May Update

Save the Date: Marketplace 2009: January 7-12, 2009, Charlotte, NC! Your company was recently sent a postcard for Marketplace 2009.  We've moved to January so you can start your year with a solid investment in the Group Travel Industry.  

 
The Marketplace website, www.buses.org/marketplace is updated with a schedule of events, registration fees and dates, appointment information, FAQs, housing options and transportation details.  We will continue to update the site with information throughout the registration and pre-Marketplace months.

 

All Delegate Information

To better serve our members, registration dates for Marketplace 2009 are staggered. This will help to shorten the on-line time required to submit one's registration and help prevent server overload that was experienced in the past. The staggered registration dates will not negatively impact the seller appointment-takers because all appointment-takers within a specific appointment session will have the same registration date and appointments are scheduled by session (i.e. DMO appointments, Lodging appointments, Attractions/LRO/Other appointments are schedule separately). 

 

Housing will be open to ALL delegates on July 14 at Noon ET.  Housing options can be found at http://aba.teameventmanagement.com/2009/Hotel-Transportation.html.

 

Invoicing

Again we will offer the convenience to all registering companies to be invoiced for their Marketplace fees.  Invoice payment is due within 30 days.  All invoices must be paid for appointment requests to be scheduled on Nov. 14, 2008. 

 
Marketplace 2008 Registered Delegates
As we prepare for registration for Marketplace 2009, do not forget about the business follow-up of your appointments and networking opportunities from Marketplace 2008. 

You will find that follow up is most productive if you use a targeted approach.  Mass market spamming approach is expensive to you and is guaranteed to irritate even our most tolerant buyers.  Put together a narrowly focused follow-up message for each of your contacts with the exact product or service that you discussed in Virginia Beach.  Include your attractive group prices and packages to maximize your sales chances and win clients.  

It has also been brought to our attention that some delegates are sending their follow up materials to the company's primary contact and NOT the delegates who attended Marketplace. Using the company's profile in My ABA instead of the Research Database or the Directory of Participants (printed book or the electronic Excel listing sent after Marketplace) may result in your information not being received by the correct staff member since the primary contact and the Marketplace delegate may be different members of the company.

 

Membership Dues

All delegates must be representatives of ABA member organizations whose dues and all other outstanding monies due ABA or its agents have been paid in full. ABA members who have not paid 2008 AND 2009 dues will be unable to participate in Marketplace. The member organization also will not be eligible to attend Marketplace 2010.

 

Important Dates

  • July 14 - Noon ET: Registration Begins for DMO/Buyers/Associates.
  • July 15 - Noon ET: Registration Begins for Lodging Delegates.
  • July 16 - Noon ET: Registration Begins for Attractions/LRO Delegates.
  • September 15 - Noon ET: Research Databases are Live
  • September 24 - Noon ET: Appointment Requests are Live
  • November 14 - 5:00 PM ET: Appointment Requests Due
  • November 21 - 9:00 AM ET : Appointments Schedules Available and Manual Scheduling Begins
  • December 4 - Noon ET: Manual Scheduling Ends until Marketplace Opens
  • January 7 - Noon ET: Marketplace Opens

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Buyers

Buyer Appointment Sessions:

  • Thursday Afternoon: January 8 (DMOs)
  • Friday Morning: January 9 (DMOs)
  • Saturday: January 10 (Hoteliers)
  • Sunday Morning: January 11 (Attraction/LRO/Other)
  • Monday: January 12 (Attraction/LRO/Other)

Buyer Registration Fees

Below are the registration fees for Marketplace 2009.  For eligibility and definitions of each registration type go to http://aba.teameventmanagement.com/2009/registration.html.

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DMO's

DMO Registration Fees

Below are the registration fees for Marketplace 2009.  For eligibility and definitions of each registration type go to http://aba.teameventmanagement.com/2009/registration.html.

DMO Appointment Sessions:

DMO Mating Session:

Caucus Date:


DMO Representative Meeting:
 

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Hoteliers

Lodging Registration Fees

Below are the registration fees for Marketplace 2009.  For eligibility and definitions of each registration type go to http://aba.teameventmanagement.com/2009/registration.html.

Lodging Appointment Sessions:

Lodging Mating Session:

Lodging Representative Meeting:

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Attractions/Local Receptives

Attraction/LRO Registration Fees

Below are the registration fees for Marketplace 2009.  For eligibility and definitions of each registration type go to http://aba.teameventmanagement.com/2009/registration.html.

Attraction/Local Receptive Operators/Others Appointment Sessions:

Attraction/LRO/Other Mating Session:

Attraction Representative Meeting:

Local Receptive Operator Representative Meeting:

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Associates

Associate Menu of Options:

Associates will again have several opportunities for their participation at Marketplace:

Associate Registration Fees:

Below are the registration and exhibit fees for Marketplace 2009.  For eligibility and definitions of each registration type go to http://aba.teameventmanagement.com/2009/registration.html.

Networking Floor Display Fees:

The MARKET Displays Fees:

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Remember to update My ABA to ensure your information is up to date.

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