The Big Island of Hawai‘i is the site of next year’s Contact, National Tour Association’s (NTA) tour operator-exclusive event, slated for August 15–17, 2013. The announcement was made at this year’s Contact by Jim Reddekopp Jr., NTA Board chairman and CEO, who lives on Hawai‘I and operates Earth Bound Tours and the Hawaiian Vanilla Co.
“You may have seen Hawai‘i before, but you’ve never see the Big Island like you’ll see it next year,” Reddekopp told the gathering of travel professionals here. “You can look forward to this as a barefoot native adventure.”
Last year NTA rejuvenated its Tour Operator Spring Meet by switching to a late-summer date and incorporating an education program with three tracks: CEO/owner, sales/marketing or operations/product development. Contact allows tour operators to connect in an intimate setting where they can explore business opportunities, discuss challenges and continue their professional development.
Along with conducting business appointments, Contact attendees engage in sightseeing and familiarization trips. Reddekopp, a lifelong resident of Hawai‘i, is eager to showcase his home state. “We have been working with our local suppliers to provide a fantastic Hawaiian event,” he said.
The conference will take place at Hilton Waikoloa Village, a 62-acre resort on the Kohala Coast on Hawai‘i Island, where conferees can swim, golf, dine, dolphin-watch and participate in a 5-K run.
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Filed under: aloha, Big Island, Economy, Hawaii, Tourism | Tagged: 2013 Contact, Earth Bound Tours, Hawaiian Vanilla Co., Hilton Waikoloa Village, Jim Reddekopp Jr., National Tourism Association, NTA | Leave a comment »
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