GMOA-AMA-SCMA Regional Meeting Lanier Islands Legacy Lodge
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2015 GMOA-AMA-SCMA Regional Meeting Lanier Islands Legacy Lodge Buford, Georgia August 8-12 Welcome Friends! We have been eagerly awaiting your arrival to Lake Lanier ever since we made our announcement as host during your meeting in Shreveport last year. Our planning commitee is rolling out the red carpet and has many wonderful surprises in store for you during the 2015 Regional Meeting. Thank you for the opportunity to showcase our area. The motorcoach tour and charter industry is a vital part of tourism in Georgia, and we value the time you are spending with us and hope to show you some things about our area that are new and exciting for you and your customers. The boards of directors and planning committee have been excellent stewards of the mission you’ve set for them. Their diligent planning has resulted in a schedule full of educational and networking experiences you won’t soon forget. We welcome you to Lake Lanier, the jewel in Georgia’s crown. Warm regards, Stacey Dickson President, Lake Lanier Convention & Visitors Bureau Hotel Reservations Lanier Islands Legacy Lodge 7000 Lanier Islands Parkway Directions from Airport Buford, GA 30518 From the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport: Take ramp onto I-85 N toward I-75 N/ Call 1-800-768-5253 to make reservations. Be sure to reserve a room by July 8 to Atlanta/I-20. (partial toll road). Take exit #113/I-985 receive the group rate of $149 per night N/Lanier Pkwy/Gainesville to the left onto Atlanta plus $6 resort fee. Gainesville Hwy (I-985 N). Take exit #8/GA-347/ Friendship Rd/Lanier Islands Pkwy. In 0.2 miles, turn Reservation link is posted on the left onto Friendship Rd (GA-347 W). Take 4th exit from association registration page. roundabout, and look for your destination on the right. Airport Shuttle Operator Members of GMOA will provide airport shuttle to those who need it to complete their travel plans. Lake Lanier Islands is about a 45-minute ride from the Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport. If you would like to participate in the shuttle service, please make your air travel plans to arrive in Atlanta according to the following shuttle schedule: Saturday, August 8: 1:00 – 5:00 (pickups at 1:00, 3:00 and 5:00) Sunday, August 9: 1:00 – 5:00 (same as Saturday) Wednesday, August 12: 9:00 – 12:00 (leave Lake Lanier at 9:00, 10:30, and 12:00) *Be sure to select Airport Shuttle on the registration form. 2 Tentative Schedule of Events Saturday, August 8 1:30 – 3:30 GMOA Board of Directors Meeting All Operator members may attend the board meeting. Note: AMA and SCMA Boards of Directors will meet via conference call the week prior to the meeting dates. 2:00 – 6:00 Registration 3:45 – 5:45 Operator Education Sessions 7:00 Early Bird Dinner Event at Woodlands Botanical Gardens Sponsored by Lake Lanier CVB Sunday, August 9 8:00 – 9:15 Breakfast 8:30 – 9:15 GMOA Business Session, AMA Business Session, SCMA Business Session 9:00 – 5:00 Registration 9:30 – 5:00 Operator Education Sessions including Coach Sales Market Place 3:00 – 5:00 New Member/First Timer Orientation and “Meet the Operators” Round Table 6:00 Board Coaches 6:30 Ice Breaker Event: Beach Party Sponsored by Lake Lanier CVB 9:30 – 12:00 Hospitality after event Monday, August 10 Casual Dress Day for Market Place and Tours. 7:30 – 1:00 Golf 8:30 – 5:30 Registration 8:00 – 8:45 Breakfast 9:00 – 10:30 Market Place I Blue Dot 9:00 – 10:30 Associate Session 11:00 – 12:30 Market Place II Red Dot 11:00 – 12:30 Associate Session Repeated 11:30 Group Leaders arrive. 12:45 Board Tour Coaches 1:00 – 8:30 Tour Options (Includes lunch and dinner) 9:30 – 12:00 Hospitality Tuesday, August 11 8:00 – 5:00 Registration 8:00 – 9:30 Breakfast/Speaker 10:00 – 12:00 Market Place III (Operators & Group Leaders) Blue Dot/Operator Red Dot/Group Leader 12:30 – 2:30 Networking Lunch Town Meeting Conversation: Industry Update by ABA and UMA 3:00 – 5:00 Market Place IV (Operators & Group Leaders) Red Dot/Operator Blue Dot/Group Leader Group leaders depart after market place. 6:30 – 7:00 Reception 7:00 Awards Dinner and Entertainment Wednesday, August 12 8:30 – 9:30 Breakfast 9:45 – 11:00 Joint Board Meeting 3 Tour Options Tour 1 All Around Lake Lanier Depart Lanier Islands Resort and head into the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains with stops at both the Northeast Georgia History Center and Quinlan Center for Visual Arts, as well as shopping along the Historic Gainesville Square. Then it’s on to moonshine country for a tour of a working distillery (and maybe a nip of white lightnin’ hooch). The final stop will be a delicious dinner overlooking Georgia’s tallest waterfall at Amicalola Falls State Park. Return to Legacy Lodge by 8:30pm for hospitality and a good night to all. Tour 2 Gardens & Grapevines Depart Lanier Islands and head north up Georgia Highway 365 to the Smithgall Woodland Garden (opening April 2015) where fairie folk and mythical creatures roam the enchanted forest, then its on to Jaemor Farm Market for a peek at their fabulous corn maze and a tour of their row crops on a farm wagon. Next stop is the charming Bavarian Village of Helen where guests will visit a couple of wine tasting rooms, an operating grist mill and an authentic German bakery. End the evening with a lovely dinner at Unicoi State Park’s newly renovated lodge, overlooking the scenic blue ridge mountain range. Return to Legacy Lodge by 8:30pm for hospitality and a good night to all. 4 Tour 3 Timeless Treasures & A Big Chicken Depart Lanier Islands and head to Cobb County (Atlanta’s northwestern neighbor) where guests will get a sneak peek at the new Atlanta Braves Stadium, currently under construction near the Tony Galleria shopping district. Then its on to picturesque Marietta and their fabulous downtown square filled with quaint shops, a historic theater and the Gone With the Wind Museum. Take five in a Brumby rocker and enjoy people watching near the fountain. After a driving tour of the historic homes district (featured annually during the Marietta Pilgrimage), dinner will be served at one of their restored homes. And last but not least, take a peek at the Big Chicken landmark on your return trip to Legacy Lodge. Expect to arrive by 8:30pm for hospitality and a good night to all. Tour 4 Atlanta’s Biggest Stars It’s off to the movies during this tour of Atlanta’s hot spots made famous by hit film and television projects shooting in the Atlanta area. A step-on guide from Atlanta Movie Tours will come aboard the bus for a 2-hour tour of sites from blockbusters like “The Walking Dead”, “Fast & Furious 7”, “Anchorman 2”, “Ride Along”, and many others. Next make some headlines during your behind the scenes tour of CNN’s world news headquarters. Dinner will be hosted in the Velvet Underground at the Hard Rock Cafe where everyone will get the real star treatment. Return to Legacy Lodge by 8:30pm for hospitality and a good night to all. Tour 5 Super Charged ATL Attractions Start your tour of Atlanta’s hottest attractions with a peek into the past at the Atlanta History Center and Margaret Mitchell House. Next go behind the scenes at the Georgia Aquarium, and enjoy some quick refreshment at the World of Coke. See the city like a local on board a downtown tour by electric car with ATL Cruzers. They will show you the highlights of Centennial Olympic Park, with dinner as the final stop, where you will meet up with other Atlanta tour guests at the Hard Rock Cafe for an all-star dining event in the Velvet Underground. Return to Legacy Lodge by 8:30pm for hospitality and a good night to all. 5 Meeting & Market Place Details Group Leaders Operators are encouraged to invite their Group Leaders, also known as charter customers, to participate in market place 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 for group leaders and associates. Group leaders are seated and associates have a 5-minute visit at each table. Lake Lanier Islands CVB has created unique familiarization tours for group leaders on Monday, which include dinner. Group leaders should arrive by 11:30 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) upon receipt of Group Leader registration packet. MARKET PLACE SESSIONS A 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 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.