www.ntaonline.com/Convention09/

Expo Buzz Newsletter, Sep. 1, 2009

2009-09-01T16:55:00.004-06:00

Headlining Keynote Named:
Greg Stielstra

WRTA has named Greg Stielstra, the marketing director behind The Purpose Driven Life, the fastest-selling hardcover book in American history and a faith-based marketing phenomenon, as the headline speaker at this fall's celebrated event. Stielstra is also best known as the author of Faith-based Marketing: The Guide to Reaching 140 Million Christian Customers (HarperCollins, 2005) and PyroMarketing: The Four Step Strategy to Ignite Customer Evangelists and Keep Them For Life (Wiley, 2009).

Stielstra is an innovative thinker, speaker, consultant and author. An expert in word-of-mouth, faith-based, and social network marketing, he speaks regularly at Word of Mouth Marketing Association conference and numerous other events including AdTech New York and the prestigious Forbes CMO Summit. His work has been covered by The Economist, Advertising Age, Point Magazine, Business Week, Forbes, Wireless Age, Knowledge at Wharton, the Wharton Leadership Journal, and the book 9 Minds on Marketing.

We are very excited to welcome Greg to our Expo.

Full release

Greg's Biography and Book Information

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Can't Join Us in Reno?

Create a presence through advertising. Advertise in the Official Expo Program to ensure your brand is remembered by all expo attendees. The program features:

Expo Schedule
Exhibitor List
Educational Sessions
Attendee directory - making it a year long publication
Expo Map
But hurry...limited space is available - book by Sept. 15 to be included.

For more information about advertising, contact Kami Risk at 888-255-WRTA (9782) or 859-226-4402; or email sales@WRTAstaff.com..
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New Logo Unveiled for Expo Theme "Make 2010 Your Best Year Ever"

WRTA is thrilled to debut its logo for this fall's World Religious Travel Expo. The new logo unveiling follows Expo's recent announcement of its fall theme: Make 2010 Your Best Year Ever. As the official symbol of Expo 2009, you will see this logo in upcoming expo communications, and on the expo tradeshow floor, general sessions, educational seminars, and other event functions. The logo and theme is an ever-constant reminder to "Make 2010 Your Best Year Ever!"

Exhibitors of the Week

In each Expo Buzz, we like to show the quality of exhibitors we will have at the Expo by highlighting different companies each week. We are looking forward to meeting everyone and hope you are too!

The ACA & Tourism/Bethlehem will guide you through your quest. Whether you want to visit a country or prefer a regional tour throughout Israel, the Palestinian Autonomous Territories, Egypt or Jordan we can tailor any trip to your taste and pace. website

At CIE Tours International, quality is our focus. We insist on state-of-the-art luxury coaches; prompt and pleasant customer service; and the best hotels, visits and entertainment. website

The Shrine of Christ's Passion is an interactive half-mile winding pathway that begins with the Last Supper and Garden of Gethsemane. You then journey through the Passion of Christ as depicted in the Stations of the Cross. website

7TUR Tourism Ltd. is one of Turkey's leading Business Travel and Destination Management Companies with 28 years of experience. We emphasize creativity, cost-efficiency and commitment to our clients, providing only the best in accommodation, transportation, entertainment, seminars, tours, special events and more. website

Annett Bus Lines has become one of the most respected motorcoach companies in North America. Family Tradition is what drives our business, and our fleet of 55 motorcoaches will travel more than 3.3 million miles this year. website

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Expo 2008 Highlights Webcast Released
"Revenue Secrets from Faith Tourism Experts"

You can now experience and relive highlights of Expo 2008 in the newly released webcast entitled "Revenue Secrets from Faith Tourism Experts." In this 55-minute webinar , discover sales, marketing, PR, product, and operational insights from top authorities in the world of religious travel and hospitality.

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Expo Tip of the Week
Get the Biggest Bang for your Buck

As you know, WRTA and NTA are co-locating their conventions this year in Reno, however, did you know WRTA suppliers/wholesalers/destinations and WRTA buyers can access select NTA functions with the NTA add-on options? Build your portfolio by adding-on NTA options!

$220 NTA Add-on: For Travel Wholesalers/Tour Operators who want appointments with Tour Suppliers at NTA. Subject to NTA approval.

$545 NTA Add-on: For Wholesalers/Suppliers/Destinations who want access to NTA Convention Mall and education. Does not include appointments with NTA Tour Operators. Subject to NTA approval.

$825 NTA Add-on: For Wholesalers/Suppliers/Destinations who want to have appointments with NTA Tour Operators. Subject to NTA approval.

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Personal Note from WRTA President

Dear Faith Tourism Friends & Colleagues,

You're in for a big treat this fall at Expo. Never before has the travel industry been addressed by the top faith-based marketing authority in North America- Greg Stielstra. This is a first!

In preparation for the Expo, as well as for the benefit of your own faith-based travel program - I'd suggest purchasing a copy of Greg's newly published book Faith-based Marketing (http://www.faithbasedmarketing.com/). ). It is a tremendous resource and will greatly impact the way you serve the religious market.

Another book of Greg's to check out is Pyromarketing (http://www.pyromarketing.com/). I read this book about a year ago - and it's one of the finest business books I've ever read. It's a must.

Greg is thrilled about addressing our Expo this fall - and he very much looks forward to meeting you in person.

See you in 3 months in Reno!
Best Wishes,
Kevin J. Wright
WRTA President

P.S. If you want to catch Greg in action, watch one of his live performances.

Greg Stielstra, North America's Top Faith-based Marketing Expert to Headline World Religious Travel Expo

2009-09-01T10:57:00.003-06:00

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Aug 31, 2009) – One of North America’s top authorities on faith-based marketing and word-of mouth marketing will address the travel industry, for the first time ever, at the World Religious Travel Expo 2009. The World Religious Travel Association (WRTA) just named Greg Stielstra, the marketing director behind The Purpose Driven Life, the fastest-selling hardcover book in American history and a faith-based marketing phenomenon, as the
headline speaker at this fall’s celebrated event. Stielstra is also best known as the author of Faith-based Marketing: The Guide to Reaching 140 Million Christian Customers (HarperCollins, 2005) and PyroMarketing: The Four Step Strategy to Ignite Customer Evangelists and Keep Them For Life (Wiley, 2009).

“We hit the jackpot in landing Greg Stielstra as the Sunday luncheon keynoter,” said WRTA President Kevin J. Wright. “The most frequently asked question by every travel provider and supplier in relation to the religious market is ‘How do we effectively reach pastors and the faith-based consumer?’ Greg will share the fascinating marketing principles behind the mega-success of The Passion of the Christ movie and The Purpose Driven Life book, and how these same
principles can and should be applied by each organization in the travel industry.”

Stielstra is an innovative thinker, speaker, consultant and author. An expert in word-of-mouth, faith-based, and social network marketing, he speaks regularly at Word of Mouth Marketing Association conference and numerous other events including AdTech New York and the prestigious Forbes CMO Summit. His work has been covered by The Economist, Advertising Age, Point Magazine, Business Week, Forbes, Wireless Age, Knowledge at Wharton, the
Wharton Leadership Journal, and the book 9 Minds on Marketing.

“People of faith are the largest, most loyal, and highest spending market segment in the United States with 140 million weekly church-goers who spend $5.1 trillion annually,” said Stielstra. “To be successful, you must first understand the religious consumer power niche—and how to effectively reach them. I will help the travel industry understand who makes up the faith community, what they want, and what it takes to appeal to them. We’ll also discuss common mistakes marketers make in dealing with the faith-based market; how to serve rather than sell to them; and what works and doesn’t work when dealing with pastors and other religious leaders. Above all, I’ll provide practical guidance for creating faith-based marketing plans that work.”

With one in four Americans expressing interest in taking a faith-based trip, and religious tourism expected to double by 2012, many travel providers and destinations have recently significantly expanded their faith-based marketing efforts including Trafalgar Tours, Globus family of brands, Collette Vacations, Faithful Holidays (division of Mayflower Tours), CIE Tours, Homeric Tours, TravelBound, Ed-Ventures Worldwide Tours, Carnival Cruise Lines, Costa Cruises, the Jordan Tourist Board, Switzerland Tourism, as well as many Convention and Visitor Bureaus and other suppliers including Passport Health. WRTA is currently taking registrations for the Word Religious Travel Expo & Educational Conference 2009, which will be held November 14-16, 2009, at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center in Reno, Nevada (USA). Serving as the most
important meeting and tradeshow in the religious travel and hospitality industry, the event is expected to draw tourism organizations, travel professionals, and group planners from 30-plus countries.

A new highlight for the Expo includes co-locating with the National Tour Association Convention ‘09, offering members of both associations unprecedented opportunities for business growth, networking and access to new market opportunities.

For more information about attending or exhibiting at the World Religious Travel Expo, contact the World Religious Travel Association at 888-255-WRTA (9782) or +1-859-219-3529 or by email headquarters@WRTAreligioustravel.com. For more information about WRTA and the Expo, visit www.WRTAreligioustravel.com and http://www.wrtaexpo.com/ respectively.

WRTA debuts logo for World Religious Travel Expo 2009

2009-08-26T15:33:00.001-06:00

WRTA is proud to debut our logo for this fall's World Religious Travel Expo.....

Expo Buzz Update

2009-08-18T16:59:00.002-06:00

August 18, 2009

Table of Contents

Saturday Events You Don't Want to Miss
Expo-- Did you Know?
Expo Tip of the Week-- Choose Wisely!
Get Noticed in the Faith-Based Market
Exhibitors of the Week
Be a Know-it-All at the Expo

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Get to the Expo early Saturday- So much to do!

Invitation from NTA: Saturday International Luncheon
Join us for NTA's International Luncheon, being held Saturday, Nov. 14 from 12:30-1:45 in the Reno-Sparks Convention Center. In this luncheon, you'll dine with hundreds of tourism professionals while you learn more about international destinations such as Jordan and Mexico. Each sponsoring destination will deliver a destination presentation, designed with all travel packagers in mind and be exposed to great product development ideas for your clients. We have also confirmed, Her Excellency of Jordan, will be one of the destination presenters. Don't miss this opportunity to learn more about these exciting destinations while networking with your peers.

Take Advantage and Sightsee!
After NTA's International Luncheon on Saturday (2pm-6pm), experience the Reno area and choose from one of five sightseeing tours! From historic Virginia City to the brand new Reno Aces AAA Ballpark, each four-hour tour is a great way to see the southwest area of Reno. The tours are offered on a first-received, first-registered basis, so sign up now! Deadline to register is October 14, 2009.
Tours start and end at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center.

Tour #1 - Virginia City "Step back in Time"
The mining boom turned Virginia City into the most important settlement between Denver and San Francisco and the grubby prospectors were turned into instant millionaires - who built mansions, imported expensive furniture, food and fashions from Europe and the Orient, and ended up helping to finance the Civil War.

Tour #2 - Can You Believe it?
Start with Reno's newest venue-Reno Aces AAA ball park- walk through the dugouts and visit the Hall of Fame Club Suite where you get a birds eye view of the entire park and the Reno skyline! The next stop is to the National Automobile Museum, the Harrah Collection, where time, culture, beauty, history, human invention, ingenuity and frivolity merge to fascinate us in the form of cars.

Tour #3 - The Biggest Little City in the World
Explore downtown Reno, a city that started as a small river crossing but ended up as the "Biggest Little City." Before Las Vegas, Reno was a Mecca for movie stars and entertainers, beautiful architecture and famous restaurants. You will also get a glimpse of our small city as it undergoes a renaissance throughout the downtown corridor. Visit downtown spots, historic churches, bridges and hotels with us.

Tour #4 - Carson City- "A Stroll through the 1800's"
Take a walk back into the 1800's in Carson City, Nevada's capitol. Explore the Kit Carson Trail, the city's fabulous historic district. Come see all the sites, including the Governor's Mansion and the Capital Building, and hear the tales of our capital and its colorful residents!

Tour #5 - North Shore of Tahoe and Squaw Valley
Travel west with us to the beautiful North Short Lake Tahoe and see what all the fuss is about as you take in the views. Visit the Tahoe Maritime Museum, Squaw Valley (home to the 1960 Winter Olympics, and the Sierra Nevada Foothills (home to the oldest Zinfandel vines in the world). Enjoy the view - and the wine - on our tour.

Read the full descriptions of the tours
Sign up by October 14, 2009!

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Expo- Did you Know?

Expand your contacts and grow your business with the National Tour Association. As you know, WRTA and NTA are co-locating their conventions this year in Reno, however, did you know WRTA suppliers/wholesalers/destinations and WRTA buyers can access select NTA functions with the NTA add-on options?

$220 NTA Add-on: For Travel Wholesalers/Tour Operators who want appointments with Tour Suppliers at NTA. Subject to NTA approval.
$545 NTA Add-on: For Wholesalers/Suppliers/Destinations who want access to NTA Convention Mall and education. Does not include appointments with NTA Tour Operators. Subject to NTA approval.
$825 NTA Add-on: For Wholesalers/Suppliers/Destinations who want to have appointments with NTA Tour Operators. Subject to NTA approval.
About NTA
More about WRTA/NTA registration
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Expo Tip of the Week- Choose Wisely

With so many great educational breakout sessions to choose from, the decision may be tough! A great expo tip, for any educational conference, is to decide in advance which educational session you will get the most out of. Our Sunday morning educational sessions start of the conference with great topics! Which best suits your needs?

WRTA Educational Breakout Sessions
Sunday, November 15
9:15am-10:15am
Product Development for the faith market
Seminar 1 - How to build the right travel products and experiences for today's religious market
Seminar 2 - Fellowship vacations and events in North America: Tapping your backyard goldmine
Seminar 3 - Discover the top trends, destinations and opportunities in religious travel

See the full (preliminary) WRTA schedule of events and other educational session topics.

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Get Noticed in the Faith-Based Market

With Expo 2009 only 3 months away, we don't want you to miss your opportunity to stand-out in the faith based market. Here are three reasons to book exhibit space now:

Join your travel industry colleagues including ACA Travel & Tourism, CIE Tours International, Cyprus Tourism Organization, Ed-Ventures Worldwide Tours, German National Tourist Office, Globus Family of Brands, Greek National Tourism Organization, Idee Travel Services, Jordan Tourism Board, Krouse/Amsalem Travel, Leipzig Tourism and Marketing Company, Lifetree Adventures, Reno-Tahoe, Routes to Luther, The Shrine of Christ's Passion, Switzerland Tourism, Tauck World Discovery, Theatre Direct & Broadway.com/groups, Trafalgar Tours USA Inc, Trinity Broadcasting Network, Visit Britain and Visit Scotland. View the complete list of Expo 2009 Exhibitors.
New this year - exhibitors choose their own space. Booth selection has already started, so act quickly to get the best spot!
An anticipated 400 NTA tour operators will have access to the WRTA International
Tradeshow floor. This is your ticket to meeting more buyers!!
For more information about exhibiting, contact Kami Risk at WRTA.

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Exhibitors of the Week

Cyprus , an island in the Eastern Mediterranean with history that dates back 10,000 Years. A country exceptionally rich in monuments of the Byzantine period, many of them UNESCO World Heritage The arrival in Cyprus of the Apostles Paul, Barnabas and Mark in 45A.D. is one of the most important historical events to leave its mark on the island. Their visit is linked to the spread of Christianity. Come and trace the steps of Apostle Paul and Barnabas on our beautiful island. Cyprus is a year round destination with more than 360 days of sunshine.
http://www.visitcyprus.com/wps/portal

Ed-Ventures is a family owned and operated company specializing in worldwide tours with a purpose, and has been customizing tours for operators and travel agents for over 30 years. In recent years our focus has shifted to faith-based travel with a special emphasis on the Passion Play, Footsteps of Paul, the Holy Land and Egypt, and the Reformation era. We have also arranged travel and volunteer opportunities for mission groups in Central America and pilgrimages to Italy and other destinations.
www.ed-ventures.com

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Be a Know-it-All at Expo

Want some fast, fun facts about the World Religious Travel Expo and Educational Conference? Knowing as much as possible about the Expo before you get there will allow you to get the most out of it!

Official Expo website
Expo video
Discover the World of Faith Tourism video
Scott Keopf, NACTA President, named keynote speaker

New Webinar Released: Revenue Secrets From Faith Tourism Experts

2009-08-17T20:41:00.002-06:00

WRTA's newest Webinar has just been released: Revenue Secrets from Faith Tourism Experts - How to Flourish in a Thriving New Market.

The Webinar also features highlights from the World Religious Travel Expo.

To view the Webinar, visit the homepage of http://www.WRTAexpo.com/

NACTA President, Scott Koepf, Keynote Speaker at World Religious Travel Expo

2009-08-14T18:13:00.001-06:00

LEXINGTON, Ky. (August 14, 2009) – The World Religious Travel Association (WRTA) has named NACTA President, Scott Koepf, as keynote speaker for the final day of the World Religious Travel Expo 2009.

“We are ecstatic about Scott Koepf serving as a keynote speaker at the World Religious Travel Expo,” said Kevin J. Wright, WRTA president. “As a motivational speaker and sales trainer with two decades-plus experience in the travel industry, Scott is the ideal candidate for sharing with delegates how to make 2010 their best year ever.”

Koepf is recognized as one of the leading authorities and representatives of travel agents in the industry. With more than 25 years in retail travel, Scott became president of the National Association of Career Travel Agents (NACTA) in 2008. Prior to his current position, Scott was with Sabre Holdings as general manager of the Jurni Consortium, TMA and the host Travel agency, Nexion. He opened a cruise travel agency in 1985 and in 1989 became president of Cruise Holidays International. Scott was responsible for taking the franchise company from 12 franchises to over 120. In 1991 he returned to owning an agency, which quickly became one of the top cruise selling agencies in the country.

“I am thrilled to be a keynote speaker for the WRTA Expo in Reno,” said Scott Koepf, NACTA president. “First, as a graduate of the University of Nevada in Reno, the destination will serve as a memorable homecoming. Secondly, the conference theme Make 2010 Your Best Year Ever is perfect and I will dig into how you can make that happen—even in these remarkable times. I might even slip in a few never-before-told college stories to spice things up!”

With a special partnership between WRTA and NACTA, all NACTA travel agent members are eligible for a special $35 rate to attend the World Religious Travel Expo.

The Word Religious Travel Expo & Educational Conference will be held November 14-16, 2009, at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center in Reno, Nevada (USA). Serving as the most important meeting and tradeshow in the religious travel and hospitality industry, the event is expected to draw tourism organizations and travel professionals from 30-plus countries.

A new highlight for the Expo includes co-locating with the National Tour Association’s Convention, offering members of both associations unprecedented opportunities for business growth, networking, and access to new market opportunities.

For more information about attending or exhibiting at the World Religious Travel Expo, including registering for the special NACTA member travel agency rate, contact the World Religious Travel Association

World Religious Travel Expo Theme Announced: “Make 2010 Your Best Year Ever”

2009-06-25T15:57:00.001-06:00

WRTA Announces Theme of Fall Expo
“Make 2010 Your Best Year Ever”

LEXINGTON, Ky. (June 25, 2009) – The World Religious Travel Association (WRTA) has announced “Make 2010 Your Best Year Ever” as its official theme for this fall’s World Religious Travel Expo. The newly chosen motto will serve as the guiding principle and overall purpose of the three-day event.

“Our theme serves as an invitation to tap into the flourishing religious travel and hospitality industry,” said WRTA president, Kevin J. Wright. “We all know this is a very trying time for many companies. However, as faith tourism provides new market and revenue possibilities, the World Religious Travel Expo provides organizations with a renewed opportunity to experience their best year yet.”

Faith-based travel and hospitality has become an important new market segment for many tour operators, travel agents, destinations and suppliers in the industry. In the past year alone, the religious market has taken on even greater significance, due to its recession-proof and groups-dominated attributes. An estimated 75% of faith-based travelers prefer to travel in group settings while 80% would like to repeat their religious travel experience. Challenging times only serve to bring people of faith together in greater numbers for travel or convention purposes; providing a much needed “stimulus” to the industry.

WRTA recently opened registrations for the Word Religious Travel Expo & Educational Conference 2009, which will be held November 14-16, 2009, at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center in Reno, Nevada (USA). Serving as the most important meeting and tradeshow in the religious travel and hospitality industry, the event is expected to draw tourism organizations and travel professionals from 30-plus countries.

A new highlight for the Expo includes co-locating with the National Tour Association Annual Convention, offering members of both associations unprecedented opportunities for business growth, networking, and access to new market opportunities.

For more information about attending or exhibiting at the World Religious Travel Expo, contact the World Religious Travel Association at 888-255-WRTA (9782) or +1-859-219-3529 or by email headquarters@WRTAreligioustravel.com. For more information about WRTA and the Expo, visit www.WRTAreligioustravel.com and www.WRTAexpo.com respectively.

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Early Bird Discounts ending soon

2009-06-21T16:04:00.002-06:00

If you're looking for special savings to attend the World Religious Travel Expo.....be sure to hurry! Early Bird discounts to attend or exhibit at the World Religious Travel Expo will be ending in the coming weeks. For more info, visit www.WRTAexpo.com or call 888-255-WRTA (9782).

World Religious Travel Expo video released

2009-06-03T11:51:00.000-06:00

WRTA just released its inspriational World Relgious Travel Expo video on YOU TUBE. It can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c25vbpwqQ1o

WRTA Opens registrations for Expo 2009

2009-04-29T18:03:00.003-06:00

The World Religious Travel Association is now open and accepting registrations for the World Religious Travel Expo 2009.

FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE for best booth space.

To reserve your exhibit booth or attendance, contact WRTA at 888-255-WRTA (9782) or 859-219-3529....or email headquarters@WRTAreligioustravel.com.

World Religious Travel Expo 2009

2009-04-13T18:23:00.001-06:00

The World Religious Travel Expo 2009 will be held in Reno, Nevada (USA) at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center.

The official website: www.WRTAexpo.com

Faith Tourism Takes Center Stage of Global Travel Industry

2008-11-04T18:10:00.001-07:00

Inaugural World Religious Travel Expo Brings Several “Firsts,” including Unprecedented Panel
of Tourism Officials from Palestine, Israel, Jordan & Egypt that Signals Greater Holy Land Tourism Co-Op

LITTLETON, Colorado (Nov. 4, 2008) – The inaugural World Religious Travel Expo and Educational Conference concluded Saturday after a week of “firsts” – the tourism minister of Palestine made her first foray into a North American trade show, marketing holy sites such as Bethlehem and Nazareth; participants from 30 countries on six continents gathered for the first large-scale gathering to promote and develop the $18 billion worldwide faith tourism industry; and WRTA announced that its second annual expo would be held next November in conjunction with the 2009 National Tour Association (NTA) annual convention.

“Faith tourism is no longer a niche, but a full-blown industry,” said Kevin J. Wright, president of the World Religious Travel Association (WRTA), host of the event. “The tremendous response from global tourism leaders and organizations to our first trade show and conference clearly demonstrates that our partners around the world are committed to developing and promoting meaningful products and services that meet the needs of today’s faith-based travelers.”

Destinations, tour operators, cruise lines, attractions, hotel properties, travel suppliers and a host of other providers and planners from Africa, the Americas, Asia, Australia, the Caribbean, Europe and the Holy Land were represented at this assembly of global leaders in the religious travel industry. Keynote speakers included the Honorable Vincent Vanderpool-Wallace, Minister of Tourism and Aviation, the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism; the Honorable Akel E. Biltaji, Jordan’s Ambassador-at-Large for Tourism and Special Advisor to His Majesty King Abdullah II; Maurice Zarmati, President, Costa Cruise Lines; and Steve Born, Vice-President, Globus Family of Brands. Other dignitaries and special guests included Dr. Khouloud Daibes, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Palestine; David Pereira Catarino, Mayor of Ourém (Fatima), Portugal; and Arie Sommer, Tourism Commissioner for North and South America, Israel Ministry of Tourism (IMOT).

According to Daibes, the Palestinian tourism minister, the WRTA Expo marked her “first step in positioning Palestine as part of the Holy Land.” ACA Travel and Tourism, a private Bethlehem-based faith travel company that operates tours in Jordan, Israel and Palestine, had a booth at the WRTA Expo, a first American trade presence for any private tourism enterprise from Bethlehem.

During a panel Friday moderated by Malia Asfour, director of the Jordan Tourism Board of North America, Palestine’s Daibes and Israel’s Sommer explained that the Holy Land has welcomed travelers for more than two thousand years and hospitality lies at the core of the region’s heritage. Both officials also stated that 2008 is serving as one of the best years ever on record for visitors to the Holy Land. Asfour, who has promoted Jordan to North Americans since 1998, called the panel groundbreaking because it marked the first time that officials from all areas of the Holy Land – Israel, Palestine, Jordan and Egypt – have come together to promote the region to the North American travel industry. Asfour congratulated Wright for doing what no travel official had done before – and commented that the WRTA Expo could mark the beginning of a new era of cooperation and promotion of the Holy Land to travelers from North America.

Other highlights of the WRTA Expo:
• Vanderpool-Wallace, tourism minister of the Bahamas, reminded participants that his country was founded by people seeking religious tolerance and freedom, so it is only natural that faith-based travelers would be attracted to the people and culture of the Bahamas. The Caribbean nation, a popular destination for faith-based cruises and conferences, has the only tourism ministry in the world with a full-time religious travel department in North America, headed by deputy director Linville Johnson.
• Biltaji, often described as the godfather of Jordanian tourism, shared an update on the Abraham Path Initiative, a route of tourism that retraces the journey made by Abraham (Ibrahim) through the heart of the Middle East some four thousand years ago. Biltaji, a board member of the International Institute for Peace through Tourism (IIPT), told the Expo audience that a walking segment of the Jordanian portion of the path (near the ancient birthplace of the prophet Elijah) is complete. A film on the project can be viewed at http://www.abrahampath.org/video_friend.php. The network of trails is scheduled to open slowly over the next several years. Biltaji explained that such an undertaking needs the support of the entire global faith tourism industry. He emphasized the benefits of the path -- sustainable tourism, inter-cultural and inter-religious understanding. (Three and a half billion people — over half the human family — trace their history or faith back to Abraham, considered the father of monotheism. The Abraham Path honors this shared cultural heritage by linking together into a single itinerary of outstanding interest and beauty of the ancient sites associated with Abraham and his family.)
• The Mexico Tourism Board, which estimates that religious travel will account for twenty percent of its 2008 foreign arrivals, presented a lively display of Mexican culture, history and religious products, including the Basilica of our Lady of Guadalupe, its most visited Catholic sanctuary, which drew more than 14 million visitors in 2006.

Expo participants had access to workshops and presentations on the entire spectrum of faith-based tourism, which today is more than just pilgrimages – it attracts travelers on cruises, volunteer vacations, adventure trips (even African safaris), leisure vacations, conferences and events, such as the World Youth Day, one of the largest gatherings of any kind. The exhibitors and products at the WRTA Expo showed the diversity of the faith tourism industry. Alongside overtly religious travel suppliers such as the tourism ministries of Egypt, Greece, Cyprus, Jordan, Palestine, and Israel, were those with a less obvious connection, such as:
• EcoAndes Travel, Ecuador (Adventure tours in South America)
• Nissi Holidays, Uganda; Cordial Tours and Travel Services, Tanzania (Africa safari operators)
• Mexico, Romania, Korea, Jamaica, Bermuda and Bahamas tourism ministries
• Condor Verde Travel (Mexico and Venezuela)

More than 500 participants attended the historic event, held Oct. 29-Nov. 1 at the Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center in Orlando. Expo delegates said they were impressed with the professionalism of the event, the quality of exhibitors and attendees, and the business opportunities the event fostered:
• “It was truly a first class event- from your pick of convention centers, to the amazing food, to the wonderful panel discussions and break-out sessions and everything else that went into the 3-day Expo. The expo proved to be very enlightening for me, learning so much about faith based travel, and the travel industry in and of itself. I met a great group of people who shared some valuable information with me. It was also a success from a business point of view since I believe I generated a lot of excitement about my hiking tours to Israel.” – Judy Mizrachi, President, Women Walkers
• “I just returned from the World Religious Travel Expo and Educational Conference in Orlando, organized by Mr. Kevin J. Wright and his wonderful team. As an exhibitor I was most impressed with the exceptional services provided to everyone attending, the attention to detail, how true the show was to its faith-based focus etc. This list could go on forever. I highly recommend the World Religious Travel Association; I am surely looking forward to continuing our cooperation.” – Sandra Weinacht, CEO, Incantato Tours & Concert Management
• “Thank you so much for putting together a great conference for everyone in the faith-based travel industry! I had a great time, made many contacts and learned a lot in the seminars! I truly appreciate all the work that you put into the event. I especially appreciate the matchmaking list. It will allow me to follow up with new contacts and friends much more easily now that the conference is over.” - Tracie R. Heidt, Executive Director, Stellaris Christian Study Abroad
• “The Expo and conference was a wonderful way to introduce everyone to the power of the Faith Tourism market.” – Bill Lawrence, Director, Supplier Strategies, CCRA International, Inc.

Next year’s Expo will be held in Reno, Nevada in conjunction with the annual convention of the National Tour Association (NTA). Currently, 35 percent of NTA operators offer religious tour products, and NTA and WRTA seek to expand the overall growth of faith tourism by bringing both memberships opportunities for education and professional development.

The WRTA Expo is the brainchild of Wright, an award-winning author of several religious travel guidebooks who founded WRTA in January, 2007. His latest book, “The Christian Travel Planner,” (released 2008 by Thomas Nelson) is the most comprehensive guidebook ever published on faith-based travel. An updated version of his popular “Europe’s Monastery & Convent Guesthouses” was released Nov. 1 by Liguori Publications.

The WRTA Expo was the official kick-off of “The Year of Faith Tourism.” Serving as a special time set aside for the promotion of and participation in travel by people of faith, the purpose and goals of the yearlong celebrations and activities are: (1) Highlight the New Era of Faith Tourism. (2) Increase the awareness of the personal and communal benefits of Faith Tourism. (3) Contribute to the overall growth and health of the global economy, travel industry, and individual travel providers.

Global Travel Industry Shines Spotlight on Faith Tourism

2008-10-24T19:42:00.001-06:00

GLOBAL TRAVEL INDUSTRY SHINES SPOTLIGHT ON FAITH TOURISM
DURING DIM ECONOMIC TIMES
World Religious Travel Expo Draws Participants from 30 Countries, 6 continents to Orlando

LITTLETON, Colorado (October 27, 2008) – Faith-based travel has made believers out of tourism leaders from around the world – as travel officials, providers and planners from 30 countries on six continents will gather in Orlando, Oct. 29-Nov. 1, for the inaugural World Religious Travel Expo and Educational Conference. Although religious travel is one of the oldest forms of tourism, dating back to ancient times, the expo will be the first global marketplace gathering ever to take place.

The expo comes in the same month that the comic documentary “Religulous” fills screens with Bill Maher traveling the globe to challenge the validity of various faiths. Proof that despite its detractors, religion is not only relevant to people – it is vital. In fact, religious travel is so hot right now that the travel industry looks to capitalize on it while other parts of the travel sector have gone cold during the current economic downturn.

Destinations, tour operators, cruise lines, attractions, hotel properties, travel suppliers and a host of other providers and planners from Africa, the Americas, Asia, Australia, the Caribbean, Europe and the Holy Land will be represented at this assembly of global leaders in the $18 billion faith tourism industry. Keynote speakers include the Honorable Vincent Vanderpool-Wallace, Minister of Tourism and Aviation, the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism; the Honorable Akel E. Biltaji, Jordan’s Ambassador-at-Large for Tourism and Special Advisor to His Majesty King Abdullah II; Maurice Zarmati, President, Costa Cruise Lines; and Steve Born, Vice-President, Globus Family of Brands. Other dignitaries and special guests include Dr. Khouloud Daibes, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Palestine; David Pereira Catarino, Mayor of Ourém (Fatima), Portugal; and Arie Sommer, Tourism Commissioner for North and South America, Israel Ministry of Tourism.

“Faith tourism has evolved to the point where a gathering of this magnitude is necessary for the industry to respond to the needs of today’s faith-based consumers,” said Kevin J. Wright, president of the World Religious Travel Association (WRTA), host of the event. “Our global partners recognize that – just as in music, books and film – contemporary religious consumers represent tremendous market potential for travel organizations willing to provide meaningful products and services that meet their specific needs. With its wide variety of travel experiences and attractions that draw thousands of faith-based groups each year, Central Florida is the ideal destination to launch this inaugural Expo.”

Faith-based tourism today is more than just pilgrimages – it attracts travelers on cruises, volunteer vacations, adventure trips (even African safaris), leisure vacations, conferences and events, such as the World Youth Day, one of the largest gatherings of any kind. The exhibitors and products at the WRTA Expo show the diversity of the faith tourism industry. Alongside obvious religious travel suppliers such as the tourism ministries of Egypt, Greece, Cyprus, Jordan, Palestine, and Israel, are those with a less overt connection, such as:
• EcoAndes Travel, Ecuador (Adventure tours in South America)
• Nissi Holidays, Uganda; Cordial Tours and Travel Services, Tanzania (Africa safari operators)
• Romanian Tourist Office
• Korea Tourism Organization
• Jamaica, Bermuda and Bahamas Ministry of Tourism
• Condor Verde Travel (Mexico and Venezuela)

The gathering will bring the world of faith tourism to the Gaylord Palms Resort Hotel & Convention Center, in the heart of the Orlando/Kissimmee tourism hub.

"The Kissimmee area and the Osceola County tourism community feel blessed to host WRTA's first-ever gathering of faith-based tourism professionals,” said Tom Lang, director of the Kissimmee Convention and Visitors Bureau. “Our hope is that every conference and tradeshow participant will feel welcome in our community, and that they will find time to avail themselves of our area's natural and man-made sanctuaries."

Participants will have the option to visit Orlando’s own Holy Land Experience, WordSpring Discovery Center and the master studio of The JESUS Film Project during a special excursion led by Wright, the award-winning author of several religious travel guidebooks. His latest, “The Christian Travel Planner,” (released 2008 by Thomas Nelson) is the most comprehensive guidebook ever published on faith-based travel. And an updated version of his popular “Europe’s Monastery & Convent Guesthouses” is due out in November by Liguori Publications.

The WRTA Expo is the official kick-off of “The Year of Faith Tourism.” Serving as a special time set aside for the promotion of and participation in travel by people of faith, the purpose and goals of the yearlong celebrations and activities are: (1) Highlight the New Era of Faith Tourism. (2) Increase the awareness of the personal and communal benefits of Faith Tourism. (3) Contribute to the overall growth and health of the global economy, travel industry, and individual travel providers.

An estimated 500 participants are expected at the historic event.

For more information, including the schedule and complete list of exhibitors and speakers, visit www.religioustravelexpo.com.

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Special Offers at World Religious Travel Expo

2008-10-24T19:34:00.000-06:00

WORLD RELIGIOUS TRAVEL EXPO DEBUTS LUCRATIVE
SPECIAL OFFERS PROGRAM FOR AGENTS

LITTLETON, Colorado (Oct. 20, 2008) – The World Religious Travel Association (WRTA) has announced details of the special incentives and offers program, worth thousands of dollars, that will be available to buyers attending the inaugural World Religious Travel Expo & Educational Conference, Oct. 29-Nov. 1, in Orlando.

Highlights include:
• Bonus commissions and cash rebates up to $1,000
• Familiarization (FAM) trips and cruises ranging from the Caribbean to Europe to the Holy Land
• Prize drawings for airline tickets, escorted group tours, travel product baskets, and more
• Free gifts including handmade creations and artifacts from Africa and destinations around the world
• Complimentary admission tickets to local Orlando faith attractions
• Discounts and savings on faith travel guidebooks, magazines, and other related publications

“We are excited to debut this lucrative and exclusive voucher program at our Expo tradeshow. The special offers increased booth traffic for the exhibitors while travel agents and buyers are incentivized to meet them personally and learn about their products and services,” said Kevin J. Wright, WRTA president. “It truly makes for a Win-Win situation for all Expo delegates.”

Participants at the Expo also have the option to go on a free excursion to Orlando’s top faith-based attractions – the Holy Land Experience, WordSpring Discovery Center and the master studio of The JESUS Film Project. The post-conference tour will be led by Wright, the award-winning author of several religious travel guidebooks. His latest, “The Christian Travel Planner,” (released 2008 by Thomas Nelson) is the most comprehensive guidebook ever published on faith-based travel. Tour members will be able to see the Orlando sights firsthand and learn how to incorporate them into their faith tourism portfolio.

The World Religious Travel Expo and Educational Conference serves as the most important gathering of leaders in today’s faith tourism industry. About 500 participants are expected at the unprecedented event. The Expo will be held Oct. 29-Nov.1, 2008 at the Gaylord Palms Resort Hotel & Convention Center in Orlando, Florida.

To learn more about WRTA EXPO 2008 and pricing discounts for agents and consortiums, or to register online, visit www.ReligiousTravelExpo.com or call 1-800-657-1288 (or 360-778-3047). For more information about becoming a WRTA Member and joining the leading network for the religious travel industry, visit www.ReligiousTravelAssociation.com.
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World Religious Travel Expo Spotlights Agent Education Opportunities

2008-10-17T05:51:00.000-06:00

Agents Can Earn CEUs at World Religious Travel Expo & Educational Conference

LITTLETON, Colorado (Oct. 7, 2008) – The World Religious Travel Association has partnered with The Travel Institute to provide Continuing Education Units (CEUs) to Certified Travel Industry Executives, Certified Travel Counselors (CTCs) and Certified Travel Associates (CTAs) attending this year’s inaugural WRTA Expo and Educational Conference, Oct. 29-Nov. 1, in Orlando.

“Our goal is for each agent to acquire cutting-edge knowledge and information on how they can personally develop their particular niche within the dynamic faith-based travel industry,” said Kevin J. Wright, WRTA president. “With more than 50 travel leaders and experts serving as speakers and panelists, the Expo seminars will offer the most comprehensive educational program ever assembled on religious tourism. Agents can attend sessions on marketing, sales, advertising, public relations and product development among others – all featuring an emphasis on the faith-based client.”

Through leading industry speakers, dynamic presentations, panel discussions, interactive break-out sessions, educational seminars and peer Networking Forums, travel agents attending the expo can earn CEU's and expand their knowledge of the opportunities in various niches within the faith tourism industry. Travel agents can listen to and discuss with travel experts market trends, marketing intelligence and the latest products/services, plus discover actionable ways to exceed customer expectations in these market segments: Pilgrimages, Mission Trips, Cruises, Leisure Travel, Conferences, Events, Retreats, Attractions, Destinations, Adventure, Family, Student/Youth, and Volunteer Vacations.

The World Religious Travel Expo and Educational Conference serves as the most important gathering of the “Who’s Who” in today’s faith tourism marketplace. More than 400 participants, including exhibitors and other top authorities, are expected at the historic event. The Expo will be held Oct. 29-Nov. 1, 2008 at the Gaylord Palms Resort Hotel and Convention Center in Orlando, Florida.

WRTA EXPO: JORDAN’S AMBASSADOR-AT-LARGE FOR TOURISM AND BAHAMAS’ MINISTER OF TOURISM AND AVIATION TO GIVE KEYNOTES

2008-10-03T05:53:00.001-06:00

World Religious Travel Expo Speakers Bring Depth, Perspective on New Era of Faith Tourism

LITTLETON, Colorado (Oct. 2, 2008) – The World Religious Travel Association (WRTA) has announced two additional keynote speakers for this fall’s historic World Religious Travel Expo and Educational Conference 2008 in Orlando, Florida: the Honorable Vincent Vanderpool-Wallace, Minister of Tourism and Aviation, the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism; and the Honorable Akel E. Biltaji, Jordan’s Ambassador-at-Large for Tourism and Special Advisor to His Majesty King Abdullah II.

The keynote speakers of the WRTA Expo reflect the diversity of today’s faith tourism industry. The Bahamas has developed itself into a top destination for this vast and lucrative market, serving as an ideal getaway for faith-based events, meetings, cruises, missionary travel, leisure vacations, and much more. And after years of building and refining the Jordan tourism product, Jordan has emerged as a multi-dimensional, affordable Holy Land destination that matches the expressed needs of faith-based travelers. From volun-tourism to adventure, educational to cultural travel, cruising to spa retreats and so much more, 21st century Christian travelers want what Jordan has to offer – so much so that Jordan has experienced record growth in tourism since 2000.

“We are honored to confirm these distinguished officials as keynote speakers,” said Kevin J. Wright, president of the World Religious Travel Association. “Both represent destinations that offer what today’s religious travelers are looking for in the ‘new era’ of faith tourism.”

Vanderpool-Wallace oversees one of the world’s most proactive tourist offices involved in faith tourism. The Bahamas has the distinction of being one of the few countries in the world with a fully-dedicated religious travel department, led by director Linville J. Johnson.

Biltaji serves as Chairman of the Tourism and Heritage Committee in the upper house of Jordan’s parliament. He also represents his country as an Ambassador-at-Large in a number of national, regional and international forums, especially those related to tourism and travel. He is a special advisor on tourism promotion, foreign direct investment and country branding, and is a former minister of tourism and antiquities, having been appointed by His Majesty the late King Hussein in March, 1997. Senator Biltaji is known to be one of Jordan’s strongest public speakers, especially on issues related to the country's image and protection of its heritage.

World Religious Travel Expo Sold Out; Organizers Add 25 More Booths to Meet Demand

2008-09-25T13:59:00.001-06:00

LITTLETON, Colorado (Sept. 25, 2008) – The inaugural World Religious Travel Expo and Educational Conference has sold out all exhibit space, so organizers have added 25 more booths to an expanded exhibit hall. Last-minute exhibitors will be allowed to purchase booth space through the Oct. 1 deadline.

Already, exhibitors from 30 countries on six continents will gather in Orlando, Florida, Oct. 29-Nov. 1, for this first large-scale gathering of the $18 billion worldwide religious travel industry. It was announced earlier this week that, as part of a new collaboration between the World Religious Travel Association (WRTA) and the National Tour Association (NTA), the WRTA Expo will be "powered by NTA."

“We are thrilled to be in this sold-out position in our first year of hosting the World Religious Travel Expo,” said Kevin J. Wright, WRTA president. “The phenomenal response from the industry is a strong indicator of the diversity and depth of religious travel and tourism.”

The WRTA Expo will feature two venues: The International Tradeshow and The Educational Conference. The combined event provides a one-stop opportunity for travel suppliers, destinations and wholesalers to come face-to-face with more than 400 agents and church travel planners to develop partnerships, introduce new products and services, generate qualified leads and build long-term relationships.

The Expo will be held Oct. 29-Nov. 1, 2008 at the Gaylord Palms Resort Hotel & Convention Center in Orlando. For more information, including a complete list of exhibitors, visit www.religioustravelexpo.com.

WRTA & NTA Form Alignment

2008-09-24T18:51:00.000-06:00

Littleton, Co. / Lexington, Ky. (Sep. 24, 2008) — The National Tour Association and the World Religious Travel Association have announced a cooperative agreement. As part of this new collaboration, the World Religious Travel Expo will be "powered by NTA." Additionally, the two organizations will work together to educate their members on the value of the faith-based market and bring new business opportunities to members of both organizations.
In its work with WRTA on the Expo, the organization's inaugural conference, NTA will help manage the event, including the operations and logistics.

"As we prepare for this fall's World Religious Travel Expo, we're thrilled and honored to announce our new partnership with NTA," said Kevin J. Wright, president of the World Religious Travel Association. "This Expo, the first global tradeshow and educational conference for the 300 million traveler faith tourism marketplace, marks a historic new chapter in the travel industry.

"Serving as a high profile gathering of the 'movers and shakers' and new entrants in faith tourism, the Expo is attracting hundreds of travel wholesalers, tourist boards, suppliers, travel agents and group planners from more than 30 countries on six continents," Wright said. "We're excited to have found the 'perfect partner and convention manager' in NTA."

Through this agreement, WRTA aligns itself with NTA's strength and position in the industry. NTA has a highly-respected reputation for managing top quality conferences. The association will be bringing that experience and brand power to WRTA's Expo this year.

"We are thrilled that WRTA sought NTA's expertise in bringing their delegates a well-organized and successfully run show," said NTA Chairman and CEO Bob Hoelscher, CTP. "Additionally, both organizations believe there is value in working with progressive associations with mutually beneficial goals of increasing business for members. This alignment does just that."

As part of the new relationship, NTA and WRTA hope to expand the overall growth of the travel industry through faith tourism, bringing both memberships opportunities for education and professional development. Faith-based tourism is an $18 billion market and currently 35 percent of NTA tour operators offer religious tour product.

The World Religious Travel Expo is the gathering of the worldwide faith tourism industry including exhibitors from more than 30 countries and travel agents, group planners, tour operators and destinations. The Expo will be held Oct. 29-Nov. 1 at the Gaylord Palms Resort Hotel & Convention Center in Orlando, Florida.

The World Religious Travel Association is the leading network for shaping, enriching, and expanding the $18 billion global faith tourism industry. WRTA exists to bring the travel trade and religious consumer together for the primary purpose of promoting and providing quality faith travel experiences around the globe. As the source and voice for the religious travel industry, WRTA provides members opportunities to network, learn, contribute, and lead. WRTA embraces all segments of faith tourism: Pilgrimages, Leisure, Cruises, Events/Conventions, Missions, Retreats, Attractions, Family, Student/Youth, Adventure and Volunteer Vacations. To learn more about WRTA or to become a member, visit www.ReligiousTravelAssociation.com or contact WRTA at 1.800.657.1288 or 360.778.3047. To attend or exhibit at the World Religious Travel Expo, register online at http://www.religioustravelexpo.com/.

The National Tour Association is the preferred association in the tourism industry for packaged travel professionals. NTA's diverse membership and progressive nature make it an industry leader as the place to do business. NTA consistently seeks innovations for the services and business tools it provides to members, and the leadership keeps its fingers on the pulse of the ever-changing world. In turn, NTA members are some of the most creative in the dynamic travel industry. NTA membership represents 34 countries, and tour and travel packagers of all types, including a group, independent, student, and more. To learn more, please visit www.NTAonline.com.

More than 50 Travel Industry Leaders on World Religious Travel Expo Line-Up

2008-09-17T10:35:00.001-06:00

WRTA announces speakers and seminars for faith tourism’s first major international gathering

LITTLETON, Colorado (Sept 17, 2008) – More than 50 top travel executives and tourism officials from around the globe will address participants at the World Religious Travel Expo and Educational Conference, Oct. 29-Nov. 1, in Orlando.

“We are honored to present such a wide-ranging group of authorities at this fall’s Expo, which we believe will be a pivotal event in this ‘new era’ of faith tourism,” said Kevin J. Wright, president of the World Religious Travel Association. “The Expo delegates will acquire key marketing intelligence and cutting edge sales strategies, as well as innovative product development ideas in the areas of pilgrimage, cruising, missions, leisure travel, adventure trips, faith-based safaris, volunteer vacations, and much more.”

Keynote speakers include:
• Maurice Zarmati, President, Costa Cruise Lines
• Steve Born, Vice President, Globus Family of Brands
• His Excellency Senator Akel E. Biltaji, Ambassador-at-Large and Chairman of the Tourism Committee, Upper House of Parliament, Jordan
• The Honorable Vincent Vanderpool-Wallace, Minister of Tourism and Aviation, Bahamas Ministry of Tourism

The Educational Seminars and panelists at this first major international gathering of the $18 billion worldwide religious travel industry include:

Boardroom Insider: Current and future trends for faith tourism
Adam Leavitt, Vice President, Trafalgar Tours
Cherie Weinstein, Carnival Cruise Lines, Vice President – Groups Sales and Administration
Linville Johnson, Director of Religious Market, Bahamas Ministry of Tourism
Malia Asfour, Director, Jordan Tourism Board of North America
Jim Buddendorf, President, MTS Travel
Mike Cappodanno, Director, Switzerland Tourism
Tasoula Manaridis, Director North America, Cyprus Tourism
Honnie Korngold, President, Christian Travel Finder

Pilgrimages: What does today's faith traveler want?
Nick Mancino, Vice President, Group IST (Journeys Unlimited and Regina Tours)
Bob Faucett, Vice President, Unitours
Milanka M. Lachman, President, 206 Tours
Fuad Kattan, President, ACA Travel & Tourism (Bethlehem)
George Keenan, President, Rainbow Tour Turkey

Faith Cruising: Discover the number one vacation trend in today's religious market
Cherie Weinstein, Vice President – Groups Sales and Administration, Carnival Cruise Lines
Andy Christo, Vice President, Monarch Classic Cruises
Stacy Shaw, Director - Charter Sales, Royal Caribbean
Paul Holevas, President, Steps of Paul Coastal Cruises

How to build your faith travel program through mission trips & volunteer vacations
Jim Buddendorf, President, MTS Travel
Timothy Childs, Vice President, Raptim Travel
Bo McComas, President, World Mission Tours
Fran Lessans, President & CEO, Passport Health

How to promote the holy Land as a travel provider & group planner
Malia Asfour, Director, Jordan Tourism Board of North America
Arie Sommer, Commissioner North & South America, Israel Ministry of Tourism
Tasoula Manaridis, Director, Cyprus Tourism
ElSayed M. Khalifa, Consul-Director USA and Latin America, Egyptian Tourist Authority
George Tambakis, Director USA and Canada, Greek National Tourism Organization

Why we're expanding our religious market focus...and why you should too
Jim Kelly, Vice President, CIE Tours
John Klados, Vice President, Homeric Tours
Steven Ferry, National Group Sales Manager, Trafalgar Tours
Bryan Earley, National Group Sales Manager, Globus

Promoting new travel experiences for churches & religious groups
Jacob Kimbro, Manager New Business Development, Disney on Broadway
Judy Mizrachi, President, Women Walkers Travel
Dorothy Nasozi, Manager Director, Nissi Holidays (Uganda)
David Kizito, Managing Director, Cordial Tours and Travel (Tanzania)

Industry perspectives: How we are meeting the demands, growth & impact of faith tourism
Bob Hoelscher, President, National Tour Association (NTA)
Patti Free, Vice President, CCRA International

Marketing effectively and profitably to the faith tourism marketplace
James E. Wright, Vice President Marketing, World Religious Travel Association
Torre Ossmo, Vice President, Faithful Holidays (Mayflower Tours)
Metin Kazan, President, 7TUR
Ron Hermanson, Franchise Owner, SeaMaster Cruises
Colleen Roberts, National Account Manager, American Church Lists

PR & Advertising: Effectively engage the media to reach faith-based audiences
Christine Moore, President, Epiphany Media
Jeff Gayduk, President, Premier Tourism Marketing
Brian Jewell, Editor, Going on Faith
Raj Dayal, Managing Editor, Church Executive/Christian Travel & Cruise Guide

Product Development: How to develop a winning faith-based travel portfolio
Kevin J. Wright: World Religious Travel Association, President
Cindy Brodhecker: Faith Travel Development & Consulting, President

The WRTA Expo will feature two venues: The International Tradeshow and The Educational Conference. The combined event provides a one-stop opportunity for networking with more than 500 travel wholesalers, suppliers, destinations, agents and church travel planners to develop partnerships, develop new products and services, generate qualified leads and build long-term relationships.

The Expo will be held Oct. 29-Nov. 1, 2008 at the Gaylord Palms Resort Hotel & Convention Center in Orlando. The complete schedule is available at www.religioustravelexpo.com/Schedule.html.

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About the World Religious Travel Association (WRTA)
The World Religious Travel Association (WRTA) is the leading network for shaping, enriching, and expanding the $18 billion global faith tourism industry. WRTA exists to bring the travel trade and religious consumer together for the primary purpose of promoting and providing quality faith travel experiences around the globe. As the source and voice for the religious travel industry, WRTA provides its members opportunities to network, learn, contribute, and lead. WRTA embraces all segments of faith tourism: Pilgrimages, Leisure, Cruises, Events/Conventions, Missions, Retreats, Attractions, Family, Student/Youth, Adventure and Volunteer Vacations. To learn more about WRTA or to become a member, visit www.ReligiousTravelAssociation.com or contact WRTA at 1-800-657-1288 or 360-778-3047. To attend or exhibit at the World Religious Travel Expo, register online at www.ReligiousTravelExpo.com

Historic World Religious Travel Expo Debuts Next Month

2008-09-13T21:18:00.000-06:00

HISTORIC WORLD RELIGIOUS TRAVEL EXPO TO
WELCOME PARTICIPANTS FROM 30 COUNTRIES ON SIX CONTINENTS

Travel providers, tourist boards, and planners from 30-plus countries will gather next month in Orlando, Florida to participate in the first-ever global faith tourism tradeshow and convention. The World Religious Travel Expo & Educational Conference 2008 is expected to welcome 500 delegates, 100 exhibitors, and 50 tourism industry leader speakers.

Destinations, tour operators, cruise lines, attractions, hotel properties, and a host of other providers and planners from Africa, the Americas, Asia, Australia, the Caribbean, Europe and the Holy Land will be represented at this assembly of Who’s Who in the bustling $18 billion faith tourism industry. Travel agents and group planners will have an opportunity to network first-hand with the leading companies in religious travel, while also earning CEU’s by attending the many Expo educational seminars.

Exclusive to this event only, each Expo delegate will receive a Booklet of Special Offers worth thousands of dollars in FAM trips, bonus commissions, gifts, and prizes – all of which are provided by the exhibitors. The cost for a travel agent or group planner to attend is as low as $49. The World Religious Travel Expo will feature two venues: The International Tradeshow and The Educational Conference.

The event will be held Oct. 29-Nov. 1, 2008 at the Gaylord Palms Resort Hotel & Convention Center in Orlando (Florida), with a complimentary optional faith-based attractions excursion on Saturday, Nov. 1. For more information about the Expo or to register online, visit www.religioustravelexpo.com. Or call 1-800-657-1288 (ext. 101).

World Religious Travel Exo draws 28 countries rom 6 continents

2008-08-20T19:27:00.001-06:00

World Religious Travel Expo drawing participants from 28 countries, 6 continents to Orlando
Website article link: http://www.churchexecutive.com/news.asp?N_ID=1443

LITTLETON, CO – Travel providers and planners from 28 countries on six continents will gather in Orlando, Florida, Oct. 29-Nov. 1, for the inaugural World Religious Travel Expo and Educational Conference. With registration still underway, organizers are already preparing extra exhibit space to accommodate companies that continue to join the first large-scale forum of the $18 billion worldwide religious travel industry.

Destinations, tour operators, cruise lines, attractions, hotel properties, car rental companies and a host of other providers and planners from Africa, the Americas, Asia, Australia, the Caribbean, Europe and the Holy Land will be represented at this assembly of Who’s Who in the growing faith tourism industry.

“Faith tourism has evolved to the point where a gathering of this magnitude is necessary for the industry to respond to the needs of today’s faith-based consumers,” said Kevin J. Wright, president of the World Religious Travel Association (WRTA), host of the event. “Our global partners recognize that – just as in music, books and film – contemporary religious consumers represent tremendous market potential for travel organizations willing to provide meaningful products and services that meet their specific needs.”

The exhibitors and products show the diversity of the faith tourism industry. Alongside obvious religious travel suppliers such as the Steps of Paul Coastal Cruises and the tourism ministries of Egypt, Greece, Cyprus, Jordan and Israel, are those with a less overt connection, such as:

EcoAndes Travel, Ecuador (Adventure tours in South America)
Nissi Holidays, Uganda; Cordial Tours and Travel Services, Tanzania (Africa safari operators)
Armenian Tourism Development Agency
Korea Tourism Organization
Bahamas Ministry of Tourism
Condor Verde Travel (Mexico and Venezuela)

The WRTA Expo will feature two venues: The International Tradeshow and The Educational Conference. The combined event provides a one-stop opportunity for travel suppliers, destinations and wholesalers to come face-to-face with more than 400 agents and church travel planners to develop partnerships, introduce new products and services, generate qualified leads and build long-term relationships.

The Expo will be held Oct. 29-Nov. 1, 2008 at the Gaylord Palms Resort Hotel & Convention Center in Orlando. For more information, including a complete list of exhibitors, visit www.religioustravelexpo.com.

Globus VP Steve Born to Deliver Keynote at WRTA Expo

2008-08-15T09:16:00.001-06:00

Globus Executive to Share Insights of Landmark International Religious Travel Study

LITTLETON, Colorado (August 14, 2008) – Participants at the World Religious Travel Expo and Educational Conference will hear Globus Vice President Steve Born’s insights and firsthand observations of the faith tourism industry, based upon the recent groundbreaking Globus/Menlo international religious travel study. WRTA Expo organizers have selected Born to give a keynote speech on the opening day of the first international gathering of the $18 billion worldwide religious travel industry.

“As one of the first and only large tour operators to embrace faith-based travel, creating a religious travel division in 2004, it is both my pleasure and honor to speak about this burgeoning travel trend as well as the Globus family of brands' first-hand experiences in creating and selling religious travel vacations at the World Religious Travel Expo," said Born.

The World Religious Travel Expo is the seminal gathering of the worldwide faith tourism industry. More than 100 exhibitors from 25 countries and more than 400 travel agents and group planners are expected at the unprecedented event. The Expo will be held Oct. 29-Nov. 1, 2008 at the Gaylord Palms Resort Hotel & Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. The event is organized by the World Religious Travel Association (WRTA), the source and voice of the religious travel industry. For more information, visit www.religioustravelexpo.com.

The Year of Faith Tourism Proclaimed by World Religious Travel Association

2008-07-01T15:54:00.001-06:00

LITTLETON, Colorado (July 1, 2008) – The World Religious Travel Association (WRTA) has designated 2009 as The Year of Faith Tourism. Serving as a special time set aside for the promotion of and participation in travel by people of faith, the purpose and goal of the year-long celebrations and activities is three-fold: (1) Highlight the New Era of Faith Tourism. (2) Increase the awareness of the personal and communal benefits of Faith Tourism. (3) Contribute to the overall growth and health of the global economy, travel industry, and individual travel providers.

All sectors of society are encouraged to become actively involved in The Year of Faith Tourism including the media, governments, travel providers/suppliers, faith communities, and individuals. The official host of The Year of Faith Tourism is the World Religious Travel Association, the leading organization dedicated to the $18 billion faith-based travel, tourism, and hospitality industry.

“Never before has a time been so ripe for the promotion of and participation in Faith Tourism. Although religious travel is the historic forerunner of today’s mass tourism, only now is Faith Tourism beginning to make its presence and economic contributions known throughout society and the travel industry in a big way,” said Kevin J. Wright, WRTA president and author of The Christian Travel Planner. “Faith Tourism is a market that is currently experiencing extraordinary growth on multiple fronts and is poised to continue this trend into 2009 and beyond.”

In recent years, Faith Tourism has evolved from a niche market driven primarily by budget pilgrimages and retirees into a vast and dynamic industry comprised of all ages seeking a diverse range of quality travel experiences. Faith Tourism today comprises its own “niche” segments including pilgrimages, missionary travel, volunteer vacations, events, conferences, cruises, leisure vacations, adventure trips, retreats, camps, monastic guest-stays, attractions, and many other forms of travel. According to the Center for the Study of Global Christianity at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, there are 3.3 billion Christian domestic tourists each year, 250 million Christian foreign tourists, and 150 million Christian pilgrims who are “on the move.”

As 2009 is shaping up to be year of uncertainty especially within the travel industry, there has never been a more opportune or needed time for placing Faith Tourism “front and center” of society and the global travel industry. With its designation and spotlight in 2009, Faith Tourism is set to serve as an integral economic pillar and stimulus of the global and local travel economy during this special year of celebrations and activities.

The World Religious Travel Association (WRTA) has designated the following fifteen ways in which every person and sector of society and the travel industry can become involved in the promotion of and/or active participation in Faith Tourism:

1. Individuals embark on travels with their faith community and/or to any faith-related destination.
2. Individuals become group travel planners for their faith communities.
3. Faith communities launch a formal travel program (or travel ministry).
4. Faith communities host one or more group trips.
5. Religious leaders preach on travel as ministry.
6. Tourist boards and CVB’s dedicate resources towards attracting, growing, and measuring Faith Tourism.
7. Travel and hospitality providers integrate the faith market and consumer into their overall product, sales, and marketing plans/efforts.
8. The travel industry further develops and enriches Faith Tourism educational resources and business materials.
9. Tour director schools integrate faith tourism curriculum.
10. Media feature and report on stories about Faith Tourism.
11. Film and other related companies produce faith travel programs, documentaries, and series.
12. Publishers launch or expand faith travel publications including guidebooks, magazines, and other periodicals.
13. Religious bookstores and gift-stores implement Travel sections.
14. Colleges and universities undertake the study of Faith Tourism and/or offer Faith Tourism classes.
15. Religious governing bodies promote and advance the theology of Faith Tourism.

As part of its kick-off for The Year of Faith Tourism, the World Religious Travel Association (WRTA) is hosting this fall the World Religious Travel Expo & Educational Conference in Orlando (Florida) from October 29 – November 1, 2008. Serving as the travel industry’s first-ever global tradeshow and convention dedicated to the faith tourism and hospitality industry, the event will serve as a gathering of the “Who’s Who” in this robust marketplace. Two of the keynote speakers include the Honorable Neko C. Grant, Bahamas Minister of Tourism, and Maurice Zarmati, President & CEO of Costa Cruise Lines. The selected keynote speakers reflect the growth and diversity of today’s faith tourism industry. More than 400 participants are expected at this historic and unprecedented show.

To learn more about The Year of Faith Tourism, visit the official website at www.faithtourism2009.com. For more information about the World Religious Travel Association or the World Religious Travel Expo, visit the websites www.religioustravelassociation.com and www.religioustravelexpo.com or call 1-800-657-1288.

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About the World Religious Travel Association (WRTA)
The World Religious Travel Association (WRTA) is the leading network for shaping, enriching, and expanding the $18 billion global faith tourism industry. WRTA exists to bring the travel trade and religious consumer together for the primary purpose of promoting and providing quality faith travel experiences around the globe. As the source and voice for the religious travel industry, WRTA provides members opportunities to network, learn, contribute, and lead. WRTA embraces all segments of faith tourism: Pilgrimages, Leisure, Cruises, Events/Conventions, Missions, Retreats, Attractions, Family, Student/Youth, Adventure and Volunteer Vacations. To learn more about WRTA or to become a member or associate, visit www.ReligiousTravelAssociation.com or contact WRTA at 1-800-657-1288 or 360-778-3047. To attend or exhibit at the World Religious Travel Expo, register online at www.ReligiousTravelExpo.com.

World Religious Travel Expo Will Shape New Era in Faith Tourism

2008-06-17T07:03:00.002-06:00

World Religious Travel expo will shape new era in faith tourism
6/16/2008

LITTLETON, CO – The World Religious Travel Association (WRTA) will host the first annual World Religious Travel Expo, Oct. 29-Nov. 1, 2008, in Orlando, FL. A historic and unprecedented event, the tradeshow and educational conference will feature a gathering of today’s “Who’s Who” in the 300 million religious traveler market. Hundreds of travel wholesalers, suppliers, media, tourist boards, agencies, group planners, travel ministry leaders and pastors are expected from throughout North America and around the world.

Current sponsors and exhibitors include prominent organizations such as Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland America Line, Trafalgar Tours, Collette Vacations, MTS Travel, Raptim Travel, Unitours, Group IST, 206 Tours, Jordan Tourism Board of North America, Switzerland Tourism, Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Israel Ministry of Tourism, Egypt Tourist Authority, Pennsylvania Dutch Convention and Visitors Bureau, Florida’s Space Coast Office of Tourism, Rail Europe, Passport Health, WordSpring Discovery Center, and Christian Travel Finder among others.

“Expo 2008 is the most important event of the year for any organization, group planner, or pastor involved in the promotion or participation of faith-based travel,” said Kevin J. Wright, WRTA president. “The World Religious Travel Expo will serve as a pivot point between the Old and New Era of faith tourism. The result will be the emergence of a new generation of leaders in faith tourism, as well the launch of many new travel ministry programs.”

The WRTA Expo will feature two venues: The International Tradeshow and The Educational Conference. The combined event will provide the first world-class forum for travel suppliers, destinations, wholesalers, agencies and church travel planners to come face-to-face, develop and find new products and services, and build long-term relationships. All market segments will be represented at the Expo, including pilgrimage, cruising, missions, leisure vacations, attractions, conferences, retreats, Christian camps, and volunteer vacations, among others. Exhibitors will include tour operators, tourist boards, cruise lines, transportation companies, airlines, travel agencies, event planning services, hotels and accommodations, missionary agencies, travel insurance companies and faith-based destinations among others.

“As a Holy Land destination that provides a one-stop location to meet all the needs of faith-based travelers – from cruising to adventure, retreats to study tours and all the segments in between – we are delighted to sponsor the WRTA Expo,” said Malia Asfour, director of the Jordan Tourism Board of North America (JTBNA), a WRTA charter member. “We look forward to working with WRTA to showcase fresh and unique travel opportunities for this dynamic and growing industry.”

The World Religious Travel Association (WRTA) already has announced two of the keynote speakers for this fall’s historic World Religious Travel Expo 2008 in Orlando, Florida: the Honorable Neko C. Grant, Bahamas Minister of Tourism, and Maurice Zarmati, President & CEO of Costa Cruise Lines. The selected keynote speakers reflect the growth and diversity of today’s faith tourism industry. The Bahamas has developed itself into a top destination for this vast and lucrative market, serving as an ideal getaway for faith-based events, meetings, cruises, missionary travel, leisure vacations, and much more. Costa Cruise Lines represents one of the newest and most popular vacation choices of today’s faith-based consumer….cruising. Today, hundreds of churches and religious organizations embark each year on cruises to the Caribbean, Alaska and the Mediterranean, among other places.

The Educational Conference will provide the most comprehensive learning program ever offered on faith tourism – for both trade and group planners. Through leading industry speakers, dynamic presentations, panel discussions, interactive break-out sessions, seminars and peer networking forums, the trade participants can expand their knowledge of the opportunities in the new niche markets within faith tourism. Group planners will attend product seminars hosted by travel industry experts, while also learning how to enrich and expand their travel ministry programs.

The Expo will be hosted Oct. 29-Nov. 1, 2008 at the renowned Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. The top-rated facility and environment provides an exceptional forum for networking and exhibiting. More than 100 exhibitors and more than 400 participants are expected at the unprecedented event.

To learn more or register online, visit www.religioustravelexpo.com or call 1-800-657-1288. For more information about becoming a WRTA Member and joining the leading network for the religious travel industry, visit www.religioustravelassociation.com.

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About the World Religious Travel Association (WRTA)
The World Religious Travel Association (WRTA) is the leading network for shaping, enriching, and expanding the $18 billion global faith tourism industry. WRTA exists to bring the travel trade and religious consumer together for the primary purpose of promoting and providing quality faith travel experiences around the globe. As the source and voice for the religious travel industry, WRTA provides members opportunities to network, learn, contribute, and lead. WRTA embraces all segments of faith tourism: Pilgrimages, Leisure, Cruises, Events/Conventions, Missions, Retreats, Attractions, Family, Student/Youth, Adventure and Volunteer Vacations. To learn more about WRTA or to become a member, visit www.ReligiousTravelAssociation.com or contact WRTA at 1-800-657-1288 or 360-778-3047. To attend or exhibit at the World Religious Travel Expo, register online at www.ReligiousTravelExpo.com.

BAHAMAS TOURISM MINISTER AND COSTA CHIEF TO DELIVER KEYNOTES

2008-06-09T15:59:00.004-06:00

WRTA Expo Speakers Represent New Era of Faith Tourism

LITTLETON, Colorado (June 9, 2008) – The World Religious Travel Association (WRTA) has announced two of the keynote speakers for this fall’s historic World Religious Travel Expo 2008 in Orlando, Florida: the Honorable Neko C. Grant, Bahamas Minister of Tourism, and Maurice Zarmati, President & CEO of Costa Cruise Lines.

The selected keynote speakers reflect the growth and diversity of today’s faith tourism industry. The Bahamas has developed itself into a top destination for this vast and lucrative market, serving as an ideal getaway for faith-based events, meetings, cruises, missionary travel, leisure vacations, and much more. Costa Cruise Lines represents one of the newest and most popular vacation choices of today’s faith-based consumer….cruising. Today, hundreds of churches and religious organizations embark each year on cruises to the Caribbean, Alaska and the Mediterranean, among other places.

“As this fall’s Expo will serve as a pivotal moment in shaping new leaders in faith tourism, we are honored with the confirmation of these distinguished individuals as keynote speakers. Both represent different facets in the ‘new era’ of faith tourism,” said Kevin J. Wright, president of the World Religious Travel Association.

The Honorable Neko C. Grant is a Member of Parliament (M.P.) and the Bahamas Minister of Tourism and Aviation. In his capacity, Neko C. Grant oversees one of the world’s most proactive tourist offices involved in faith tourism. The Bahamas has the distinction of being one of the few countries in the world with a fully-dedicated religious travel department, led by director Linville J. Johnson.

Maurice M. Zarmati is President & Chief Executive Officer of Costa Cruise Lines—North America. In 1972, Maurice worked with the legendary Ted Arison and was part of the original team that formed Carnival Cruise Lines. As one of Europe’s top cruise lines, Costa Cruise Lines is seeking to expand its market in North America, especially in the ethnic Italian-American and Latino markets, both of which double as robust faith-based consumers.

The World Religious Travel Expo serves as the most important gathering of the “Who’s Who” in today’s faith tourism marketplace. More than 100 exhibitors and more than 400 participants are expected at the unprecedented event. The Expo will be held October 29-November 1, 2008 at the Gaylord Palms Resort Hotel & Convention Center in Orlando, Florida.

To learn more about WRTA EXPO 2008 and pricing discounts for agents and consortiums, or to register online, visit www.ReligiousTravelExpo.com or call 1-800-657-1288 (or 360-778-3047). For more information about becoming a WRTA Member and joining the leading network for the religious travel industry, visit http://www.religioustravelassociation.com/.

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About the World Religious Travel Association (WRTA)
The World Religious Travel Association (WRTA) is the leading network for shaping, enriching, and expanding the $18 billion global faith tourism industry. WRTA exists to bring the travel trade and religious consumer together for the primary purpose of promoting and providing quality faith travel experiences around the globe. As the source and voice for the religious travel industry, WRTA provides members opportunities to network, learn, contribute, and lead. WRTA embraces all segments of faith tourism: Pilgrimages, Leisure, Cruises, Events/Conventions, Missions, Retreats, Attractions, Family, Student/Youth, Adventure and Volunteer Vacations. To learn more about WRTA or to become a member, visit www.ReligiousTravelAssociation.com or contact WRTA at 1-800-657-1288 or 360-778-3047. To attend or exhibit at the World Religious Travel Expo, register online at www.ReligiousTravelExpo.com.

WRTA extends popular Membership & Expo savings package through June 2008

2008-06-04T13:12:00.000-06:00

WRTA extends popular membership & expo savings package through June 2008
Special New Year/New Client promotion to continue for 30 more days

LITTLETON, Colorado (June 4, 2008) – Due to the overwhelming success of this past spring’s New Year/New Client Promotion, the World Religious Travel Association (WRTA) is extending the popular savings program through June 30, 2008. For the next month, travel agents can save substantially when they join WRTA as a member and register to attend this fall’s historic World Religious Travel Expo. With the extension, travel agents can save as much as $100 when purchasing the combo Membership/Expo package, or as much as $150 if they belong to a consortium.

“The timing of extending this very well-received promotion could not be any better. As many travel providers and agents are learning, the faith tourism market continues to remain one of the most consistent and dependable producers of revenue in this year of uncertainty,” said Kevin J. Wright, WRTA President. “By continuing the New Year/New Client savings campaign, more travel agents can now tap into the burgeoning and robust marketplace of the religious traveler.”

The extended 30-day offer applies for any agent registration made from June 1 – June 30, 2008.

With more tour operators entering or expanding their presence in the faith tourism marketplace including Trafalgar Tours, CIE Tours International, EIS-European Incoming Services, and Unitours among others, there has never been a more important or opportune time for travel agents to take advantage of religious travel market networking opportunities, education, and business resources. In addition, by joining WRTA as a member, travel agents can display the WRTA membership logo on promotional materials, signifying affiliation with the leading faith tourism organization.

By attending the World Religious Travel Expo & Educational Conference 2008, travel agents can develop key partnerships, meet qualified prospects, find new suppliers, attend market-specific workshops and discover how to enter or expand their presence in faith tourism. The World Religious Travel Expo will be held October 29-November 1, 2008 at the Gaylord Palms Resort Hotel & Convention Center in Orlando, Florida.

To learn more about WRTA EXPO 2008 and pricing discounts for agents and consortiums, or to register online, visit http://www.religioustravelexpo.com/ or call 1-800-657-1288 (or 360-778-3047). For more information about becoming a WRTA Member and joining the leading network for the religious travel industry, visit http://www.religioustravelassociation.com/.
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About the World Religious Travel Association (WRTA)
The World Religious Travel Association (WRTA) is the leading network for shaping, enriching, and expanding the $18 billion global faith tourism industry. WRTA exists to bring the travel trade and religious consumer together for the primary purpose of promoting and providing quality faith travel experiences around the globe. As the source and voice for the religious travel industry, WRTA provides members opportunities to network, learn, contribute, and lead. WRTA embraces all segments of faith tourism: Pilgrimages, Leisure, Cruises, Events/Conventions, Missions, Retreats, Attractions, Family, Student/Youth, Adventure and Volunteer Vacations. To learn more about WRTA or to become a member, visit http://www.religioustravelassociation.com/ or contact WRTA at 1-800-657-1288 or 360-778-3047. To attend or exhibit at the World Religious Travel Expo, register online at http://www.religioustravelexpo.com/.

Current list of Exhibitors as of May 31

2008-05-31T00:40:00.002-06:00

The following is the current list of Exhibitors for the World Religious Travel Expo 2008:

Trade Organizations/Consortiums
CLIA (Cruise Lines International Association)
ASTA (American Society of Travel Agents)

Tour Operators/Ground Operators
MTS Travel
Globus Family of brands
Trafalgar Tours
Collette Vacations
Raptim International Travel, Raptim USA
Goway Travel GroupsOnly
CIE Tours International
ACA Travel & Tourism
Israel Tourism Partner Tour Operators (companies to be announced soon)
206 Tours
7TUR
Worldwide Travel Services
Aliantour
Incantato Tour & Travel
Travelbound
Unitours
Krouse Travel
Israel Tour Connection
Group IST

Tourist Offices & CVB's
Bahamas Ministry of Tourism
Jordan Tourism Board of North America
Switzerland Tourism
Israel Ministry of Tourism
Egyptian Tourist Authority
Pennsylvania Dutch Country (Lancaster County)
Greater Fort Lauderdale CVB
Barbados Tourism Authority
Mexico Tourism
Cyprus Tourism Organization

Cruise Lines
Carnival Cruise Lines
Holland America Line
Celebrity Cruises
Azamara Cruises
Steps of Paul Coastal Cruises
Monarch Cruise Lines

Travel Agencies
MTS Travel
Christian Travel Finder
A Peace of Heaven Travel~YTB Travel Network, Inc.

Transportation
Rail Europe

Lodging/Accommodations
Gaylord Hotels
Grand Hotel Moderne (Lourdes, France)

Attractions
WordSpring Discovery Center

Air Booking Services
Objectix - Lufthansa Preferred Group Specialist
MTS Travel

Event Services/Convention Planners
Allied T Pro

Consulting/Marketing Services
Religious Market Consulting Group
Faith Travel Development & Consulting
Epiphany Media
KDS Marketing, Sales, & Business Solutions

Travel Health/Insurance
Passport Health
AIG Travel Guard
M.H. Ross Travel Insurance Services

Publications/Media
Going on Faith
Church Executive Leisure Group Travel

President of Costa Cruises (Maurice Zarmati) confirmed as Expo Keynote Speaker

2008-05-26T22:58:00.003-06:00

WRTA is proud to announce the confirmation of Maurice Zarmati, President of Costa Cruises, as a Keynote Speaker for the World Religious Travel Expo.

Maurice M. Zarmati
President & Chief Executive Officer of Costa Cruise Lines—North America

In many ways, Maurice M. Zarmati seemed destined to assume his role as President & Chief Executive Officer of Costa Cruise Lines—North America. From the five languages he speaks fluently, to his Italian heritage and his long-standing ties to the cruise industry, Zarmati brings a wealth of experience and savoir faire to the position, which he began in March 2008.

Born to an Italian father and French mother, Zarmati and his family emigrated from his birthplace in Egypt to Genoa, Italy in 1956. Zarmati remembers the foreshadowing of his future upon arrival – the first image he saw was a Costa logo displayed distinctly in the Port of Savona. After spending three years in the Northern Italian port city, Zarmati’s family moved to the United States and settled in Miami. Already fluent in Italian, French and Arabic, Zarmati became proficient in English as well, eventually adding Spanish to round out his linguistic skills to five languages. Zarmati carried this passion for language with him to his studies and graduated from the University of Miami in December 1969 with a B.A. in comparative linguistics.

In January 1970, he joined Arison Shipping, which was the general managing agent for a Miami-based cruise line. Two years later, he worked with the legendary Ted Arison and was part of the original team that formed Carnival Cruise Lines, serving as southeast regional sales manager from 1973 until his promotion to director of sales in 1979. Zarmati was named vice president of sales in 1987, a position in which he became responsible for the largest field sales force in the cruise industry.

In his role with Costa, Europe’s Number One Cruise Line, Zarmati oversees sales development, marketing, revenue management, finance, human resources and passenger services for the North American region. He reports to Gianni Onorato, President of Costa Crociere.

Zarmati is actively involved in the South Florida community. He is a past president of the Executives' Association of Greater Miami and has served on the board of directors of the Fiduciary Trust International of the South, Boy Scouts of America and the National Safety Council. Additionally, Zarmati is involved with the United Way of Dade County and is on the board of trustees for the National Foundation for the Advancement of the Arts. He has co-chaired the Star Chefs & Wine Extravaganza benefiting the March of Dimes Foundation, and has served on the executive committee for the Miami Heart Association’s annual Walk-A-Thon. A member of the Travel Industry Association of America, Zarmati is a certified travel counselor and serves on the Marketing committee of the American Society of Travel Agents. He is also a certified translator of French and Italian.

Zarmati resides in Miami Beach and has two children, Sabrina, a proud senior at Stetson University and Joshua, and exotic animal handler. His interests include wine appreciation and fine dining and he is a member of a number of different wine organizations.

Bahamas Tourism Minister confirmed as Expo Keynote Speaker

2008-04-12T20:43:00.003-06:00

The World Religiou s Travel Association is proud to announce the confirmation of the Honorable Neko C. Grant, Bahamas Minister of Tourism and Aviation, as a confirmed Keynote Speaker of the World Religious Travel Expo & Educational Conference 2008.

Current Exhibitors for World Religious Travel Expo 2008

2008-04-05T10:21:00.003-06:00

WRTA extends a warm welcome to all of our current confirmed exhibitors for the World Religious Travel Expo & Educational Conference 2008....

Trade Organizations/Consortiums
CLIA (Cruise Lines International Association)
ASTA (American Society of Travel Agents)

Tour Operators/Ground Operators
MTS Travel
Globus Family of brands
Trafalgar Tours
Collette Vacations
Raptim International Travel, Raptim USA
Goway Travel GroupsOnly
CIE Tours International
Homeric Tours
ACA Travel & Tourism
Israel Tourism Partner Tour Operators (companies to be announced soon)
206 Tours
7TUR
Worldwide Travel Services
Steps of Paul Coastal Cruises
Aliantour

Tourist Offices & CVB's
Bahamas Ministry of Tourism
Jordan Tourism Board of North America
Switzerland Tourism
Israel Ministry of Tourism
Egyptian Tourist Authority
Pennsylvania Dutch Country (Lancaster County)
Greater Fort Lauderdale CVB
Barbados Tourism Authority
Mexico Tourism

Cruise Lines
Carnival Cruise Lines
Holland America Line
Celebrity Cruises
Azamara Cruises
Monarch Cruise Lines

Travel Agencies
MTS Travel
Christian Travel Finder
A Peace of Heaven Travel~YTB Travel Network, Inc.

Lodging/Accommodations
Gaylord Hotels
Grand Hotel Moderne (Lourdes, France)

Attractions
WordSpring Discovery Center
Biltmore Estate
Fee Hedrick Family Entertainment

Air Booking Services
Objectix - Lufthansa Preferred Group Specialist
MTS Travel

Event Services/Convention Planners
Allied T Pro

Consulting/Marketing Services
Religious Market Consulting Group
Faith Travel Development & Consulting
Epiphany Media
KDS Marketing, Sales, & Business Solutions

Travel Health/Insurance
Passport Health
AIG Travel Guard

Publications/Media
Going on Faith
Church Executive
Leisure Group Travel

Exhib Booths 50% sold out

2008-03-20T10:33:00.003-06:00

Exhibit booths for the World Religious Travel Expo are now 50% sold out. To view the current list of exhibitors including major tour operators, cruise lines, tourist boards, and more - click here www.religioustravelexpo.com/List_of_Exhibitors.html

WRTA Offers Expo & Membership Savings for Spring

2008-03-05T03:07:00.001-07:00

WRTA OFFERS DISCOUNT MEMBERSHIP-EXPO PACKAGE TO TRAVEL AGENTS
Additional Savings offered to Agency Consortium Members in ‘New Year/New Clients’ Program

LITTLETON, Colorado (March 3, 2008) – The World Religious Travel Association (WRTA) has launched a 90-day New Year/New Clients campaign for travel agents that offers WRTA membership and registration for the World Religious Travel Expo 2008 at substantially discounted prices. During this 90-day period, travel agents can save $50 on the Expo fee or $100 if they decide to also join WRTA. Agents who belong to a consortium can save $75 on the Expo fee or $150 if they decide to also join WRTA.

“In a year of economic uncertainty, our New Year/New Clients program provides travel agents an opportunity to expand their client base through one of the industry’s fastest growing and most lucrative markets: faith-based travel,” said Kevin J. Wright, WRTA President. “This very generous and dynamic offer provides agents with concrete venues to gain education, networking opportunities, and direct exposure to cruise and tour suppliers, and the 200 million-plus North American religious market.”

This special 90-day offer applies for any agent registration made from March 1- May 31, 2008.

In the previous year, international religious travel by Americans grew a record 36%; religious travel in 2008 is poised for another year of tremendous expansion. Every sector of faith tourism is experiencing growth, including tour operators, cruise lines, travel agencies, motorcoach companies, hotel properties and tourist destinations.

By joining the World Religious Travel Association, agents can take advantage of networking opportunities, religious market business resources, and increased publicity within the religious travel industry – in addition to displaying the WRTA membership logo on promotional materials, signifying affiliation with the leading faith tourism organization. By attending the World Religious Travel Expo & Educational Conference 2008, travel agents can develop key partnerships, meet qualified prospects, find new suppliers, attend market-specific workshops and discover how to enter or expand their presence in faith tourism.

WRTA Expo exhibitors will cover all sectors of faith tourism. Major tour operators and cruise lines already registered include Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland America Line, Trafalgar Tours, Globus Family of brands, Collette Vacations, Goway, CIE Tours International, and MTS Travel. Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) will exhibit and conduct an agent seminar program during the Expo’s Educational Conference. Additional workshops will include sessions focused on understanding and tapping into faith based travel; creating business plans; group and FIT sales; and sourcing and expanding business. The Expo will be held October 29-November 1, 2008 at the Gaylord Palms Resort Hotel & Convention Center in Orlando, Florida.

To learn more about WRTA EXPO 2008 and pricing discounts for agents and consortiums, or to register online, visit www.ReligiousTravelExpo.com or call 1-800-657-1288 (or 360-778-3047). For more information about becoming a WRTA Member and joining the leading network for the religious travel industry, visit www.ReligiousTravelAssociation.com.

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CLIA to Conduct Educational Workshops at World Religious Travel Expo

2008-01-18T02:34:00.001-07:00

LITTLETON, Colorado (Jan. 17, 2008) – The World Religious Travel Association (WRTA) announced today that the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) will conduct educational workshops at this fall’s World Religious Travel Expo. The timing is ideal, as faith-based cruising has become an influential segment of the growing $18 billion religious travel industry, with hundreds of faith-based groups embarking each year on cruises and full-ship charters carrying tens of thousands of travelers.

“As 75% of faith-based cruisers are first-timers, the religious market provides a tremendous new market opportunity,” said Kevin J. Wright, WRTA President. “With CLIA’s participation in the Expo, combined with the presence of cruise lines such as WRTA Charter Members Carnival Cruise Lines and Holland America Line, travel agencies will discover first-hand how cruising can play a key role in appealing to and capitalizing on the robust, lucrative faith vacation segment.”

The World Religious Travel Expo & Educational Conference 2008 will be held Oct. 29 – Nov. 1, 2008 at the renowned Gaylord Palms Resort Hotel & Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. More than 400 participants are expected at this first-ever international convention for faith-tourism, hosted by the World Religious Travel Association.

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About the World Religious Travel Association (WRTA)
The World Religious Travel Association (WRTA) is the leading network for shaping, enriching, and expanding the $18 billion global faith tourism industry. WRTA exists to bring the worldwide trade and North American religious consumer together for the primary purpose of promoting and providing quality travel experiences around the globe. As the source and voice for the religious travel industry, WRTA provides members opportunities to network, learn, contribute, and lead. WRTA embraces all segments of faith tourism: Pilgrimages, Missionary, Cruises, Leisure Conferences, Retreats, Destinations, Attractions, Christian Camps, Family, Student/Youth, Adventure and Volunteer Vacations. To learn more about the Association or become a member, visit www.religioustravelassociation.com or contact WRTA at 1-800-657-1288 or 360-778-3047. To attend or exhibit at the World Religious Travel Expo, register online at www.religioustravelexpo.com. To join the (newly launched) first online global community for faith tourism visit WRTA Social Network www.religioustravelnetwork.com, hosted by the World Religious Travel Association.

About CLIA
The nonprofit Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) is North America’s largest cruise industry organization. CLIA represents the interests of 24 member lines and participates in the regulatory and policy development process while supporting measures that foster a safe, secure and healthy cruise ship environment. CLIA is also engaged in travel agent training, research and marketing communications to promote the value and desirability of cruise vacations and counts as members 16,500 travel agencies. For more information on CLIA, the cruise industry, and CLIA-member cruise lines and travel agencies, visit www.cruising.org.

For more information or to obtain an interview: Please contact Christine Moore, Epiphany Media, at 469-688-5683.

Newest Exhibitors: Raptim Travel & Go Way

2008-01-15T14:53:00.000-07:00

WRTA is proud to announce the confirmation of Raptim Travel (www.raptim.org; www.raptimusa.com) and Go Way (www.goway.com) as the newest exhibitors at the World Religious Travel Expo & Educational Conference 2008. This makes the Tradeshow Exhibit Booth space 25% sold out with 9 months to go.

For a full listing of current exhibitors visit http://www.religioustravelexpo.com/List_of_Exhibitors.html

The Countdown has begun to Expo 2008

2008-01-05T08:46:00.000-07:00

The countdown has begun for the World Religious Travel Expo & Educational Conference 2008. Only 9 months left......

Register now and reserve your space today by visiting www.religioustravelexpo.com.

Meet hundreds of travel companies, tourist boards, agencies, and group planners seeking to enter or expand their presence in faith tourism. It is the MOST IMPORTANT gathering of the year for any organization or individual involved in religious travel.

World Religious Travel Expo Registrations Begin

2007-10-08T21:53:00.001-06:00

World Religious Travel Expo to Debut October 2008 -- World Religious Travel Association (WRTA) Co-Ops with Top Travel Trade to Host First International Forum for $18 Billion Faith Tourism Industry

Click here to view the full press release

The World Religious Travel Association (WRTA) will host the first annual World Religious Travel Expo & Educational Conference, Oct. 29-Nov. 1, 2008, in Orlando. As the first international event of its kind, it will feature hundreds of travel wholesalers, suppliers, tourist boards, agencies and group travel organizers from the $18 billion faith tourism industry.

Littleton, CO (PRWEB) October 8, 2007 -- The World Religious Travel Association (WRTA) will host the first annual World Religious Travel Expo & Educational Conference, Oct. 29-Nov. 1, 2008, in Orlando. As the first international event of its kind, it will feature hundreds of travel wholesalers, suppliers, tourist boards, agencies and group travel organizers from the $18 billion faith tourism industry.

Current sponsors and exhibitors include Globus Family of brands, Brennan Vacations, Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland America Line, Steps of Paul Coastal Cruises, Switzerland Tourism, Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Jordan Tourism Board of North America, Gaylord Hotels, Pennsylvania Dutch Convention and Visitors Bureau, WordSpring Discovery Center, Christian Travel Finder, World Mission Tours and Trafalgar Tours.

"Although religious tourism is one of history's oldest travel segments, no large-scale trade convention has ever been held for this 300-million traveler market," said Kevin J. Wright, WRTA president. "All market segments will be represented at the Expo, including pilgrimage, cruising, missions, leisure vacations, attractions, conferences, retreats, Christian camps, and volunteer vacations, among others."

The WRTA Expo will feature two venues: The International Tradeshow and The Educational Conference. The combined event will provide the first world-class forum for travel suppliers, destinations, wholesalers, agencies and church travel planners to come face-to-face, develop partnerships, find new products and services, generate new qualified leads and build long-term profitable relationships. Wright expects the tradeshow to become the annual gathering for exhibiting, networking and brand building in the vast faith tourism industry.

"Whether cruising as a single, couple, family, group, or even a full-ship charter, the World's Leading Cruise Lines (Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, Cunard Line, Costa Cruise, and the Yachts of Seabourn) provide an excellent vacation experience for faith-based travelers," said Jack Anderson, vice president of marketing for Carnival Corporation. "We are pleased to be a sponsor of the World Religious Travel Association and appreciate the choice of our lines by faith-based travelers and travel agencies."
"As a Holy Land destination that provides a one-stop location to meet all the needs of faith-based travelers - from cruising to adventure, retreats to study tours and all the segments in between - we are delighted to sponsor the WRTA Expo," added Malia Asfour, director of the Jordan Tourism Board of North America (JTBNA), a WRTA charter member. "We look forward to working with WRTA to showcase fresh and unique travel opportunities for this dynamic and growing industry."

The Educational Conference will provide the most comprehensive learning program ever offered on religious tourism - for both trade and consumer. Through leading industry speakers, dynamic presentations, panel discussions, interactive break-out sessions, seminars and peer networking forums, the trade participants can expand their knowledge of the opportunities in the new niche markets within faith tourism. Participants can listen to and discuss with travel experts market trends, marketing intelligence, the latest products/services and actionable ways to exceed faith-based customer's expectations. Group planners will attend product seminars hosted by travel industry experts, while also learning how to enrich and expand their travel ministry programs.

"Both faith tourism and group travel have evolved over the last several decades with obvious synergy, so it makes perfect sense for Brennan Vacations to sponsor the WRTA Expo in order to lead and facilitate the faith travel industry's growth," said Robert F. Brennan, Founder of Brennan Vacations. "Since 1978, our goal has been simple - to provide fresh, authentic journeys of discovery by treating our customers as individuals, while providing the benefits of group travel. Our approach particularly resonates with religious groups, and I look forward to continuing the tradition through our participation in the industry's first international faith travel tradeshow and educational conference."

The Expo will be hosted Oct. 29-Nov. 1, 2008 at the renowned Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. The top-rated facility and environment provides an exceptional forum for networking and exhibiting.

Exhibitors will include tour operators, tourist boards, cruise lines, transportation companies, airlines, travel agencies, event planning services, hotels and accommodations, missionary agencies, travel insurance companies and faith-based destinations among others.

Early-Bird savings apply to all organizations and individuals that register and pay by November 30, 2007. All WRTA Members will receive substantial savings when registering. Premium booth space is limited. Sponsorship and advertising opportunities are many and suit virtually any budget, including customized sponsorships.

To learn more or register online, visit www.religioustravelexpo.com or call 1-800-657-1288. For more information about becoming a WRTA Member and joining the leading network for the religious travel industry, visit www.religioustravelassociation.com. Both free and paid memberships are available, including the complimentary monthly e-newsletter Religious Travel Buzz, which keeps companies, groups, and individuals abreast of faith-based travel industry news, events and announcements.

About the World Religious Travel Association (WRTA):
The World Religious Travel Association (WRTA) is the leading network for shaping, enriching, and expanding the $18 billion global faith tourism industry. WRTA exists to bring the worldwide trade and North American religious consumer together for the primary purpose of promoting and providing quality travel experiences around the globe. As the source and voice for the religious travel industry, WRTA provides members opportunities to network, learn, contribute, and lead. WRTA embraces all segments of faith tourism: Pilgrimages, Missionary, Cruises, Leisure Conferences, Retreats, Destinations, Attractions, Christian Camps, Family, Student/Youth, Adventure and Volunteer Vacations. To learn more about the Association or become a member, visit www.religioustravelassociation.com or contact WRTA at 1-800-657-1288. To attend or exhibit at the World Religious Travel Expo, register online at www.religioustravelexpo.com. To join the world's first online global community for faith tourism visit WRTA Social Network www.religioustravelnetwork.com , hosted by the World Religious Travel Association.

For more information or to obtain an interview: Please contact Christine Moore, epiphany media, at 469-688-5683.
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