February 9, Pioche Opera House • February 10, Alamo Senior Center
Put some new Nuggests in thoes saddle bags this year. Miners had to search for their claims but LCAT will bring the “Gems” to you. Prominent National and International Speakers will address: How tour operators create tour and travel packages? What do tour operators and travel packagers need from your business? Who are their clients? How do they sell their travel packages? When you are included; is this promotion? What do travel packagers predict for future travel? How do we work together as a community, state, and regions? Selling opportunities: brochures, brains, and bonus speakers.
Speakers
Keith Griffall, CTP, CEO
Keith Griffall is CEO of Western Leisure, Inc., in Salt Lake City, Utah. Western Leisure now provides both the domestic and international markets a wide range of inbound travel services which include custom group tours, private label tours, soft adventure, fly and drive, and FIT programs.
Keith started in the tour industry managing domestic and international tours for Tauck World Discovery, Travcoa, Maupintour, and Travalaska. After being a sales manager for several tour operators he established Western Leisure in 1980.
Keith has served three terms on the NTA Board of Directors and was the President of the National Tour Association in 1998. He has also served 2 terms on the board of the United States Travel Association (TIA) and is presently a member of the Executive Board of the Salt Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau and chair of their Tourism Committee.
In addition to an active role in the hospitality industry, Keith was an adjunct professor at the University of Utah for 14 years, where he taught classes in group travel and tourism. He is a member of the University of Utah Tourism Advisory Board, and has served on a number of Corporate Tourism advisory boards. He is a Certified Tour Professional and has received many awards including the Utah Professional Tourism Achievement Award and the NTA Group Travel Marketing award .
Ann Thomas, CTP, CEO
A native Californian, Ann moved to Northern Nevada in 1978 and worked for the U.S. Postal Service and then Caesar's Tahoe Hotel where she was employed as both a financial analyst and group sales manager.
She was Vice President of Scenic Tours for Frontier Tours in Carson City, Nevada from 1990 until July 2002. Her position there enabled her to become proficient in all aspects of tour operations.
In 2002 Ann purchased Western Discovery, LLC in Reno, Nevada and looks to the challenges of the future with a confidence that is born of experience and strong work ethics. She is responsible for every aspect of the business including tour design, supplier negotiations, tour operations, fiscal planning and sales and marketing.
Western Discovery, LLC joined TAP as a partner in 2002 and has served on the Legal Committee, as Director at Large and will serve as Secretary/Treasurer in 2010-2011
Ann enjoys the unique distinction of having served on “both sides of the table” as both a supplier and a tour operator. Her past volunteer positions at NTA include Chairperson for the CTP Task Force, Education and the Member Services Committee, member of the Speaker’s Bureau, Board Liaison to the International Council, the Tour Supplier Council, the Marketing Committee and the National Tourism Foundation. She served on the Board of Directors for five years before being elected to the Executive Committee and is was the 2005 NTA Chairman and CEO. She has also been an involved volunteer with both the Reno-Tahoe Territory, Carson City Chamber and California tourism organizations over the past several years.
She lives in Carson City, NV and is the proud grandmother of thirteen -year old grandson, Riley, and seven-year old Bethany.
Dorothy H. Maitland, CTP
Dorothy H. Maitland, CTP, president of Maitland & Associates Inc. d.b.a. Tours By Maitland, Maitland Meeting Management, and Maitland Consulting, in Bigfork, Montana, was elected to President of the National Tour Association in 1993. During her years with NTA she has served as Chair of the International Committee, Education Committee and Membership Committee. Ms. Maitland was instrumental in creating the Automation Task Force Committee and served as its chair. In 1985 she was named, “Tour Operator of the Year” by NTA.
In addition to NTA, Ms. Maitland has served on various National and International committees. She was chair of the Product Development Committee for the first White House Conference on Tour and Travel. Commerce Secretary Ron Brown appointed her to the United States Tour and Travel Advisory Board. Maitland served on the National Board of Directors of the United States Chamber of Commerce.
In 1990, Maitland received the NOAH Award, which honors outstanding international leaders. In 1997 she was honored with the FREEDOM OF TRAVEL award for her outstanding dedication to travelers with disabilities. Maitland has served on the President’s Advisory Board for Montana State University and Ryerson Polytechnic Institute. She received the “Outstanding Alumnus” award from her alma mater, Lycoming College in Williamsport, PA. Maitland currently serves as national Chairman of the Tony Orlando Yellow Ribbon Scholarship. She also served on the Board of Trustees of the National Tourism Foundation.
Ms. Maitland has developed 3 companies and sold one of them: Maitland Travel.
Ms. Maitland lives in Bigfork, Montana with her husband Jim.
Jeri Mae Rowley, MS Human Resource Management
This Saddle Maker’s Daughter delights audiences around the country with her well-researched presentations, audience interaction, story telling skills and unique sense of humor. Her presentations sparkle with tales of her family’s 75-year-old western store and saddle shop. She has been invited to present at state, national and international conferences in 16 states, Canada and the US Virgin Islands.
A master trainer, she developed and delivered state-wide customer service training for Travel Montana Superhost and Teens in Tourism programs for over a decade. She has developed customized customer service, leadership and team seminars for resorts, associations, schools, banks, medical organizations, cities, counties and federal agencies.
Jeri Mae taught college business management, marketing, travel and human resource management courses for over 15 years. She has served as president of her local: chamber of commerce, CVB, SHRM, and professional speakers organizations. Currently, Jeri Mae is President Elect of the National Speakers Association: Mountain West chapter serving professional speakers in Idaho, Utah Montana and Wyoming.
She has received state and national recognition for her success as a leader and tourism educator including “Glacier Country Montana Tourism Person of the Year” and the prestigious “Visiting Scholar Award” from the National Tourism Foundation.
Connie M. Mancillas
Connie has been a resident of Boulder City for 24 years. She owned a travel agency for 15 years. While a business owner, she was very involved in the Boulder City Chamber and served as President three different times. Connie has also been sales manager for Black Canyon/Willow Beach River Adventures a local tourism attraction.
Currently, Connie is the southern Nevada representative for the Nevada Commission on Tourism.
Job responsibilities include:
Represent the Nevada Commission on Tourism in
southern Nevada (Nye, Lincoln, Esmeralda, and Clark County)
Promote tourism in southern Nevada by attending trade
and travel shows, conducting familiarization tours,
and developing itineraries for potential visitors
Work with southern Nevada chambers of commerce,
community tourism boards, and tourism-related businesses
to promote their areas and businesses to potential visitors
