It's a tough job, but somebody's gotta do it

The central core upon which Heritage Clubs International Peer Group Conference is built is the one-on-one discussion with the bank travel club directors with those who provide the product. The product being of course, fun places to go and see and do.

For the PTO's (Preferred Tour Operators) these come in showcase sessions. The PTO's are the big guys, they are the ones who take the bank travel clubs on the extended, long distance trips, including major cruises and overseas excursions. However, if they are coming through our neck of the woods, the PTOs will often turn to the local DMOs (Destination Marketing Organizations - that's what CVBs [Convention and Visitors Bureaus] are - understand??) to provide services to them. It's important to get to know the PTO's who work with the bank travel club directors as well. Here at Heritage, the PTOs are Collette Vacations, CTNTravels, Flemming Tours & Cruises, Globus Family of Brands, Happy Holidays, Hospitality Tours, Islands in the Sun, Mayflower Tours.

For all of the other suppliers, there is the EXPO, and two groups of open appointments we can set with individual bankers. It is the Expo that truly gives the opportunity to showcase our destinations, though.

After a breakfast hosted by us Nebraska Partners and some gift giveaways, it was time to Expo.

Here Marty Berg with the Armory Dinner Theater plies his trade, as do Alice and Michelle from the Deadwood Gulch Gaming Resort, and Julie Jones from the Rapid City Convention and Visitors Bureau. Further on down the line I think you can see North Dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin representatives.
More Wisconsin representatives are working the floor in the other direction as well.
Yes, Nebraska is working hard. Grand Island is telling everyone about the Sandhill Cranes and the State Fair - which are huge attractions!
A newcomer to Heritage this year is Scottsbluff. Selling people on Western Nebraska is Kevin representing Scottsbluff, Gering and Scottsbluff County.
I don't often get in front of the lens, but I looked down and the camera was gone and got turned against me. It's good to know that I am here working as well, representing North Platte and Lincoln County Nebraska.
And from the eastern end of the State, Bill from the Omaha Convention and Visitors Bureau makes us all jealous with his popularity! Omaha has a lot to offer, and they always do an outstanding job for their group tours.
As you know, it's never about all work and no play for this bunch, especially me. Promptly on the stroke of eleven, the expo is over and we're all rushing to pack up, change clothes and load the buses for our afternoon sightseeing trips. For me now, though, I'm not even close to being ready to head downstairs for the 7:15 a.m. breakfast call so I had better get a move on. More hotel room coffee this morning!

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