Travel Business Conferences USA Canada
For travel agents, travel startup entrepreneurs, tour operators, and destination marketing companies, travel conferences and expos represent a wonderful opportunity to connect, learn and celebrate being in the travel industry.
Who doesn’t love traveling to a conference/trade show to get immersed in the industry they love? And with the 2025 travel market and the 5 year USA travel marketing forecast so rosy, we’re headed into years of fun travel conventions.
In this post, discover numerous major travel conferences in North America from the Travel Market Place conferences in Toronto and Vancouver, to the United States Tour Operators Association Annual Conference in Florida to the Travel Adventure Show in San Francisco, U.S. Travel Association’s IPW in Chicago, and the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) Conference in Denver.
For Travel Agency Owners
Gaining a broader view of the market from business models, travel management software technology use along with travel marketing strategies can help you differentiate your agency, stay competitive, lower costs, and help you leverage growth marketing strategies to achieve market leadership.
For travel agency owners specifically, conferences are business assets:
Networking Opportunities: Build relationships with suppliers, tour operators, and other travel professionals to enhance business collaborations.
Educational Growth: Improve your insights into industry trends, digital marketing strategies, and traveler engagement techniques to stay competitive.
Supplier Connections: Access exclusive deals and partnerships with travel suppliers and explore new destination marketplaces/feeds you might offer clients.
Technology Insights: Get up to speed on the latest relevant booking tools, CRM systems, and automation technologies to improve business efficiency.
And 2025’s travel convention possibilities are endless.
Bringing Your Company Together in 2025
Yes, the connections to partners, journalists and industry movers and shakers are essential if you have dreams of market leadership in your niche. Or maybe you just want to grow your travel business and discover new lead sources, distribution channels and
Conventions and conferences are the opportunity to connect disparate travel consultants and advisors, booking agents, and employees to significant people and companies. Given the challenges of work-from-home travel agents, the events bring professionals including agency owners together to share their joy of travel, and to make profitable business connections.
Employee’s lack of connection to the industry in person can be a significant negative. So some of the point in attending conference events, is to fill gaps in work enjoyment, create an event to bond your team, and connect with other travel industry pros. You know how the post-trip emotional boost raises motivation and work enjoyment. According to research, it can last up to 6 months!
Being Strategic in Your Event Choices
2025 is shaping up to be a good one, and the travel market outlook warrants you taking a few risks and investing in your business. If you attend the 2025 conferences with a plan and a strategy, prepared beforehand, you’re more likely to turn these events into a true business investment. And you’ll have time to relax and enjoy sessions, workshops, and networking.
Overall, it’s wise to choose one key event for your company and leverage as a focal technique for your entire travel marketing, promotion, and business development process. Great performance comes from smart decisions, preparation, and understanding that benefits accrue from active involvement.
For marketing and promotion, meeting travel journalists you arranged to meet there, can generate extensive online benefits. And you’ll be listening to industry leaders, chatting with technology providers on the trade show floor and demoing their products, and gauging competitor’s promotional efforts firsthand.
You and your team will enjoy a spirit boost and feel you’re current with travel business and marketing trends.
Travel Conferences in California, USA
Let’s Start off with the largest state in the USA. Travel Conferences in California are well attended and bring together advanced solutions, pro-technology views, and are near to Silicon Valley investors. California hosts several prominent travel conferences annually, each catering to different facets of the travel and tourism industry. Here are some of the most notable events:
Los Angeles Travel & Adventure Show
Description: This annual event is a hub for travel enthusiasts seeking inspiration, expert advice, and cultural interactions. Attendees can explore various destinations, engage with travel experts, and enjoy cultural performances.
Location: Los Angeles, California
San Francisco/Bay Area Travel & Adventure Show
Description: Similar to its Los Angeles counterpart, this show offers travel lovers opportunities for inspiration and expert information, featuring exhibitors from top destinations worldwide.
Location: Santa Clara, California
Future Travel Experience (FTE) Global
FTE Global brings together innovators, technologists, and designers to explore the future of air transport. The event focuses on digital transformation, automation, and enhancing the passenger experience.
Location: Long Beach, California
The California Travel Association organizes this event which gathers over 400 travel and tourism leaders for discussions on industry trends, policy issues, and networking opportunities.
Location: Lake Tahoe, California
A hosted-buyer event by Northstar Meetings Group, enabling attendees to experience firsthand California’s most desirable destinations, hotels, and venues.
Location: San Diego, California
USA Travel Conferences and Marketplaces
2025 USTOA Annual Conference & Marketplace
USTOA brings together the leading North American travel companies with tourism suppliers and destinations from around the globe in an intimate and exclusive setting.
Location: National Harbor, Maryland
The premier global event for the business travel and meeting sector where you can connect in person with thousands of industry peers, suppliers, and partners who attend.
Location: Denver, Colorado
U.S. Travel Association’s Educational Seminar for Tourism Organizations (ESTO) is a leading national forum where destination marketing professionals at the state, regional and local levels.
Location: Phoenix, Arizona
USTOA Annual Conference & Marketplace 2024
Since USTOA’s inception in 1972, the USTOA Annual Conference & Marketplace has distinguished itself for being the only travel industry event in the United States that brings together the leading North American travel companies with tourism suppliers and destinations from around the globe in an intimate and exclusive setting.
Location: Marco Island, FL
The ASTA Travel Advisor Conference 2025
ASTA’s largest trade show of the year connects you to expert speakers, industry leaders and game-changers, and top-selling advisors of major brands who share their knowledge and tips.
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah
Description: This B2B leisure travel agency-focused event brings together travel professionals from across North America, for roundtable discussions, educational sessions, and networking opportunities with travel suppliers. It’s designed to help travel agents enhance their business acumen and industry connections.
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.
And So Much More!
Of course, this is just a sampling of what’s available in conferences across the USA and Canada. It’s a opportune time to meet developers of new SaaS travel marketing software platforms and apps that could be a key to your agency’s business growth.
Make a travel business conference event an integral part of your team spirit and bond-building strategy, and enjoy the growth in connections and improved awareness of your travel sector. Get more insight into the 5 year travel market forecast to help you refine your business and marketing strategy.
Hoping to expand your travel agency’s content strategy, boost visitor engagement and keep current clients loyal? Contact me, Gord, at 416 998 6246 to discuss my flexible travel marketing services, adapted to your unique needs.
