International Destination Expo South Africa Seminar Descriptions

The International Destination Expo in Sun City, South Africa Education Program will provide you in-depth destination-focused seminars.  You will leave South Africa with the knowledge to confidently sell this destination to your clients. 

Become a certified FUNDI Destination Specialist - Strike Gold in South Africa
Brought to you by South African Tourism
This session will guide you in selling South Africa as a travel destination as well as give you the tools to secure that booking. Being a FUNDI Specialist affords you an opportunity to know more about South Africa, so you can better service your clients and grow your business. Once you complete this course, you'll be able to profitably sell South Africa to your clients. This session will highlight:

• Introduction to South Africa
• Selling South Africa
• The Provinces
• The Experiences 
• Suggested Itineraries

Discover Botswana – Safaris and More
Brought to you by Botswana Tourism Office
Presented by Obenne Mbaakanyi and Leslee Hall
Seminar Handouts [PDF]
If you think of Botswana only as synonymous for expensive luxury safaris in the Okavango Delta and for the privileged few, think again!

Attend our interactive session to learn more about Botswana & Tourism, and discover the range of wilderness adventures and cultural opportunities Botswana has to offer your clients – be they singles, couples, family or friends traveling together and mature travelers. 

Botswana’s uniqueness as a tourism destination comes from its natural environment where large tracts of unoccupied and unfenced land allow African wildlife species to roam freely, and where local people live in harmony with nature and wildlife, giving visitors a truly special wilderness experience found nowhere else on the continent.

This session will equip you with increased knowledge and information resources that will help you sell Botswana to your clientele. Session highlights:

• Overview of the Republic of Botswana
• The different types of safaris available throughout Botswana
• Tourism highlights in each region of the country
• Getting to and around Botswana
• Suggested Itineraries
• Preview of national promotional campaign for the upcoming HBO television series "The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency," based upon the international best-selling series of mystery novels by Alistair McCall Smith. The setting is Botswana, and the series is scheduled for U.S. premiere in late March 2009.

Fancourt – Garden Route – South Africa 
Brought to you by Fancourt
Presented by Lizle de Wet and Belinda Lamb
Set in the heart of South Africa’s Garden Route, with its four Gary Player-designed golf courses and the only TaylorMade Performance Lab in Africa, Fancourt is a premier business and leisure destination. This five-star resort has 150 luxury rooms, great children’s activities, Conference Centre, Spa, and six themed restaurants. Visit www.fancourt.com

Generating Generational Sales to Southern Africa
Presented by Steve Gillick, CTM
Seminar Handout [PDF]
This energetic and interactive seminar will identify the different generations of travelers who may consider one or more of the nine countries in Southern Africa as a holiday destination.  With the enriched skills you'll gain during this session, you'll successfully match the variety of attractions in Southern Africa with the characteristics, needs and trends of each generation.

Learn about the seven principles of "mentally mapping" a destination for your clients in order to generate lasting impressions and enthusiasm. You'll strengthen every travel sale by being able to recognize and dispel the five most common myths and objections. Also, receive tips on how to promote destinations that you may not have personally visited as well as market yourself as an authority on Southern Africa. All seminar participants will receive a handout of resource and follow-up materials.

InterContinental Hotels & Resorts 
Brought to you by InterContinental Sandton Towers
Presented by Nthabiseng Moeletsi
InterContinental the world's first truly international hotel brand, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts is located in more than 60 countries with local insight that comes from 60 years of experience.  InterContinental Hotels & Resorts believes that superior, understates service and outstanding facilities are important, but what makes us truly different is the genuine interest we show in our guests. 

Namibia Experience it Yourself
Brought to you by Namibia Tourism Board
Presented by Johanna Shangala
Namibia is an experience, so come meet and hear from the experts on Namibia - to gain in-depth information that will assist you in promoting Namibia as the jewel of all destinations in Africa.

Presentations incorporate an overview of the destination and various products of Namibia's Tourism - all this is specially prepared for you; come feel the true Namibian hospitality!

We are so excited and look forward to see you there!

The New Era of Faith Tourism: How to Capitalize on the Robust $18 Billion Marketplace
Brought to you by World Religious Travel Association
Presented by Kevin Wright
Welcome to the new era of faith tourism! Did you know the religious travel and hospitality market is experiencing record growth around the world? And did you know the marketplace of faith tourism has transformed from a “niche” into a flourishing industry. Valued at $18 billion and attracting 300 million travelers globally, today’s faith tourism marketplace comprises a diverse range of travel experiences including pilgrimages, cruises, leisure, conventions, missions, adventure trips, retreat getaways, attractions and much more. In short, faith-based travel has gone “mass market” and is quickly developing into a key cornerstone of the global travel industry.

Numerous destinations are welcoming more religious travel groups and events than ever before – such as South Africa and many other growing countries in Africa. Today, faith-based groups are turning in greater numbers to southern Africa for their conferences, adventure trips, leisure travel and volunteer vacations. Join one of the world’s top religious travel authorities, Kevin J. Wright, in this fascinating and interactive workshop. He’ll provide you with actionable product, sales and marketing strategies, so you can start building a thriving and profitable faith-based travel program to Africa. The timing couldn’t be any better, since the World Religious Travel Association has declared 2009 as “The Year of Faith Tourism.”

Turkey: One Country, Two Continents and Thousand Colors
Brought to you by Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture Agency and TÜRSAB - Association of Turkish Travel Agencies
Presented by Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture Agency representative and Ela Atakan, Director, TURSAB - Association of Turkish Travel Agencies
This session will give the audience an sneak-peak into the IDE 2010 in Istanbul, Turkey.  Come to see and hear what you will experience next year in Istanbul and Turkey. 

Selling Destination Africa
Brought to you by Africa Travel Association
Benefit from the knowledge presented by this panel of experts, who will discuss the current trends and strategies in travel to Africa. This is the seminar bringing good news on tourism to this booming destination, providing the valuable facts on how Africa offers something for everyone - even your most discerning clients. They'll be addressing key issues such as tourism growth markets, seasonal trends, responsible tourism, transportation and more.

If you're ready to learn about the top reasons you should be selling this exotic continental destination to your clients now, you won't want to miss this session.

South African National Parks.....Your Natural Heritage
Brought to you by South African National Parks
Presented by Mantlako Sebaka
South African National Parks (SANParks) manages a system of national parks, which represent the biodiversity and associated cultural heritage of the country. Of the 22 national parks, 15 have overnight tourist facilities, with an unrivalled variety of accommodation in arid, coastal, mountain and bushveld habitats. National Parks offer visitors an unparalleled diversity of adventure tourism opportunities including game viewing, bush walks, canoeing and exposure to cultural and historical experiences. Conferences and Weddings can also be organized in the parks.

The South African Winelands Uncorked
Presented by Michael Oliver
Join this session for a brief history of South African wine, including: the wine regions of South Africa - where they are, their beauty and what you can do in the various regions.  Learn about and what to look for in South Africa - specifically the Pinotage our native grape.  Also become familiar with the wonderful brandies produced in the Cape - Cognac and Armagnac style pot still brandies.  Cuisines of the winelands and other areas of South Africa will also be discussed including cookery classes, specialist producers and farmer's markets.

Spa Tourism - the fastest growing niche market in both the United States as well as Southern Africa
Presented by Marnel Edwards
The South African spa industry has a number of unique opportunities and selling points for both the serious spa tourist as well as tourists just wanting the odd pampering during a trip to this very diverse country. The Spa industry has embraced the African bush as well as some cultural aspects and it has been introduced in both treatments as well as products used in the South African spas. This seminar will outline unique selling points for the tourism industry which can be used in the Spa Niche market as well as in combined packages such as golf, bush, beach and city breaks. Medical tourism to South Africa is also fast becoming very popular with visitors from all over the world and South African Hotels with Spa facilities play a huge role in the success of these trips. Learn more about how to deal with the various suppliers and putting together some delightful packages from the chic and happening to the wild and wonderful or even something more traditional.

Vacations of a Lifetime: Africa's Most Astounding (and Profitable) Travel Packages
Brought to you by South African Airways & South African Airways Vacations
Presented by Lucille Sive
This session focuses primarily on South African Airways Vacations and the advantages and benefits of our private-label packages including selling ease, affordability and profitability. Learn how you can easily promote and sell the countries in Southern Africa that are offered by South African Airways Vacations; including South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, Mozambique, Zimbabwe (Victoria Falls) and Namibia. Leave with a general overview of each country through this focused discussion on the product differences (i.e. game lodge vs. tented safari camps), seasonal travel periods and much more.  There is also a brief portion of the seminar that will familiarize attendees with the award-winning service and products of South African Airways.

Supplier Seminars

Grow Your Business with ASTA
Presented by Cheryl Ahearn, CTIE, Sr. VP, Market Development
Join ASTA Senior Vice President Cheryl Ahearn for an exciting look at the many tools ASTA offers to help grow your business in the U.S. and around the world.  Share business experiences, ask questions, and learn how to get the most out of ASTA.   See WebExchange, ASTA's electronic global  marketplace for promoting and selling your services, and ASTA's on-line Buyer's Guide, designed to give your services the effective visibility you want.  Highly recommended for all exhibitors interested in growing your global presence. 

How to find, reach and sell your product to the Home Based Agents
Presented by Scott Koepf, CTC, MCC
Home Based, Independent and Entrepreneurial Travel Agents are the biggest trend in Leisure travel sales. The numbers continue to grow at a rapid pace and they are driving a larger and larger share of sales. The challenge is how do suppliers find these agents then communicate with them and most importantly get them to sell your product! Scott Koepf, the President of NACTA ( the premier association representing Home based and independent agents), will explain how suppliers can market to and find success with this vitally important part of your distribution channel.

The New Face of the Travel Agent
Presented by William A. Maloney, Chief Executive Officer, ASTA
This session will discuss trends in travel purchases and the rebirth of the US travel agent.