History
About ETC Conferences
The Educational Travel Conference (ETC) hosts 250+ delegates absorbed in several days of inspired sessions, first-rate social venues, and educationally rich “experiences” on site. The Conference is purposely kept intimate to ensure high-quality networking and small group educational experiences with like-minded individuals and/or like organizations. ETC is the founding conference for Alumni, Museum, Zoo, Conservation, and Nonprofit Educational Travel. Nowhere has such a highly-qualified international group of nonprofit travel planners, suppliers, specialty tour operators and destinations been assembled to focus on the development, operation and marketing of group educational, experiential and affinity travel worldwide.
Since 1987 ETC has provided timely educational travel training, professional development, and affinity-based networking forums expressly designed for professionals serving this special-interest, niche tourism market. Designed to address the issues of most critical importance today to alumni, museum and nonprofit travel, a substantive educational program with outstanding speakers delivers a vertically rich and integrated educational experience over the course of several days with 30+ educational sessions, collegial roundtables, skills workshops, off site Learning Labs plus networking opportunities and special events. ETC attendees collaboratively grapple with the ethical, business, programming and marketing issues that face nonprofit and affinity travel programs today, including ways to enhance and improve the competitiveness of program offerings, alumni/member engagement, revenue return, and new traveler recruitment. Each year, a diversity of sessions is offered on perennial topics such as risk management, marketing, trends, media, product development, industry issues, responsible tourism and travel planner roundtables, plus a vast array of timely topics discussed in special interest group (SIG) sessions.
As nonprofit travel planners have explicitly required that education be the top priority, the Conference is not designed, delivered or promoted as a trade show. The quality of educational sessions for professional development and the value of special entertainment and meals for networking have remained the top priority without commercial compromise. Every year the hallmark of ETC is strong content and creative programming choices. The formidable lineup of plenary speakers and diverse session formats and topics speaks volumes about the quality and timeliness each year of the agenda focus, the fresh approach to program delivery, the practical value of take home information and intensity and integrity of collegial discussions and networking. The quality and relevance of educational sessions, the targeted focus on travel issues, and the invaluable collegial interaction not only with colleagues from like institutions or like-size programs, but also with credible and proven travel partners, remain central to the Conference mission.
For newcomers to travel planning, a longstanding hybrid Jumpstart seminar is offered online and during the Conference. And as initiated in 2024 – A Travel Planner Certification program is now featured with several seasoned travel planners having completed the course.
Designed and Operated from its inception as an educational resource, the ETC remains committed to its core objectives:
Jim Sano[/popup_trigger]
Elizabeth Bigwood[/popup_trigger]
Leslie Jennings Rowley[/popup_trigger]
Martin Ludwig[/popup_trigger]
Alicia Stevens[/popup_trigger]Conference History
The ETC 2024 Conference knocked it out of the park!
High accolades received for a stellar program, speakers & events.
The weather reality – no snow, a mild winter – yet a wonderland indeed.
2028
TBD
2027
TBD
2026
Richmond, VA
2025
Mobile, AL
2024
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
2023
Reno, NV
[/popup_trigger]
2020 Chattanooga, TN
[/popup_trigger]
2019 Montgomery, AL
[/popup_trigger]
2018
Bermuda
[/popup_trigger]
2017 St. Louis, Missouri
[/popup_trigger]
2016 Washington, DC
[/popup_trigger]
2015 Boston, MA
[/popup_trigger]
2014 Orlando, FL
[/popup_trigger]
2013 Orlando, FL
[/popup_trigger]
2012 Orlando, FL
[/popup_trigger]
2011 Providence, RI
[/popup_trigger]
2010 Providence, RI
[/popup_trigger]
2009 New Orleans, LA
[/popup_trigger]
2008 Baltimore, MD
[/popup_trigger]
2007 Baltimore, MD
[/popup_trigger]
2006 Baltimore, MD
[/popup_trigger]
2005 Washington, DC
[/popup_trigger]
2004 Washington, DC
[/popup_trigger]
2003 Washington, DC
[/popup_trigger]
2002 Los Angeles, CA
[/popup_trigger]
2001 Washington, DC
[/popup_trigger]
2000 Washington, DC
[/popup_trigger]
1999 Arlington, VA
[/popup_trigger]
1998 Arlington, VA
[/popup_trigger]
1997 Arlington, VA
[/popup_trigger]
1996 Arlington, VA
[/popup_trigger]
1995 Arlington, VA
[/popup_trigger]
1994 Arlington, VA
[/popup_trigger]
1993 Arlington, VA
[/popup_trigger]
1992 Washington, DC
[/popup_trigger]
1991 Washington, DC
[/popup_trigger]
1990 Washington, DC
[/popup_trigger]
1989 Washington, DC
[/popup_trigger]
1988 Washington, DC
[/popup_trigger]
1987 Washington, DC
[/popup_trigger]2019
“It was a fabulous conference. On top of being helpful, it was FUN!“
“I keep thinking about the conference – and it was awesome! I am so inspired and energized! I look forward to next year!“
“The SOW was such a valuable experience – it was great exploring each of the destinations and equally as great getting to know planner and industry colleagues. I really do find the SOW to be helpful to me as a planner, not only to see destinations through the lens of a travel planner but also to see how they run from the traveler’s perspective. Both the 2019 and this year’s SOW programs were both thought-provoking and inspirational! Keep up all your great work putting these together. “
“Another great conference! There’s always so much change going on in this industry and within our own institutions – it’s good to come together to learn and connect.“
“Congrats on the completion of another successful conference! I can only imagine how much work you and your team have put into making the experience so enriching, seamless and educational for us attendees and presenters.”
“The programming was fantastic and I certainly felt the value of, not only the networking, but key takeaways from the sessions.“
“A very productive conference with a large and invested following. The overall experience was a plus for me, personally and professionally. I felt embraced and my perspective valued. It is a wonderful community.“
“Montgomery was amazing… I left feeling so inspired and connected to those I had an opportunity to experience MGM with. Kudos again for taking a risk and thinking outside the box. The IGNITE session was great exposure for what we are doing. Many connections and follow ups from my meetings that I have been doing since back in the office! Look forward to seeing you all again at next year’s conference and excited to see where it will be.“
“I would like to sincerely thank Mara DelliPriscoli, Carole and all the ETC team for their hard work in providing such a unique incubation space for world-class educational and affinity travel planning, destination promotion and networking.“
“I would like to convey my heart felt “thank you” for another successful conference. As always, it was inspiring, enriching and educating for me. I have always considered ETC as the Mecca of all the travel industry meetings with a special mission. It is like a refinery where I always feel more tuned for the better. I very much look forward to 2020!“
re“Wonderful destination. We’re grateful it was chosen as what we learned here has had a profound impact. Thanks for everything! See you in 2020!“
“Yet another wonderful conference! I truly appreciate all the hard work as the conference keeps getting better and better every year.“
“I had no idea how much this conference would impact me personally! I will be bringing a group to Montgomery soon in hopes of sharing my experience.“
“I thought that the ETC 2019 educational content was transcendental with the dynamic presentation formats rich in educational content and very relevant. While I only participated in the amazing Walk in the Footsteps of Americans Changing History, I heard many of the participants’ appreciation for all of the off-site content-rich learning labs.”
“Congratulations on a widely refreshing and energizing conference! Sue Hershkowitz-Coore delivers every year and people walk out raving with a pile of take-aways/nuggets! The Seminar on Wheels, Learning Labs were immersive experiences — rich, rewarding and impactful!“
“It was such an interesting and enriching experience for me, not only the conference itself, but also the people I met and the places we had the opportunity to visit. And then the final talk of Mr. Bryan Stevenson, what a exceptional way to conclude the event!“
2018
“Being my first time attending this event I was very impressed by the quality of the program and the dedication and passion that participants have for this very special segment of the travel industry. I definitely plan on attending again next year.”
“What a buzz about Sue Herskowitz-Coore’s session on Selling Skills! Can’t wait to listen to this session online, as at least four colleagues mentioned how much they enjoyed this session. Invite Sue back again next year!”
“ETC never fails to provide insight and tools to help me do my job.”
“I thoroughly enjoyed the 2018 conference this year — high praise for another success! The sessions were EXCELLENT topics. The development track was really good and I came away with some good takeaways and ideas to bring home. Evening venues and settings were top notch. The BOLD Talk Presenters were all very engaging….especially Sue Hershkowitz-Coore! Many things she said I’ve found myself still repeating in my head since the conference. I loved how interactive her presentation was.”
“The networking is invaluable at ETC. There is no better way to connect with your colleagues.”
“I sincerely enjoyed the conference and meeting up with colleagues and old friends from ETC. As usual, ETC was flawlessly organized. You all run a tight ship! Thank you for all your work and excellent content.”
“Being my first time attending this event I was very impressed by the quality of the program and the dedication and passion that participants have for this very special segment of the travel industry. I definitely plan on attending again next year.”
“I found the 2018 conference to be exceptional in terms of professional development and, of course, to connect with all those involved in the educational travel community.”
“Congratulations on a successful conference! I have heard a lot of great comments about the fresh programming, the venue and the hotel layout! You did a wonderful job and it truly paid off!”
“Congratulations on a rich, meaningful and relevant program!”
“Just wanted to pass along my congratulations to you and your team for another great ETC! Everyone I have talked to really enjoyed the conference.”
“Loved it ALL! Many thanks!!!!“
“I wanted to let you know that I had such a great time on the learning labs at ETC this year! I thought they were very well executed and very worthwhile. Thanks again.”
“The whole experience rocked! Bravo! I bet this might be one of your best conferences. As a presenter and a participant, I cannot think of a single thing I’d recommend you change.”
“I witnessed firsthand the professionalism and hard work put into the planning of the conference. Every aspect is analyzed and planned carefully, every comment and evaluation from previous years is taken into account. I have never seen any other event that puts so much work into an event for the sole purpose of truly creating value for their members. ETC has done tremendous work and it always shows in the quality of speakers and topics covered. They look for innovative ways to add value and move from just one-side presentations to other type of educational events that are more interactive and therefore create new knowledge. And the ETC team is always open to work with each member to help them reach their specific goals, understanding that everyone has different needs and budgets; They will think outside the box, listen or propose new ideas to maximize the return on the investment.”
“ETC has always been my favorite industry venue especially because it gives a platform to meet so many professionals keen to develop new products.”
2017
2016
2015
2014
“ETC 2014 was the best conference I’ve ever attended, and I’ve attended a lot. For me, there’s nothing better than combining education and travel . . . two of the things I am most passionate about.”
“A balanced emphasis & coverage of social media topics. More than enough Connect Meeting opportunities.”
“Another inspiring ETC Travel conference. Dynamic speakers like Andrew McCarthy on travel as a transformational experience and Sree Sreenivasan the leading social media expert who was just named the Chief Digital officer at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Mara continues to ignite the intellectual needs of the Educational Travel Community 28 years after the original founding of ETC!”
“The networking opportunities are invaluable. Meeting with both tour operators and travel planners is a great way to jump start my year.”
“I am grateful for all that Japan did to sponsor the program, because of their many touch points, I have added Japan to our 2015 schedule- the first time in many, many years that it’s been included!”
“It’s a great way to fully immerse yourself in the world of Alumni/Affinity travel.”
“The keynote speakers were all excellent!!”
“The highlight of this year’s conference was the volume of CONNECTS meeting we scheduled.”
“The ability to reconnect with fellow travel planners informally to discuss challenges we face with our own programs and get tips and advice from one another.”
“Excellent networking opportunities; ability to reach new suppliers/vendors all in one place.”
“I am extremely impressed with the Conference, its excellent mosaic of attendance, and its flawless organization behind. It was a great honor to be part of it! Thank you very much for all the info prior, during and after the event! My most sincere congratulations on the Conference!
“ETC is a very impressive conference and attended by such an interesting group of people. I so enjoyed the lively discussions and insightful questions that were part of our presentations.”
“The highlight of the conference is the opportunity to meet with many existing clients as well as very successful meetings with prospective clients.”
“A wonderful community – the sessions and events were excellent. Besides the small challenges of being a newcomer DMC from Greece to the conference, I thoroughly enjoyed it, found it very useful and plan to come back next year and continue building relationships.”
“It was a pleasure seeing everyone, the camaraderie, fun memories and to top it all, having such successful conference in spite of the weather.”
“I think this year’s ETC was among the VERY best!”
“It was a true joy for me, at every step–to enjoy my old hometown of Boston during that magical, snowbound silence; and to meet all of the great ETC community. I love their wisdom, their spirit, their sense of adventure and their cultured, rich, generous sensibility.”
“You should be very proud of the wonderful conference you and your team produce each and every year. It is always an environment for learning, networking and new ideas and I thank you for your commitment and service to the Educational Travel Community!”
2013
“I have no idea how the ETC team pulls off an event like ETC. I have been in event management in the past and your operation is massive yet you pull it off with clockwork efficiency. So many concurrent events and speakers to manage, plus all the behind-the-scenes planning and logistics…you deserve a gold medal!!! And then some!”
“We want to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for the amazing conference you and your team put together. It was an amazing experience for us, and we know that the real work starts after the conference. I know that the Israeli companies felt it was a good event too. Looking forward to continuing our cooperation with ETC. Thanks again for everything!”
“Just a brief note to thank you once again for including me in the ETC conference this past weekend. I could not have been treated with more kindness or generosity, and I very much enjoyed my participation. The conference was extremely well organized and executed, and one cannot help but be impressed with the professionalism and the seriousness of purpose with which the participants approached each session. You clearly have a strong and production organization, for which I congratulate you.”
“Thank you for all the time and hard work you put into this conference! Face time with colleagues and potential travel partners is so valuable.”
“In some ways it’s one-stop shopping. Everything you need is here at the conference. It provides the opportunity to meet with several new possible travel operators and destinations, as well as time to meet with existing travel partners. Plus, it offers the professional development aspect that is tailored especially for this audience. It’s a nice package.”
“This was my 2nd ETC and it was good! As a relatively new professional in the field, I found the experience to be of great value. The highlights of this year’s conference were reconnecting with colleagues from across the country and learning the latest best practices.”
“Most conference activities and meals are sponsored for planners, which is a great value, especially for programs with tight budgets. There is no other annual opportunity for planners to meet. I would absolutely recommend this conference to colleagues because the networking is invaluable.”
“I have attended the ETC eight times now, and this was the best one yet! I particularly like that the sponsors of the meals were given a good chance to showcase their programs. With the bazaar time more focused, generally there were representatives at every table. I loved the cooking class with Chef Salvador; I now know how to make green tomato sauce. Excellent work. The key recommendations for this conference are the many contacts that are made for planning trips and the chance to compare programs and learn from colleagues at other institutions and experts in related fields.”
“Overall, we thought the conference was an excellent opportunity for us to connect with current clients as well as prospects. We were thrilled to see that every person who made a CONNECTS meeting appointment with us actually showed—that’s just unheard of at a conference!”
“Another great conference. Learned a TON and it was great to see all my ETC friends. Looking forward to next year already!”
“Thank you for putting on such a great Educational Travel Conference again this year. I truly felt it was quite well-organized and flowed well. Congratulations!”
2012
“January 2012 was my first ETC and I found it extremely informative with a comprehensive agenda, excellent speakers and relevant content. Well done!”
“ETC 2012 was my first ETC conference, and I really got a lot of great ideas and things to think about in the sessions. Great discussion and new ideas were formed out of them. I think the networking with others who have the same job you do is very valuable. The sessions are informative and give practical ideas you can take back to your organization and implement. Sometimes conferences just talk in general terms about how to improve an aspect of an organization but with the ETC conference I came away with actual ideas and steps I can immediately implement here in my organization.”
“The opportunities to meet and network with other planners is key to this event. It was wonderful to meet others who plan tours as I do. We had opportunities to discuss what is working, how to reach more travelers, etc. Hearing from guest speakers was a highlight. Each offered his or her perspective on different aspects affecting our industry, and their insight was very relevant to what we do.”
“The ETC educational sessions are high quality. The 1 1/2 hour concurrent session format allows for maximum learning and valuable Q&A.”
“I expected ETC to be more of a trade show, but it was much deeper and it focused on relationships within the industry—not just for advancing economic gain, but more importantly to feel energized by the notion of the value of travel and what we do for a living.”
“This Conference is so important to me and has taught me so much. I have made great friends while attending ETC. They have become invaluable resources when I have a question.”
“What a fabulous conference you all organized yet again. I came away with so much from just the one day I was able to attend. I think ETC is one of the most valuable conferences ever.”
“Thanks for another extraordinary conference! ETC 2012 had great energy, and you could feel it!”
“The maturation and evolution of ETC has been stunning. This is not true of a lot of conferences and communities. We care about making each other successful – we care about the community, our travelers and our mission. And that is what makes this community and conference unique. That’s why people like coming and enjoy the networking. It feels good but it is also productive.”
“I thought this year’s programs at ETC 2012 were great. I particularly value the sessions with Sree [Sreenivasan] and hope that he can return next year. He’s really the best!”
“I really enjoyed ETC this year, but I have every year! I very much enjoyed the Travel Planner sessions the first day.”
“I felt I made more connections with other travel planners [at ETC 2012], and this was likely due to the first travel planner day—which was a great aspect of the conference.”
“ETC 2012 was an enriching and fulfilling experience. This being my second year attending, I found it even more useful than last year. I am certain many people offer their thanks, so I want to add mine and let you know how much this conference and the entire ETC community helps me to improve the travel program at Utah State University. The entire conference was filled with useful and dynamic presentations that spark new ideas and destinations to explore.”
“I enjoyed ETC 2012 a lot. This was the best ETC for me in the past 20 years!”
2011
“Thank you for another great conference! I am still sorting through all that I learned!”
“Thank you for making it so easy for us to maximize our time and investment.”
“I truly cannot imagine the industry being as strong and connected as it is without the ETC conference and community. Congratulations on your accomplishments of these last 25 years and thank you for your hard and challenging work.”
“If last year I was impressed, I must say this year’s ETC 2011 surpassed my expectations, it was excellent! And I can say such is the overall opinion. I always saw ETC as a great opportunity for a destination, and the best way to connect with the demands of a very specific market, to understand it, to become prepared.”
“Kris and Jojo came back from ETC with great information. They enjoyed the contacts with colleagues and tour operators, and we all feel it is an important venue for Cal Discoveries to attend and to contribute where we can.”
“Overall, another very successful conference-kudos to the entire, superb TLC team!”
“This was my fourth ETC, and I have come back energized with a bunch of ideas and plans for the future. My congratulations to you for conducting yet another successful conference that has brought together a broad cross section of people.”
“Thanks to all who worked so hard to bring about another successful ETC conference. For the 25th anniversary, this was a really good conference—strong educational sessions and very well planned special events. The Community Dinner at the State Capital was a truly wonderful event. From the planning stage right up to the onsite problem solving and execution of the plan that took place, thank you for all that you did to make things run so smoothly. Great speakers, good meeting space, and definitely lots of attention to detail. As I said last year, ‘I’m sure most of us aren’t even half aware of all that you do to make this conference happen, but please know that it’s appreciated. It’s always one of the highlights of my year.’ Thank you and congratulations on another terrific conference.”
“What an amazing conference! As I said before, there could not be a better forum to learn and share innovative ideas about best practices and achieving best results in the field of educational travel.”
“ETC 2011 was an excellent conference with the Community Dinner the true highlight. The city of Providence certainly pulled together and pulled off an evening we will never forget. When I get to Providence again, I will be sure to visit some of the many restaurants that participated. Once again you put on a conference that was a benefit to all that attended. No other conference gives you the educational components in travel like this conference. Congratulations!”
“The conference was excellent, also very well organized with good staff. I thought so myself and heard many good comments from other attendees. The 25th anniversary theme was also carried out very well. The Bazaar was well organized, good space and good signage, and the set-up created more traffic. The coffee area in the middle, as last year, was good and created more opportunities to network and meet clients. The speed networking system is good, everybody doesn’t use it, but more people used it than last year and it definitely should be kept. The speakers were also very good and with topics in tune with the times. The Saturday morning social networking sessions were also well attended and Sree is highly appreciated. The Community Dinner at the State House was spectacular, well organized, good networking, and a venue that tied in with historic and traditional themes, and it was also interesting to see the venue.”
“Thank you for ETC. I’m thrilled to say that as a result of the relationships forged and fostered through ETC we’re finding success selling our Death Valley walking/hiking geology tour to the community. Our tour for the MIT Alumni Travel Program has already sold out, and we have other alumni groups interested in going in 2012. Our original client for this tour was Patrick Wagner at Smithsonian Journeys–we’re doing our fourth tour for them in March–anyway, he told me a few years ago that I needed to attend ETC and I’m so glad he did and I listened!”
2010
“I’m looking forward to attending my third conference in February. The contacts I have made and experiences you’ve provided have been invaluable to our young company. Thank you! “
“Congratulations on a wonderful ETC 2010! I got so much work done. Having all my tour operators in one place, I completed my 2011 booking schedule (7 trips) and renewed old friendships!”
“Congratulations on putting on a fantastic conference this year. It had been a few years since I’d attended, and I’d forgotten what a special event it is. I felt like I got my money’s worth x 10. “
“One of the best conferences in ETC history. It was especially useful now with so many programs and the industry in general in transition. I’ve heard nothing but praise for the great interaction and gutsy topics.”
“Another great conference. As usual it was very worthwhile for me.”
“The conference has given me a great couple of days to step out of the trenches, refocus, and get new ideas…meet new colleagues, talk about benchmarks. I got good numbers that I can take back, as we have new goals and benchmarks coming from our organization. Being able to have this is very helpful. I have about 20 pages of great ideas.”
“Congratulations on another very successful conference this year. ETC ’10 had a lot of great energy with strong interest in exploring ways to be more effective and to work smarter in this ‘post economic crisis.’”
“Thank you for allowing Carol Orsborn and me to be a part of this year’s ETC 2010 Conference. We loved it! We enjoyed ourselves and appreciated getting to talk about a subject we love (engaging Boomer women). We really felt welcomed by the warm, enthusiastic, and engaged ETC community. I’ve never seen a conference quite like ETC!”
“Thank you…for providing the opportunity for me to attend such a helpful and informative session for executive directors at ETC. I’ve been in alumni relations work for seven years now, but have never felt very knowledgeable about our travel program, and must admit it has not been given much of a priority among all our programs. That has now changed—I returned to Auburn feeling like I had a wealth of information and quite inspired (the travel staff were overjoyed!). We have a lot of work to do, but we’ll have fun growing our program to where it needs to be.”
“Thanks to all of you who worked so hard to bring about another successful ETC conference. It was a great conference. Great speakers, good meeting space, and definitely lots of attention to detail. I’m sure most of us aren’t even half aware of all that you do to make this conference happen, but please know that it’s appreciated. It’s always one of the highlights of my year.”
“Many thanks for the Mentor Meet and Greet session. I benefited a lot from my mentor’s experience and guidance. I would like ETC to know I am indebted for this arrangement. It was an excellent conference!”
“Wanted to congratulate you on yet another successful ETC in Rhode Island. Overall the substance was solid! That’s what matters. I look forward to attending many more ETCs.”
“I had a tremendous experience and learned so much about the industry. The conference was very well organized and offered a great range of subjects. Coming from an outside industry, the topics that focused on technology and social media will prove very valuable as the travel industry is evolving and meeting the needs of younger demographics. I found the presenters and attendees to be very approachable and friendly, especially your staff. I came away with a better appreciation of the educational travel industry.”
“It was a wonderful conference. I feel fortunate I was able to be there. Thank you for including me in your team of volunteers. I loved it!”
Past Keynote Speakers
Wade Davis
[/popup_trigger]
Peter Greenberg
[/popup_trigger]
Jack Hanna
[/popup_trigger]
John Hendricks
[/popup_trigger]
Sue Hershkowitz-Coore
[/popup_trigger]
Perry Hewitt
[/popup_trigger]
Jeff Hoffman
[/popup_trigger]
Pico Iyer
[/popup_trigger]
Dr. Clint Laurent
[/popup_trigger]
Richard Louv
[/popup_trigger]
Peter Matthiessen
[/popup_trigger]
Andrew McCarthy
[/popup_trigger]
Richard Olivier
[/popup_trigger]
Joe Pine
[/popup_trigger]
Peter Shankman
[/popup_trigger]
Brian Skerry
[/popup_trigger]
Sree Sreenivasan
[/popup_trigger]
Essdras M. Suarez
[/popup_trigger]
Peter Yesawich
[/popup_trigger]
Joel Sartore
[/popup_trigger]
Gerry Ellis
[/popup_trigger]
Janet Ferguson
[/popup_trigger]
Dawn Rodney
[/popup_trigger]
Peggy Wallace Kennedy
[/popup_trigger]
Máirtín de Cógáin
[/popup_trigger]
Bryan Stevenson
[/popup_trigger]
Britt Basel
[/popup_trigger]
Gerry Ellis
[/popup_trigger]Past Council
Members of the current EAC as well as Emeritus Council (colleagues that have served as former Council members) are available to share behind-the-scenes insights on what is involved with conference planning, session choices and events, venue choices, and ETC’s evolving community engagement.
30 Years of ETC
Setting Sail 30 Years Ago
The Vision That Propelled the Educational Travel Community[/popup_trigger]
20th Anniversary Commemoration
The Value of Educational Travel[/popup_trigger]About ETC Conferences
The Educational Travel Conference (ETC) hosts 300+ delegates absorbed in several days of inspired sessions, first-rate social venues, and educationally rich “experiences” on site. The Conference is purposely kept intimate to ensure high-quality networking and small group educational experiences with like-minded individuals and/or like organizations. ETC is the founding conference for Alumni, Museum, Zoo, Conservation, and Nonprofit Educational Travel. Nowhere has such a highly-qualified international group of nonprofit travel planners, suppliers, specialty tour operators and destinations been assembled to focus on the development, operation and marketing of group educational, experiential and affinity travel worldwide.
Since 1987 ETC has provided timely educational travel training, professional development, and affinity-based networking forums expressly designed for professionals serving this special-interest, niche tourism market. Designed to address the issues of most critical importance today to alumni, museum and nonprofit travel, a substantive educational program with outstanding speakers delivers a vertically rich and integrated educational experience over the course of several days with 30+ educational sessions, collegial roundtables, skills workshops, off site Learning Labs plus networking opportunities and special events. ETC attendees collaboratively grapple with the ethical, business, programming and marketing issues that face nonprofit and affinity travel programs today, including ways to enhance and improve the competitiveness of program offerings, alumni/member engagement, revenue return, and new traveler recruitment. Each year, a diversity of sessions is offered on perennial topics such as risk management, marketing, trends, media, product development, industry issues, responsible tourism and travel planner roundtables, plus a vast array of timely topics discussed in special interest group (SIG) sessions.
As nonprofit travel planners have explicitly required that education be the top priority, the Conference is not designed, delivered or promoted as a trade show. The quality of educational sessions for professional development and the value of special entertainment and meals for networking have remained the top priority without commercial compromise. Every year the hallmark of ETC is strong content and creative programming choices. The formidable lineup of plenary speakers and diverse session formats and topics speaks volumes about the quality and timeliness each year of the agenda focus, the fresh approach to program delivery, the practical value of take home information and intensity and integrity of collegial discussions and networking. The quality and relevance of educational sessions, the targeted focus on travel issues, and the invaluable collegial interaction not only with colleagues from like institutions or like-size programs, but also with credible and proven travel partners, remain central to the Conference mission.
For newcomers to travel planning, a longstanding hybrid Jumpstart seminar is offered online and during the Conference. And as initiated in 2024 – A Travel Planner Certification program is now featured with several seasoned travel planners having completed the course.
Designed and Operated from its inception as an educational resource, the ETC remains committed to its core objectives:
Jim Sano[/popup_trigger]
Elizabeth Bigwood[/popup_trigger]
Leslie Jennings Rowley[/popup_trigger]
Martin Ludwig[/popup_trigger]
Alicia Stevens[/popup_trigger]The ETC Conference reconvened in 2023 after a 2 year hiatus due to the Covid-19 Pandemic.
The 2023 conference was a great success, marked by renewed commitment to responsible and innovative educational travel and enthusiastic calls for continued partnership and collaboration throughout the supply chain.
2020 Chattanooga, TN
[/popup_trigger]
2019 Montgomery, AL
[/popup_trigger]
2018
Bermuda
[/popup_trigger]
2017 St. Louis, Missouri
[/popup_trigger]
2016 Washington, DC
[/popup_trigger]
2015 Boston, MA
[/popup_trigger]
2014 Orlando, FL
[/popup_trigger]
2013 Orlando, FL
[/popup_trigger]
2012 Orlando, FL
[/popup_trigger]
2011 Providence, RI
[/popup_trigger]
2010 Providence, RI
[/popup_trigger]
2009 New Orleans, LA
[/popup_trigger]
2008 Baltimore, MD
[/popup_trigger]
2007 Baltimore, MD
[/popup_trigger]
2006 Baltimore, MD
[/popup_trigger]
2005 Washington, DC
[/popup_trigger]
2004 Washington, DC
[/popup_trigger]
2003 Washington, DC
[/popup_trigger]
2002 Los Angeles, CA
[/popup_trigger]
2001 Washington, DC
[/popup_trigger]
2000 Washington, DC
[/popup_trigger]
1999 Arlington, VA
[/popup_trigger]
1998 Arlington, VA
[/popup_trigger]
1997 Arlington, VA
[/popup_trigger]
1996 Arlington, VA
[/popup_trigger]
1995 Arlington, VA
[/popup_trigger]
1994 Arlington, VA
[/popup_trigger]
1993 Arlington, VA
[/popup_trigger]
1992 Washington, DC
[/popup_trigger]
1991 Washington, DC
[/popup_trigger]
1990 Washington, DC
[/popup_trigger]
1989 Washington, DC
[/popup_trigger]
1988 Washington, DC
[/popup_trigger]
1987 Washington, DC
[/popup_trigger]About ETC Conferences
The Educational Travel Conference (ETC) hosts 450 delegates absorbed in several days of inspired sessions, first-rate social venues, and educationally rich “experiences” on site. The Conference is purposely kept intimate to ensure high-quality networking and small group educational experiences with like-minded individuals and/or like organizations. ETC is the founding conference for Alumni, Museum, Zoo, Conservation, and Nonprofit Educational Travel. Nowhere has such a highly-qualified international group of nonprofit travel planners, suppliers, specialty tour operators and destinations been assembled to focus on the development, operation and marketing of group educational, experiential and affinity travel worldwide.
Philip Lovejoy
[/popup_trigger]
Heidi Quiram
[/popup_trigger]
Since 1987 ETC has provided timely educational travel training, professional development, and affinity-based networking forums expressly designed for professionals serving this special-interest, niche tourism market. Designed to address the issues of most critical importance today to alumni, museum and nonprofit travel, a substantive educational program with outstanding speakers delivers a vertically rich and integrated educational experience over the course of several days with 30+ educational sessions, collegial roundtables, skills workshops, plus networking opportunities and special events. ETC attendees collaboratively grapple with the ethical, business, programming and marketing issues that face nonprofit and affinity travel programs today, including ways to enhance and improve the competitiveness of program offerings, alumni/member engagement, revenue return, and new traveler recruitment. Each year, a diversity of sessions is offered on perennial topics such as risk management, marketing, trends, media, product development, industry issues, responsible tourism and travel planner roundtables, plus a vast array of timely topics discussed in special interest group (SIG) sessions.
As nonprofit travel planners have explicitly required that education be the top priority, the Conference is not designed, delivered or promoted as a trade show. The quality of educational sessions for professional development and the value of special entertainment and meals for networking have remained the top priority without commercial compromise. Every year the hallmark of ETC is strong content and creative programming choices. The formidable lineup of plenary speakers and diverse session formats and topics speaks volumes about the quality and timeliness each year of the agenda focus, the fresh approach to program delivery, the practical value of take home information and intensity and integrity of collegial discussions and networking. The quality and relevance of educational sessions, the targeted focus on travel issues, and the invaluable collegial interaction not only with colleagues from like institutions or like-size programs, but also with credible and proven travel partners, remain central to the Conference mission.
Designed and Operated from its inception as an educational resource, the ETC remains committed to its core objectives:
Jim Sano[/popup_trigger]
Elizabeth Bigwood[/popup_trigger]
Leslie Jennings Rowley[/popup_trigger]
Martin Ludwig[/popup_trigger]
Alicia Stevens[/popup_trigger]
“I’m looking forward to attending my third conference in February. The contacts I have made and experiences you’ve provided have been invaluable to our young company. Thank you! “
“Congratulations on a wonderful ETC 2010! I got so much work done. Having all my tour operators in one place, I completed my 2011 booking schedule (7 trips) and renewed old friendships!”
“Congratulations on putting on a fantastic conference this year. It had been a few years since I’d attended, and I’d forgotten what a special event it is. I felt like I got my money’s worth x 10. “
“One of the best conferences in ETC history. It was especially useful now with so many programs and the industry in general in transition. I’ve heard nothing but praise for the great interaction and gutsy topics.”
“Another great conference. As usual it was very worthwhile for me.”
“The conference has given me a great couple of days to step out of the trenches, refocus, and get new ideas…meet new colleagues, talk about benchmarks. I got good numbers that I can take back, as we have new goals and benchmarks coming from our organization. Being able to have this is very helpful. I have about 20 pages of great ideas.”
“Congratulations on another very successful conference this year. ETC ’10 had a lot of great energy with strong interest in exploring ways to be more effective and to work smarter in this ‘post economic crisis.’”
“Thank you for allowing Carol Orsborn and me to be a part of this year’s ETC 2010 Conference. We loved it! We enjoyed ourselves and appreciated getting to talk about a subject we love (engaging Boomer women). We really felt welcomed by the warm, enthusiastic, and engaged ETC community. I’ve never seen a conference quite like ETC!”
“Thank you…for providing the opportunity for me to attend such a helpful and informative session for executive directors at ETC. I’ve been in alumni relations work for seven years now, but have never felt very knowledgeable about our travel program, and must admit it has not been given much of a priority among all our programs. That has now changed—I returned to Auburn feeling like I had a wealth of information and quite inspired (the travel staff were overjoyed!). We have a lot of work to do, but we’ll have fun growing our program to where it needs to be.”
“Thanks to all of you who worked so hard to bring about another successful ETC conference. It was a great conference. Great speakers, good meeting space, and definitely lots of attention to detail. I’m sure most of us aren’t even half aware of all that you do to make this conference happen, but please know that it’s appreciated. It’s always one of the highlights of my year.”
“Many thanks for the Mentor Meet and Greet session. I benefited a lot from my mentor’s experience and guidance. I would like ETC to know I am indebted for this arrangement. It was an excellent conference!”
“Wanted to congratulate you on yet another successful ETC in Rhode Island. Overall the substance was solid! That’s what matters. I look forward to attending many more ETCs.”
“I had a tremendous experience and learned so much about the industry. The conference was very well organized and offered a great range of subjects. Coming from an outside industry, the topics that focused on technology and social media will prove very valuable as the travel industry is evolving and meeting the needs of younger demographics. I found the presenters and attendees to be very approachable and friendly, especially your staff. I came away with a better appreciation of the educational travel industry.”
“It was a wonderful conference. I feel fortunate I was able to be there. Thank you for including me in your team of volunteers. I loved it!”
Past Keynote Speakers
Wade Davis
[/popup_trigger]
Peter Greenberg
[/popup_trigger]
Jack Hanna
[/popup_trigger]
John Hendricks
[/popup_trigger]
Sue Hershkowitz-Coore
[/popup_trigger]
Perry Hewitt
[/popup_trigger]
Jeff Hoffman
[/popup_trigger]
Pico Iyer
[/popup_trigger]
Dr. Clint Laurent
[/popup_trigger]
Richard Louv
[/popup_trigger]
Peter Matthiessen
[/popup_trigger]
Andrew McCarthy
[/popup_trigger]
Richard Olivier
[/popup_trigger]
Joe Pine
[/popup_trigger]
Peter Shankman
[/popup_trigger]
Brian Skerry
[/popup_trigger]
Sree Sreenivasan
[/popup_trigger]
Essdras M. Suarez
[/popup_trigger]
Peter Yesawich
[/popup_trigger]
Joel Sartore
[/popup_trigger]
Gerry Ellis
[/popup_trigger]
Janet Ferguson
[/popup_trigger]
Dawn Rodney
[/popup_trigger]
Peggy Wallace Kennedy
[/popup_trigger]
Máirtín de Cógáin
[/popup_trigger]
Bryan Stevenson
[/popup_trigger]
Britt Basel
[/popup_trigger]
Gerry Ellis
[/popup_trigger]Past Council
Members of the current EAC as well as Emeritus Council (colleagues that have served as former Council members) are available to share behind-the-scenes insights on what is involved with conference planning, session choices and events, venue choices, and ETC’s evolving community engagement.
30 Years of ETC
Setting Sail 30 Years Ago
The Vision That Propelled the Educational Travel Community[/popup_trigger]
20th Anniversary Commemoration
The Value of Educational Travel[/popup_trigger]
