Welcome to the Los Angeles Times Travel & Adventure Show

Let The Times help you navigate the waters of vacation planning for 2011 and beyond at the annual Los Angeles Times Travel & Adventure Show, held on March 19 and 20 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. With more than 400 exhibitors from all over the globe, the experience of attending the show is akin to taking a trip around the world in an afternoon. And this year, exhibitors are offering more travel deals and discounts than ever before, committed to bringing you the world — on sale!

Big deals, Big adventure
Exhibitors are anxious to entice travelers with exclusive offers you will not find anywhere other than the trade show floor. From safaris to scuba diving, wind surfing to wine tours, excursions to good old fashioned rest and relaxation, here’s where you’ll discover your new family vacation destination or your next private jet set getaway.

Spectacular sponsors
After wowing thousands of last year’s attendees with unbelievable deals on everything from hotel hideaways and beach-front resorts to weekend road trips and cross-country tours, the Automobile Club of Southern California returns as the show’s presenting sponsor.

The Taiwan Tourism Bureau will enjoy special prominence as a major sponsor all weekend long, while contributing sponsor Travel Alberta will be on hand to represent our neighbors to the north.

Acura will be out on in full force to showcase its new TSX Sport Wagon while global favorites China, Ecuador, Guam, Indonesia, Korea and Turkey will surely bring excitement to the floor.

Engaging speakers
This year the Travel Show welcomes Samantha Brown to its exceptional slate of speakers and expert panelists. The popular Travel Channel host whose “Passport” and “Great Weekends” series take you along on incredible journeys throughout Europe, Latin America, Asia and the United States, will share stories of a life on the go.

Other fan favorites scheduled to headline The Times Travel stage are Rick Steves, host of PBS’ “Rick Steves’ Europe,” Arthur Frommer of the famed guidebook series, and Huell Howser, host of “California’s Gold,” also on PBS. Award-winning travel journalist and actor Andrew McCarthy will participate as well.

Electrifying exhibits
Plenty of fun (and thrilling!) activities will be available for more adventurous attendees, including scuba diving lessons, an elating zip line and an enormous indoor climbing wall (see pg. 6). Visitors won’t want to miss this opportunity to commune with the great outdoors without leaving the air-conditioned confines of the great indoors.

Plus, the Los Angeles Times Global Beat Stage will host enchanting exhibitions of cultural dance, music and sports throughout the weekend.

Plentiful prizes
Feeling lucky? Many show exhibitors are giving away spectacular trips and prizes. Be sure to check out the center pullout of this section for a complete list of winning opportunities.

Visit the travel show for your chance at a five-day/five-night stay in Costa Rica from Safari School (Booth 946), a free trip to Guam from the Guam Visitors Bureau (Booth 1011), a seven-day Anderson vacation worth $5,000 from Travel Alberta (Booth 721), trips to Bali from the Indonesia Ministry of Culture and Tourism (Booth 1025) and many others.

For more information about the Travel Show, see the center pullout or visit www.latimes.com/travelshow.