Sunday, Jan. 8
Education Schedule
9:30 - 10:30 a.m.
201: Tour Packaging
Speaker: Bill Geist
Sponsored by Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism
It's a whole new world when it comes to creating packages to lure prospective clients onto your bus...and destination marketing expert Bill Geist suggests ways to stay on top of the curve. From identifying new experiences that are in demand to suggesting new ways of experiencing travel opportunities, this session will open your eyes to new ways to market your services to an ever shifting audience.
202: Time Management Using Google Apps
Speaker: Randall Dean
Sponsored by Mississippi Division of Tourism
Click Here for Handout
For many years, Microsoft Outlook, LotusNotes, and other server-based productivity applications have been the industry leaders. But in the last two to three years, popular programs and services based in “the cloud,” especially using Google apps, have been emulating the capabilities of these productivity applications, now to the point where a professional could seriously consider “leaping to the cloud.” The benefits of making this shift include much lower costs, the capability to work on any tech platform (PC, Mac, iPad, iPod, BlackBerry, Droid, etc.) anywhere you have Internet access, and better capacity for collaboration and sharing. But can you honestly use these cloud-based apps for professional business and productivity activities? The answer: yes—this session will show you how.
203: The Top 10 Free Online Tools for 2012
Speaker: Susan Sweeney
Sponsored by Titanic Museum Attraction
In this fast-paced session, Susan Sweeney, Internet marketing expert and the author of eight Internet marketing books will take you on a whirlwind tour of the latest and greatest online tools and resources (most of them free) that you can use to market more effectively, wow your website visitors, improve your conversion, improve your website, save time, and do more business.
11 a.m. - Noon
204: Lodging Representative Meeting
Moderator: John Kennedy
Sponsored by Turning Stone Resort & Casino
Join your lodging colleagues for an engaging dialogue on the state of your industry segment. John will help you pinpoint the most pressing issues, challenge you to be open and honest in your discussion, and collectively produce relevant strategies that you can take back to the office.
205: Groupon…Hero or Heretic?
Speaker: Alf Nucifora
It’s a new sales model that’s proliferating like wildfire, but will these ubiquitous “deal of the day” channels capture long-term consumer loyalty and reconfigure the traditional mode by which seller and buyer interact with each other? In this timely address, seasoned marketing professional and perennial Marketplace presenter, Alf Nucifora, delivers a detailed analysis of the popular and unstoppable online ecommerce “deal” companies that are capturing consumer sales, market share and customer loyalty, together with their applicability to the travel industry. The short-term (daily) marketing of travel packages and experiences through channels including Groupon, Jetsetter, Gilt City, etc. will be discussed together with appropriate recommendations for the motorcoach industry and marketers.
2:30 - 3:30 p.m.
206: Attraction Representative Meeting
Moderator: Alf Nucifora
Join your attraction colleagues for an engaging dialogue on the state of your industry segment. Alf will help you pinpoint the most pressing issues, challenge you to be open and honest in your discussion, and collectively produce relevant strategies that you can take back to the office.
207: Optimizing Outlook: Key Strategies for Time, People and E-mail Management Using MS Outlook
Speaker: Randall Dean
Sponsored by Mississippi Division of Tourism
Click Here for Handout
Randy Dean goes deeper into many of the most common areas of productivity loss (and possible gain!) afflicting many busy professionals today: managing multiple projects, maintaining “traction” when dealing with tasks and interruptions, clearing the clutter in your mind, keeping staff on task, tracking “who owes you what” and getting that information on time, and better managing your calendar and contacts for better time and relationship management (as well as of course a few critical e-mail tips). Get more from all five of the key Outlook functions for greater productivity.
208: Using QR Codes to Enhance Marketing, Sales & Customer Service
Speaker: Jeff Korhan
Click Here for Handout
QR Codes are beginning to play a key role in business marketing. These graphic representations of encrypted data connect your digital Web content with prospects and customers in real-time via mobile devices—and they are free. Learn how they are being used now and how you can use them to enhance your marketing, sales, and customer service.
4 - 5 p.m.
209: Tourism Trends
Speaker: Bill Geist
Sponsored by Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism
From the ever-volatile economy to the evolution of what is important to today's traveler, keeping a keen eye on the trends that power consumer choice has never been more important. Tourism trend analyst Bill Geist offers his take on how to capitalize on these changes to develop new experiences opportunities that resonate with today's consumer.
210: Essential Social Marketing Practices
Speaker: Jeff Korhan
Click Here for Handout
Social media is dramatically influencing how you should market and operate your business today. The Web is now central to business—and it’s going social. It is the reason every small business is now its own media company—or should be. This program will give you a foundation for understanding how to effectively use social media now—and to capably navigate future changes to keep your business relevant in the markets you serve.
211: Negotiating Through Understanding Personality Differences
Speaker: Jan Hargrave
Sponsored by Louisville CVB
Whether you’ve been selling for two days, two months, two years or a lifetime, you recognize that professional selling is your opportunity to determine your own destiny. Peak performance sales people understand that selling today is about building successful, positive, on-going client relationships. Jan Hargrave’s seminar has the help you need to understand yourself and successfully negotiate with others. Jan’s in-depth examination of client personality differences, effective soft selling approaches and strategies for efficient listening will provide you with a wealth of detailed information for victorious negotiations and fulfilling, rewarding client relationships.
