June Update

ABA ANNOUNCES ENHANCED ONE-DAY

EXHIBIT SHOW FOR MARKETPLACE 2009 WILL BE THE PRODUCT PAVILION
The American Bus Association today announced that the one-day,

one-stop exhibit show designed for product and service providers which debuted as The

MARKET at Marketplace 2008 in Virginia Beach will be enhanced for Marketplace 2009

in Charlotte January 7-12 and renamed The Product Pavilion.

Marketplace is the first major travel and bus trade show of 2009. The extra business trade

show component tailored to meet the needs of all motorcoach operator and associate members is scheduled to take place Sunday, Jan. 11, from 12 - 6 pm in Charlotte, NC.

"We asked motorcoach operators who already attended The MARKET how we could make it more valuable for them, and we listened intently to their feedback," ABA President & CEO Peter J. Pantuso said. "Many told us they love taking advantage of a venue where they can see the latest technological innovations in equipment featuring leading-edge products from suppliers, and learn about how to increase charters and tours under one roof at the same time. But we wanted to give them more."

As a result, Marketplace 2009 will include a more robust one-day, one-stop show-within-a-show, including more educational seminars on safety, environmental issues, equipment and maintenance issues, expanded floor space, and timing aimed at attracting peak delegate attendance.

"With so many enhancements to The Product Pavilion being introduced in only its second year as part of the main event, we felt it deserved a distinct identity that reflected its added value to all ABA members," Pantuso added. ABA solicited candid comments from travel and associate members in addition to operators to ensure all member segments would get value out of the added benefit offered by The Product Pavilion. "Travel members said they wanted to see even more operators at one time, and associate members said they wanted to showcase their products," Pantuso said. "The Product Pavilion is custom-tailored to be a magnet for both bus operators and business suppliers by featuring a variety of exhibits and educational opportunities."

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.

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.

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
Product Pavilion Floor Exhibit Attendee (Operators registered for Saturday/Sunday only): $100 per operator company
Buyer Guest Registration: $250

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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.

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

DMO Appointment Sessions:

Thursday Afternoon: January 8
Friday Morning: January 9

DMO Mating Session:

Thursday Afternoon: January 8: 2:10 PM - 2:30 PM

Caucus Date:

7:30 AM - 9:00 AM: Saturday, January 10

DMO Representative Meeting:

9:30 AM - 10:30 AM: Saturday, January 10

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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.

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

Lodging Appointment Sessions:

All Day Saturday: January 10

Lodging Mating Session:

Saturday, January 10: 9:10 AM - 9:30 AM

Lodging Representative Meeting:

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM: Friday, January 9

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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.

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

Attraction/Local Receptive Operators/Others Appointment Sessions:

Sunday Morning: January 11
All Day Monday: January 12
* All Attraction/LRO/Other appointment-taking delegates will be assigned 2 of the 3 appointment sessions for pre-scheduled appointments. However, all Attraction/LRO/Other delegates may be on the business floor for all three sessions to pick up additional appointments.

Attraction/LRO/Other Mating Session:

Sunday, January 11: 9:10 AM - 9:30 AM (One Mating session for all three Attraction/LRO/Other Appointment Sessions.)

Attraction Representative Meeting:

12:30 PM - 1:30 PM: Sunday, January 11

Local Receptive Operator Representative Meeting:

12:30 PM - 1:30 PM: Sunday, January 11

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Associates

Associate Menu of Options:

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

Product Pavilion: Associates may purchase booth space on our new one-day trade show floor. This provides our associate members with a quick and inexpensive marketing opportunity to reach the 650 plus operators in attendance at Marketplace.
Appointment-taking: Associates may attend Marketplace and receive pre-scheduled appointments with buyers on the business floor.
Networking Floor Representative: Associates may purchase a booth space for the entire Marketplace week on the networking floor.

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.

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

Networking Floor Display Fees:

$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.

Product Pavilion Displays Fees:

$400 per 8' x 16' PRODUCT PAVILION FLOOR EXHIBIT; booth includes: 8' table, 2 chairs, wastebasket, ID sign, carpet and drape, 1 exhibitor pass for Sunday Only
$100 per ADDITIONAL EXHIBITOR

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American Bus Association

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