Registration Information and Fees

Staggered Registration Dates

To better serve our members we will be staggering the registration dates for Marketplace 2009. This will help to shorten the time on-line required to submit one's registration and help prevent server overload that was experienced in the past. The staggered registration dates would not negatively impact the seller appointment-takers because all appointment-takers within a specific appointment session will have the same registration start date/time. There is no unfair advantage because the appointments are scheduled by session, not by all appointments together (i.e. DMO appointments, Lodging appointments, Attractions/LRO/Other appointments are schedule separately).

There is also no unfair advantage for housing reservations. Housing will be open to ALL delegate types on July 14 at Noon ET.

July 14 at noon ET (registration will remain open for DMOs/Buyers/Associate delegates from this date through the start of Marketplace): Marketplace on-line registration opens for:

DMOs

Buyers

Associates

July 15 at noon ET (registration will remain open for Lodging delegates from this date through the start of Marketplace): Marketplace on-line registration opens for:

Lodging

July 16 at noon ET (registration will remain open for Attractions/LRO delegates from this date through the start of Marketplace): Marketplace on-line registration opens for:

Attractions/LRO

Buyer Delegates

The designation given to Motorcoach and Tour Operators who attend Marketplace to meet with travel industry suppliers (Sellers) to foster business relationships and plan future charters and tours. Buyers can attend Marketplace as either appointment-taking, rotation, representative or they may bring guests delegates.

Appointment-Taking Buyers: Appointment-taking delegates are provided the opportunity to make appointment requests, receive prescheduled appointments and are permitted to conduct appointments at Marketplace during all business sessions. Buyers will have appointments Thursday afternoon, Friday morning, Saturday morning, Saturday afternoon, Sunday morning, Monday morning, and Monday afternoon.

Qualitfications for Marketplace Buyers

A Qualified Buyer is an established for-profit organization that arranges tours/charters for the company they are representing. In order to attend ABA Marketplace, the organization must meet the following criteria:

Company has the ability to provide new business/customer base to ABA travel industry members.

Company makes buying decisions on travel components such as food and lodging for preformed groups

Company representative attending Marketplace actually develops/plans the tours/charters.

Company annually produces a minimum of 24 tour or charter itineraries, or 2 tours/charters per month.

Company has been in business for at least 2 years.

Company must submit a brief company history as well as a company profile including a list of the organizations the company belongs to. This can include tour itineraries.

Company must submit their Federal ID # and copies of their errors and omissions insurance (minimum $1 million) or, if a motorcoach company, its federal motor carrier number.

Company is scheduling trips and purchasing product out of their business area.

Company is a reputable firm with a knowledgeable staff that Suppliers work with on a regular basis. Suppliers who recommend these organizations should be willing to stand as a referral for ABA membership.

Rotation Buyers: Rotation delegates alternate the Marketplace appointment responsibilities with another company Buyer registrant. Buyers can send one rotation delegate for every appointment-taking delegate registered. Rotation delegates have the same privileges as appointment-taking delegates except appointment requests and prescheduled appointments.

MARKET Floor Exhibit Attendee: Delegates registering for Sunday/Monday only and may participate in all educational, networking and Marketplace events as well as access to The MARKET Floor.

Buyer Guests: Guests have the same privileges as other Buyer delegates (except for access to the Marketplace Business Floor). Guests attend Marketplace for the social and meal functions. Guests may not be employed by ABA member companies.

Rebates: Buyers will receive a rebate of $250 for each appointment-taking delegate if they comply to all Marketplace expectations.

Free Registrations: Buyers will receive free registrations for the next year's Marketplace for each appointment-taking and rotation delegate they bring to Marketplace if they comply to all Marketplace expectations. No free registrations will be given for Buyer Representatives or guests.

Early Bird Appointment-taker Registration (Ends Sept 15, 2008): $250
Regular Appointment-taker Registration (Begins Sept 16, 2008): $350
Early Bird Rotation Registration (Ends Sept 15, 2008): $250
Regular Rotation Registration (Begins Sept 16, 2008): $350
MARKET Floor Exhibit Attendee (Operators registered for Sunday/Monday only): $100 per operator company
Buyer Guest Registration: $250
* $250 Rebate for delegates registered prior to November 13, 2008 and meet all Marketplace requirements. **Operator appointment-taker, rotation, and representative delegates do not need to register separately for The MARKET at Marketplace; it is included in their full week registration. Operators may register additional staff members (operations staff, mechanics, etc) to attend the one-day MARKET. This provides business, educational, and networking opportunities with minimal time out of the office.

Seller Delegates

An ABA membership category designation for any Travel Industry Supplier. Sellers attend Marketplace to meet with Buyers (motorcoach/tour operator) to foster business relationships and solicit tourism dollars and become more knowledgeable through education seminars and networking opportunities. Sellers are registered under their primary company membership category. Sellers can attend Marketplace as either appointment-taking, observer or they may bring guests delegates.

Appointment-Taking Sellers: Appointment-taking delegates are provided the opportunity to make appointment requests, receive prescheduled appointments and are permitted to conduct appointments at Marketplace during all business sessions.

DMOs Appointment Sessions: Thursday afternoon, Friday morning
Lodging Appointment Sessions: Saturday All Day
Attractions/LRO/Other Appointment Sessions: Sunday morning, Monday morning and Monday afternoon. Delegates will have prescheduled appointments in 2 of the 3 days with access to the business floor all 3 days.

Multiple Appointment-takers: ABA Travel Industry members are eligible to have at least one appointment-taking delegate if registered before the session fills. Organizations attending for the first time and organizations that did not attend Marketplace in 2008 are eligible for only one appointment-taking delegate. ABA Travel Industry organizations may register additional delegates as outlined below:

Organizations that had thirty-two (32) or more prescheduled buyer requests (not appointments) in 2008 will qualify for a second appointment-taking delegate if that delegate is registered before the session fills.
A third appointment-taking delegate will qualify if the organization had sixty-four (64) or more prescheduled buyer requests in 2008 and if that delegate is registered before the session fills.

Observer Sellers: A registered Travel Industry Supplier who is not taking appointments. Observer delegates may participate in all Marketplace activities, seminars and events, except appointment and mating sessions. Observers have access to the Marketplace Business Floor area only on their assigned session day.

Seller Guests: Guests have the same privileges as other Seller delegates (except for access to the Marketplace Business Floor). Guests attend Marketplace for the social and meal functions. Guests may not be employed by ABA member companies.

Seller Appointment-taker Registration: $1195
Seller Observer Registration: $1195
Seller Guest Registration: $600

Associate Delegates

An ABA membership category designation for a supplier of goods and services to the motorcoach industry, to include bus manufactures, equipment companies, insurance carriers, etc. Sellers are registered under their primary company membership category. Associates can attend Marketplace as either appointment-taking, representatives or they may bring guests delegates.

Appointment-Taking Associates: Appointment-taking delegates are provided the opportunity to make appointment requests, receive prescheduled appointments and are permitted to conduct appointments at Marketplace during the Attractions/LRO/Other appointment sessions on Sunday morning, Monday morning and Monday afternoon. Delegates will have prescheduled appointments in 2 of the 3 sessions with access to the business floor all 3 sessions.

Observer Sellers: A registered supplier who is not taking appointments. Observers have access to the Marketplace Business Floor area only on their assigned session day (Sunday morning, Monday morning and Monday afternoon). Observer delegates may participate in all Marketplace activities, seminars and events, except appointment and mating sessions.

Representatives: A registered Associate who is not taking appointments but attend Marketplace for the entire week. Representatives may staff Networking Floor/Coach Exhibits. Representatives may participate in all Marketplace activities, seminars and events, except appointment and mating sessions. Representatives will have no access to the Marketplace Business Floor.

Exhibitors: Exhibitors are staff for The MARKET Exhibits. Exhibitors have access to the Trade Show and Networking Floor and all official functions for Sunday, Jan. 11 only.

Associate Guests: Guests have the same privileges as other Associate delegates (except for access to the Marketplace Business Floor). Guests attend Marketplace for the social and meal functions. Guests may not be employed by ABA member companies.

Appointment-taker Registration: $1195
NEW in 2009! Observer Registration: $1195
Associate Representative Registration (Networking Floor/Coach Exhibit Staff): $795
Associate Additional Exhibitor Registration: $100 (The MARKET display fee below includes one exhibitor.)
Associate Guest Registration: $600

Display Fees

Networking Floor: The Networking Floor is open all Marketplace week to all delegates. It provides a 6 day marketing opportunity for our Associate members to promote their products and services in a high energy and professional manner.

$3000 per COACH EXHIBIT. Does not include delegate registration. Coaches on display must be ABA members and must be manned during show hours.
$2000: 10' x 10' per NETWORKING FLOOR EXHIBIT; does not include delegate registration or furnishings.

The MARKET Floor at Marketplace: The MARKET is a traditional exhibit/trade show format open for one day. This one day marketing opportunity is perfect for a company not able to man a booth for an entire week or to compliment an appointment-taking delegate's registration.