June Update

Market YOUR Place at Marketplace

Marketplace's HOT Ticket Program

Marketplace is One Hot Ticket as the must attend show in the industry.

Plan to take your journey to Nashville so YOUR business can be Center Stage.

Marketplace Microphone: Your Chance to Keep Marketplace Delegate-driven

Registration time is approaching (July 15) and we know that Marketplace is the must attend show in the industry, but to make certain that we continue to earn your attendance. What tool, activity, or assistance can we offer to continue to build upon your Marketplace experience? E-mail us at meetingsdept@buses.org by June 20, 2005.

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 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.

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

Pre-Payment of Marketplace

To help your budget or to make certain that your payment does not hold up your registration, you may pre-pay your Marketplace registration fees at anytime so that we can process your registration as soon as we receive it beginning in mid-July. Please contact us at meetingsdept@buses.org for an invoice or for more information.

Pre–registration Status: What is it and how do I get it?

ABA would like to thank all companies that attended Marketplace 2005 by automatically providing them with pre–registration status for Marketplace 2006. This means that you will not be waitlisted, provided that you register by September 15. Registration materials will be sent to all members (regardless of 2005 attendance) on July 15.

For those of you who missed out on Marketplace 2005, we hope you are planning to attend Marketplace 2006. Registration opens July 15; make certain that you register as soon as possible.

Sponsorships

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

Quality Appointments

Company Registration Date Effects Appointments

Appointment requests are prioritized based on registration date so the sooner you sign up, the better your chances of meeting whom you want to meet with -- so register early! Registration materials will be sent to all ABA members on July 15, 2005.

Learning Center

The Learning Center Subcommittee is responsible for delivering data, reference materials, and research information to Marketplace delegates. The primary assignment of the Subcommittee is to develop and execute an on-site Learning Center, where delegates get to research companies and prepare for their appointments.

American Bus Marketplace has the Best Learning Center in the Industry! Your Learning Center resources can provide you valuable information to maximize your appointments!

  • Computer Research Database – Create a target Prospect List
  • Library: Operator Reference Materials
  • State & Provincial Information Network (SPIN)
  • DMO Mail Boxes provide additional leads for Prospecting

Limitless Networking: Nashville Fun Facts

The $37 million Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum reopened May 2001 in its downtown location. The architecture of this grand edifice contains many symbolic elements. From the front, the vertical windows on the building's facade emulate the pattern of piano keys. From the side of the building, the facade resembles the tail fin of a 1950's Cadillac. The musical notes (made of crab orchard stone) that encircle the exterior of the rotunda are the chorus to "Will the Circle Be Unbroken."

Within the Museum's archives, there are more than 200,000 recorded discs; 60,000 historical photographs; 5,000 films and videotapes; thousands of posters, books, songbooks, periodicals, and sheet music; and hundreds of audio tapes. The collection also includes thousands of personal artifacts such as performers' instruments, costumes, accessories and more. Among the many historic artifacts in the collection are Maybelle Carter's L-5 Gibson guitar, and the 1939 recording of the Grand Ole Opry's first network broadcast.

Professional Education

2006 Topics

The 2006 Marketplace Education Subcommittee met in April in Nashville to evaluate the 2005 Speakers and to create an education seminar schedule to provide up-to-date topics on industry tools, professional and personal development, and business management.

Speakers' Tips

Whether or not you attended Marketplace 2005, you are welcome to listen to our industry’s experts provide you with the professional education you need to make your business grow. Log on today to order your piece of the most successful Marketplace ever!

Click on the link www.nrstaping.com/aba/ to access the Education Seminar Audio/CD Order Form. All sessions were recorded live and are available on audiocassette or CD for $12 each. Be sure to order your copy today!