ORLANDO, Fla. The success of last months UMA Motorcoach Expo in Long Beach, Calif., is expected to bolster the co-locating next year of UMAs annual exposition with the convention of the National Tour Association here.

Key aspects and signature events of both associations trade shows will be little changed from the way they have been conducted for years, while other activities will be retooled, revamped, revised and revved up.

For example, the UMA Expo trade show floor with its 150+ exhibitors and endless tire-kicking opportunities will be exactly the same -- except, of course, for the latest products and services.

In fact, next years Motorcoach Expo will occupy the same convention center space utilized in 2009 when Expo was last in Orlando.

At the same time, what will be different will be the networking events, luncheons, banquets, and solution sessions.

For NTA members, their tried-and-true, one-on-one business appointment sessions with tour buyers and sellers, and important networking sessions with destinations, hotels, restaurants and attractions will take place unabated and unaltered.

While the final layout of the co-located conventions hasnt yet been completed, one thing seems fairly certain: there will be separate and distinct floors for both organizations trade show activities.

However, the show areas may be separated by what the convention industry calls "air walls" or similar dividers that will partition the space but allow unfettered interchange between them.

Also noticeably different will be the increased number of people attending both shows, which is a key reason for co-locating the events more people, more vendors, more business.

The expanded attendance also will mean a broader array of education programs.

Finally, the two events will have modified names: UMA Motorcoach Expo at Travel Exchange, and NTA Convention at Travel Exchange.

"Travel Exchange" will become the buzz words for the two shows occurring under one roof.

"We built momentum with (the Long Beach UMA Expo) for next year," said UMA board member Larry Hundt of Great Canadian Trailways in Kitchener, Ontario, and chairman of the UMA committee that stages Expo.

He said co-locating the shows is a phenomenal idea thats going to take the organizations to levels never before achieved.

The best indicator of the interest in UMA Motorcoach Expo at Travel Exchange was evident when exhibitors signed-up for the event.

Suppliers and vendors increased their show-floor commitments for next year by 21 percent from a year ago and 53 percent from two years ago.

In all, exhibitors signed up for 43,800 square feet of space on the initial day of space selection, versus 35,000 square feet on the first day of commitments a year ago.

"There are a lot of possibilities," said Michael Neustadt of Coach Tours in Brookfield, Conn., a UMA board member and chairman of the UMA taskforce thats working with NTA to coordinate the two shows next year.

"We just have to figure out how to maximize the opportunities."

Tom Ready of Ready Bus Line in La Crescent, Minn., and the immediate past chairman of UMA, said the association had taken Expo to its limits, and the co-located show will take things to a new level.

"Next year we will bring bus people and travel people together" he added.

Victor Parra, UMA president and chief executive, echoed Hundts contention theres a great deal of momentum going into 2013, following the Long Beach Expo.

"Theres tremendous excitement with UMA and NTA combining our conventions under the umbrella of Travel Exchange, and all the feedback we've received so far has been overwhelmingly positive," he said. "Motorcoach operators see the obvious benefits of bringing in the worlds leading tour operators and their suppliers to our motorcoach venue."

He called it a "natural marriage" and emphasized that both associations will benefit greatly by including all aspects of the group travel business process under one roof.

"Like one member told me, this will be a must-attend convention," he said.

NTA, which has begun promoting the combined show to its members, said the event will bring together itinerary designers and tour product developers, equipment manufacturers and operators, and destinations, hotels, restaurants and attractions.

Its members, the tour association said, will still have their one-on-one business meetings, full slate of industry-focused education sessions and fun networking opportunities with industry movers and shakers.

Additionally, there will be access to a trade show floor of more potential partners and industry resources, as well as more networking and partnering opportunities.

Mark Hoffmann of Sports Leisure Vacations in Sacramento, Calif., and next years NTA chairman, said combing of the shows is being done to expand the business opportunities for both NTA and UMA members, and hes confident it will be highly successful. He said he became convinced of the opportunities after attending his very first Expo in Long Beach.

NTA members "need to come to Orlando and be a part of the UMA-NTA Travel Exchange," he said. "Its going to present opportunities that . . . you never knew existed."

Ken Presley, vice president and chief operating officer of UMA, said members of his organization will find new opportunities at the joint show as well.

"UMAs co-location with NTA in Orlando next year will provide all the bells and whistles motorcoach operators have come to expect from UMA Motorcoach Expo, plus the unprecedented opportunity for charter bus companies to market their company to the leading tour operators in the country, formally and informally," he emphasized.

He said for 30 years, operators have attended the UMA shows ready to learn, inform, network and purchase. But next year, he stressed, sell has been added and charter bus operators will have the opportunity to learn, inform, network, purchase and sell their companys charter services in one place.

"The opportunity is simply unprecedented," he said. "UMA Motorcoach Expo at Travel Exchange is already the can't-miss opportunity of the year."

In addition to co-locating the 2013 shows, UMA and NTA have agreed to do it again in 2014 in Los Angeles and in 2015 in New Orleans.