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Welcome to the 3rd annual Far West Travel Expo. If you attended the convention in 2003 or 2004, you are probably familiar with the format of our Travel Expo. Whether you’ve participated in past Travel Expos or are new this year, here are some tips to help you get the most out of your experience.

First of all, keep in mind that the Travel Expo is for you, therefore it is up to you to determine how best to use your time with the delegates. We are recommending that there be no more than four delegates at any single meeting and that each delegate be from a different club or council.

These appointments are meant to be an introduction to your product. Expo time should not be used for finalizing a trip already in the works. Use the time on Friday night for this or schedule time with this delegate for another time.

The Expo—
The Travel Expo is a form where delegates [voting and non-voting] can meet with the ski industry [resorts, operators and suppliers], up close and personal in a pre-scheduled 10-minute appointment format. These appointments are held every 15 minutes on the quarter hour starting at 9:15 AM and ending at 11:15 AM, giving you eight opportunities to meet with the Far West delegates.

Time is somewhat limited this year due to the 75th anniversary presentation and celebration.

We are asking that everyone take advantage of all eight appointments. There will be a few exceptions since there is some judging and bidding going on concurrently. This only involves a small percentage of our delegates.

Our delegates have a wide variety of knowledge and experience with your product. The delegates are generally officers of their club or council and will not necessarily be the travel person. BUT these folks are a part of the process that determines where their club goes— if not in 2006, then in 2007.

The challenge for you is to make your presentation broad enough to satisfy everyone. That is why we ask that you limit your appointments to a maximum of four people, each from a different club or council. As different as our clubs are, so is the industry. Therefore, if you prefer to limit your presentation to one club or council, that would be your choice.

Signing Up for Appointments—
Your “Sign-Up Sheet” will be in your registration package. The Sheet is for you to record your appointments. Make sure you also record your appointment on the delegates’ “Passports.” You will have two appointment sign-up opportunities.

• Sign up with delegates during the Silent Auction on Friday from 7 - 10 PM. Be proactive on Friday night during the Auction! When talking to delegates, feel free to ask them for an appointment.

• There will also be an opportunity to sign up on Saturday from 8:45 - 9:15 AM during the half hour prior to the opening of the Travel Expo.

Your “Travel Expo Passport” will be given to you when you enter the Silent Auction. The Passport is for you to record your appointments. Make sure you also record your appointment on the industry’s sign-up sheet. If you miss the Silent Auction, you can pick up a Passport at Saturday’s registration.

You will have two opportunities to sign up.

Sign up during the Silent Auction on Friday from 7 - 11 PM. Be proactive on Friday night during the Auction! When talking to delegates, feel free to ask them for an appointment.


Sign up on Saturday from 8:45 - 9:15 AM during the half hour prior to the start of the Travel Expo.

Meeting Suggestions—
Don’t worry if you don’t get your sign-up sheet filled in on Friday night. There are a number of people who will arrive too late to start the process Friday night and will be looking for you on Saturday.

Remember, even if the delegate is not their club’s travel person, they are representing their club and will be bringing information and recommendations back to their board.

Be on time for your appointment. Don’t linger past your scheduled time.

Don’t forget to sign off the delegates’ Passports at the close of each appointment. The delegates who make ALL eight appointments will be entered into a drawing for a ground package for one person to the Far West trip to Telluride, February 4-11, 2006.

Please do NOT sign a delegate’s Passport if they haven’t met with you.

The Meetings—
The meetings this year will be in the Centennial Ballroom and a couple of break-out rooms. We will attempt to have you seated in alphabetical order. Announcements will be made for the beginning and end of all appointments.

More Information—
Please contact Bonnie West or 562.699.8880 with any questions or suggestions you may have.