What happens when you get some of the travel industry’s top rep companies together to organize and host a virtual travel event? It’s called RepFest and the next edition is coming up in a few weeks. David Kartagener spoke with Travel World News and shared some background “KAI spearheaded an amazing virtual travel festival last October called RepFest. We partnered with 4 other amazing representation firms – Index Select, Janine Cifelli Representation, Bennett + Mercado Hospitality, and TL Portfolio – to produce a two day ‘Celebration of Travel’. The response from the industry was so overwhelmingly positive that we’ve decided to do it again, but it’ll be even bigger and better!”.
The next iteration will be 3 days, April 20-22, and the organizers welcomed 5 more leading rep companies and their clients – MMGY Myriad, Biggeri + Universe, Vitae Collection, IslandLuxe, and Red Elephant Reps to the upcoming event.
Here are the supplier companies that you will hear from:
137 Pillars Chiang Mai & Bangkok • Adriatic Travel Collection • Africa Roam • African Bush Camps • Ani Private Resorts • Aqua Expeditions • Ariana Sustainable Lodge • The Art of Travel Japan • Austrailia’s Northern Territory • Azerbaijan Tourism Board • Ballyfin • Baoase Luxury Resort • BodyHoliday • Casa de Campo Resort & Villas • Cheval Blanc St-Barth • Isle de France • Crafted Ireland • Cuba Candela • Desert Gate • Designer Trips • Destination Asia • DiVita Tours • The Dulini Collection • Esprit Saint Germain • Eustatia Island • Exclusively Malta • Experience Morocco • Finch Hattons • Francis Ford Coppola’s Blancaneaux Lodge • Francis Ford Coppola’s Palazzo Margherita • Glenapp Castle • Grand Isle Resort & Residences • Grantley Hall • The Greenwich Hotel • Grootbos Private Nature Reserve • Guana Island • Hapag-Lloyd Cruises • Hermitage Bay • Ilala Lodge Hotel • Italy’s Best • Jackson Hole Mountain Resort • Jamaica Inn •Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort Fiji • JL Bar Ranch, Resort & Spa • Katikies • Lanzerac • Las Alamandas • Laucala Island • Le Toiny • Legacy Hotels • Liberty Africa Safaris • Liberty Latin America • The Little Nell • Lotte New York Palace • Macao Tourism • Mahekal Beach Resort • Mandarin London • Mhondoro Safari Lodge & Villa • Middle East Made Yours • Namu Travel •Nayara Resorts Chile & Easter Island • Nayara Resorts Costa Rica • Nekupe Sporting Resort & Retreat • NIZUC Resort & Spa • Nomadic Expeditions • OCA Travel Academy • OZEN Life Maadhoo & Ozen Reserve Bolifushi • Paradero Todos Santos • Peirce & Leslie • Pure! Travel Group • Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa • Rovos Rail • The Safari Collection • Savanna Private Game Reserve • Secret Bay • Secret Dalmatia • Sheen Falls Lodge • SION • SKIUSA – Global Ski Experts • The Slate – Phuket • Sugar Beach, a Viceroy Resort • Tailored Spain • Tempo VIP • Terranea • Three Camel Lodge • Tierra Hotels • Truevail • The Tryall Club • Velaa Private Island • Viceroy Hotels & Resorts • Viceroy Los Cabos • Viceroy Snowmass • Visit Morocco.
Industry Partner Sessions and their different themes include:
Authentic Wellness Unpacked • Climbing Kilimanjaro • Digital Events for your clients • Innovation in Crisis: initiatives that came to stay! • LGBTQ+ Travel • MaCher • Marine Dynamics • Regenerative Travel • Transformational Travel Council • Unlocking Destination Weddings.
What to Expect
RepFest is modeled after a music festival – there are 5 virtual stages with sessions happening simultaneously (sessions are 25 minutes each) allowing attendees to determine how to spend their time. You are not required to join anything. There are no 1-on-1 meetings, no sponsors, no PowerPoints. The content at RepFest is meant to inspire and educate. This includes cooking classes, virtual city tours, hotel inspections, panel discussions, and so much more.
Registration Info
Tickets are $30 and that grants you access to all three days of content and sessions.
100% of profits are donated to charity – this year RepFest partnered with the ASTA Foundation, so by purchasing a ticket you are quite literally supporting the travel industry.
Registration also gets you access to ‘The Vault’, all sessions will live in the vault for 60 days after the conclusion of RepFest (ends on 21JUN) for attendees to view any session on demand.
RepFest has an amazing keynote lined up – Mary Eisenhower, granddaughter of Dwight D. Eisenhower. The keynote the first time around was Ndaba Mandela, grandson of Nelson Mandela. The Eisenhower and Mandela families have a long history and friendship so organizers thought this was an obvious choice.
Content is ‘consumer-friendly’ and travel advisors are encouraged to invite their clients to attend and enjoy the sessions and find inspiration for their next trip.
Additional information can be found at www.repfest.live and anyone interested can REGISTER HERE. Click HERE to view the daily schedule.