Note: This page created 11SEP09. Updates reflected posting dates.

American Bus Association 2010 Marketplace Planning
Here you will find the latest information for Minnesota’s participation in the American Bus Association 2010 Marketplace to be held Jan 15-19, 2010 at the Gaylord National Harbor, Washington, DC. Approximately 20 participants from around the state jointly hosting a booth annually, promoting the many group tour experiences that can be found in our state.

MEETING: Friday, October 23, 2009 at Eagan Community Center
We had a great meeting with most participating. Thanks to Denise and Eagan CVB for hosting. See the additional notes regarding focus teams for the booth. Other items of note: deadlines for gathering of prizes and information, submitting travel schedules, and team apparel for the booth and events. The goal is to continue work in teams and avoid the need to gather as a large group again.

Team Focuses and Tasks: 5 teams for booth preparation at ABA
Team and members listed below (*denotes team leaders)
Prizes: Gather items for 3 grand prizes, to be given away at close of day on Sat, Sun and Mon. The prizes will build in value each day. Last day’s prize will comprise of free stay, attractions and dining to be used on a group itinerary. All prizes will receive special mention on a board posted at the booth throughout the show, with winners announced. Based on winner preference, prize bundles to be given away in sports duffle or large, collapsible cooler for hand-carry or will be shipped to winnter. Prizes must be ready for shipping Jan 5, 2010.
Décor: Gathering items for this year’s booth focus on sports. We’ll tout the new Gopher and Twins facilities, abundance of other teams statewide, and golf, fishing, bicycling and winter sports options. Get your sport’s apparel ready for Product Pavilion day. If you don’t have an EMT vest already, get in touch with Stephanie Leach.
Scheduling: Preparing two-hour shifts to staff the booth during opening hours. Booth is staffed days are Sat-Tue. Key day is Sat for the Product Pavilion, when all will don sports apparel – teams jerseys, or other gear.We will also attempt to provide staffing assistance for the resource center or other volunteer need as a group. Please submit cell phone #, hotel info and flight schedule as soon as possible. Also advise any education sessions, orientation or other events that prevent you from being scheduled in the booth.
Comm & Playbook: Advance communications for tour operator registration bags, reply piece for tour operator giveaway and playbook with 2-page profile for each sponsor. This is a slight shift from the annual cookbook format, and will include a game day recipe from each sponsor. Deadline for submitting items for playbook is Friday, Nov. 20, 2009.
Food & Give-aways: Our booth will have three foods items this year: SPAM (again with variey of flavors – but no garlic!), lefse, and wild rice soup. Our quest for a tour operator give-away item featuring the EMT logo has been reduced to a grilling spatula, sports/kitchen towell, or small, collapsible cooler/lunch bag.

Team Prizes                       Team Décor         Team Scheduling
Caroline Abts                     Caroline Abts*       Raj Bhakta
Michael Hernandez           Casey Kluver         Michael Hernandez
Jane Koll*                            Pat Mutter              Millie Philipp
Jen Pacyga                         Denise Olsen       Chris Van Meter*
Mark Paulson                     Janelle Smith

Team Comm & Playbook     Team Food & Give-aways
Brent Haugen                          Carrie Donovan*
Mary Nelson                             Mary Lawrence
MaryAnn Steen*                       Stephanie Leach
Lisa Turnbull                            Sarah Strege

MEETING: Friday, October 23, 2009 at Eagan Community Center
We had a great meeting with most participating. Thanks to Denise and Eagan CVB for hosting. See the additional notes regarding focus teams for the booth. Other items of note: deadlines for gathering of prizes and information, submitting travel schedules, and team apparel for the booth and events. The goal is to continue work in teams and avoid the need to gather as a large group again.

FLIGHTS: Book your travel in/out of Washington National Aiport (DCA). Fares on NWA found during the week of Oct 27, 2009 for the applicable time frame came at $295.00. Cheaper options abound, at around $250.00, but all involve connections.  Watch out for those short connect times, at risk in winter weather!

Event Schedule: Full information is found at the Marketplace 2010 Web site, including registration, lodging and transportation. Key dates here:
Jan 14 – arrival & booth set-up
Jan 15 – finish set-up & tours
Jan 16 – Product Pavilion
Jan 17- DMO appointments
Jan 18 – Attraction/Hotel appointments
Jan 19 – Attractions/Hotel appointments
Jan 20 – booth tear-down  & departure

Hotel: The host hotel and site of all Marketplace sessions is the Gaylord National, located just south of Washington, DC in suburban Maryland, and just across the Potomac from Alexandria, VA. Rates for delegates are $189 plus resort fee and 16% tax, which includes Wi-Fi, pool and fitness center use. Other hotels in the new devlopment complex include Aloft, Hampton Inn, Residence Inn by Marriott and Westin. Rates vary at these properties.

Booth Theme: After some spontaneous brainstorming at our Sep. 10 meeting, all attendees agreed it would be good to alter our booth theme to a sports focus, acknowledging the new stadiums in the metro area, National Sport Center for student groups, and many sports options state-wide.

Participants: (posted 22SEP09) The SPAM Museum has already committed and paid for their 2010 role. Jane Koll of TCTAA will not be attending ABA, but is committed to a sponsorship. Visit Minneapolis North is again providing co-sponsorship though not attending. Visit Bemidji must redeploy marketing efforts in the year to their new regional conference center so won’t be a co-sponsor in 2010. Co-sponsorship fees for the booth are $600 if attending ABA and $500 otherwise. Most co-sponsors have already sent payment.