Granite Expos releases 2024 dates, Sal Buccellato named emcee & social ambassador

Granite Travel Trade Expos has released its 2024 dates, stating that many of its exhibitors from last year will return, and that it will welcome newcomers, including hotel sponsor Bahia Principe and the St. Kitts Tourism Authority as destination sponsor for the Ontario shows.

Other suppliers joining this year’s events include Oasis Hotels, WestJet Vacations, Majestic, Expedia TAAP, Catalonia, Princess Hotels and Resorts, Blue Diamond Resorts, Iberostar, the Jamaica Tourist Board and the Cuba Tourist Board.

“We’re thrilled to have so many of last year’s exhibitors return again for 2024 and welcome many new suppliers,” said Bradley Dean, Oakville-Toronto partner, Granite Productions. “It’s a vote of confidence for the Expos in that they saw an excellent ROI by participating and are looking forward to connecting with even more agents in the smaller markets they don’t typically have an opportunity to.”

The series of regional travel trade events are designed to connect industry suppliers and top-producing travel agents, with each Expo focusing on training and networking.

In each city, a presentation series featuring 15-minute segments by suppliers will be followed by a trade show, dinner, and prize giveaways.

As in 2023, Granite Productions will run social media campaigns this year for prizing via @granite.productions, and this year will feature emcee and social ambassador, Sal Buccellato, formally of Bahia Principe.

“I won’t lie – retirement didn’t sit very well with me, I missed our industry too much, so I was thrilled to be asked to participate,” stated Buccellato in a press release. “Last year’s Expos felt more like a family reunion to me, it was incredible. Just to catch up with agents who I’ve had a good rapport with for the past 35 years meant so much to me on a personal level and I’m looking forward to seeing everyone again this year.”

The schedule

The Granite Travel Trade Expo 2024 schedule is as follows:

• Windsor: April 22
• Kitchener-Waterloo: April 23
• Oshawa-Ajax: April 24
• Barrie: April 25
• Winnipeg, MB: October 7
• Victoria, BC: October 9
• Langley, BC: October 10
• Ottawa: November 4
• Hamilton-Burlington: November 5
• London: November 6
• Richmond Hill: November 7

Reception & Trade Show: 6:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

For more information and registration, click here.  Multi-show discounts up to 20 per cent are available to vendors wishing to participate in the Expos.

The travel agent registration portal opens one month prior to the events.

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