Registration is now open for the National Association of Career Travel Agents’ (NACTA) first international conference, taking place in Hangzhou and Shanghai, China, September 10-17, 2012. Not only will participants have the opportunity to become China destination specialists, but travel agent attendees will be refunded the land cost of their trip when they sell a group tour of 15 or more through J Yang Tours within 18 months following the event.

“The NACTA International Conference is an event not to be missed, given the networking and learning opportunities for agents. We have partnered with J Yang Tours to pull out all the stops to make this an unforgettable trip for the participants,” said Ann van Leeuwen, NACTA’s vice president. “With J Yang Tour’s special rebate offer, travel agent attendees have an opportunity to earn back part of their investment. It’s a win-win for agents.”

Agents will leave with a wealth of information and valuable marketing advice and tools of the trade they can put to use immediately upon returning home to promote their newfound specialty. J Yang Tours, a group travel specialist with which NACTA has partnered to produce the event, is offering customized tours to destinations such as China, Japan, Mongolia, Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand, in addition to the following optional post-tours:

· The Best of China–Guilin/Xian/Beijing (7 days/6 nights). Includes a Li River cruise from Guilin, a trip to visit the home of the famed Terra Cotta Warriors in Xian and Beijing’s Tiananmen Square, Temple of Heaven and the Forbidden City, as well as a trip to the Great Wall.

· Legendary Yangtze Cruise-Chongqing/Yichang/Beijing (7 days/6 nights). Highlights include a three-night Yangtze River cruise with a visit to the Three Gorges Dam, and visits to Beijing’s Tiananmen Square, Temple of Heaven and the Forbidden City, as well as a trip to the Great Wall

·Hong Kong (4 days/3 nights). Enjoy a half-day Hong Kong Island Tour with stops at Victoria Peak, Repulse Bay and the Aberdeen fishing village and optional excursion to Macau.

· Phuket, Thailand (4 days/3 nights). Include a day’s excursion to site of the 1974 James Bond film “The Man with the Golden Gun.”

With a registration fee of $2,795 (double occupancy) available to NACTA and ASTA members, the conference includes roundtrip air from LAX, five-star accommodation and transfers, meals and evening events, local sightseeing with professionally trained English-speaking guides aboard a deluxe coach and all entry fees, first-class transfer from Hangzhou to Shanghai via the Superfast Train, and presentations from top regional tourist bureaus.

Coming on the heels of ASTA’s Travel Retailing & Destination Expo in Los Angeles, September 7-9, NACTA has made it easy to combine attendance at both events by offering special rate of $2,940 (double occupancy) for non-NACTA members. Space is limited so agents are encouraged to reserve their space soon.

National Association of Career Travel Agents (NACTA), 877-22-NACTA, www.nacta.com