The Boston Travel & Adventure Show at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston provided us a firsthand look at where the travel industry is headed. There were unique exhibitors and insightful guest lecturers throughout the weekend schedule. We will recap some of our key takeaways from the presentations to the innovative exhibitors.
Hot Destinations
Some of the hottest travel destinations showcased were not the warmest when it comes to temperature. Antarctica was the most showcased destination in terms of exhibitors as well as attendees visiting. This sparked our interest and attention as this is not your typical vacation destination. Expedition cruising had a large presence as well. Following the pandemic, many cruise lines looked towards smaller cruising to cater to a following base who may not want to cruise alongside some 5,000 fellow travelers. Expedition Cruising provides a unique opportunity to visit unique places that a normal cruise ship cannot access such as the south pole or Galápagos Islands. Its not just cruising that is seeing a shift in the way we travel. Places such as wellness destinations are emerging. Both of these concepts change our perception on the way we travel. For example, the Wellness Tourism Association had a booth promoting specific vetted places that put your wellness and relaxation at the forefront. Many countries are seeing an increased volume of visitors such as many South African countries. Saudi Arabia is beginning to focus their efforts on boosting tourism this year. At the Boston Travel & Adventure Show, renowned journalist Peter Greenberg explained how it is now possible to obtain a visa to enter Saudi Arabia as a tourist with a simplified visa as the country seeks to boost foreign tourism. This emergence is reshaping where and how many of us will travel moving forward.
New airlines and routes
There were airlines in attendance including Turkish Airlines who was also the main sponsor. Turkish Airlines staff told us that they are looking to rapidly expand in the United States with new destinations including Orlando and Detroit. Turkish Airlines aims to make Istanbul a major connecting hub through their growing network. Play Airlines was also in attendance. Play Airlines operates from Iceland connecting Europe and the United States. After visiting their booth we learned about a unique option they offer for connecting passengers. If a passenger is flying from Baltimore to Europe, they can opt to stay in Iceland then continue onward to a European destination up to ten days later at no extra charge.
Intuitive Topics And Presentations
There were presentations that were offered ranging from private tour groups to panel discussions. We attended Peter Greenberg’s discussion revolving around Traveling in a World Of Disruption. Our biggest takeaway was to have backup plans for the unexpected using some old school technology, the OAG book. Our other biggest takeaway was that we as travelers need to “have the conversation.” In his words this means face to face interaction or picking up the phone and calling when applicable to make that positive impact on your travel experience. He also emphasized that as travelers we should explore some off the beaten path destinations as many countries are opening up their tourism opportunities.
The Boston Travel & Adventure Show provided us with an exciting outlook for the travel industry. Visit our YouTube channel to get a glimpse of the great offerings at the Boston Travel & Adventure show which will be in New York City January 28th.
Upcoming Travel & Adventure Shows:
New York – 1/28/23 – 1/29/23
Washington DC – 2/4/23 – 2/5/23
Los Angeles – 2/18/23 – 2/19/23
Denver – 2/25/23 – 2/26/23
Atlanta – 3/25/23 – 3/26/23
Dallas – 4/1/23 – 4/2/23
Buy your tickets here.