The New York Times Travel Show hosted a Trade Day for travel industry professionals on Friday, January 18, at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City. The Trade Day will feature travel industry seminars and a preview of the Travel Show exhibition, which is open to the general public January 19 and 20.

The 2013 Trade Day began with the Travel Industry Conference, held from 8:30 a.m.to 2 p.m., featuring speakers and panelists including Lillian Africano, president, Society of American Travel Writers (SATW); Edward Bergman, executive director, Africa Travel Association (ATA); Susan Black, CMO, Travel Impressions; Terry Dale, president, United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA); Yvette De Vries, president, Association for the Promotion of Tourism to Africa (APTA); Michelle Fee, CEO, Cruise Planners; Katie Gorga, senior manager of social media, Travel Impressions; Kier V.B. Matthews, vice president of sales, Europe Express; John Peters, president, Travel Media Group, USA Today; James Shillinglaw, editor in chief, Travalliance.

This year’s Travel Industry Conference will feature eight conference tracks and more than 50 top industry executives. The conference sessions will provide a comprehensive overview of the travel industry to travel agency owners, managers, line agents, homebased agents and travel industry professionals.

Saturday, January 19th ASIA STAGE
11:15AM Experience the joy of traditional dances from Indonesia.
11:45AM Pacific Delight Tours presents a martial arts performance created by the buddhist of the Shaolin Temple, China.
12:15PM Learn about China/Asia escorted tour packages, sweepstakes for an iPad Mini, and more from Nexus Holidays Group.
12:45PM Explore fascinating Central Asia destinations with Silk Road Treasure Tours! Culture, music and dance with Zulya Rajabova! Khush Kelibsiz-Welcome.
1:15PM Experience a blend of traditional and contemporary Japanese festival culture by JAPAN.
1:45PM Chef David Bouley shares a taste of his upcoming culinary tour of Japan, presented by JAPAN.
2:45PM Experience the joy of traditional dances from Indonesia.
3:15PM ‘Malaysia Truly Asia’ presented by Tourism Malaysia New York.
3:45PM Savor the culinary secrets of China, presented by Nexus Holiday Tours.
4:15PM Taiwan Tourism Bureau presents Jumping Princes.

For a complete schedule of seminars and exhibitors, and to register online, please visit
www.NYTimes.com/TravelShow.

Andrew Kao (Ambassador Director-General of TECO) and Thomas Chang (Director of Taiwan Tourism Bureau) attended the opening of 2013 New York Times Travel Show