Ensemble Travel Group has tapped Shawn Achor, an expert on human potential and positive psychology, as the keynote speaker for the organization’s 2012 international conference at Red Rock Resort Las Vegas, Oct. 17 to 21. Achor speaks to diverse audiences, including Wall Street analysts, Harvard law students, business global leaders, elite high school students, wealth managers, doctors and parents in order to close the gap between the advances made in positive psychology research and our everyday lives. In addition, he helped design the "happiness" course at Harvard University, which enrolls one out of every seven undergraduates.

At the conference, he will provide specific techniques to help Ensemble members and supplier partners train their brains to be positive and successful in all aspects of their lives. His keynote presentation, sponsored by Classic Vacations and Holland America Line, is set for Oct. 19.

In addition to Achor, several well-known travel executives, guest educators and Ensemble staff members will present nearly 40 workshops over the four-day annual conference. In addition to a series of application-driven breakouts, a sampling of the professional development facilitators and their sessions include Cory Andrichuk, business coach and president of brandUcoaching Inc, who will lead the two-day Frontline Agent Track 2, which is focused on branding, entrepreneurial practices, social media strategy, and consultative selling skills; Dr. Bob Joselyn, CEO of Joselyn, Tepper & Associates, Inc., who will facilitate the discussion for Ensemble owners/managers on hiring, training, motivation, creative compensation, marketing, and customer retention; and Vicki Freed, vice president, sales, Royal Caribbean International, who will lead a branding workshop.

The conference also will feature a state-of-the-organization address by Co-Presidents Libbie Rice and Lindsay Pearlman, as well as a partner trade show, roundtable exchanges, and evening activities.