New York Times Travel Show Open to Public Jan. 25 – 26
Dubai Tourism Presenting Sponsor
Learn More About Your Next Travel Adventure
Discover your next travel adventure this weekend in New York City.
Where will your Travel 2020 take you? Will you find yourself at the Expo 2020 Dubai Show? Or book a flight to an exotic beach location? Your vacation of a lifetime awaits you at The 2020 New York Times Travel Show, home to more than 750 travel experts.
Now in its 17th year, the show is the largest travel industry trade show in North America with an anticipated attendance of more than 23,000 consumer travelers and media combined.
The Trade Day show opens on Fri., Jan. 24 to media professionals but on Sat., Jan. 25 and Sun., Jan. 26, consumers from around the world will get their chance to witness this annual globally-centric event. Expect cuisine tastings, ethnic performances, travel book signings and one-on-one discussions with travel experts. Visitors of all ages will also find special discounts and offers they might not find elsewhere.
This year’s show is supported by Presenting Sponsor Dubai Tourism, in association with Expo 2020 Dubai, a 173-day event that will showcase everything from mind-boggling architecture to outdoor performances and world-class cuisine. The quirky global partnership festival is designed “to fund, accelerate and promote creative solutions that improve lives while preserving the planet,” according to organizers.
Sponsors are Turkish Airlines, South African Tourism, MSC CRUISES, Guadeloupe Islands Tourist Board, Greek National Tourism Organization and Puglia Promozione; I LOVE NY; Visit Abu Dhabi, and Costa Rica Tourism Board are Trade Day Sponsors.
Travel Industry Association sponsors include Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA), Africa Travel Association (ATA), American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA), Association for the Promotion of Tourism to Africa (APTA), Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association (CHTA), Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association Education Foundation (CHTAEF), Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), Cruise Line International Association (CLIA), Destination Wedding & Honeymoon, Specialists Association (DWHSA), European Travel Commission (ETA), Family Travel Association (FTA), International LGBTQ+ Travel Association (IGLTA), Millennials in Travel (MIT), Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), Professional Travel Bloggers Association (PTBA), Society of American Travel Writers (SATW), and U.S. Tour Operators Association (USTOA).
Travel Industry Media Sponsors are GoNomad, Destination I Do Magazine, Healthy Aging Magazine, Insider Travel Report, ManAboutWorld, Passport Magazine, TAConnect, TravAlliancemedia, Travel Market Report and We Blog The World.
Want to read more about the travel show? Check out these articles.
The New York Times Travel Show is the largest travel industry trade show in North America. Photos by Joan Mead-Matsui, journalist, travel writer, and photographer.
The New York Times Travel Show
The New York Times 15th Anniversary Travel Show drew a record number of participants to the Jakob Javits Center during its annual event Jan. 26 – 28, 2018.
Travel show organizers reported a new record of 32,398—the highest attendance in the show’s history. That number included 10,268 travel trade, 22,130 consumer attendees, and participating exhibitors, and another milestone with 600 companies representing more than 176 countries.
The New York Times Travel Show is the largest and longest-running trade and consumer travel show in North America. In addition to more than 500 exhibitors from all seven continents, visitors learn more about worldwide travel at the Travel Industry Conference and from consumer seminars and interactive exhibitions.
The crowd was equally as diverse as the countries that participated.
“Each year, more and more travel professionals and enthusiasts attend The New York Times Travel Show and for good reason,” says Maggie Kiselick, vice president of advertising and managing director, The New York Times Magazine. “People rely on the Show to provide both exceptional travel offerings and helpful information to help them plan their trips to see the world. We look forward to hosting even more people at 2019’s show.”
Turkish Airlines was the presenting sponsor of The New York Times 15th Anniversary Travel Show. The airline offers passengers a fleet of 329 aircraft that fly to 300 worldwide destinations and 120 countries.
A chef and flight attendant were among the Turkish Airlines’ representatives who welcomed visitors to their booth.
2018 Show Highlights
Opening Day: Keynote Address and Conferences
Although I did not attend Trade Day, the first day of the travel show on Jan. 26, the day’s events were reserved exclusively for travel industry professionals and members of the media. Among the events offered on Friday were the Keynote Address by veteran travel journalist and editor James Shillinglaw, in conversation with: CEO of Travel Leaders Group Ninan Chacko; Jennifer Tombaugh, President, Tauck; Alejandro Zozaya, CEO of Apple Leisure Group; Andrew Stuart, President and CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line; and Guy Young, Global Brand Engagement Officer, The Travel Corporation; and 20 Focus Conferences’ panels that covered the latest products, services, destination information and trends from travel industry experts.
The second and third days were open to all attendees and featured various cultural presentations and performances, food demonstrations, and one-on-one conversations with travel experts, influencers and celebrities including travel expert Pauline Frommer, fashion designer Zac Posen and musical artist Action Bronson. The 2018 show also highlighted new seminar topics such as: “Seeing Mexico City and Barcelona Through Their Burgeoning Art Scenes,” with art expert Maria Brito; “The Best Travel Gadgets of 2018,” a conversation with experts of New York Times’s product review website Wirecutter; and “Sustainable and Socially Conscious Travel” with New York Times travel and lifestyle writer Shivani Vora; among many others.
The LGBTQ Pavilion, curated by gay travel expert and ManAboutWorld editor-in-chief, Ed Salvato, debuted at this year’s show. If you stopped by the booth, you found information about the latest trends in LGBTQ-centric tourism and a showcase of LGBTQ travel experts from exhibitors including ManAboutWorld, Out in the Vineyard, Oscar Wilde Tours, Shady Ladies Tours, R Family Vacations, Quiiky-Gay Tours in Italy, Outings & Adventures, Insider Voyagers and the Stonewall National Monument.
Culinary Travel
Okonomiyaki, a Japanese-style pancake, was one of the selections prepared on-site at the travel show. Representatives from a variety of destinations took some of the mystery out of cuisine from Japan and other countries. The Taste of the World Pavillion offered an opportunity to sample the authentic fare while learning more about world’s most popular flavors. Agents from Japan, for example, prepared “Okonomiyaki,” a savory pancake that typically contains flour and cabbage with add-ins that might also include meat and seafood.
GALLERY
Take a moment to view additional highlights from the travel show. Story continued below.
Samples prepared by delegates from Japan travel and tourism agencies featured a treasured Japanese favorite (Okonomiyaki).
If Japan is on your list of countries to explore, you were not at a loss for agents to help you orchestrate your journey.
The New York Times Travel Show draws people of all ages.
Not sure where you want to travel? The Japan representatives offered advice about the well-known and lesser-known attractions.
Plans are underway for The 2019 New York Times Travel Show.
Selecting a region in a particular country can be daunting but representatives are able to narrow the lists.
Map and brochures were readily available throughout the show.
The Philippines’ agent assisted this couple with trip planning.
Delegates offer a wide range of trip planning services from the most basic to specific information.
From sun-packed beach vacations to hiking in lush forests, certain destinations offer both.
Sixteen pavilions helped to spread the word about adventure, travel on the seven continents, cruising the waterways, family travel, river cruises, sponsors, and travel products and services, and a variety of other topics.
The travel show was widely promoted on social media platforms.
Interactive displays helped generate an enthusiasm for travel.
African tourism experts offer the adventurous spirit travel opportunities that range from safaris to tours covering breathtaking landscapes.
The show is as much a “meet and greet” as an educational adventure in the world of travel.
Family Travel
The Family Travel Association sponsored the Family Travel Pavillion as a means to showcase family-friendly and yes, pet-friendly destinations. Key players in the family travel industry highlighted lodges, resorts and cruise lines, while families looking to integrate transportation and accommodations could also step inside a Mantis customized camper van.
More information about Mantis and other integrated camper vans can be found at taxaoutdoors.com.
While the adults spoke to delegates at each of the show booths, children had time to unleash some energy in the Gaga Ball Pit and other activities hosted by Camp Cody. Fitter International, Inc. offered a “Fun Zone” so families could test their balance, strengthen and stretch their bodies.
A customized “Mantis” camper-van allows families to travel in style. Vans can be tailored to meet individual needs ranging from the elaborate to basic functionality.
Culture Comes to Life On Stage
A genuine Ninja performance from Ashura’s Ninja Show was presented by Japan.
Why do cultural performances help tourism boards attract visitors?
They work hand in hand to enhance a traveler’s overall experience and they’re an important means to strengthen cultural heritage. Dancers from The Consulate General of Indonesia and Tai Chi martial arts’ experts from the Henan Province were among the other performers that took the stage at the travel show. Stop by again soon for extended coverage.
Accolades
The New York Times presented awards to the following exhibitors.
Best in Show
Turkish Airlines
Best New Exhibitor
Hostelworld
Most Interactive
Korea Tourism Organization
The People’s Choice
Puerto Rico Tourism Company
Most Imaginative
Camp Cody
The New York Times Travel Show is organized by The New York Times Company (NYSE:NYT), a global news organization founded in September 1851 in New York City. Its entities include The New York Times and NYTimes.comand related properties.
Stop by joanmatsuitravelwriter.com again soon for continued coverage of The New York Times 15th Anniversary Travel Show.
