Agenda - SYTA AC 2019
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Agenda

CONFLICTING MEETINGS OR SOCIAL EVENTS – SYTA sponsors should not extend invitations, call meetings, or otherwise encourage absence of attendees from official conference events as outlined below.

Thursday, August 8, 2019

All Day

Attendee Arrivals

Birmingham or Huntsville
12:00pm - 6:00pm

Registration

BJCC, East Hall 1
1:00pm - 6:00pm

Showcase Set Up For Exhibitors

BJCC, Showcase Floor
2:00pm

Blastoff Attendees Depart Birmingham to Huntsville

Birmingham

Friday, August 9, 2019

All Day

Attendee Arrivals

Birmingham
7:30am - 7:30pm

Registration

BJCC, East Hall 1
7:30am - 12:00pm

Showcase Set Up For Exhibitors

BJCC, Showcase Floor
8:30am - 12:30pm

Birmingham Sightseeing Tours
(Ticketed Event)

BJCC, East Hall Transportation Lobby
1:00pm – 4:00pm

Birmingham Sightseeing Tours
(Ticketed Event)

BJCC, East Hall Transportation Lobby
4:00pm - 4:30pm

New Attendee Ice Breaker & Tour of Showcase Floor (Meet at 3:45pm Showcase Entrance)
Sponsored by Whisper USA

BJCC, Showcase Floor
4:30pm - 5:30pm

Broadway Classroom Workshop
Sponsored by Group Sales Box Office at Broadway.com

BJCC, East Meeting Rooms D-M
4:30pm - 6:30pm

SYTA Central & SYTA Youth Foundation Silent Auction

4:30pm - 6:30pm

SYTA “Pep Rally” Showcase Reception
Sponsored by Marriott International

BJCC, Showcase Floor
7:00pm - 10:00pm

Opening Night Event: A Taste of Birmingham!
Sponsored by Greater Birmingham Convention & Visitors Bureau

Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center

Saturday, August 10, 2019

7:00am - 6:00pm

Registration

BJCC, East Hall 1
7:45am - 8:45am

Morning Joe

Sheraton, Birmingham Ballroom Foyer
8:00am - 8:45am

President’s Welcome, Candidate Speeches and CSTP Graduation

Sheraton, Birmingham Ballroom
8:45am - 10:00am

Opening General Session: How Using Gamification in Your Business Drives Better Outcomes
Sponsored by Medieval Times
Keynote Speaker: Karl Kapp

Sheraton, Birmingham Ballroom
10:00am - 6:00pm

Student & Youth Travel Showcase

BJCC, Showcase Floor
10:00am - 6:00pm

SYTA Central, Table Talks & SYTA Youth Foundation Silent Auction

BJCC, Showcase Floor
10:30am - 12:28pm

Business Appointment Session I

BJCC, Showcase Floor
10:30am - 11:30am

Education Session: Why Tour Operators and Suppliers Should Consider the China Market
Speaker: Sally Davis Berry

BJCC, East Meeting Rooms D-M
11:45am - 12:45pm

Education Session: Fast and Furious: 60 Minute Travel-Themed Game Design
Speaker: Karl Kapp

BJCC, East Meeting Rooms D-M
1:00pm - 2:30pm

Annual Conference Kick-Off & Luncheon
Sponsored by Disney Youth Programs and Disney on Broadway

Sheraton, Birmingham Ballroom
3:00pm - 5:26pm

Business Appointment Session II

BJCC, Showcase Floor
3:00pm - 4:00pm

Education Session: Wow-Worthy Video for Tourism Pros
Speaker: Catherine J. Heeg

BJCC, East Meeting Rooms D-M
4:30pm - 5:30pm

Orientation Session: CSTO Standards, Application and Validation Process
Speakers: Michael Bowers, Bill Caldwell and Lisa Curtin

BJCC, East Meeting Rooms D-M
6:30pm

Birmingham Baron’s Baseball Game
(Ticketed Event)

Regions Field
7:00pm

SYTA Board of Directors Election Closes

7:00pm

Dine Around Birmingham on Your Own

Sunday, August 11, 2019

6:00am - 7:30am

SYTA Youth Foundation Fun Run/Walk/Slumber
(Ticketed Event)
Sponsored by Fly My Group

BJCC, East Hall Transportation Lobby
8:15am - 5:30pm

Registration

BJCC, East Hall 1
8:15am - 9:30am

Tour Operator “Pancake” Breakfast
(Tour Operator Only)
Sponsored by Discover Puerto Rico, Fly My Group, TravelAdvocates, Universal Orlando Youth Programs, Universal Studios Hollywood, and Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort

BJCC, Showcase Floor
9:30am - 5:30pm

Student & Youth Travel Showcase

BJCC, Showcase Floor
9:30am - 5:30pm

SYTA Central, Table Talks & SYTA Youth Foundation Silent Auction

BJCC, Showcase Floor
9:30am - 10:30am

Morning Joe

BJCC, Showcase Floor
9:45am - 11:57am

Business Appointment Session III

BJCC, Showcase Floor
10:00am - 11:00am

Education Session: Transforming Students into Global Citizens with Super Travel Safety Skills
An Introduction to Travel Heroes Safety Training by Depart Smart
Speaker: Sheryl Hill

BJCC, East Meeting Rooms D-M
11:15am - 12:15pm

Education Session: Facebook Advertising Class
Speaker: Catherine J. Heeg

BJCC, East Meeting Rooms D-M
12:30pm - 2:15pm

SYTA Youth Foundation Luncheon
Sponsored by Broadway Inbound

Sheraton, Birmingham Ballroom
2:45pm-5:25pm

Business Appointment Session IV

BJCC, Showcase Floor
3:00pm - 4:00pm

Education Session: Automate, Delegate, Replicate – How to be More Efficient in Your Job
What is the 80/20 rule and how can Tourism pros like you benefit!
Speaker: Sally Davis Berry

BJCC, East Meeting Rooms D-M
4:15pm - 5:15pm

Education Session: Building a Data-Driven Marketing Plan
Speakers: Angela Ridpath and Tracey Cochran

BJCC, East Meeting Rooms D-M
7:00pm - 10:00pm

An Evening At The Track
Sponsored by Alabama Tourism Department

Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum

Monday, August 12, 2019

8:00am - 9:00am

Coffee Talk and Breakfast
Sponsored by Ripley’s Entertainment

Sheraton, Birmingham Ballroom
9:00am - 5:30pm

Registration

BJCC, East Hall 1
9:00am - 5:30pm

Student & Youth Travel Showcase

BJCC, Showcase Floor
9:00am - 5:30pm

SYTA Central, Table Talks & SYTA Youth Foundation Silent Auction

BJCC, Showcase Floor
9:30am - 10:30am

Morning Joe

BJCC, Showcase Floor
9:30am - 11:56am

Business Appointment Session V

BJCC, Showcase Floor
9:30am - 10:30am

Education Session: Technological Applications to Address Safety and Security Gaps During Tour Events
Speaker: Bob Aromando

BJCC, East Meeting Rooms D-M
10:45am - 12:00pm

Education Session: How to In-House your Company’s SEO
Speaker: Peter Ross

BJCC, East Meeting Rooms D-M
12:30pm - 2:45pm

Presidential Speeches & Best of Broadway Luncheon
Sponsored by Group Sales Box Office at Broadway.com

Sheraton, Birmingham Ballroom
3:15pm - 4:15pm

Education Session: How to Measure the ROI of your Marketing Strategies
Speaker: Peter Ross

BJCC, East Meeting Rooms D-M
3:15pm - 5:27pm

Business Appointment Session VI

BJCC, Showcase Floor
4:00pm

SYTA Youth Foundation Silent Auction & Chance Drawing Closes

BJCC, Showcase Floor
6:30pm - 7:00pm

Closing Night Event: Northern Lights to Human Rights Reception
(Advance RSVP Required)
Sponsored by Tourism Winnipeg & Travel Manitoba

Sheraton, Birmingham Ballroom Foyer
7:00pm - 8:30pm

Closing Night Event: Northern Lights to Human Rights Dinner & Performance
(Advance RSVP Required)
Sponsored by Tourism Winnipeg & Travel Manitoba

Sheraton, Birmingham Ballroom
9:00pm - 12:00am

SYTA Youth Foundation Benefit Concert: Dance Your Meal Off (DYMO) featuring the SYTA All Star Band
(Ticketed Event)
Sponsored by Legends Attractions

Iron City Birmingham

Tuesday, August 13, 2019

All Day

Attendee Departures

8:00am

Post FAM: North Alabama Dash of the Unexpected
(Tour Operators Only)
Hosted by Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association

9:00am

Post FAM: On Sacred Ground
(Tour Operators Only)
Hosted by Alabama Tourism Department

SYTA Strategic Partners