AO's
International Marketing and Management Conference
for Outfitters and
Adventure Travel Companies
Make Your Travel Plans Now for the Best Marketing and
Management Conference for Outfitters in 20 Years
AO's International
Marketing and Management Conference 20th Anniversary Celebration
December 3
- 5
to Include Founder's Reunion Celebration
America
Outdoors is proud to announce that world renowned author and marketing expert
James Gilmore is designing special programs for AO's International Marketing
and Management Conference. As co-author of The Experience Economy: Work Is
Theatre & Every Business a Stage, James H. Gilmore spawned worldwide
interest in experience design, customer experience management, and experiential
marketing. Gilmore's most recent book, Authenticity: What Consumers Really
Want, contends that Authenticity is the new Quality-that businesses must
learn to manage authenticity as a distinct business discipline. See old friends
and make new ones in the industry at this once in a life time event.
Registration information will be available in June.
Confluence: Adding value to your business and your customers'
experience!
- WHEN: December 3-5, 2008.
- WHERE: Knoxville Convention Center and Hilton of
Knoxville, TN.
- WHO SHOULD ATTEND: Outfitters, guest ranch
operators, tour operators, professional staff, managers, marketing personnel,
store managers, office staff
- FOR INFORMATION CALL: America Outdoors®
1-800-524-4814, 865-558-3595.
The Confluence® program is carefully tailored to the
issues, concerns and new product ideas that are important to the future of your
business.
Attend AO's International Marketing
and Management Conference!
Here are some of the programs offered at this year's
event:
- Keynote:
Rendering Authentic Adventure Experiences Drawing from his book Authenticity:
What Consumers Really Want. Jim Gilmore argues that as reality is
qualified, altered, and commercialized, customers increasingly respond to
offerings that are engaging, personal, memorable - and above all, authentic.
This keynote presentation will demonstrate how the emerging sensibility for
Authenticity is sure to have a major impact on the design of adventure tourism.
Sharing examples from across the spectrum of business and society, Jim will
show why travel and tourism operators must evaluate their offerings and render
the most authentic experience from their customer's perspective.
|
- Breakout: Getting
Real - An Interactive Workshop. Following his morning keynote
presentation, Jim Gilmore will help participants grasp, manage, and excel at
rendering authenticity. This session will challenge participants to create more
memorable, compelling, and authentic tourism experiences, which can ultimately
change the nature of relationships between customers and tourism operators.
James H. Gilmore, co-author of The Experience Economy: Work Is Theatre &
Every Business a Stage, literally wrote the book that spawned worldwide
interest in experience design, customer experience management, and experiential
marketing. Gilmore's most recent book, Authenticity: What Consumers Really
Want, contends that Authenticity is the new Quality-that businesses must learn
to manage authenticity as a distinct business discipline. (Seating will be
limited to 75 participants)
|
- Keynote: Makeover
of the Outfitted Trip. Speaker Ron Rosenberg mystery shopped four fully
outfitted trips over the past year and kept a digital record of his
experiences. His trips included a bicycle tour, rafting trip, guest ranch
vacation and international multi-sport trip. He'll reveal the NEW strategies
outfitters need to employ to improve their conversion rates and generate word
of mouth for active travel and adventure.
|
- Keynote: Make
Selling Fun: The Easiest Way to Convert Leads into Customers and Stand Out
Online. Tired of waiting for someone to fill in your online form on your
website? Still relying on cold calling to fill your business pipeline? If so,
you need to develop fun and unique ways to connect with prospects that will
make them spend money with you no matter what your price is. Join Leesa Barnes
as she shares with you the easiest ways to attract prospects to your business
and convert them into customers. Using analogies, case studies and visual aids,
Leesa will help you understand how to connect with prospects in an entertaining
way that will prompt them to choose you over your competition.session.
|
- Breakout: How to
Use Social Media to Drive Thousands of Hungry Customers to Your Outdoor and
Adventure Website. You've heard about Facebook, MySpace, blogging and
podcasting. You even have a profile on one of these sites, but you haven't paid
it much attention. Aren't these tools just for the Gen Y crowd, you know, those
in their 20s? Not anymore. These tools are being used by working professionals,
senior executives and baby boomers and they're using social media to share
information about finding their next great adventure. There's an easy way and
an intelligent way to use social media to attract customers to your business
online. Leesa Barnes will shares various ways outdoor and adventure businesses
are using social media to boost their business. Leesa will demystify social
media so you can leverage these tools to generate leads and find new customers
effortlessly.
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- Other programs
include:
Hiring and Interviewing
Techniques to Land the Best Employees
Managing and Motivating Seasonal
Employees
Emerging Lifestyles and Travel Trends
Practical Conservation
Strategies that Save You Money
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| Plus
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Over 20 Marketing and Management sessions to
keep your business ahead of the curve and from falling behind the competition.
From the latest in Search Engine Optimization to Risk Management Strategies and
a special track on Hiring, Managing and Motivating seasonal employees, you
can't afford to miss this incredible value.
Outfitter Expo Trade Show
Save time and money by ordering at the outfitting industry's premier tradeshow,
the Confluence® Marketplace. Relax, network and learn at
Confluence® in Knoxville! Confluence® Outfitter Expo Trade Show
is a production of America Outdoors®. Join over 800 industry
leaders and their suppliers at the 2008 show.
Conference Sponsors
Our
event sponsors for 2007 were LaSalle Merchant Services,
Compendium Software,
Morrison Communications, and
The Schneider
Group. Thanks sponsors for helping make our event a success!
International Outfitters Bazaar at Confluence
The
International Bazaar is your opportunity to find an outstanding outfitter to
take your best clients on an international adventure. International outfitters
will be exhibiting their services in a special section of the Confluence®
trade show hall during regular trade show hours. The Bazaar will allow you to
establish a relationship with an international outfitter that can expand your
current services to include international trips. Come to Confluence® and
network at the International Outfitters Bazaar so that you can be ready to take
care of all your clients' requests for adventure travel outside the US.
About America Outdoors®
America
Outdoors® is a national association of outfitters and their suppliers. AO
represents over 600 companies operating in the US and internationally. America
Outdoors® assists members with risk management, government affairs,
business development, personnel management, and compliance with employer
regulations
Conference Contact Information
America Outdoors®
865-558-3595
email: info@americaoutdoors.org
The Host Hotel
Hilton Downtown
Knoxville, our group reservation code is AOC.
The America Outdoors
Conference rate is $86 single or double.
501 West Church Avenue, Knoxville,
TN 37902
865-523-2300
www.knoxvillehilton.com
Qualified Attendees:
Outfitters, guides
and employees of outfitting businesses from across the U.S. and around the
world. Travel agents are invited to attend. Federal government representatives
(USFS, BLM, BuRec, NPS, etc.) involved in outfitting issues are invited to
attend. The show is not open to the general public. To get on the mailing list
for registration materials contact AO at
info@americaoutdoors.org or
at 865-558-3595.
Qualified Exhibitors:
Manufacturers,
distributors, suppliers, and service providers to the outfitting industry are
qualified to exhibit. Contact Robin Brown at 865-558-3595 or at
robin@americaoutdoors.org for
more information.
History:
Confluence® has been in
existence since 1989. America Outdoors® the national association of
outfitters and guides, owns and operates the trade show and conference. For
more information on America Outdoors® go to About/Join AO.
If you would like additional information about this
conference and displaying at the trade show, call America Outdoors®
headquarters at 865-558-3595 or email us at
info@americaoutdoors.org.
Thank You To Our Sponsors:
About America Outdoors® | Confluence® Agenda | Exhibitors
Confluence
Programs® |
