By the time you read this, our ICPA Summer Educational FORUM will be history. We'd like to thank Gary Pearson for his wonderful talents in producing and implementing this very successful meeting. Having reviewed the program content and knowing the fantastic city of New Orleans and our beautiful host hotel, The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans, we're sure the FORUM was very successful!
Another great ICPA conference is our November Annual Meeting, which this year will be held November 2 to 6 at the Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center in Kissimmee, Fla. Please read on in this newsletter for further details, and be sure to check our Web site, www.icpanet.com, for program updates. We once again have great speakers, great venues to showcase, and more workshops with take-away ideas — all good stuff! Go online now to register and receive early bird registration fee discounts.
In any case, time is flying by for all of us — here we are already halfway through the 2003 year!
Have a wonderful summer, enjoy some well-deserved R & R, and we look forward to seeing you at Gaylord Palms in November!
ICPA Board of Directors
Nuts and Bolts: Conference sleeping room rate: $149 plus 12 percent tax plus $10 per day resort fee. Available for 3 days pre/post. Special early bird discounts apply to planner registration fees: Visit www.icpanet.com.
Additional Discount for ICPA planner members: If your company has three ICPA planner members registering and attending the meeting, a fourth ICPA meeting planner member from within your company may register and attend at a 50 percent discount. Further, if you have five qualified registrations, then the sixth registration is complimentary.
Spouse/Guest Attendance: ICPA meeting planner members may register one guest, age 21 or older. Guests are welcome to attend all meal functions. Due to the nature of the meeting, the Hospitality Partner Committee has determined that hospitality partners are not eligible to bring a spouse or guest.
Airlines Zone Fares: American Airlines call (800) 433-1790; Group ID # 26N3AG. Delta Air Lines call (800) 241-6760; Group ID #DMN196967A
Program Sponsors: There are many participating Hospitality Partner sponsors in this year's annual meeting program. Our policy is to recognize these wonderful sponsors on site at the meeting, in our online registration materials and Web site, and in the final official program book.
The Exchange: An interactive session on Tuesday for ICPA planner members only.
Interactive Audience Response Session: During Wednesday morning's general business session, everyone will have a chance to vote via audience response system on many different issues concerning our industry and our association. This technology will also be present during the Tuesday workshop on ethics.
Marketplace Trade Show: This has been moved to Monday afternoon this year. It is a great opportunity for meeting planners to meet with more than 300 tabletop exhibitors who represent hotels, destination management companies, convention and tourism offices, airlines, and cruise line companies.
Town Hall Discussion: An open forum on Monday where ICPA Planner members can discuss current issues of importance.
ICPA Board of Director Candidates: On Monday, November 3, you will be introduced to the four board candidates. You can view their candidate video on the interactive www.icpanet.com Web site after August 1. A proxy ballot will be available in the unfortunate event that you will not be able to attend this year's Annual Meeting. The candidates are Leanne Acton, CMM, Penn Mutual Life Insurance Co.; Michael Burke, Allmerica Financial; Melissa Cohill, ValMark Securities Inc.; and Catherine Wittke, Manulife Financial.
Creative Display: Do you have a creative and effective promotional campaign you'd like to share? The Creative Display is another valuable idea-sharing highlight of the ICPA Annual Meeting. Contact Helen Peters at icpa_helen@telus.net.
PhotoSort Directory: Don't be a no-show; be sure to have your photo taken on registration day, Sunday, November 2.
ICPA Resource Center: Centrally located for easy viewing of the resource materials, speaker handouts, creative displays, and interactive kiosks with direct access to the Internet and e-mail.
Silent Auction: Since 1996, ICPA has supported charitable organizations in the Annual Meeting host city. This year we are happy to announce that fundraising efforts via a silent auction will be directed to The Foundation for Osceola Education Inc., a nonprofit organization whose mission is to bolster the efforts of schools in creating quality education by supporting the efforts of both the children and the teachers.
Hotel: At Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center, attendees will discover all the spirit, adventure, and excitement of a grand tour through the Sunshine State. Four acres of breathtaking indoor scenes come to life, from the history and old-world charm of St. Augustine to the colorful and festive island revelry of Key West; from the mysterious swamps and giant cypress trees of the Everglades to the exquisitely sumptuous Emerald Bay. Visit the resort's Web site at www.gaylordhotels.com.
Guest Speakers: A fabulous roster of entertaining and illuminating speakers includes master of ceremonies Dale Irvin, back by popular demand and presented by SpeakInc Speakers Bureau; Matt Cusson, a cappella singer of the national anthems of the U.S. and Canada; Dan Clark, “You Can't Quit.…It's a League Rule,” presented by Winner's Circle Speakers Bureau; Emory Austin, “Is Your Bubble in the Middle?”, presented by Winner's Circle Speakers Bureau; Entertainer Wayne Cotter, presented by Nationwide Speakers Bureau; Darren LaCroix, “Laugh and Get Rich.…How to Profit from Humor in Any Business,” presented by Goodman Speakers Bureau; and Frank Miles, “Laugh at Fear,” presented by Eagles Talent Connection.
Workshops: Monday — It's an Ethics Question, moderated by Keith Darcy; Today's Challenges…Tomorrow's Solutions!, moderated by Michael Murphy and Steve Clark, CMP; Bringing Out the Best in Others, presented by Dr. Thomas Connellan; The Art of Vision, presented by Erik Wahl; Checking In with Online Registration: Understanding Today's Attendee Management Systems, presented by Jeffrey Rasco, CMP. Tuesday — Changes in Our Industry: A Panel Discussion, with Jurgen Giesbert, senior vice president, Renaissance Hotels, North America; Mark Nickells, managing director of groups for American Airlines; Christie Hicks, senior vice president, Starwood Hotels & Resorts; and an insurance/financial services company representative. Moderated by Kay Heder, managing director, Global Marketing Services.
Fun: Monday evening, Club Kaleidescope, Marriott Orlando World Center; Tuesday evening: Starwood a Go-Go: Time to get down and boogie! A funky evening of fun, food, beverage, and dancing! Wednesday: Afternoon networking adventures: golf tournament at Grande Lakes Golf Resort, ageless airboat eco-guided adventure, scenic Winter Park/Park Avenue shopping, SeaWorld behind the scenes, exclusive VIP Universal Studios, exclusive VIP Islands of Adventure, Canyon Ranch Spa treatments. Evening reception, dinner, and entertainment sponsored by Gaylord Palms Resort.
For registration, additional program information, and itinerary updates: Go to www.icpanet.com or contact the ICPA office at (604) 988-2054, e-mail: icpa_helen@telus.net.
We were saddened to hear of the passing of Dorothy (Dotty) McGowan, who was so instrumental in making our ICPA 2001 Annual Meeting such a success. Dotty was the vice president of catering and conference services at Atlantis, Paradise Island resort in The Bahamas. She was known for her boundless energy, her eternal optimism, her unique laugh, and her enormous appetite for hard work. Her friends and colleagues will miss her. Before joining Kerzner International, Dotty worked at the Hilton in New Orleans for many years.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in memory of Dorothy McGowan to the American Cancer Society. By mail: American Cancer Society, Attn.: Web, P.O. Box 102454, Atlanta, GA 30368-2454. By phone: (800) ACS-2345 (24 hours) Online: www.cancer.org/docroot/home/index.asp. If you would like an acknowledgement of the donation to be sent on your behalf to the family, please include the following information: Jimmy McGowan, 3350 NE 192nd Street, #5G, Aventura, Fla. 33180.