Young Leaders Conference Steering Committee sets direction for 2011 conference program

NEW YORK, NY- October 14, 2011. The 2011 Young Leaders Conference Steering Committee met last week with the goal of setting the conference program in motion. Comprised of 'under 40' travel professionals, the meeting addressed topics, speakers and overall expectations for the 2nd annual event, scheduled for December 5 & 6, 2011 at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.

“The 2011 Young Leaders Conference Steering Committee meeting held last week was not only productive, but a true testament to strength of this group as the future of travel,” remarked Bernadette Mari, senior marketing manager, Questex Travel Group. “The program will address relevant topics affecting today's young travel leaders and the overall importance of maintaining this audience as a solid contributor for years to come.”

"In only its second year, the Young Leaders Conference has already become one of favorite parts of Luxury Travel Expo," says Joe Pike, senior editor, Questex Travel Group. "The enthusiasm and interest in the Young Leaders Conference is truly amazing and this injection of youth into the industry really bodes well for the future of travel agents."

Guided by the Steering Committee, the program will include high-level networking and educational programming designed for young travel professionals and includes sessions on best practices, success stories, social media, revenue generation and advanced networking. The primary role of the Steering Committee is to help shape the educational program of the Young Leaders Conference to ensure that the event continues on its path as the preeminent conference for young travel professionals.

The 2011 Steering Committee members are: Lia Batkin, In the Know Experiences, Heather Christopher, Classic Travel, Gina DeBenedetti, JETSET World Travel, Inc., Michael Distler, Admiral Travel International Inc., Marie Foreman-Smith, KHM Travel Group, Craig Hsu, Travel Design USA Inc., Beth Jenkins, McCabe World Travel, Jamo Ladd, Park Avenue Travel, Cassie McMillion, Betty Maclean Travel, Inc., Michelle Mangio, CTA, DS, LS, Magical Escapes Vacations, Joseph Pike, Questex Travel Group, Jaclyn Sienna India, Sienna Charles and Carmen Teresa Targa, Condado Travel.

Travel agent registration costs $150 and includes a complimentary Full Conference Pass to Luxury Travel Expo. Supplier registration costs $300 and will open soon.

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About Young Leaders Conference (YoungTravelLeaders.com)
Produced by Luxury Travel Advisor, and Travel Agent magazine, the Young Leaders Conference is the first and only industry-wide forum created exclusively for the 'under 40' travel professional. The event includes dynamic networking and relevant educational programming guided by a Steering Committee of young travel professionals. The second annual Young Leaders Conference will take place December 5 & 6, 2011 at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. Follow us on Twitter. Find us on Facebook. Join our group on LinkedIn.

About The Questex Travel Group (QuestexHospitalityandTravel.com )
The Questex Travel Group encompasses a multi-media portfolio of products delivering a complete package of industry-leading publications, events and robust online solutions. The Travel group delivers industry news through its print publications Luxury Travel Advisor and Travel Agent in addition to its innovative online portals TravelAgentCentral.com, LuxuryTravelAdvisor.com; Adfluence.com; FiveStarAlliance.com and TAUniv.com. The Travel Group also offers cutting-edge educational content and valuable networking opportunities via its events including: Luxury Travel Expo, Caribbean Meeting and Incentive Travel Exchange, Incentive Travel Exchange and the Hawaii Travel Exchange. The Travel Group is the largest travel trade multimedia organization in the world.