APPOINTMENTS

Requesting Appointments  |  Keeping Appointments  |  Getting More Appointments  |  Mini-Switch

Click here to sign into your Passport to view appointment schedules!

Requesting Appointments

Buyers and Suppliers will be issued access to the Showcase Passport. A password will be provided to each delegate keeping a schedule book. This password is used to access marketing information about each company, as well requesting appointments. Detailed instructions of how to request appointments are provided on the site. The appointment scheduling section of the site opens on Wednesday, January 2, 2008 and appointment requests are due by Friday, February 8, 2008. During this time, you will be able to access profile sheets on all Buyers and Suppliers registered for the Showcase. Since Buyer registration will remain open, this list will continuously be updated until registration closes on Friday, February 8, 2008.

A list of pre-scheduled appointments will be e-mailed to each company approximately two weeks prior to the Showcase. Editorial media delegates may also request appointments.

No appointment book will be completely filled for every delegate. Breaks in the schedule, as well as open appointments, will be provided for each delegate.

Editorial media delegates may request special appointments and/or interviews with Suppliers. Travel South USA recommends that all Supplier delegates have a press kit available that highlights your distinct offering to the travel industry.

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Keeping Appointments

During the Showcase Buyers visit Suppliers in their booths and keep seven-minute appointments, discussing how they can best do business. Announcements are made every seven minutes telling Buyers it is time to check their schedule and move to the next appointment. There are two minutes between each appointment.

Each member state has an aisle. Companies with properties in more than one Travel South USA state are assigned to the "Multi-State" aisle unless the key contact makes a special request. Having companies organized by state should assist tour operators in planning itinerary and story ideas.

All delegates participate in all four marketplace sessions.

We recommend Suppliers bring itineraries and a presentation binder with information about their destination or property to show tour operators what is available in their area.

A wide variety of social events are scheduled during Showcase to provide the opportunity to do business in a more relaxed setting, plus learn about some of the exciting destinations in the region.

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Getting More Appointments

TRIP IDEAS AND ITINERARIES…

In the fall, contact companies you work with and ask if they are attending Showcase. If not, offer to have registration information sent to them. Tell them about your new products or itinerary ideas.

Since perfect matches are scheduled first by the computer (meaning the Supplier company and the Buyer company have requested each other) contacting the company in advance will increase your chances of scheduling an appointment prior to the Showcase.

When you receive your list of pre-scheduled appointments, begin planning your strategy for on-site scheduling. Notify the companies you did not get an appointment with. Target the companies you want to see during the mini switch session.

Check the on-site newsletter for the most recent cancellations so you keep your appointment book up to date. The on-site newsletter also lists late registrations – and those companies are not likely to have many appointments.

If you can’t find an open time slot, walk to lunch together; meet for breakfast; the Showcase remains open for an additional 30 minutes at the end of the day – use that time wisely; co-ordinate your flight schedules so you can ride the shuttle together; ride the shuttle together to an event; invite them for dinner on Monday night; invite them to be your guest for the Bowling Classic. The possibilities are only limited by your imagination.

If you are a Supplier, do not take it personally if a tour operator does not schedule an appointment with you. The operator may have specific needs that do not include your area at this particular time. Exchange cards and stay in touch.

Introduce yourself to other companies on your aisle and tell them a little about what you are selling. Don’t forget those companies on the Multi-State aisle.

Always have a business card with you! Not only to exchange them…many people have booked tours or gotten stories placed from notes on the back of a business card!

Stay near booth! There are plenty of stories from Suppliers who said they had some of their best appointments from people walking by!

Take advantage of one of the new sponsorship opportunities available at Showcase. Check out our Sponsorship Program for more information!

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Mini-Switch Appointments

In 2007, delivering more opportunities to connect Suppliers and Buyers was a key objective for Showcase. We increased the number of appointment opportunities and added more on-site scheduling time. During the two days of Marketplace, in addition to the 52 pre-scheduled appointment slots, all appointment-taking delegates can schedule an additional 24 five-minute mini-switch appointments. This is your opportunity to meet with Buyers/Suppliers you most likely do not have a pre-scheduled appointment with.

Computerized scheduling is available on-site in the Computer Scheduling Area of the Marketplace floor. You can easily login to your Travel South Showcase passport with your ID and password to schedule additional appointments. This area is open during the normal registration hours on Saturday and Sunday. This is a first come, first serve opportunity and the early bird will definitely get the worm!

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