Sep 10, 2026
2026 NYS Tourism Excellence Awards Honoree: International Tourism Marketing
IITA's Steps to Success: Online Inbound Travel Trade Essentials Program
Jennifer Ackerson, President of Alon Tourism Solution, and Lisa Simon, CEO/Executive Director of The International Inbound Travel Association, will join us on Thursday morning in Corning at the 2026 NYS Tourism Excellence Summit to showcase the IITA Inbound Travel Trade Essentials Online Training Program, powered by Alon Tourism Solutions. This self-paced, interactive course is designed to help destinations and tourism businesses successfully engage with the international inbound travel trade. Participants gain practical knowledge of working with inbound tour operators, understanding global distribution channels, and building strategies to increase international visitation and revenue. Through videos, quizzes, and real-world scenarios, the program provides actionable tools to become travel trade-ready and confidently grow international business.
Why You Should Attend This Session:
- Learn how the international inbound travel trade works and discover practical strategies to attract more international visitors to your destination or business.
- Gain a roadmap to becoming travel trade-ready, including the key steps, terminology, and partnerships needed to successfully work with inbound tour operators.
- Explore a flexible, self-paced training program that equips you and your stakeholders with the knowledge and tools to grow international visitation, increase bookings, and expand into global markets.
Key Takeaways:
- Understand the fundamentals of the international inbound travel trade and how tour operators, receptive operators, and distribution channels influence international visitation.
- Gain practical tools and strategies to become travel trade-ready, including the key steps needed to successfully market and sell your destination or business internationally.
- Leave with a clear action plan for leveraging the IITA Inbound Travel Trade Essentials Program to build industry knowledge, strengthen global partnerships, and increase international tourism revenue.
About Jennifer:
Jennifer Ackerson, president of Alon Tourism Solutions, is a NY certified women-owned small-business owner. With over 25 years of hands-on industry experience, she has a deep understanding of how to connect tourism suppliers and buyers for lasting success. Her comprehensive knowledge of the trade, combined with her ability to break down industry dynamics, makes her the ideal guide for anyone looking to expand their tourism portfolio. Most notably, Jennifer has been an industry driving force through the creation of a first-of-its-kind tourism education programs for NYC Tourism + Conventions ‘Tourism Ready’ and the IITA ‘Inbound Insider Steps to Success’. She has touched thousands of businesses, and her expertise enables her to offer creative solutions and help achieve their tourism goals.
About Lisa:
Lisa Simon is the CEO/Executive Director of the International Inbound Travel Association (IITA), the national trade association dedicated to advancing international inbound travel to the United States. With more than 35 years of experience in tourism, association management, and strategic planning, she is also President of The Simon Connection, LLC. Previously, Lisa served as President of the National Tour Association (NTA), where she expanded the organization's global presence and played a key role in opening the U.S. market to Chinese group travel. She is a recognized industry leader and frequent speaker on international tourism, destination development, and travel trade strategies.
About Alon Tourism Solutions:
Alon Tourism Solution is committed to transforming tourism destinations and suppliers into globally marketable, ready-to-sell offerings through a proven and replicable framework for success. By addressing industry knowledge gaps, we empower clients to expand their reach, educate their teams, and build sustainable, profitable relationships with the travel trade and reseller networks. With expertise in strategic consulting, tourism training, and targeted networking, we help destinations and businesses grow their tourism sales pipelines while enabling buyers to expand product catalogs, creating a win-win environment for all. Guided by our unwavering focus on client needs, goals, and budgets, we deliver sustainable solutions that foster a healthy, interconnected global tourism ecosystem, bringing memorable experiences to travelers worldwide.
About International Inbound Travel Association:
The International Inbound Travel Association (IITA) is the national nonprofit trade association dedicated exclusively to advancing international inbound travel to the United States. Representing inbound tour operators, destination marketing organizations (DMOs), and tourism suppliers nationwide, IITA provides industry education, advocacy, networking, and business development opportunities that strengthen the U.S. inbound travel industry. Through its members and programs, IITA serves as the bridge between U.S. tourism businesses and international travel buyers, helping grow visitation and economic impact across the country.