Marketplace 2012 Terms and Conditions & Cancellation Policy
Marketplace Terms & Conditions
All registration forms must be returned as soon as possible for organizations to be eligible for appointments. Registration forms will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis; as registrations are confirmed for Appointment-taker status and sessions fill, pending registrations will be wait-listed for appointments. However, all Appointment-taker delegates must be registered no later than Dec. 13, 2011 in order to be included in the pre-scheduled appointment process.
Individual registration fees include: Marketplace business sessions with appointments scheduling (Appointment-taker delegates only), education sessions and all meal/social functions as listed in the Official Program. Fees do not include housing or transportation to the Marketplace site. No single event tickets are available.
All delegates must be representatives of member companies/organizations whose dues and all other outstanding monies due ABA or its agents have been paid in full. Membership dues for 2012 must be paid to participate in Marketplace 2012.
For registrations prior to Sept. 15, all registration invoices are due Sept. 16. If registration occurs after Sept. 15, payment will be required by Dec. 13 for all Appointment-taker delegates. If registration occurs after Dec. 13, payment is due within 30 days of registration.
All delegates must be at least eighteen (18) years of age. No one under 18 years of age is permitted at any Marketplace function including the Networking and Business Floors.
Name badges are required for participation in all Marketplace events. Admittance to any Marketplace function requires the appropriate badge. Badges may NOT be transferred, exchanged or shared. Badges may not be altered or defaced in any way. Violators are subject to badge confiscation. There is a $100 replacement fee for a lost badge.
Requests for delegate name changes and additions must be made in writing.
All housing accommodations and cancellations must be coordinated through the ABA housing bureau. ABA is not responsible for housing cancellations.
No displays, banners, pictures, booth decorations or giveaways of any kind will be permitted without written consent from ABA. Acceptable presentations may include presentation notebooks, profile sheets, a limited number of brochures, self-contained laptop computers or videos with headsets.
Hosted functions will be available only to companies registered for Marketplace and must be operated within the guidelines set by ABA. Hospitality functions and any other function, gift or service involving delegates will not be permitted during Marketplace week without written approval from ABA. No food, beverage or gift shall be sold or distributed other than through ABA designated sponsors.
Internal Revenue Service guidelines prohibit the signing of business contracts in the Marketplace Hall.
Delegate agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the American Bus Association against all claims of damages, losses and charges of any kind resulting from Marketplace participation.
The American Bus Association will provide the services of a bonded and licensed security agency throughout the Marketplace Hall during business hours. Delegate agrees that provision of such services constitutes adequate discharge of all obligations of the management to supervise and protect delegate property.
The American Bus Association cannot be held liable for any financial responsibilities incurred on the part of individual participants.
All delegates must comply with all American Bus Association policies at all Marketplace functions. The ABA Policy prohibits harassment and discrimination so that ABA may maintain a pleasant working environment for its employees and members, free of any intimidation or hostility. Any violation of this policy will be reported to ABA’s President and will be addressed immediately.
Costumes and/or uniforms are not permitted anywhere on the Marketplace floor. Jeans are not permitted on the Business Floor.
Any photographs or film coverage of delegates during Marketplace may be used at the discretion of the American Bus Association in future publications or videos.
No alcohol is permitted on the Business Floor during appointment times.
Appointment Information
Appointment requests not received by Dec. 13, 2011, 5 p.m. ET will not be included in the prescheduling of appointments.
Early Bird Fee Policy
All early bird registration fees must be paid by Aug. 15, 2011. If invoice is unpaid, the regular registration fee will be charged.
Cancellation Policy
In the event Marketplace is cancelled, there will be no refunds.
Refunds for Appointment Taker delegates: A refund will be granted with a $100 cancellation fee per delegate if written requests are received within 30 days of registration confirmation and before Dec. 13, 2011. Written requests may be faxed or e-mailed. A 50% refund will be granted if written requests are received prior to Dec. 13, 2011. No refunds will be granted after Dec. 13, 2011. Appointments, the Marketplace Passport and Marketplace services are not available to cancelled delegates.
Refunds for rotation, Business Floor, Representative, Exhibitor and Guest delegates: There will be no cancellation fee if written requests are received within 30 days of registration. After 30 days, there will be a $100 cancellation fee. No refunds will be granted after Dec. 13, 2011.
All cancellation requests will be sent a cancellation verification via email which must be responded to in writing by the cancelling delegate or representative from the company. When the cancellation verification is received by ABA the registration will be cancelled and a cancellation confirmation will be sent to the delegate. Appointments, the Marketplace Passport and Marketplace services are no longer available to cancelled delegates.
No refunds will be given for on-site cancellations, late arrivals, unused services, unattended events or early departure. It is your responsibility to submit your cancellation request early enough so that it is received in the ABA office by the above dates. Postmark dates will not be accepted.
It is understood, and agreed to, that failure of a participant to comply with these conditions may prohibit current and future participation in the American Bus Marketplace.
Buyer Delegates
DELEGATE TYPES
Appointment-taker Buyer: Appointment-taker delegates make appointment requests, receive pre-scheduled appointments and conduct appointments during all business sessions. Buyers have appointments the following appointment sessions: DMO/Receptive Operator Appointments:
Sun AM/ Sun PM, Lodging/Attraction/Receptive Operator/Associate Appointments: Mon AM/Mon PM, Tues AM/Tues PM
A Qualified Buyer is an established for-profit organization that arranges tours/charters for the company they are representing. In order to attend ABA Marketplace, the organization must meet the following criteria:
- Company is scheduling trips and purchasing product out of their business area.
- Company has the ability to provide new business/customer base to ABA travel industry members.
- Company makes buying decisions on travel components such as food and lodging for preformed groups.
- Company representative attending Marketplace actually develops/plans the tours/charters.
- Company annually produces a minimum of 24 tour or charter itineraries, or 2 tours/charters per month.
- Company has been in business for at least 2 years.
- Company must submit a brief company history as well as a company profile including a list of the organizations the company belongs to. This can include tour itineraries.
- Company must submit their Federal ID # and copies of their errors and omissions insurance (minimum $1 million) or, if a motorcoach company, its federal motor carrier number.
- Company is a reputable firm with a knowledgeable staff that Suppliers work with on a regular basis. Suppliers who recommend these organizations should be willing to stand as a referral for ABA membership.
Rotation Buyer: Rotation delegates alternate the Marketplace appointment responsibilities with the Appointment-taker delegate. Buyers can send one rotation delegate for every Appointment-taker delegate registered. Rotation delegates have the same privileges as Appointment Taker delegates.
Buyer Representative: Buyers who wish to attend the entire Marketplace week without participation in the Appointment Taker process. All representatives must be approved by ABA.
Guest Operator: Non-member operators who wish to attend Marketplace to learn the value of ABA membership and Marketplace. All Guest Operators must be approved by ABA.
Guest: Guests attend Marketplace for the social and meal functions (i.e. spouses, family members). Guests may not be employed by ABA member companies or plan to conduct business at Marketplace. No single event tickets are available.
Number of People Minimum Number of Maximum Number of
You Are Bringing Appointment-taker Delegates Rotation Delegates
1 1 0
2 1 1
3 2 1
4 2 2
5 3 2
6 3 3
7 4 3
REBATES
A rebate per paid Appointment-taker Buyer will be given ONLY if all of the following conditions are met:
- A delegate must be at each assigned table throughout all business sessions.
- All appointments must be kept.
- Appointment-taker Buyers must be registered prior to Dec. 13, 2011.
- Your company must complete a 2011-2012 membership profile form.
- Your company must be a current ABA member.
Your company will also receive one free registration per Appointment-taker Buyer to Marketplace 2013 if all of the above conditions are met. Rotation delegates and guest are not eligible for rebates but rotation delegates are eligible for free registrations.
Seller Delegates
DELEGATE TYPES
Appointment-taker Seller: Appointment-taker delegates make appointment requests, receive pre-scheduled appointments and conduct appointments at Marketplace during their business session.
DMO Appointment Sessions: Sunday All Day
Lodging Appointment Sessions: 1 out of 2 sessions (Mon AM/Tues PM or Mon PM/Tues AM)
Attraction Appointment Sessions: 1 out of 2 sessions (Mon AM/Tues PM or Mon PM/Tues AM)
Receptive Operators: Receptives can choose to have pre-scheduled appointments in the DMO or the Attraction session.
ABA Travel Industry members are eligible to have at least one Appointment-taker delegate if registered before the session fills. Organizations attending for the first time and organizations that did not attend Marketplace 2011 are eligible for only one Appointment-taker delegate. ABA Travel Industry organizations may register additional delegates as outlined below:
- Organizations that had thirty-two (32) or more pre-scheduled buyer requests (not appointments) in 2011 will qualify for a second Appointment-taker delegate if that delegate is registered before the session fills.
- A third Appointment-taker delegate will qualify if the organization had sixty-four (64) or more pre-scheduled buyer requests in 2011 and if that delegate is registered before the session fills.
Business Floor Seller:
A registered Seller who not eligible for pre-scheduled appointments. Business Floor delegates may participate in all Marketplace activities, seminars and events. Business Floor delegates have access to the Marketplace Business Floor area. Business Floor delegates are not eligible for pre-scheduled or manually scheduled appointments.
Seller Representative: This registration is good only for two days. The bearer will not have access to the Business Floor and cannot be on the sales and/or marketing staff for his/her company. The bearer must pick up the badge at registration on the morning of activation. The bearer is responsible for following all rules and regulations of Marketplace. All representatives must be approved by ABA.
Guest: Guests attend Marketplace for the social and meal functions (i.e. spouses, family members). Guests may not be employed by ABA member companies or plan to conduct business at Marketplace. No single event tickets are available.
Associate Delegates/Exhibitors
DELEGATE TYPES
Associate Representative: Four-Day Product Pavilion/Coach Exhibit staff. This registration is good only for the entire Marketplace week. The bearer will not have access to the Business Floor.
One-Day Product Pavilion Exhibitor: Delegate for One-Day Product Pavilion on Saturday, Jan. 7 only. The bearer will not have access to the Business Floor.
Appointment-taker Associate: Appointment-taker delegates make appointment requests, receive pre-scheduled appointments and conduct appointments at Marketplace during their business session. Appointment Sessions: One out of two sessions (Mon AM/Tues PM or Mon PM/Tues AM) scheduled with Attraction delegates.
Guest: Guests attend Marketplace for the social and meal functions (i.e. spouses, family members). Guests may not be employed by ABA member companies or plan to conduct business at Marketplace. No single event tickets are available.
Associate delegates are not allowed to solicit or sell advertising.
Exhibit Types
Four-Day Product Pavilion Exhibit (all Marketplace week) 10x10 exhibit space; does not include delegate registration or furnishings. Furnishings must be purchased separately through ABA’s decorator or shipped by the exhibitor.
Coach Exhibit (all Marketplace week) does not include delegate registration. Coaches on display must be ABA members & must be manned during show hours.
One-Day Product Pavilion Exhibit (Sat., Jan. 7) 10x10 exhibit space, 6’ table, 2 chairs, carpet, drape, one exhibitor pass.
