Google Travel Leader to Keynote the Africa Travel Association’s U.S.-Africa Tourism Seminar

NEW YORK, February 19, 2013 – David Pavelko, Head of Industry, Travel, Google, will deliver the keynote address at the Africa Travel Association’s Sixth Annual U.S.-Africa Tourism Seminar, to be held in Washington, D.C. on Friday, March 8, 2013.

Co-sponsored by the Washington, D.C. Travel and Adventure Show and organized in cooperation with the African Union Mission to the USA, the international travel trade industry event will be held at the Washington, D.C. Convention Center, immediately prior to the two-day annual travel expo. Additional event sponsors include Expedia and South African Tourism (SAT). The event will kick off with an evening reception on Thursday, March 7 spotlighting Destination Cameroon.

“The focus of this year’s seminar is “Marketing Destination Africa for 2020,” said Edward Bergman, ATA Executive Director. “We couldn’t be more excited than to have Mr. Pavelko speak about changing consumer behaviors and the technology trends and innovations that could benefit Africa’s growing tourism products for the rest of this decade.”

Confirmed seminar participants also include the tourism ministries of Cameroon and Zimbabwe, as well as diplomatic representatives from the African Union Mission to the USA, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, and Zimbabwe. Senior representatives from Affluent Hospitality, Afrique Expansion, Afropop, APG USA, Ar! ik Air, Corporate Council on Africa, Delta Airlines, EPIC Global Media, Ethiopian Airlines, Expedia, Group IST, National Tour Association (NTA), Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs at the Department of the Interior, Office of Travel & Tourism Industries at the US Department of Commerce, Strategy XXI Partners, The Bradford Group, Thinking Forward Media, South African Airways, Wildlife Conservation Society, and the Washington DC Travel & Adventure Show are also expected.

When and Where
Friday, March 8, 2013, 8 am (Registration begins); 9 am to 5 pm (Program), Washington D.C. Convention Center, East Overlook, 801 Mount Vernon Place, NW., Washington, DC. The seminar precedes the Travel and Adventure Show (March 9-10). Delegates will receive a complimentary ticket to the two-day show. For parking, go on to the Washington D.C. Convention Center website and click on the link:
http://www.dcconvention.com/Venues/ConventionCenter/DirectionsAndParking.aspx, for a map of all the parking facilities within a three-block radius and the pricing.

About The Africa Travel Association (ATA)
The Africa Travel Association (ATA) is the leading global trade association promoting travel and tourism to Africa and strengthening intra-Africa partnerships. Established in 1975, ATA serves both the public and private sectors of the international travel and tourism industry. ATA membership comprises African governments, their tourism ministers, tourism bureaus and boards, airlines, cruise lines, hotels, resorts, front-line travel sellers and providers, tour operators and travel agents, and affiliate indus! tries. ATA partners with the African Union Commission (AU) to promote the sustainable development of tourism to and across Africa. ATA’s annual events in the USA and in Africa bring together industry leaders to shape Africa’s tourism agenda and growth. For more information, visit www.AfricaTravelAssociation.org or follow up on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

For more information, please contact:Sharon Roling - sharon@africatravelassociation.org - 212.447.1357