What is the Group Exchange?
The Group Exchange provides ski service suppliers and tour operators with the opportunity to meet one-on-one with ski club/council decision-makers from across the country in a pre-scheduled format.
When is the Group Exchange?
The Group Exchange will take place on Thursday, April 10, 2008, from 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM, and Friday, April 11, 2008, from 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM, in Vail, Colorado at the Vail Cascade Resort in the Gore Range Hall.
Who are the buyers?
The buyers are the trip decision-makers from ski club/councils from across the country. They often hold the positions of President, Vice President, or Trip Chairman in their organizations. To be eligible to participate in the Group Exchange they must meet the criteria of booking on their own, at least one 5-7 day trip per year with a minimum of 25 people to a North American resort.
Who are the suppliers?
The suppliers who participate in the Group Exchange are both ski service suppliers and tour operators desiring to sell ski vacation components to the ski club/council leaders. The ski service suppliers consist of ski resorts, hotels, lodging properties, ski companies, car rentals, ground transportation providers, ski rental companies, activity operators, property management companies, travel insurance, tourism bureaus and organizations as well as other sellers of mountain vacation products.
What is the format of the Group Exchange?
The Group Exchange format consists of the Ski Club/Council leaders sitting in booths and the Suppliers/Tour Operators rotating from appointment to appointment.
How does the registration for the Group Exchange work?
To participate in the Group Exchange and the pre-scheduling of appointments you must be registered for the Group Exchange component of the Mountain Travel Symposium and have paid prior to February 15, 2008. Any registrations received after the cut-off date will have the opportunity to schedule their appointments on-site during open scheduling, if registration for the Group Exchange is still open. The Group Exchange has been sold out the past several years and it is strongly recommended to sign up early if you wish to participate.
Each company participating in the Group Exchange will receive one set of appointments. This applies to both supplier and tour operator companies wishing to participate in the Group Exchange. All individuals wishing to participate in the Group Exchange or wanting to “get on the floor” MUST BE REGISTERED to attend the Group Exchange component of the Mountain Travel Symposium. Registrations are not exchangeable or transferable during the event. NO EXCEPTIONS. When there are multiple delegates from the same company you will be requested to designate a lead contact to which all correspondence will be directed.
How do the ski club/council leaders know that my company is participating in the Group Exchange?
Each company participating will be required to complete a profile form when they register to attend the event. This profile will be posted in an on-line Group Exchange directory, which will be viewed by ski club/council leaders wishing to meet with you approximately 30 days prior to the event. The directory will enable you to review the profiles of all participating companies for the purpose of making your appointment requests. You will be notified via email when the directory is posted and how to access it. Targeted launch date: March 3, 2008. Note: Only the lead contact from a company with multiple delegates will be able edit the profile submitted.
How does the appointment process work?
Profile Review and Appointment Selection: Each company participating (both buyer and supplier) will submit a list of appointment requests. Using the on-line Group Exchange Directory you will be able to review, search and submit your appointment request list. ALL requests must be submitted prior to March 14, 2008, to be included in the pre-scheduling of appointments. Note: Only the lead contact from a company with multiple delegates will be able to make the appointment requests for the company.
Scheduling Process: The scheduling will be done electronically based on 1) ski club requests and 2) supplier/tour operator requests. MTS makes no guarantees regarding the number of appointments received. It is the responsibility of the attendees to market themselves to the companies with which they would like to meet.
Appointment Schedules: Approximately one week prior to the event, you will be able to log on to the Appointment Exchange and see the list of companies with whom you will be meeting.
Open Scheduling: There will be an open scheduling session on Thursday, April 10, 2008, from 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM. This session will give you the opportunity to add or change any appointment on your schedule.
Format/timing: Appointments will run on Friday, April 11, 2008, from 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM. Each appointment is eight minutes in length with two minutes in between to switch. The show format will be the ski club/council leaders sitting in booths and the Suppliers rotating from appointment to appointment.