Luxury Travel Advisor's ULTRA Summit took place earlier this week at The Watergate Hotel in Washington, D.C. From Sunday to Tuesday, advisors and suppliers met, networked, and observed engaging and educational presentations from some of the industry's top players.
Sunday night kicked off events with a Welcome Reception at The Top of the Gate—the hotel's rooftop bar with views of the Potamac River to the east and south, the Washington Monument to the southeast, and Rosslyn, VA to the east.
On Monday, after breakfast, Ruthanne Terrero led off the A Look Inside Your Business presentations and discussions with A Portrait of Your Business, which reviewed the results from the surveys each of the attending advisors filled out prior to their arrival. She was followed by: Craig Compagnone's The State of Our Industry Today and How it Is Reshaping the Needs of Affluent Travelers, where he defined luxury versus affluent travelers and specified key markets; McLean Robbins' Content & Social Media Marketing for Travel Advisors, which broke down how and when to use each social media platform; and Anne Morgan Scully's Turning Vendor (Partner) Presentations Into Selling Opportunities, which discussed how suppliers and advisors can work better together.
In the afternoon, advisors met with the Dominican Republic Tourism Board, Turismo de Tenerife, and Viking Cruises for breakout sessions, which was followed by one-on-one sessions between advisors and suppliers. That night, at the Belgian Ambassador's residence, Luxury Travel Advisor presented its Awards of Excellence, which were nominated by those who have appeared on our cover, and voted on by our readers.
Tuesday began with more rounds of one-on-one sessions before enjoying the event's final three presentations. John Francis, the former VP for research, conservation, and exploration, National Geographic Society and executive board member, Sustainable Travel International talked about Tourism With Purpose: Travelers Vote With Their Wallets on the Future of Destinations. To echo his sentiments, as a surprise guest, Malia Asfour of the Jordan Tourism Board, representing Tourism Cares, followed. Francis and Asfour each mentioned organizations that advisors should join if they wish to partake in sustainable and eco-friendly tourism.
Festivities concluded with the ULTRA favorite Luxury General Managers Interactive Panel, which included Steven André, general manager, Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa, Claudio Catani, general manager, Hotel Brunelleschi Firenze & Grand Hotel Principe di Piemonte Viareggio (and last year's GM of the Year), and Jeff David, managing director, The Watergate Hotel, our host hotel.
Mark it down: The 2018 ULTRA Summit will take place at Eau Palm Beach, May 30 - June 1.
Related Stories
Luxury Travel Advisor Announces Awards of Excellence Winners at 2017 ULTRA Summit
Luxury Travel Advisor's ULTRA Summit Moves to Eau Palm Beach in 2018
ULTRA Summit: Takeaways From the Educational Sessions
Luxury Travel Advisor’s ULTRA Summit Commenced Today in Washington, D.C.