Registration

Online Registration Opens March 1.

ESTO: Where Destinations Grow is a restricted-access conference: only destination marketing professionals from urban, regional and state/territory tourism organizations; invited speakers and panelists; and a limited number of sponsor representatives may attend.

Note: the attendance policy for agency of record representatives has been modified. If you are a state tourism office or DMO, and you have brought a representative from your agency of record in the past, be sure to review the guidelines and application process.

Eligibility Guidelines

Registration Fees

The full registration fee covers all official conference sessions, activities, meal functions, and sponsored program events. (Fee excludes hotel, travel, and personal expenses). Must be a current U.S. Travel member to be eligible for the member rate.

Instructions for obtaining the complimentary registration will be e-mailed to all Chairman's and Board Circle Members when online registration opens. For more information, contact the Registrar at ESTO@ustravel.org.

Note: To qualify for the member rate, registrants must have paid in full their 2012 membership dues on or before August 26, 2012. Anyone who registers at the member rate, but is not a member in good standing (i.e., fully paid) will be re-registered and billed the difference for the non-member rate.

Registration Categories

Delegate: Includes all official conference sessions, activities, meal functions, and sponsored events beginning Sunday, August 26 through the Annual Awards Banquet Tuesday evening, August 28. (Excludes hotel, travel, and personal expenses). Must be a current member to be eligible for the member rate.

Sponsor Representative: Includes all official conference sessions, activities, meal functions, and sponsored events beginning Sunday, August 26 through the Annual Awards Banquet Tuesday evening, August 28. (Excludes hotel, travel, and personal expenses) Please note: this registration fee is in addition to the sponsorship fee.

Sponsor organizations are allowed to register a specific and limited number of representatives. To avoid conflict, registration of representatives should be coordinated by the designated key contact for the respective sponsor organization. No individual sponsor registration will be processed without prior approval from the key contact.

Spouse/Significant Other Meal Package: ESTO is a focused meeting opportunity for destination members. No organized spouse tours or activities are scheduled. However, we recognize that delegates do occasionally bring their spouse/significant other with them to experience the featured destination. For the convenience of these delegates, ESTO offers a meal package that allows entrance to official meal functions only, including the official sponsored evening events. The meal package does NOT include participation in daily educational sessions, and is not intended for industry professionals.

Payment Policies

Where possible, payment in full should accompany applications for registrations. Accepted credit cards include: American Express, Discover, MasterCard, and Visa.

State tourism office and DMO delegates may opt to pay by check or bank transfer; however, payment in full must be received on or before August 10, 2012. Instructions for submitting payment by check or bank wire transfer will be included in registrant confirmation materials.

After July 27, credit card payment is required for all new registrations.

Pre-registered delegates must submit payment on or before August 10, 2012, or make special arrangements with the ESTO Registrar to bring payment to the onsite registration desk. No credentials will be distributed without full payment.

Delegates who do not check in onsite and who have not submitted the required cancellation request (i.e., who are considered a "no-show" for the event) are fully responsible for any unpaid registration fees, and will be billed accordingly.

Cancellation Policy

All cancellation requests must be received in writing. E-mail or fax your cancellation request to ESTO@ustravel.org or (202) 408-1255, Attention: ESTO Registrar. A 50 percent refund will be issued if the cancellation request is received by July 27, 2012. No refunds will be issued after this date. Refunds will be processed within 30 days.

Force Majeure
(a) If a Force Majeure Event occurs, the party that is prevented by that Force Majeure Event from performing any one or more obligations under this agreement (the “Nonperforming Party”) will be excused from performing those obligations, on condition that it complies with its obligations under section (b). For purposes of this agreement, “Force Majeure Event” means any event or circumstance, including but not limited to: acts of God; war; riots; civil insurrections; cyclones; hurricanes; floods; fires; explosions; earthquakes; chemical contamination; epidemics; acts or threats of terrorism; trade restrictions; and acts of any Governmental Authority after the date of this Agreement, whether or not it was foreseeable, that prevents a party from performing any of its obligations under this agreement , except that a Force Majeure Event will not include a party’s financial hardship, an increase in prices, or a change of law.

(b) Upon occurrence of a Force Majeure Event, the Nonperforming Party shall promptly notify the other party of occurrence of that Force Majeure Event, its effect on performance, and how long that party expects it to last. Thereafter the Nonperforming Party shall update that information as reasonably necessary. During a Force Majeure Event, the Nonperforming Party shall use reasonable efforts to limit damages to the performing party and to resume its performance under this agreement.

Substitution/Name Change Policy

Substitution/Name Changes are accepted and must be received in writing. E-mail or fax your change request to ESTO@ustravel.org or (202) 408-1255, Attention: ESTO Registrar.