Letter from the President

Welcome to the Inaugural Family Travel Association Summit

I am thrilled you could be here for the first of many notable events presented by the Family Travel Association. We appreciate how far you have journeyed to reach this breathtaking part of the world and ask you to join us in heartfelt thanks to our wonderful hosts at the Mountain Sky Guest Ranch.

I am especially grateful to our charter members, many of which are here today. You took an important leap of faith and we hope you are as proud as we are of what we have accomplished so far. We look forward to continued growth–in size and impact–in the year ahead.

But first things first: we are excited for what promises to be a remarkable retreat in Emigrant, Montana!

As the first event of its kind, the FTA Summit brings together family travel experts, industry leaders, FTA members and the media for two days of inspiring presentations, enlightening research, interactive panels, and a diverse array of networking opportunities. The Summit’s goal is to advance our understanding of the important issues surrounding family travel through the input of a distinguished group of speakers.

But the discussions won’t end here. We plan to disseminate the information presented at the Summit throughout the travel industry and share the results with consumers across the country. We will also be revisiting many of the core themes, critical issues and influential voices over the next 12 months as part of our FTA Spotlight on Re/Defining Family Travel. After all, we believe in educating our consumers, as well as our members and those of you fortunate enough to have attended the FTA Summit in person.

At the end of our time together, we are confident that all Summit attendees will have forged new and meaningful relationships, and developed a better understanding and appreciation of the pivotal role travel plays in children’s lives, as well as how families can benefit from traveling together.

Thank you again for coming. This will be an enjoyable and memorable few days.

Rainer Jenss
President & Founder
Family Travel Association