The PBA Annual Conference was held June 17-20th and hosted by Visit Ithaca with the primary location at the Ithaca Hotel. Events were also held at Personal Best Brewing and La Tourelle.
We are excited to share a recap of the multi-day event that brought together motorcoach operators, tour planners, associate members, and travel supplier members for an opportunity to Network, Educate, and Showcase. The event was a success, providing attendees with various activities to increase business opportunities. Participants had the chance to engage in five fun fams, a dine-around, an opening reception at Personal Best Brewing, a closing event at La Tourelle, an Industry Expo, Sales Retreat, and numerous learning opportunities from industry experts.
View the Agenda! (subject to change).
Note, to receive Member pricing, you must be recognized by the member portal, identified by your email or you can login to the system. If you have not created an account yet, please do so today. Not a Member, join today and get Member pricing!
Note, if you attend the 2024 Marketplace, you can get discounted pricing for the Annual Conference, by 4/24/24, using the Marketplace promo code.
A 2024 Annual Conference Sponsorship is a great way to promote your organization! There are many opportunities in which you can choose, from sponsoring a session, meal or placing an advertisement in the meeting program. View the available sponsorships and then when registering, select it on your registration form. View the Advertising Guidelines. The deadline to submit your ad/artwork is May 3, 2024.
FUN FAMS!
Our host, Visit Ithaca has put together five(5) fun FAMS for you to experience.
GRAND WELCOME!
We will be at Personal Best Brewing for our opening reception.
KICK-THE-TIRES HAPPY HOUR!
Visit with bus manufacturers to learn what's new in their models while enjoying a cold beverage!
SALES RETREAT!
A time for motorcoach company tour planners to meet one-on-one with travel suppliers in a fun speed-dating event! The Sales Retreat has two sessions, with a goal for increased business opportunities for everyone.
DINE-AROUND!
Peruse a few favorite restaurants from the Ithaca/Tompkins County Convention & Visitors Bureau, to help narrow down your search.
INDUSTRY EXPO!
This is an opportunity for bus manufacturers and all vendors serving the motorcoach industry to have one-on-one time with PBA Operator members to showcase their products, services, and to network.
EDUCATION!
Learn and get inspired with our Keynote Speaker Danielle Adams-Wilkshire and presenters Josiah Brown and Nicole Boyer. Peter Pantuso will present industry updates with the latest information on legislative concerns and regulatory updates.
A Partner at Lead with Hospitality, LLC, Danielle is the Founder and CEO (Chief Empowerment Officer) at QueenSuite LLC, which is committed to helping marginalized professionals all over the world experience confidence, happiness, success, balance, and freedom in business and life by educating, inspiring and empowering professionals to create their ideal lives. She is a certified professional coach, trainer, facilitator, writer, TED Fellows coach, and keynote speaker. Her areas of concentration in her coaching practice are leadership potential, communication, and career development with professionals. Transforming the c-suite state of mind since 2014 and revolutionizing the way that coaching is accessible to leaders at all levels. Learn more about Danielle.
Peter Pantuso: American Bus Association Industry Update
Peter is President and CEO of the American Bus Association (ABA).As CEO he is responsible for the Association’s day-to-day operations, in addition to his role at ABA, he also serves as President of the National Bus Traffic Association and of the ABA Foundation.
Peter will provide industry updates with the latest information on legislative concerns and regulatory updates. Peter is retiring later this year, so we will be sure to wish him well while he is visiting us!
Scott Michael: United Motorcoach Association Industry Update
Scott Michael is the President & CEO of the United Motorcoach Association (UMA) the essential resource for education and advocacy in the professional bus and motorcoach industry, giving our members the tools to build successful businesses. He leads UMA to protect and promote the interests and welfare of privately owned common carriers of passengers by motorcoach.
Prior to joining UMA in 2021, Scott was President & CEO of the American Moving and Storage Association (AMSA). Like the motorcoach industry, the moving industry consists of thousands of smaller, family businesses, where their passion for their work was magnified by the deep connection they felt to their company.
A graduate of Princeton University, Scott lives in Alexandria, Virginia with his wife and three daughters.
Josiah Brown: Future Proofing for Tomorrow’s Traveler
Josiah Brown is the founder the New York’s Best Experiences brand and campaign. For over 20 years Josiah has been involved in the work to win first time visitors to New York State and then trade them around the state’s 11 beautiful vacation regions. This work has earned him the nickname of the “New York Sherpa”. He won that badge from traveling over 800,000 miles by car extensively across New York State and 47 states of America.
The “New York Sherpa” will dissect the current group travel marketplace and how to evolve for the next generation of customers. Each generation is unique but also amazingly similar in how they are drawn to group travel. Learn how to chase attention and engagement as we transition from a “Demand” driven industry to a “Supply” driven industry.
Nicole Boyer: Everything is Better Together!
Growing up a very shy introvert, sales was never a career path that crossed Nicole Boyer's mind once. But life took her on a path where her entire professional career has been in sales, and she has absolutely loved it. She'll never be the loudest one in the room, but has had huge success crushing sales goals, nonetheless. With almost two decades of sales experience under her belt, the Ginger Sales Ninja's ultimate goal is to help more people be authentic in the sales process (and just in life!).
Nicole will discuss how to work together and create partnerships that will lead to mutual success. She will use real examples from across the industry, including how you can create valuable collaborations. Let's extend our hospitality to our neighbors...and maybe even those "competitors!"
OVERNIGHT ACCOMMODATIONS
To reserve your room at our host hotel, Hotel Ithaca with our special discounted rate at $149/night, please click here to book online. The cut-off date is May 17, 2024.
To reserve your room at our over-flow hotel, Canopy by Hilton Ithaca Downtown with our special discounted rate at $169/night, please click here to book online. The cut-off date is May 17, 2024.
IMPORTANT DEADLINES
- April 24, 2024: Last day to use Marketplace Exhibitor promo code.
- May 3, 2024: Sponsorship ad/artwork is due.
- May 17, 2024: Hotel Cut-off
- May 24, 2024: Registration closes
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!
