Marriott Shoals Hotel & SpaFlorence, Alabama July 16-20

2016AMA-SCMA-GMOARegional Meeting

Welcome to the Marriott Shoals Hotel & Spa!My staff and I are excited to be hosting the 2016 Regional Meeting. Each member of our staff shares a common desire, to surpass your expectations. We are dedicated to providing you with the highest level of service, and are here to help you make the most of everything the hotel and the historic Shoals area has to offer.

At Your Service is a wonderful resource for directions, reservations, and a wealth of information about our city and the surrounding area.

If there is anything we can do to make your stay more enjoyable, please do not hesitate to call upon any of our associates, or let us know by dialing “0” from your in-room phone.

Enjoy your stay!

With Warmest Regards,Larry Bowser, General Manager

Welcome to Florence, Alabama and the Shoals area!On behalf of the entire tourism industry here in Florence and the Shoals Area, we welcome you to the 2016 AMA-SCMA-GMOA Regional Meeting. We have enthusiastically been looking forward to this event and trust that you will have a productive and pleasant time in our city. The Regional Meeting has been tailored to allow you to maximize your visit and ensure that each venue gives you ample opportunities to generate more business and build new relationships. I would like to express our deepest thanks to all of our sponsors who believe in our destination and understand the value of tourism to the economy. We can’t wait to show you all that Florence has to offer including a legendary music history, the Muscle Shoals Sound; footsteps to a vast, freshwater river; world-renowned galleries; museums including the Frank Lloyd Wright designed Rosenbaum House; global fashion designers, Billy Reid and Natalie Chanin and great outdoor recreational options. We hope you enjoy your stay and thank you for choosing Florence, Alabama as your destination for the 2016 Regional Meeting.

Rob Carnegie, President & CEO Florence/Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau

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Hotel ReservationsMarriott Shoals Hotel & Spa

10 Hightower Place Florence, AL

Call 800-593-6450 to make reservations or visit to association website to reserve a room

online. The group code is AMA. Be sure to reserve a room by June 27 to receive the group rate of $129 per night.

Directions from AirportFor driving directions please visit:

http://www.marriott.com/hotels/maps/travel/mslmc-marriott-shoals-hotel-and-spa/

Birmingham Airport: 5900 Messer Airport Hwy., Birmingham, AL 35212Huntsville Airport: 1000 Glenn Hearn Blvd SW., Huntsville, AL 35824

Ride Along Coach ScheduleJuly 16

Originating from Daniel’s Charters & Tours4336 Cornelia Highway, Lula, GA 30554

6:30 a.m. Leave Daniel’s Charters & Tours8:00 Stop in Atlanta10:30 Stop in Anniston, AL11:45 Stop in Birmingham (lunch stop)3:00 Arrive Florence

July 20 Stops will be made as planned above.11:15 Leave Florence

Ride Along provided by Prevost and Daniels Charters and Tours.

Overflow Hotel ShuttleA hotel shuttle between the Residence Inn and Marriott will be available. The Shuttle Coach will be at the Marriott, if not en route, and will accommodate members and guests insofar as possible. A few scheduled times will be posted for shuttle service. Please be sure to notify the driver if your plans call for a return to the Residence Inn or back to the Marriott at times not scheduled.

Hotel Shuttle provided by Anchor Transportation

Airport ShuttleAMA members will provide a shuttle from both the Birmingham and Huntsville Airports as follows:

July 16 and July 1711:00 a.m.2:00 p.m.5:00 p.m.

July 20

Leaving Florence to return to Birmingham and Huntsville Airports

6:00 a.m.11:15 a.m.

Members choosing to take advantage of this service, should make flight arrangements as quickly as possible and use the times scheduled above for arrival and departure. Depending on flight times, there may be a wait time at the airport between shuttles. Travel time from Huntsville to Florence is approximately 1.5 hours and travel time from Birmingham to Florence is approximately 2 hours. As soon as flight arrangements have been made, notify Cindy Peak at the Association office to reserve your seat on the shuttle (cindy_p@embarqmail.com or 866-376-7770).

Transportation provided by Cline Tours (Birmingham) and Spirit Coach (Huntsville)

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Saturday, July 16All board meetings will be held by conference call prior to Regional Meeting2:00 – 6:00 Registration4:00 – 6:00 Electronic Logging Devices: Operator Panel Discussion Coach Manufacturers’ Support Team/Re-gen System Hands on Session 6:45 Board Coaches7:00 Operator Dinner at Historic Pickett HouseSunday, July 178:00 – 5:00 Registration7:30 – 8:30 Networking Breakfast8:30 – 9:00 Association Business SessionsAll operator members are welcomed.9:15 – 10:45 Private Coach Presentations (Indoors)10:45 – 11:45 Coach Visitation (Coach Parking Area)12:00 – 1:15 Lunch: Industry Update1:30 – 3:30 Crisis Simulation: Live through an event. Learn to think through, deal with consequences and experience the impact of each “team” part.3:45 – 5:30 Operator Round Table Discussion of current “hot” topics.3:15 – 4:00 New Member/First Timer Orientation 4:00 – 5:15 Meet the Operators Round Table Discussion 5:15 – 6:15 Creating New Experiences for Groups6:45 Board Coaches 7:00 Early Bird Dinner at Alabama Music Hall of FameMonday, July 18 Group Leaders arrive on Monday. 8:30 – 5:30 Registration8:00 – 8:45 Breakfast9:00 – 10:30 Market Place I Blue Dot9:00 – 10:30 Associate Session11:00 – 12:30 Market Place II Red Dot11:00 – 12:30 Associate Session Repeated12:45 Board Coaches for Tours1:00 – 5:30 Familiarization Tours (See descriptions in registration material)Note: Lunch included on tours. Tours will conclude and arrive at the Marriott by 5:30 pm. 1) Gold Record Road 2) Fashion & FAME 3) Architecture from Talking Stones to Frank Lloyd Wright Home 4) Inspiration of the Southern Soul 5) Bon Appetit! 12:45 Board Coach for Golf1:15 Golf Tournament at The RTJ Golf Trail at The Shoals6:30 Board Coaches7:00 Ice Breaker Dinner Event at Rattlesnake SaloonTuesday, July 198:00 – 5:00 Registration8:00 – 9:30 Breakfast and Display Booth Visitation10:00 – 1:00 Market Place III Operators and Group Leaders 1:15 – 2:00 Lunch2:15 – 5:15 Market Place IV Operators and Group Leaders6:30 Reception7:00 Awards Dinner Wednesday, July 208:30 – 9:30 Breakfast9:45 – 11:00 Joint Board Meeting

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Gold Record RoadVisit the birthplace of “Father of the Blues” W.C. Handy along with the radio station of the “Father of Rock n’ Roll” Sam Phillips who discovered Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Johnny Cash. The other half of the tour will include visits to the historic FAME Studios and 3614 Jackson Highway, which gave Muscle Shoals the title “The Hit Recording Capital of the World.”

Tour 1

Fashion & FAMEFlorence is the headquarters of internationally-recognized designers Billy Reid and Natalie Chanin. We’ll tour both of their impressive operations. The other half of the tour will include visits to the historic FAME Studios and 3614 Jackson Highway, which gave Muscle Shoals the title “The Hit Recording Capital of the World.”

Tour 2

Tour Options & Golf

Tour 3Architecture from Talking Stones to

Frank Lloyd Wright Home“Tom’s Wall” is the largest memorial to a Native American Woman and one-of-a-kind environmental architectural stone wall. Alabama’s only Frank Lloyd Wright-designed home, the Rosenbaum House is a fine example of Usonian architecture.

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Tour 4Inspiration of the Southern SoulWe’ll visit the birthplaces of America’s “First Lady of Courage” Helen Keller and brave Olympian Jesse Owens. The Museum depicts Owens’ athletic and humanitarian achievements through interactive exhibits, a rare film and memorabilia.

Tour 5Bon Appetit!

Enjoy a “taste” of the Shoals with cooking demonstrations at some of our finest restaurants in Downtown Florence. Visit Jack O’ Lantern Farms that provides much of the food for our “Farm to Table” experiences. End the day with a tour (and beer tasting) at Singin’ River Brewery.

GolfThe Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at The ShoalsThe Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at The Shoals is home to two 18-hole championship courses and lies between the Wheeler and Wilson dams on the Tennessee River. Wheeler Dam is named in honor of General Joseph “Fighting Joe” Wheeler, the only Confederate General to attain the same rank later in the United States Army.

The Fighting Joe course at The Shoals was the first Trail course to break 8,000 yards. Travel + Leisure Golf named Fighting Joe one of the top new courses in 2004. The second course, the Schoolmaster opened in the Summer of 2005. The course is named for President Woodrow Wilson, who was responsible for getting Wilson Dam built and was also known as “The Schoolmaster” of politics.

Members and guests can expect a great golf experience at The Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at the Shoals. The golf fee is $90 per participant.

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MEETING & MARKET PLACE DETAILS

GROUP LEADERSOperators are encouraged to invite their Group Leaders, also known as charter customers, to participate in market place. This is when they can meet and visit with associate members. Many trips will be initiated by Group Leaders participating in this opportunity, trips that take the motorcoaches out of the parking lot and out on the highways! There are two Market Place sessions on Tuesday, July 19 for group leaders and associates. Group leaders are seated and associates visit at each table in five minute sessions.

Florence/Lauderdale CVB has created unique familiarization tours on Monday, July 18. Group leaders should arrive by 11:00 to check in at their hotel and participate in their tour. Please observe the deadlines so appropriate plans can be made for your Group Leaders (Charter Customers). Operators will receive a Group Leader registration packet.

MARKET PLACE AND OPERATOR EDUCATIONA special Market Place is dedicated to coach sales. It is a time for coach sales representatives to talk privately with the operators about vehicle specific information and operators are expected to visit the coach display. The coach sales Market Place is scheduled Sunday, July 17 as a part of a full day of operator education.

There are four Market Place sessions for operators and associates. Operators are seated and associates have 5-minute visits with each operator. Associates are divided so that only half of the registered associates attend either Market Place I or Market Place II, likewise for Market Place III and Market Place IV. A bell will ring at each 5-minute interval as a reminder. Operators, bring business cards. This is so important. You should plan to bring at least 300 business cards to pass out during Market Place and during networking opportunities. Fee/Hedrick Family Entertainment Group is sponsoring 3-ring binders for the Operators’ Market Place.

Saturday, July 16, 4:00-6:00 through Sunday at 5:30 there are operator-focused education sessions planned. The sessions will include discussions and presentations about timely topics and issues that impact your business. Plan to attend all sessions. (Check the association website regularly for updated information. Also, updates will be emailed to operator members as plans are finalized.)

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DISPLAY BOOTHSAMA-SCMA-GMOA’s regional meeting and market place will offer booth space for those associates who wish to bring a display. The displays will be placed convenient to the market place and other meeting events. A breakfast buffet is planned for networking and booth visitation on Tuesday.

It is estimated that as many as 15 display booths, space permitting, will be sold at $200 each. They will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis when the announcement is made. If interested select the display booth option on the registration form. Display booths present an excellent opportunity for a prize drawing to promote your product as well. You will be responsible for the drawing and delivery of your prize. If you have questions, please contact Julia at the AMA-SCMA-GMOA office, 866-376-7770 or email mmmjulia@embarqmail.com.

DRESS CODEPack for comfort keeping in mind that while you’re dressing for comfort, you’re a professional. Dress code for all meeting events will be casual except for Tuesday Market Place. Logo wear is acceptable. Casual dress is acceptable for Monday Market Place because tours are scheduled following market place. If you have questions or concerns, please call the AMA-SCMA-GMOA office. Staff welcome the opportunity to be of service. If you have special needs, please alert staff prior to the regional meeting.

GIFTS AND DOOR PRIZESAssociates are encouraged to donate a door prize for operators. Because of the generosity of members in the past, door prizes have become so numerous that it takes a long time to distribute them despite the varied ways that staff has tried to make it a smooth, efficient distribution. Therefore, door prizes will be accepted on a limited basis. Only the first 15 door prizes registered will be accepted for distribution during education sessions. Complete the sponsor form which has been emailed to all members. Fax or email the form to the association office. If you have questions or want to check the status of registered door prizes, please call Cindy at 866-376-7770 or email at cindy_p@embarqmail.com.

REGISTRATION CONFIRMATIONYour registration confirmation will be emailed to you shortly after you register. Be sure to review the confirmation for accuracy according to what you submitted. If you signed up for a tour and find that your plans change, be sure to notify association staff as quickly as possible. Guaranteed numbers are given to host sponsors beginning about two weeks in advance of the regional meeting.

The operator registration list will be published in electronic form unless the AMA-SCMA-GMOA office has been notified to send it by mail.

NEW MEMBER ORIENTATIONIf you are a new member or this is your first time to attend the regional meeting, come join us to learn, not only information about Market Place and the associations in general, but maybe pick up a tidbit of information that might help you, as a new member or a first timer, network effectively with operators, gain their confidence and trust, and gain more motorcoach group business. Veteran Members, including operators and associates, are welcomed in the new member orientation session. Your expertise in the group market over years of experience is priceless when shared with new members or first time attendees. New members may submit questions in advance by calling Linda at 866-376-7770 or email at info@alabamamotorcoach.org. Audience participation is encouraged and welcomed.

AWARDSMARKET PLACE OPERATOR OF THE YEAR for AMA-SCMA-GMOA will be someone selected by the Associate membership recognizing the efforts made to use their product and recognizing the efforts made to be attentive and interested in information presented during Market Place appointments.

MARKET PLACE ASSOCIATE OF THE YEAR for AMA-SCMA-GMOA will be someone selected by the Operator membership recognizing the efforts of an Associate who has earned the trust and confidence of Operators to provide quality service.

MARKET PLACE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR for AMA-SCMA-GMOA will be someone selected by the Operator membership who was most impressive in this year’s Market Place in selling to the operators. The Rookie will be a new member or a first time attendee, who has not attended the Regional Meeting prior to 2016.

GMOA may also present its prestigious Outstanding Operator of the Year and Outstanding Associate of the Year awards. These awards will be presented Tuesday evening, July 19, at the Awards Banquet.

The Frank E. Montgomery III Outstanding Service Award may be presented, on occasion, to an individual member of the Alabama Motorcoach Association who distinguishes themselves and their profession through contributions to the motorcoach industry.

MEET THE OPERATORS ROUND TABLE DISCUSSIONMany operators and tour operators will participate in this session. Operators will visit assigned tables for a “get to know you” discussion so associates may learn more about them prior to market place. This is not a market place session but rather an opportunity to have interaction with operators who will be participating in market place on Monday and Tuesday.

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Thank You SponsorsAMA, SCMA, and GMOA are grateful for the support of their Associate members. To date, the following members are contributing financial support for meal events, meeting programs, notepads, pocket schedules, badges, registration bags, registration gifts and operator gifts. It is not too late to participate in the meeting as a sponsor. Call Cindy at 866-376-7770 or fax the sponsor form to 866-376-1156. The support of Associate Members is essential to implement a meeting that is of the quality to which members have become accustomed. Financial support for events helps keep registration fees at a minimum for all attendees. Sponsorships also give Associates an opportunity to be recognized and appreciated in a special way. We are happy to promote the sponsors by pre-meeting newsletter recognition, signage, program highlights, and post-meeting newsletter recognition. Every effort is made to let the sponsors know how much the members and staff appreciate their meeting support.

A special thank you is extended to the following members who have committed sponsorship support to date:

ABC CompaniesAllen Insurance Group

American Bus AssociationAnchor TransportationCH Bus Sales/TEMSA

Cline ToursDaniels Charters and Tours

Discover DeKalbFee/Hedrick Family Entertainment Group

Florence/Lauderdale TourismComfort Suites

Hampton Inn & Suites DowntownHampton Inn Midtown of Florence

Residence Inn by MarriottLouisiana Travel Promotion Association

Motor Coach IndustriesPrevost

Protective Insurance Company Sardo Bus & Coach Upholstery

Spirit CoachUnited Motorcoach Association