Tourism Academy to host panel discussion: Tech, Travel & Training

Stephen Ekstrom, Chief Strategist at The Tourism Academy, will be hosting a fascinating talk about the convergence of technology, travel and training with a focus on what travel professionals should be doing to recover from COVID-19 more quickly, efficiently and profitably.

Recovering quickly is at the top of every travel, tourism and hospitality professional’s mind. Smart businesses and organizations are using this time to innovate and to position themselves for rapid recovery. But what they don’t know is that bridging the tech, travel, and training gap can mean the difference between doing alright and running a far more profitable and efficient enterprise. 

Our panelists have unlocked insights into traveler and business professional behavior to help you succeed this year and beyond. 

Join this exclusive, live conversation as we discuss our findings. You’ll learn:

• How to increase efficiency by automating your sales & operations processes
• Jump start your cash flow by seeking out audiences that are eager to book now
• Cut your training costs up to 60% and help your people learn 5 times more per hour

Panelists Include:

Keith Snode
Chief Operating Officer, GroupExperience

Keith Snode is currently the Chief Operating Officer for Kaleidoscope Adventures and Group Travel Odyssey. He is a travel industry veteran with more than 25 years of experience in sales, marketing, and leadership under his belt, including successfully managing teams in the tourism, financial and transportation industries in Michigan, Ohio, New York City, and Florida. He has worked both as an operator and a supplier in the tourism industry.

Jeff Gayduk
President, Premier Travel Media

Premier Travel Media is a a multi-faceted publishing company that serves the niche travel industry. Premier publishes over two dozen magazines, specialty travel guides and niche websites for the global travel marketplace covering such diverse marketplaces as sports tournaments, student travel, family reunions, leisure group travel, international inbound and golf vacations. Jeff is also the publisher of Traveling Tribes, a prescription book that ushers in the next generation of group travel influencers. Learn more about Premier at www.ptmgroups.com and Traveling Tribes at www.leisuregrouptravel.com/travelingtribes.

Stephen Ekstrom
Chief Strategist, The Tourism Academy

As Chief Strategist for The Tourism Academy, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Stephen brings over 20 years experience working with tourism businesses, associations and stakeholders to build solutions that deliver personalized, interactive experiences to advance careers and grow businesses. At The Tourism Academy, Stephen drives the organization objectives and direction to bridge the gap between digital touchpoints and personal interactions, including service vision, user experience, operational processes, stakeholder strategy, and partnerships.