ITINERARIES MIDWEST
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2008 Great North Group Travel Show & FAM in Austin, MN
Over 25 tour operators, bank club directors
and qualified group leaders converged on Austin,
Minnesota this past October
27-29 for a significant travel trade event. The annual 2008
GREAT NORTH Group Travel Show & FAM was hosted by
Austin, corporate home of Hormel Foods, and recognized internationally
as SPAMTown USA!
The GREAT NORTH Group
Travel Show has
become the signature Midwest show for group travel planning,
and this time was no exception! Starting Sunday evening with
a reception for exhibitors at the Austin Holiday
Inn, the
show quickly took shape as suppliers put up their booths,
renewed old friendships, enjoyed pizza and prepared themselves
for Monday's "Speed Touring" sessions
where they would meet with operators face-to-face for itinerary
planning. Mark Peterson - of Itineraries Minnesota - spoke
on "TOOLS FOR THE TRADE". He provided exhibitors
with group travel marketing tips along with encouragement that
included facts and figures showing the continued activity and
growth of the motorcoach industry, even in these uneven economic
times. Suppliers also learned a few details about the new ITINERARIES
MIDWEST Magazine coming out Spring 2009.
Monday morning started early for both
planners and exhibitors. During the delicious Holiday Inn
breakfast, Carol Zoff of the Great
River Road Commission spoke specifically to operators about developing group travel
itineraries along the Mississippi River. She also emphasized
to suppliers how the river is a natural itinerary that is
great for destination partnering. After breakfast the person-to-person "Speed Touring" kicked
into gear for the rest of the morning. These friendly conversations
saw the start of many new business relationships, and the re-kindling
of old ones... Planners quickly learned in these 7-minute meetings
that even if they had been to a destination before, that there
are always new and unique reasons to keep these suppliers
in their radar!
At noon the Winnipeg
Tour Connection sponsored the GREAT
NORTH LUNCHEON. Each planner received a gift, plus they played a
trivia game for more prizes leading up to an exciting and valuable
Grand Prize of a $1,000 toward a bus tour to Winnipeg for a
group!
Sandy Weicht of the Elk
River Red Hats was lucky enough to win this fantastic prize! The day proved
to be extra special for Sandy, who later won the Itineraries
Minnesota Grand Prize of a busload of 45 tickets for a scenic
boat ride on the Minneapolis Queen down the Mississippi River!! Congratulations
Sandy!!
After lunch, Speed Touring got going again and continued until
all the suppliers and planners had met with each other. Marketplace
time followed, with planners visiting exhibitor booths, picking
up literature, and asking questions and getting details for
more trip ideas, and remaining prizes handed out as well.
Next up was Austin's time to impress
attendees with the WINE, DINE & RECLINE evening event. Guests enjoyed delicious
and elegant hors D'oeuvres, wine and beer tasting, provided
by Schell’s Brewery and Fieldstone
Winery, and pampering
(that included facials, hand/chair massages and scrubs) for
everyone there. The evening's Grand Prize was a Nintendo Wii,
and Evelyn Mohrfeld, of Evie’s Travel was thrilled to
win this prize!
Tuesday was a special daylong Austin FAM, with
transportation provided by Richfield Bus Company/Heartland
Tours and Travel. Participants
enjoyed and discovered many "new and unique" experiences
for their groups. On Wednesday it was Albert Lea's turn for
their FAM with the operators. Everyone who went on these
FAM’s were delighted
with the many travel opportunities they saw, learned and experienced!
We want to express a special Thank
You to all who came, and
to the Winnipeg Tour Connection for sponsoring the delicious
Great North Luncheon and the afternoon break. Also, thanks
to all the sponsors and exhibitors for their contributions
in making this show such a successful event for everyone involved!
In 2009, the Great North Show is getting
a new name: Itineraries Midwest Group Travel Show!
Watch for the dates and location of the 2009 Show!
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