The NAJ Group, publisher of the Inbound Report and host of TourOpertorLand.com, has announced that it is hosting salon discussions as a part of its annual fall “Listening Tour” visits to receptive tour operators and select travel industry suppliers. In key U.S. cities. Salons will be scheduled as follows:
- September 13: Orlando
- September 15: New York City
- September 20: Washington D.C.
- Los Angeles, Calif. (TBD).
While Jake Steinman, founder and CEO of the NAJ Group, who regularly schedules visits to major travel and tourism figures each fall, said that the addition of the salon to the Listening Tour will provide for a different dynamic in which a mix of 12-15 invitees including prominent receptive tour operators, hotel revenue managers, attractions and other industry suppliers will address some of the challenges facing travel and tourism.
The gatherings are modeled after salons of that were popular France and Italy in the 18th century in which literary and art luminaries would gather to discuss contemporary matters in a lively discourse.
“There is no shortage of issues that we can focus on,” Steinman added, “including the impact on the inbound tourism industry of the weak Euro and British pound; the long term implications of Brexit; the call for stricter provisions to the Visa Waiver Program; the need to explain Donald Trump to every single international buyer, as well as the direct and residual impact of global terrorism.”
“While we will target some specific issues,” explained Steinman, “the format, along with the nature of group discussion, may well direct the dialogue in a direction of its own.” In keeping with the spirit of the event, the Inbound Report will publish a recap of the discussion.
Each salon is scheduled to last two hours. Additional details on the salons will appear in the next issue of the Inbound Report. For more information, contact: jake@northamericanjourneys.com.
