Registration Information and Fees

When Can I Register?

Marketplace registration and housing materials will be mailed to all active ABA members on July 11, 2008. On-line registration will begin on July 14, 2008.

Housing will be open to ALL delegates on July 14 at noon e.d.t.

On-line registration will open on different dates for each travel industry category to shorten the on-line time to submit one's registration and to prevent server overload that was experienced in the past. The staggered registration dates will not negatively impact the company because all appointment-takers within a specific appointment session, or travel industry category, will have the same registration start date. Buyers and Associate members can register on-line beginning July 14.

Marketplace on-line registration dates:

• DMOs  - July 14 at noon e.d.t

• Lodging  - July 15 at noon e.d.t

• Attractions/LRO - July 16 at noon e.d.t

Buyer Delegates

Motorcoach and Tour Operators who attend Marketplace to meet with travel industry suppliers (Sellers) to create business relationships and plan future charters and tours. Click here to see if you qualify as a Marketplace Buyer.

Appointment-Taking Buyers: Appointment-taking delegates make appointment requests, receive prescheduled appointments and conduct appointments during all business sessions. Buyers have appointments Thursday afternoon, Friday morning, Saturday morning, Saturday afternoon, Sunday morning, Monday morning, and Monday afternoon.

Rotation Buyers: Rotation delegates alternate the Marketplace appointment responsibilities with the appointment-taking delegate. Buyers can send one rotation delegate for every appointment-taking delegate registered. Rotation delegates have the same privileges as appointment-taking delegates.

Product Pavilion Attendee: Delegates registering for Saturday/Sunday only and may participate in all educational, networking and Marketplace events as well as access to the Product Pavilion.

Buyer Guests: Guests attend Marketplace for the social and meal functions. Guests may not be employed by ABA member companies, but have the same privileges as other Buyer delegates.

• Early Bird Registration (Ends Sept 15, 2008): $250*
• Regular Registration (Begins Sept 16, 2008): $350*
• Product Pavilion Attendee (Operators registered for Saturday/Sunday only): $100 per operator company
  
• Buyer Guest Registration: $250
  

  *Buyers receive a $250 Rebate for delegates registered prior to November 13, 2008 who meet all Marketplace requirements. Buyers will receive free registrations for next year's Marketplace for every appointment-taking and rotation delegate they bring to Marketplace who comply to all Marketplace expectations. No free registrations will be given for Buyer Representatives or guests.

Seller Delegates

An ABA membership category designation for any Travel Industry Supplier. Sellers attend Marketplace to meet with Buyers (motorcoach/tour operator) to create business relationships and solicit tourism dollars and become more knowledgeable through education seminars and networking opportunities. Sellers are registered under their primary company membership category. Sellers can attend Marketplace as either appointment-taking, observer or guests delegates.

Appointment-Taking Sellers: Appointment-taking delegates make appointment requests, receive prescheduled appointments and conduct appointments at Marketplace during their business session.

• DMOs Appointment Sessions: Thursday afternoon, Friday morning
• Lodging Appointment Sessions: Saturday All Day
• Attractions/LRO/Other Appointment Sessions: Sunday morning, Monday morning and Monday afternoon. Delegates will have prescheduled appointments in 2 of the 3 days with access to the business floor all 3 days.

ABA Travel Industry members are eligible to have at least one appointment-taking delegate if registered before the session fills. Organizations attending for the first time and organizations that did not attend Marketplace in 2008 are eligible for only one appointment-taking delegate. ABA Travel Industry organizations may register additional delegates as outlined below:

• Organizations that had thirty-two (32) or more prescheduled buyer requests (not appointments) in 2008 will qualify for a second appointment-taking delegate if that delegate is registered before the session fills.
• A third appointment-taking delegate will qualify if the organization had sixty-four (64) or more prescheduled buyer requests in 2008 and if that delegate is registered before the session fills.

Observer Sellers: A registered Travel Industry Seller who is not taking appointments. Observer delegates may participate in all Marketplace activities, seminars and events, except appointment and mating sessions. Observers have access to the Marketplace Business Floor area only on their assigned session day.

Seller Guests: Guests have the same privileges as other Seller delegates (except for access to the Marketplace Business Floor). Guests attend Marketplace for the social and meal functions. Guests may not be employed by ABA member companies.

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

Associate Delegates

Product and Service Suppliers (bus manufactures, equipment companies, insurance carriers, etc) attend Marketplace to make contacts and create business opportunities. Associates can attend Marketplace as appointment-taking delegates, representatives or guests delegates.

Appointment-Taking Associates: Associate delegates who want to take appointments register as Seller Appointment-taking delegates. They make appointment requests, receive prescheduled appointments and conduct appointments at Marketplace during the Attractions/LRO/Other appointment sessions on Sunday morning, Monday morning and Monday afternoon. Delegates will have prescheduled appointments in 2 of the 3 sessions with access to the business floor all 3 sessions.

Observer Sellers: A registered supplier who is not taking appointments. Observers have access to the Marketplace Business Floor area only on their assigned session day (Sunday morning, Monday morning and Monday afternoon). Observer delegates may participate in all Marketplace activities, seminars and events, except appointment and mating sessions.

Representatives: A registered Associate who is not taking appointments but attends Marketplace for the entire week. Representatives may staff Networking Floor/Coach Exhibits and participate in all Marketplace activities, seminars and events, except appointment and mating sessions. Representatives will have no access to the Marketplace Business Floor.

Exhibitors: Exhibitors have access to the Product Pavilion Trade Show and Networking Floor and all official functions for Sunday, Jan. 11 only.

Associate Guests: Guests have the same privileges as other Associate delegates (except for access to the Marketplace Business Floor). Guests attend Marketplace for the social and meal functions. Guests may not be employed by ABA member companies.

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

Dynamic Exhibit Opportunities

The Product Pavilion Exhibit Floor – Sunday, Jan. 11 only

ABA’s Product Pavilion is a one day trade show, a perfect marketing opportunity for an associate member to display their products and services to the bus industry.

• $300 per Product Pavilion Exhibit Booth Early Bird (Ends Sept. 15, 2008). 10 x 10 booth space includes: 8’ table, 2 chairs, wastebasket, ID sign, carpet and drape, 1 exhibitor pass for Saturday/Sunday Only. Multiple exhibit spaces are able to be purchased.
• $400 per Product Pavilion Exhibit Booth Regular (Begins Sept. 16, 2008). 10 x 10 booth space includes: 8’ table, 2 chairs, wastebasket, ID sign, carpet and drape, 1 exhibitor pass for Saturday/Sunday Only. Multiple exhibit spaces are able to be purchased.
• $100 per additional exhibitor. Delegates can extend their stay by purchasing of an additional day pass (1 day max)

Networking Floor Exhibit

The Networking Floor is open all Marketplace week to all delegates. It provides a 6 day marketing opportunity for Associate members to promote their products and services in a high energy and professional manner.

• $2000: 10' x 10' per NETWORKING FLOOR EXHIBIT; does not include delegate registration or furnishings.
• Travel Industry Space available through sponsorship agreement only. Click here for sponsorship opportunities.

Coach Exhibit

Coaches will be displayed all week on the Networking Floor.

• $3000 per COACH EXHIBIT. Does not include delegate registration. Coaches on display must be ABA members and must be manned during show hours.

Ph: (800) 283-2877 Fax: (202) 898-1575 Send us an e-mail at meetingsdept@buses.org

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