January Update

Market YOUR Place at Marketplace

A New Year’s Resolution: Make More Time for Quality Appointments

We understand that the holiday season is a tough time to take care of everything that needs to be done, so we are extending the American Bus Marketplace Appointment Request deadline until Wednesday, January 11, 2006. You will still receive your appointments on January 13, but this will give you a few more days if you are finding yourself busy with the start of the New Year.

Silent Auction Fundraiser

Once again, the ABA Foundation will host a Silent Auction Fundraiser at its booth during Marketplace. Last year, two great items were up for bid and raised over $1,200 for the Foundation. This year, with the assistance of co-chairs Denny Mariola of Bridgestone/Firestone and Brenda Borwege of ABC Companies, the auction will be expanded to include more items, which will be on display at the Foundation booth and open for bid from February 4th to February 7th.

While at Marketplace please stop by the auction to take a look at the prizes and put down a bid. The winners will be announced during the Foundation Afterglow at the Hard Rock Cafe on February 7th (winners need not be present).

If you or your organization would be interested in donating an item for bid to the Foundation please contact us at (800) 283-2877.

Market YOURSELF at Marketplace - Volunteer and Network!

Be a Headliner at Marketplace 2006. Marketplace Volunteer Benefits:

Networking with Marketplace delegates and ABA leadership and staff;
Build business relationships and develop friendships;
Showcase your skills; and
Special recognition.

Volunteer Opportunities in the Music City

Volunteers can sign up to volunteer through their Marketplace Passport for available areas, shifts and roles. You will receive a confirmation. You may make changes to your volunteer schedule prior to Marketplace. To add shifts, use the Passport. To remove shifts, e-mail meetingsdept@buses.org.

Delegate ID: [PerNum]

Delegate Password: [PerPass]

Other Networking Opportunities:

Sightseeing Tours registration is now available to all delegates.
Pre-FAM registration is now available to all Operators.
Wednesday Grand Finale - Extend your hotel reservation to attend this must see show.
Foundation Afterglow registration is now available.

Market YOURSELF at Marketplace!

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Marketplace's HOT Ticket Program

Marketplace – It’s One HOT Ticket! We would like to extend some great southern hospitality monthly to one lucky registered delegate. Each month, every registered delegate will be eligible for a drawing for an exciting prize. Register early for more chances to win. Prizes are non-transferable. Winners will be contacted and posted on the Marketplace web site.

January's Hot Ticket - Receive an complimentary upgrade to a junior suite for your housing sponsored by Gaylord Opryland Resort. The drawing will take place on January 11, 2006.
December's Hot Ticket Winner – David Szukics, Tropicana Casino and Resort will join us for a night of fun at the annual Afterglow party. He received one free ticket to the Afterglow party sponsored by ABA Foundation and Hard Rock Café International.

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Marketplace Microphone: Your Chance to Keep Marketplace Delegate-driven

We want Marketplace to be YOUR show – what do you need before Marketplace to make your investment pay off? E-mail us at meetingsdept@buses.org by January 13, 2006.

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Marketplace Tool: A Resource to Make Your Marketplace Experience

Your Marketplace Passport. This all-in-one tool is all about you! Make certain that all of the information is correctly listed (this is how your name and company will appear in the Directory of Participants and your name badge). Also, take advantage of all of the passport stamps – use the Message Center, check out the Attendee List, Research! Research! Research!, and volunteer.

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Southern Hospitality: Marketplace General Information

Name Changes

If you need to make a name change for Marketplace, please fax or e-mail us the name of the current delegate and the name, e-mail address and title of the new delegate. The new delegate will receive confirmation of their registration and their delegate ID and Password. All appointment request information will automatically transfer to the new delegate.

Guests

Are you bringing a guest to Marketplace? If you would like your guest to participate in any function of Marketplace such as the sightseeing tours, the evening events or our fabulous Grand Finale, they need to be registered for Marketplace. Go to www.buses.org/marketplace for fees, guest guidelines and registration forms.

Important Dates:

January 11: Appointment Requests Due (Extended from January 9)

January 13: Appointments Scheduled/ Manual Appointment Scheduling Available

January 23: Manual Scheduling Closed

February 3: Marketplace Begins/Manual Appointment Scheduling Available

February 8: Marketplace Concludes/Business Follow Up Begins

Housing

Please fax in your housing form to the Housing Bureau as soon as possible. Housing forms were in the registration mailing and are available on-line.

Gaylord Opryland Resort Hotel and Conference Center

2800 Opryland Drive

Nashville, TN 37214

Buyer Rate: $95 plus $5 per room per day resort fee.

Seller Rate: $159 plus $5 per room per day resort fee.

Radisson Hotel at Opryland

2401 Music Valley Drive

Nashville Tennessee 37214

Buyer Rate: $89.

Seller Rate: $99.

*Airport and Shuttle transportation will be available from the Radisson

Sponsorships:

Looking for a way to get noticed at Marketplace? Contact us if you are interested in our many and varied exciting sponsorship opportunities.

Transportation

Gaylord Opryland Nashville Resort will provide complimentary transportation between the Nashville International Airport and the host hotels. Simply identify yourself as a Marketplace delegate upon arrival at the airport for your free ride. There is no voucher needed for the airport transportation.
Complimentary transportation will be provided from the Radisson to the Opryland Convention Center.

Shuttle service will be provided between the host hotels and all Marketplace events.

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Quality Appointments: How to make Quality Appointment Requests for Marketplace?

Marketplace appointment requests are due January 9, 2006. You may make additions and changes to your requests as many times as you would like until then.

Quality Appointment Request Tips

Use the Research Databases: Profiles may be updated at any time, so rerun your searches and you may have different results.
Check the Additions and Changes stamp for new organizations/companies.
View companies which have requested you to make mutual requests.
Check out your profile - make any updates which will help delegates search for your company and get the requests that you want.

Use the Quality Appointment Guide for step-by-step directions.

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Limitless Networking

Did you know.. Nashville is headquarters for six different major music associations: the Country Music Association (CMA), the Gospel Music Association (GMA), the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI), the Americana Music Association (AMA), the Inspirational Country Music Association (ICMA), and the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA). Each association stages an annual awards show, and the CMA, GMA, AMA and ICMA events are nationally televised. Fittingly, Music City is also home to the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, the Musicians Hall of Fame, and the Gospel Music Hall of Fame.

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Professional Education: CTIS

differentiate yourself! Branding is one way to differentiate your business and products from the vast variety of opportunities in our industry. But much of our industry is the one-on-one business relationships that are developed between the operators and the suppliers. Branding yourself can make all of the difference in the success of your business and your career. Look for the CTIS brochure in the mail in December. Take advantage of a special Marketplace Enrollment Fee discount!

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