Amtrak has once again stepped up to the plate with a sensational offer for fully-registered travel agents attending the Home Based Travel Agent Forum in Atlantic City, N.J., on Oct. 22-24.  The good news, according to Jim Cloonan, president of Travel Show Marketing Group (TSMG), producer of the forum, is that Amtrak is offering 75 percent discount off full fares from anywhere in the U.S., between Oct. 19 and Oct. 25.

The new Amtrak offer will allow travel agents to go directly by rail into such major gateways as Philadelphia, New York City and Newark, N.J.  From Philadelphia, for example, using the 30th Street Station which serves Amtrak, Home Based Travel Agent Forum delegates have a choice of either rail or motor coach for the 90-minute transit to Atlantic City. These connections, which are offered by New Jersey Transit, are not eligible for the Amtrak discount.

Travel agents interested in traveling to Atlantic City via Amtrak are invited to do so by calling Amtrak at 800-835-8725 or by emailing Lisa Marshall, the forum’s registration coordinator, at Lisa@TravelSMG.com. Convenient details also can be found on the forum’s homepage by visiting www.ACTravelShow.com. This offer is only available to fully-accredited travel agents. The round-trip rail journey must be booked by Oct. 1 at the latest. 

Travel agents who want to register for the Home Based Travel Agent Forum may do so at the early bird rate of $60, which expires Aug. 1, by visiting www.ACTravelshow.com; after that the rate climbs to $90. At the same time, they can sign up for a low $119 room rate at Revel, the brand new $2.4 billion resort, hotel and casino, which has been garnering rave reviews since its opening in Atlantic City in mid-May.  In order to lock in this room rate, agents should call Revel directly at 855-348-0500 and use code GHB1012. Contact Lisa Marshall at Lisa@TravelSMG.com for an emailed reservation link for the property. Travel agents who decide to drive to Atlantic City can park at Revel for $5 for self-parking and $10 for valet parking for their length of stay, but only if they are fully registered. 

Keep in mind that the trade show and conference is expected to attract more than 1,000 travel agents from coast to coast and offers an “unmatched” program of speakers, seminars and educational opportunities. The trade show will feature more than 250 travel suppliers, both domestic and international. Suppliers interested in signing up for a booth and/or sponsorship opportunities should call Jill Sala at 617-398-6308 or email her at Jill@TravelSMG.com. To keep up to date on both conference and trade show, visit www.ACTravelShow.com.

Martin B. Deutsch is marketing consultant and program director for the Home Based Travel Agent Forum.