CONTACT ’26 SCHEDULE

Full schedule

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10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

  • Airport shuttle service from Charleston International Airport (CHS) to hotel
    Sponsored by Motor Coach Family of Brands

10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

  • Airport shuttle service from Charleston International Airport (CHS) to hotel
    Sponsored by Motor Coach Family of Brands

8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

  • Sponsor exhibitor set-up
    Azalea Prefunction

8:30 a.m. – 3:45 p.m.

  • Executive Committee Meeting, Board of Directors Meeting & Working Lunch
    Sponsored by Badger Coaches
    Magnolia AB

1:45 – 4:30 p.m.

  • Registration & NTA Information Desk open
    Azalea Prefunction

4:30 p.m.

  • Transportation to Reception & Icebreaker
    Sponsored by Motor Coach Family of Brands
    Depart from conference center entrance

5:30 – 6:30 p.m.

  • Happy Hour Harbor Cruise
    with SpiritLine Cruises
    Sponsored by Fort Sumter Tours/SpiritLine Cruises

7 – 9 p.m.

  • Icebreaker
    Sponsored by Explore Charleston & Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum
    USS Yorktown

8, 8:30, and 9 p.m.

  • Shuttle service from Icebreaker to Hilton Garden Inn
    Sponsored by Motor Coach Family of Brands

8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

  • Registration & NTA Information Desk open
    Azalea Prefunction

8:30 – 9:30 a.m.

  • Breakfast
    Sponsored by Circle Wisconsin
    Azalea BC

9:30 – noon

  • Morning Coffee & Tea
    Sponsored by Ottawa Tourism
    Azalea Prefunction

9:45 – 10:45 a.m.

  • Opening General Session: “The Power of Unity Behind Great Experiences”
    Speaker: Chris Singleton
    Sponsored by IMGlobal
    Azalea A

11 a.m. – noon

  • “AI for Tour Operators: Having a Strategic Plan to Optimize Your Business”
    Speaker: Dan Flores, Satisfi Labs
    Sponsored by Fly My Group
    Magnolia AB
  • “Mastering the Art of the Close”
    Speaker: Andrea Ross
    Sponsored by battleface
    Azalea A

12:15 – 1:15 p.m.

  • Luncheon
    Sponsored by Tulsa Regional Tourism
    Azalea BC

1:30 – 2:30 p.m.

  • “The Legal Realities of Managing Your People, Your Customers, and Your Travel Partners”
    Speaker: Jeff Ment, The Ment Law Group
    Sponsored by Travel Oregon
    Magnolia AB
  • “2026 Travel Trends: Opportunities for the Taking”
    Speaker: Michelle Stark, Red Sage Communications
    Sponsored by Experience Grand Rapids
    Azalea A

2:30 – 5 p.m.

  • Afternoon refreshments
    Sponsored by A Closer Look Tours
    Azalea Prefunction

2:45 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.

  • “Make it Work(able): 3 Principles to Get Teams to Work Together”
    Speaker: Jon Yarian
    Sponsored by Heritage Hotel Lancaster
    Azalea A

4 – 5:15 p.m.

  • BizNet
    Facilitator: Bob Rouse, NTA
    Sponsored by Sight & Sound Theatres and Delta Air Lines
    Azalea BC

5:15 – 6 p.m.

  • Networking Reception (All attendees)
    Sponsored by SoIN Tourism
    Azalea Prefunction

Evening

  • Dine-around

6:45 p.m.

  • Dinner with Friends at Taco Boy
    Note: Dinner is self-pay with limited seating. You must sign up in advance.

7 a.m.

  • 5K Run/Walk
    Fundraiser for NTA’s Advocacy Fund
    Sponsored by Wyoming Office of Tourism & Unified Purchasing Group
    Depart from Hilton Garden Inn Lobby

8:15 – 9:15 a.m.

  • Grab & Go Breakfast
    Sponsored by Dynamic Destinations
    Azalea Prefunction

9 – 9:20 a.m.

  • Morning Mindfulness session
    Speaker: Heather Davis
    Sponsored by Delta Air Lines
    Azalea A

9:15 – 11 a.m.

  • Morning Coffee & Tea
    Azalea Prefunction
    Sponsored by Ottawa Tourism

9:30 – 10:30 a.m.

  • “The Transformative Power of Travel”
    Speaker: Sucheta Rawal
    Sponsored by Biltmore Estate
    Azalea A

11 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

  • Sightseeing Tours
    Depart from conference center entrance
    Sponsored by Explore Charleston
    Transportation provided by Motor Coach Family of Brands

6 – 6:45 p.m.

  • Tour Operator Reception
    Sponsored by National Comedy Center and National Baseball Hall of Fame
    The Lodge & Back Patio

6:15 – 8:15 p.m.

  • Dinner with Brooke: Tour Supplier/DMO Dine-around at Carolina Ale House
    Note: Dinner is self-pay with limited seating. You must sign up in advance.

7 – 8:30 p.m.

  • Tour Operator Networking Dinner
    Sponsored by Centaur Systems and Discover Carbon County
    Azalea BC

8:45 – 10 p.m.

  • NightCap
    Featuring Todd Probus, NTA
    Sponsored by Visit Anchorage
    Magnolia AB

8:30 – 9:30 a.m.

  • Breakfast
    Sponsored by Explore Branson
    Azalea BC

9:30 a.m. – noon

  • Morning Coffee & Tea
    Sponsored by Ottawa Tourism
    Azalea Prefunction

9:45 – 10:45 a.m.

  • “From Foodie to Changemaker: The Next Wave of Culinary Travel”
    Speaker: Sucheta Rawal
    Sponsored by Mount Hope Estate & Winery
    Azalea A
  • “From Intention to Action: Operationalizing Meaningful Travel for Tour Operators”
    Speakers: Greg Takehara, Tourism Cares; and Christina Werner, Custom Holidays
    Sponsored by Gateway Arch
    Magnolia AB

11 a.m. – noon

  • Spotlight session: All-attendee Power Hour
    Moderators: Catherine Prather, NTA; and Michelle Pino, Northeast Unlimited Tours
    Sponsored by Trip Mate
    Azalea A

12:15 – 1:15 p.m.

  • Luncheon
    Sponsored by Richmond Region Tourism and St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra & The Beaches
    Azalea BC

1:30 – 5 p.m.

  • Educational Outings (All attendees)
    Sponsored by Explore Charleston
    Transportation provided by Motor Coach Family of Brands
    Depart from conference center entrance

6 p.m.

  • Depart for Closing Event
    Sponsored by Motor Coach Family of Brands
    Depart from conference center entrance

6:30 –  9 p.m.

  • Closing Event
    Sponsored by Explore Charleston and Magnolia Plantation
    Magnolia Plantation

8, 8:30, and 9 p.m.

  • Shuttle service from Closing Event to hotel
    Sponsored by Explore Charleston and Motor Coach Family of Brands

4 a.m. – 2 p.m.

  • Airport shuttle service to Charleston International Airport (CHS) from hotel
    Depart from conference center entrance
    Sponsored by Motor Coach Family of Brands

8:30 a.m.

  • Post-Contact Fam to Beautfort departs
    Depart from conference center entrance
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