As the World Religious Travel Association prepares to host this fall the first-ever international convention dedicated to faith tourism, WRTA is tapping into one of the travel industry’s top authorities and consulting firms – John Severini of KDS Solutions. The new relationship will enable WRTA to leverage its strengths in attracting travel wholesalers, agency groups, suppliers, trade organizations, and group leaders to the World Religious Travel Expo & Educational Conference 2008.

The ground-breaking event could not be more timely -- the World Tourism Organization recently stated that religious tourism is responsible for 600 million trips annually. All segments of the religious travel industry are expected to participate in the Expo, including tour operators, cruise lines, tourist boards, motorcoach/transportation companies, attractions, lodging facilities, and travel insurance/health companies. Among WRTA’s newly confirmed Expo partners is CLIA, the Cruise Lines International Association, which will be conducting an extensive workshop program.

“The World Religious Travel Expo is a remarkable opportunity for agents and suppliers to “step out of their box” of traditional sales focus and learn innovative ways to expand their existing client base,” said John Severini, a partner of KDS Solutions. “KDS Solutions is excited to be working with WRTA and our primary focus is to leverage the huge initial demand for this fall’s convention, which will enable more agents to tap into a burgeoning market to generate new customers and incremental sales. For agents and sellers of vacation travel, WRTA's Expo is a ‘must attend.’”

“WRTA is thrilled to bring aboard John Severini and KDS Solutions. With their expertise and relationships in the travel industry, WRTA can further capitalize on the tremendous response we are receiving from travel suppliers and sellers,” said Kevin J. Wright, WRTA President. “The Expo will be a watershed opportunity for WRTA to connect and educate companies in the New Era of the $18 billion religious travel industry. John Severini's extensive involvement with agency groups and organizations will further spread the word and opportunity that exists for agents to earn quick, easy and new sales commissions by selling faith-based vacations.”

As 2008 is shaping up to be a year of relative uncertainty, with rising gas prices and a declining U.S. dollar, there is one segment that the travel industry can count on – the continued explosive growth of religious tourism.

In the United States alone, outbound travel for religious or pilgrimage purposes increased in 2006 by more than 36% from 575,000 travelers to 905,000 (according to the most recent statistics of the U.S. Office of Travel and Tourism Industries). Faith-based groups and organizations are also traveling more than ever before in North America, as cruise group departures are being used as fund-raisers and “congregation building” events by religious groups, churches, synagogues, and organizations.

WRTA will host the World Religious Travel Expo & Educational Conference 2008 at the Gaylord Palms Resort Hotel and Convention Center from October 29 – November 1. The WRTA Expo will feature two venues: The International Tradeshow and The Educational Conference. The combined event will provide the first world-class forum for travel suppliers, destinations, wholesalers, agencies and church travel planners to come face-to-face, develop partnerships, find new products and services, generate new qualified leads and build long-term profitable relationships.