Missouri Group Travel Exchange
April 27-29, 2020 | Cape Girardeau, MO
Make plans to join your colleagues, and be a part of Missouri Group Travel Exchange, April 27-29 , 2020 at Drury Plaza Hotel and Conference Center in Cape Girardeau, MO. The Exchange will bring group travel planners and tourism representatives together for a networking, educational and business exchange conference.
Discover new tourism destinations, reinforce existing relationships, and gain insight from fellow group travel planners and the tourism industry. The Exchange will consist of two Round Robin/Speed Dating style sessions consisting of 6-minute appointments on April 28 and 29 allowing Planners to meet one-on-one with tourism industry representatives.
Group travel planners will participate in both sessions. This is an excellent opportunity to get updates and new ideas from tourism industry suppliers.
Any group travel planner wishing to learn more about planning and executing group tours and exchanging ideas can apply. All delegates must be engaged in a tour planning or decision making position within their organization. Delegates are expected to participate in the entire conference including taking their own individual set of appointments.
Preliminary Schedule (Subject to Change)
Monday, April 27, 2020
12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. : Group Travel Planners Registration
2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. : Group Travel Planners Workshop / Seminar
5:00 p.m. : Group Travel Planners ONLY Dinner and Entertainment
Tuesday, April 28, 2020
7:45 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.: Group Travel Planners and Tourism Industry Suppliers Registration
8:15 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. : Group Travel Planners ONLY Roundtable Discussions
9:45 a.m. – 1:55 p.m.: City Tour and Lunch for Group Travel Planners ONLY
1:00 p.m.: Tourism Industry Suppliers Orientation Session
2:15 p.m. – 5:15 p.m. : Missouri Group Travel Exchange Session #1 Appointments
(Group travel planners are seated & will meet one-on-one with tourism industry suppliers)
5:00 p.m.: Tourism Industry Suppliers Orientation Session (Repeat of 1:00 p.m. session)
5:40 p.m. – 6:40 p.m.: Networking Reception and Sponsor Booths
6:45 p.m.: All Group Travel Planners and Tourism Industry Suppliers Dinner
Wednesday, April 29, 2020
8:00 a.m. – 8:45 a.m. : All Group Travel Planners and Tourism Industry Suppliers Breakfast
9:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.: Missouri Group Travel Exchange Session #2 Appointments
(Group travel planners are seated & will meet one-on-one with tourism industry suppliers)
12:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.: All Group Travel Planners and Tourism Industry Suppliers Closing Luncheon and Door Prizes
Group Travel Planners
Online registration and payment for Group Travel Planners is NOW OPEN! The registration fee is only $125 per registered group travel planner delegate. This registration fee includes a two-night stay at Drury Plaza Hotel & Conference Center in Cape Girardeau and all meals which are a part of the exchange. A special room rate of $104 plus tax will be offered to planners wishing to arrive early or stay after the conference. (Based on availability.) Travel costs to and from Cape Girardeau, MO are the responsibility of the delegate. Please note that ALL room reservations for Group Travel Planners will be booked by Missouri Travel Alliance per each planner’s specified travel plans.
Or you can register by downloading the registration form, completing it and enclosing it along with your payment via snail mail.
Want more information? 2020 Missouri Group Travel Exchange Planner Registration Information and FAQs.
Tourism Industry Suppliers
Online registration and payment for Tourism Industry Suppliers is NOW OPEN! The registration fee is only $295 per registered tourism industry supplier delegate. Delegates must maintain Missouri Travel Alliance membership in 2020 to qualify for this special member rate. The cost of registration for non-Missouri Travel Alliance members is $435. To allow all suppliers ample networking time, there are no guest or associate registrations available for tourism industry suppliers.
Or you can register by downloading the registration form, completing it and enclosing it along with your payment via snail mail.
Want more information? 2020 Missouri Group Travel Exchange Supplier Registration Information and FAQs.
Can’t attend? For $95, your 8.5 x 11 single page, 2-sided, 3-hole punched profile sheet can be included in the group planners portfolio. Click here to download the profile sheet inclusion form.
Lodging Information
A block of rooms has been reserved at Drury Plaza Hotel & Conference Center for conference delegates. Rooms are $134.99 plus tax. Click here to book your room now!
Drury Plaza Hotel & Conference Center knows that you have enough to worry about when traveling. Their generous amenities will brighten your day and make your stay a whole lot nicer.
• Free Hot Breakfast – Start every day with make-your-own Belgian waffles, scrambled eggs, sausage, fresh fruit, oatmeal, biscuits and gravy, KELSO+BROS® coffee and more. Free hot breakfast is served daily from 6–9:30 a.m. on weekdays and 7–10 a.m. on weekends.
• Free 5:30 Kickback®* – Join us from 5:30–7 p.m. every evening to enjoy free hot food and cold beverages at our 5:30 Kickback®. We feature a rotating menu of hot food, beer, wine, mixed drinks and soft drinks.
• Free Wi-Fi Throughout the Hotel – Get the score, check your social networks or email family members from anywhere in the hotel – for free!
• Free Soft Drinks and Popcorn – Freshly popped popcorn and a refreshing beverage make a great snack! Stop by the lobby for free soft drinks and popcorn every evening.
• On-Site Facilities – Take advantage of the business center, fitness center or pool while you’re away from home. Print your boarding pass, finish a presentation or check e-mail in our business centers.
Please make your reservations by Tuesday, March 24, 2020 to receive your group rate. Reservations made after this date will be subject to prevailing rate and availability. Reservations may also be made by calling 1-800-325-0720 and refer to your group number 2382545.
Interested in Sponsorship Opportunities?
A limited number of sponsorship opportunities are available. Not sure what sponsorship level is right for your organization? We can customize a sponsorship to align with your brand goals. To discuss a sponsorship that is right for you and your organization, contact Chuck Martin at MOGroupTravelExchange@gmail.com or (573) 803-3777.
MO Group Travel Gives Back
The 2020 Missouri Group Travel Exchange conference will include MO Group Travel Gives Back as a part of the program. MO Group Travel Gives Back is designed to help a worthy but in-need organization in our host community. Additional information as to the 2020 recipient and the suggested wish lists will be posted in early spring of 2020.