July Update

 

Market YOUR Place at Marketplace

 

It’s bright.  It’s sunshine yellow.  It’s your chance to reserve your place at the must attend show in the industry!  Yes, the 2006 American Bus Marketplace registration mailing will be in your mailbox any day now, and we guarantee you wouldn’t want to miss it – so look for the logo!

We have an unbelievable Marketplace planned for you, one that showcases networking, education, and business appointments – and everything in between!

  • Up to 52 face-to-face, 7-minute business appointments per session;
  • More than 85,000 pre-scheduled appointment requests prior to the start of Marketplace, with the ability to add more appointments on-line before you arrive;
  • 16 all-delegate networking events;
  • All delegates – Buyers and Sellers – together in the same hotel for more sales opportunities;
  • Nearly 40 Education Seminars – allowing you to also earn credits toward your Certified Travel Industry Specialist (CTIS) certification;
  • The Marketplace Networking Floor, where you can utilize the Message, Learning, Orientation, E-Mail and Education Centers, enjoy refreshments in an expansive lounge and visit with numerous vendors and sponsors.  Open all the time, to all delegates.

 

Can’t wait to receive the registration mailing?  Then visit www.buses.org/marketplace for all of the meeting details.  Plan to take your journey to Nashville so YOUR business can be Center Stage.

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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.  Winners will be contacted and posted on the Marketplace website.

 

July’s Hot Ticket - Dazzling talent and legends of music and entertainment, Branson is returning to Marketplace 2006 for an encore, and you can be in the middle of it!  Register this month and be entered into a drawing for one reserved luncheon table for Tuesday’s All-Delegate Lunch sponsored by Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce and CVB.  Invite nine of your friends and take your place in front to enjoy a great meal and be entertained… the stage is set for you to be a winner, so register today!

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Marketplace Microphone: Your Chance to Keep Marketplace Delegate-driven

Thinking about your quality appointments already?  So are we.  Let us know what additions or changes you would like to see in our appointment-scheduling process to increase your return on investment.  E-mail us at meetingsdept@buses.org by July 25, 2005.

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Marketplace Tool: A Resource to Make Your Marketplace Experience

The American Bus Association is proud to announce the creation of a new tool to manage your association benefits as well as your Marketplace experience, My ABA.  Each member of ABA will now have on-line access to his or her personal account of his/her activities in ABA.  Check out how this tool will organize you and your company’s ABA relationship.

 

The Marketplace website is currently updated with Marketplace 2006 information.  Check out the newest information at www.buses.org/marketplace.

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Southern Hospitality: Marketplace General Information

Important Dates:

  • July 15: Registration Materials Available/Marketplace Housing Opens
  • August 3: Marketplace Passport On-Line
  • October 1: Research Database On-Line/Buyer Early Bird Deadline
  • October 24: Appointment Requests On-Line/Deadline for Refunds
  • January 9: Appointment Requests Due
  • January 13: Appointments Scheduled/ Manual Appointment Scheduling Available             
  • January 30: Manual Scheduling Closed
  • February 3: Marketplace Begins/Manual Appointment Scheduling Available
  • February 8: Marketplace Concludes/Business Follow Up Begins

Registration

Registration materials will be sent to all current ABA members on July 15, 2005.  On-line registration will be available starting July 18, 2005.  Please note that you must complete the registration form even if you have pre-paid and/or have the pre-registration status.  Your company’s registration date will be the postmark, on-line or fax date of the completed form.  Your company’s registration date is one of the criteria for appointment scheduling, so remember to register early!

 

Housing

So that you get a good night’s sleep before a busy Marketplace day, we have two host hotel for Marketplace 2006.  Housing forms will be in the registration mailing and available on-line July 18.

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.

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Quality Appointments: Appointment Sessions

  • DMO appointment sessions will be Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning.
  • Lodging appointment sessions will be Monday morning and Wednesday morning. 
  • Attractions appointment sessions will be Monday afternoon, Tuesday morning and Wednesday afternoon.  (Delegate will have appointments in two of the three appointment sessions.) 

 

Note the change for Lodging and Attractions Appointment Sessions.

This change will allow all delegates to experience more than their quality appointments; they will have more access to professional education and limitless networking at Marketplace.

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Limitless Networking: New Event and Nashville Fun Fact

New All-Delegate Event!

Marketplace offers you the most networking events, and now we've added yet another one! Mohegan Sun will be sponsoring an all-delegate hospitality suite on Saturday evening, giving you sixteen All-Delegate events in one week.

 

Did you know...Belle Meade Plantation was famous for breeding thoroughbred horses.  Iroquois, bred at the Belle Meade Farm, was the first American horse to win the English Derby.  In addition to Iroquois, though, there were two other famous horses that can trace their lineage back to Belle Meade:  Seabiscuit and War Admiral, both made popular again by the 2001 best-selling novel.  Four generations removed, the 1930s horses were descendents of the sires of Bonnie Scotland, Belle Meade's prize horse, making the family rivalry at the Plantation run deep.

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Professional Education: "Be Entertained Thru Education"

The 2006 Marketplace Educational Seminars will hit a HIGH note at Nashville!  Our “higher learning” will take place high above the Marketplace Floor – on the third floor of the Convention Center.  From this lofty location ABA speakers will address up-to-date topics on industry tools, professional and personal development, and business management so you will be a solid-gold hit with your company. 

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