Agenda

The General Session will be held in the ballroom at our host hotel, the InterContinental. Kick off the ASTA River Cruise Expo 2023 with our emcee, Nicole Edenedo, Senior Editor, Tours/Cruises with Travel Weekly. You'll also hear inspirational words and welcome from ASTA President & CEO, Zane Kerby. 

General Session Featured Partner Speakers:
Suzanne Lustig, Director National Accounts, Allianz Partners



10 Tips for Finding New River Cruise Clients 
Looking to boost your river cruise sales? We have a unique opportunity for you to hear directly from Travel Marketing and Media’s Sandra McLemore where you will discover 10 or more new and smart sales tactics. These tactics will enable you to identify the right type of river cruise clients and increase the number of cabins you sell. Whether new to the river cruise market or a long-term expert, you will come away from Sandra’s session with a significantly stronger understanding - plus improved confidence - on how to market river cruises, how to handle client concerns or objections, and a phenomenally new and innovative way to move from using testimonials, to using case studies to expand your river cruise business. 

Speaker: Sandra McLemore, Owner, Travel Marketing and Media

New Opportunities Before You as the River Cruise Market Continues to Evolve 
Join Executive Vice President and Publisher of Travel Market Report, Anne Marie Moebes, in this engaging discussion between river cruise line executives as well as highly successful travel advisors in the river cruise space. They’ll not only discuss how this particular market has evolved, but how the successful advisor has made the river cruise market a significant success for their business. You’ll come away with new ideas for making your own business successfully grow in this niche, as well as learn what more to expect that may be new or unique to the market as it continues to evolve in 2023 that will also help you identify opportunities for you to grow in this space.

Speakers: Anne Marie Moebes, Executive Vice President and Publisher, Travel Market Report
Ann Chamberlin, Vice President, Sales, Scenic Luxury Cruises & Emerald Cruises
Kristin Karst, Owner & Executive Vice President, AmaWaterways
Pam Hoffee, President, Avalon Waterways
Jodi Campbell, Independent Franchise Owner, Cruise Planners
Jeff Coggin, Travel Advisor, Wine Sommelier, Co-Owner, Coggin Travels

-NETWORKING BREAK-

Successful Strategies to Show Your Value With For Aspiring River Cruise Clients
Ready to level up your travel business? River cruises are a crucial  way to capture the attention of clients looking for a unique type of vacation.  As a travel advisor, you have plenty of strategies at your fingertips to help promote river cruising that can keep clients coming back for more. Learn to capitalize on the pre and post markets, geography and authentic experiences by doubling down on the power of existing and new customers. You’ll be able to match your client’s preferences and expectations to the perfect cruise lines and experiences while building your customer value. Plus, learn what will elevate your business while focusing on river cruise partnerships and their free promotional tools.

Speakers: Nicole Edenedo, Senior Editor, Tours/River Cruise Travel Weekly
Angela Hughes, Owner, Trips & Ships Luxury Travel

Converting Prospects into River Cruise Clients
Travel Market Report’s latest research, suggests river cruising is undergoing a gradual shift in client segments and advisors are experiencing increased levels of traveler interest and sales. Expanding on the insights gained from our first panel of executives and advisors, Executive Vice President and Publisher of Travel Market Report, Anne Marie Moebes will invite additional river cruise line executives and high producing advisors to share insights and dive into the top trends and strategies that can help you develop and scale your river cruise sales. You’ll walk away from this session with a clear understanding of how to identify potential clients, deliver value before the sale, and the most effective methods used today to close the sale. 

Speakers: Anne Marie Moebes, Executive Vice President and Publisher, Travel Market Report
Marcus Leskovar, Executive Vice President, Amadeus River Cruises

Take some time to explore and enjoy the city at your leisure before setting sail!

Registration for dinner will be available soon!
 

Check out the sights of Budapest while you enjoy a lunch break! For details on these tours, click here. 

Registration for tours coming soon!

Transportation will be rolling throughout the morning bringing attendees to the piers from the InterContinental.

Join us on the Amadeus Silver III, Avalon Envision, or the AmaMagna to close out the evening. Enjoy networking and live entertainment while you experience what these ships have to offer. 

Hosted on the Scenic Jasper

Great Market Hall 

Kick off the Expo by exploring the largest and oldest outdoor market in Budapest with your peers!

 

Hosted on the Scenic Jasper

Registration for Ship Inspections with Lunch will be available soon!

 
 

Transportation will be provided to those who are staying on board the ships to take you to our host hotel for ASTA's General Session.

Registration for Ship Inspections with Lunch will be available soon!