Saturday Education Seminars
9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
DMO Representatives Meeting
The Essentials of Experiential Tour and Travel Packaging : Joe Veneto, CSP
Tour operators, travel suppliers and DMO’s must develop compelling and innovative travel experiences to keep customers coming back. Uncover the elements of creating and crafting UFE’s (UnForgettable Experiences) that engage and immerse customers. Explore different experiential attributes to tie to your organization’s brand and products to craft new offerings. Finally, learn about organizations that have successfully created new experiences for the market and how you can translate their successes into your business.
11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
High-Five Connections for Websites: Philippa Gamse
To sell effectively in the ‘real world’, we’re told to anticipate our customers’ needs, to show that we “feel their pain,” and to respond to hidden clues in their body language and tone of voice. Many websites fail to create the crucial emotional connections with their visitors which can significantly enhance their response, sales, customer retention and ongoing return on investment. In this program, you will learn the five critical emotions for creating and sustaining productive online relationships, tools and techniques for making these emotional connections on any website and key tips to avoid destroying or diluting the connection.
How To Survive & Thrive in 2009: Alf Nucifora
2008 gave birth to the most devastating economic collapse in 75 years. For virtually every business sector, travel and hospitality included, market demand has vanished, revenues are down, and consumers are driven by fear and uncertainty. Indications for 2009 are for a worsening situation as the marketplace confronts growing unemployment, continuing credit tightening and lack of consumer confidence (and spending). What’s a marketer to do?
In this hard-hitting seminar, seasoned tourism marketing consultant, author and academic Alf Nucifora lays out the anticipated realities of the consumer environment in 2009 and presents a ROI-driven remedial plan that will continue to deliver sales in spite of an unreceptive and unresponsive marketplace.
In this seminar, you will:
- Gain insights into the current economic malaise and public mindset that has driven consumers to place a lock on their wallets and pocketbooks;
- Be privy to economic projections and trends with respect to consumer confidence and spending, and the impact of that data on the travel industry performance in 2009;
- Be exposed to marketing strategies that work best in recessionary times;
- Be provided with actionable tactics and programs that stimulate consumer demand and drive sales;
- Leave with the confidence that survival and success in 2009 are achievable goals in spite of industry woes.
Orientation Seminar: Orientation Subcommittee
2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Product Development Runway : Joe Veneto, CSP
Hitting the Runway to re-invention is essential to meet in ever-changing demands of today’s travelers. Discover what your organization must do to test and develop new products, services and experiences. Learn how to segment customers and investigate new opportunities for clients that will provide insights to increase your runway success.
High-Five Returns for Websites: Philippa Gamse
Your website visitor reports contain a goldmine of information. They help you refine your site, develop new products and services for your customers, and increase visitor response. If you don’t review these regularly, you’re missing critical clues as to how user-friendly your site is, how effectively your message is reaching your visitors, and what needs they have that you aren’t meeting. In this program you’ll learn how to interpret the critical information in your website visitor and search engine reports. You can apply this information in refining your site and e-mail marketing and customer service and use it to develop new strategies, products and services.
Do You Have a 21st Century Crisis Management Plan?: BISC Panel
This panel discussion is aimed at operators, product and service providers, manufacturers and even destinations. It is designed to help ABA member companies adopt best practices for following safety protocols, including the importance of developing and updating a current company policy manual. Discussion also includes the importance of routine maintenance, service and inspection procedures; how to prepare and handle a crisis situation as a team; and how to deal with the media in a crisis communications scenario. Moderated by Norm Littler, ABA’s Vice President of Industry & Regulatory Affairs, panelists include: Charlie Corder of Coach USA discussing “The Importance Of Having A Current Company Policy Manual,” Al Smith of Greyhound Lines addressing “The Team Approach In A Crisis,” Chris Crean of Peter Pan Bus Lines reviewing “The Tabletop Exercise -- Practice, Practice, Practice,” and ABA Senior Vice President for Communications, Marketing & Media Relations Eron Shosteck sharing tools for “Dealing With The Media In Today's World.”
4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
The 2010 EPA Regulations: Cleaner Diesels, Cleaner Air Panel Discussion: Detroit Diesel TBD, Cummins TBD, Volvo TBD, Fuel Provider TBD
The new Environmental Protection Agency regulations slated for 2010 will make today's clean diesel systems in new motorcoaches even cleaner, as the ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel operators have used in their coaches since 2006 will power a new generation of ultra-clean engines. How are these new engines different from the revolutionary clean diesel powerplants introduced in 2007? From fuel economy, to engine maintenance, to emissions control, learn from leading motorcoach engine manufacturers and a fuel provider what these new regulations mean for your business.
Decoding Your Computer's Secrets for Greater Productivity: Alf Nucifora
Marketing expert Alf Nucifora and computer guru Clyde Lerner will conduct an online clinic and demonstration of computer tips, programs, processes and productivity tools aimed at helping the novice, average and even expert user get the most out of their computer. You’ll learn about automatic back-up, clean-up and recovery procedures, databases, effective email distribution, spam filtering, anti-virus protection and security management, office productivity tools, and much, much more. Attendees will be able to ask questions during the course of the program and will be able to interact with the instructors in a Q & A format at all times.
Orientation Seminar: Orientation Subcommittee
|
