Agenda

Location: Avalon Envision, Pier 5

Location: Riverside Mozart, Pier 1

Location: Avalon Envision, Pier 5

Transportation sponsored by

The General Session will be held in the ballroom at our host hotel, the InterContinental. Kick off the ASTA River Cruise Expo 2023 with our emcee, Nicole Edenedo, Senior Editor, Tours/Cruises with Travel Weekly. You'll also hear inspirational words and welcome from ASTA President & CEO, Zane Kerby and ASTA Board Chair, Marc Casto.

General Session Featured Partner Speakers:
Zsuzsa Szégner, Director, International Relations, Visit Hungary


10 Tips for Finding New River Cruise Clients 
Looking to boost your river cruise sales? We have a unique opportunity for you to hear directly from Travel Marketing and Media’s Sandra McLemore where you will discover 10 or more new and smart sales tactics. These tactics will enable you to identify the right type of river cruise clients and increase the number of cabins you sell. Whether new to the river cruise market or a long-term expert, you will come away from Sandra’s session with a significantly stronger understanding - plus improved confidence - on how to market river cruises, how to handle client concerns or objections, and a phenomenally new and innovative way to move from using testimonials, to using case studies to expand your river cruise business. 

Speaker: Sandra McLemore, Owner, Travel Marketing and Media

New Opportunities Before You as the River Cruise Market Continues to Evolve 
Join Executive Vice President and Publisher of Travel Market Report, Anne Marie Moebes, in this engaging discussion between river cruise line executives as well as highly successful travel advisors in the river cruise space. They’ll not only discuss how this particular market has evolved, but how the successful advisor has made the river cruise market a significant success for their business. You’ll come away with new ideas for making your own business successfully grow in this niche, as well as learn what more to expect that may be new or unique to the market as it continues to evolve in 2023 that will also help you identify opportunities for you to grow in this space.

Speakers: Anne Marie Moebes, Executive Vice President and Publisher, Travel Market Report
Ken Muskat, Managing Director, Scenic and Emerald Cruises
Kristin Karst, Owner & Executive Vice President, AmaWaterways
Pam Hoffee, President, Avalon Waterways
Jodi Campbell, Independent Franchise Owner, Cruise Planners
Jeff Coggin, Travel Advisor, Wine Sommelier, Co-Owner, Coggin Travels

-NETWORKING BREAK-

Successful Strategies to Show Your Value With Aspiring River Cruise Clients
Ready to level up your travel business? River cruises are a crucial  way to capture the attention of clients looking for a unique type of vacation.  As a travel advisor, you have plenty of strategies at your fingertips to help promote river cruising that can keep clients coming back for more. Learn to capitalize on the pre and post markets, geography and authentic experiences by doubling down on the power of existing and new customers. You’ll be able to match your client’s preferences and expectations to the perfect cruise lines and experiences while building your customer value. Plus, learn what will elevate your business while focusing on river cruise partnerships and their free promotional tools.

Speakers: Nicole Edenedo, Senior Editor, Tours/River Cruise Travel Weekly
Angela Hughes, Owner, Trips & Ships Luxury Travel

Converting Prospects into River Cruise Clients
Travel Market Report’s latest research, suggests river cruising is undergoing a gradual shift in client segments and advisors are experiencing increased levels of traveler interest and sales. Expanding on the insights gained from our first panel of executives and advisors, Executive Vice President and Publisher of Travel Market Report, Anne Marie Moebes will invite additional river cruise line executives and high producing advisors to share insights and dive into the top trends and strategies that can help you develop and scale your river cruise sales. You’ll walk away from this session with a clear understanding of how to identify potential clients, deliver value before the sale, and the most effective methods used today to close the sale. 

Speakers: Anne Marie Moebes, Executive Vice President and Publisher, Travel Market Report
Marcus Leskovar, Executive Vice President, Amadeus River Cruises
Jennifer Halboth, Chief Executive Officer, Americas, Riverside Collection
Michelle Saegesser, Vice President, Sales & National Accounts, Viking
Heather Di Pietro, Owner and Chief Experience Officer, TravelSalesGroup and She's the World
Cindy Coggin, Travel Advisor & Co-Owner, Coggin Travels

Wolfgang Puck Shares His Best Recipes for Success           
Join world renowned chef, Wolfgang Puck, famous for his culinary brilliance bridging tradition with invention and innovation, as Gifted Travel Network’s Vanessa McGovern chats with him about his journey to evolve his businesses to include brands synonymous with the best in hospitality and more. Learn about the secret ingredients used to make his name and businesses standout as they discuss the essentials for greater credibility and differentiation in a competitive market, not dissimilar to ours in the travel agency and advisor world. You’ll come away inspired with new recipes for success as you grow and innovate your own business for the future. 

Speakers: Wolfgang Puck, Celebrity Chef and Entrepreneur, Wolfgang Puck Worldwide, Inc
Vanessa McGovern, Chief Sales & Marketing Officer, Gifted Travel Network

Take some time to explore and enjoy the city at your leisure before setting sail!

We've gathered a list of some delicious dining options for you to try!

 
 

Check out the sights of Budapest while you enjoy a lunch break! For details on these tours, click here. 

Registration is now closed for sightseeing tours. 

Location: Amadeus Silver III, Pier 4

Transportation sponsored by

Transportation will be rolling throughout the morning bringing attendees to the piers from the InterContinental.

Transportation sponsored by

Location: Viking Modi, Pier 2

Join us on the Amadeus Silver III, Avalon Envision, or the AmaMagna to close out the evening. Enjoy networking and live entertainment while you experience what these ships have to offer. 



Location:

• Amadeus Silver III: Pier 4
• Avalon Envision: Pier 5
• AmaMagna: Pier 6

If you are staying onboard one of the ships, please have your luggage tagged, and outside your door by 9:00 AM. All attendees will need to disembark their accommodation ship by 9:30 AM so our cruise lines can prepare the ships for their post-sailings. 

Guests staying in the same ship for accommodations and post-FAMs will remain in same cabin for both – No Moving Necessary.

If you are staying at the InterContinental, please have your luggage tagged and in the lobby by 10:00 AM. 

Take this opportunity to explore this beautiful city before you embark on your post-sailing. 

 

Check in to your accommodations and receive your event badge.

NEW! Transportation will be offered from the airport, to the piers and InterContinental to all registered attendees by Viking. Look for Viking staff at baggage claim to jump on a rolling transfer! Transportation will be offered from 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM on March 15.


If you would like to taxi to the piers from the airport, please use this address: International Piers Beograd Rakpart Budapest 1056 Hungary

Transportation will be available to take you to the piers from the InterContinental for check-in. Below is the check-in and transfer schedule for your ship.

10:00 AM Embarkations:

• Amadeus Silver III: Pier 4
• AmaWaterways AmaViola: Pier 7
• Avalon Envision: Pier 5
• Viking Modi: Pier 2
• Viking Vali: Pier 2

3:00 PM Embarkations:

• AmaWaterways AmaVerde: Pier 5
• AmaWaterways AmaMagna: Pier 6
• Riverside Mozart: Pier 1

Looking for something to do before or after you embark? Stretch your legs after a long flight on the AmaMagna!




 

Discover Hungary, Budapest and beyond...
From Budapest to the vineyards of Tokaj, explore everything Hungary has to offer. Learn how to get the best out of it and create unique experiences for your clients.

Hosted on the Scenic Jasper



Location: Scenic Jasper, Pier 4

Rolling transfers will take attendees to the Welcome Reception from the InterContinental and Piers. 
3 bus stops are located at piers: 2, 5, and 7.

ASTA help desks will be spread throughout the Expo and stationed at all ships hosting accommodations. 


 

Location: Riverside Mozart, Pier 1

Hungarian Railway Museum Sponsored by Visit Hungary

Enjoy welcome drinks, dinner, and live entertainment with your peers as you embrace nostalgia at this unique railway entertainment park. Filled with a large collection of railway vehicles for you to explore, including some interactive exhibits. Don’t miss the teak dining car built for the Orient Express in 1912. This venue has an outdoor element, but the event hall is heated. We encourage casual dress. Registration not required. 


 

Discover Hungary, Budapest and beyond...
From Budapest to the vineyards of Tokaj, explore everything Hungary has to offer. Learn how to get the best out of it and create unique experiences for your clients.

Hosted on the Scenic Jasper


Location: Scenic Jasper, Pier 4

 

Transportation will be provided to those who are staying on board the ships to take you to our host hotel for ASTA's General Session.

Transportation sponsored by

Location: Viking Modi, Pier 2

Location: Amadeus Silver III, Pier 4