Appointments
Appointment Requests & Scheduling
The objective of the Travel South Showcase is simple; connect Southern suppliers with North American Buyers and Journalists. By hosting Buyers and Journalists locally in the South, our Marketplace allows Suppliers the most optimum environment to market Southern destinations, events and special attractions. Our automated scheduling system matches appointment requests and schedules.
Travel South Showcase gives you the flexibility of requesting your appointments on our web site allowing you to change and update your requests up until the minute they are scheduled. Once again this year, you will see which companies have requested your organization, allowing you to continually update your requests in order to gain more mutual appointments.
Of the more than 15,000 appointment requests that are pre-scheduled, we instruct the computer-matching program to process appointments in the following order:
All delegates will need to access the My Domestic Showcase Page on the Travel South USA website through the link provided in their appointment schedule email. Delegates will use this login to access marketing information about each company, however, only appointment taking Buyer and "Primary Supplier POD Delegate" will have access to appointment requests. Suppliers sharing a POD should give "Primary Supplier POD Delegate" appointment requests for processing. The site will provide detailed instructions on how to request appointments.
The appointment scheduling section of the site opens January 22, 2020; all requests are due by Friday, February 21, 2020. During this time, you will be able to access profile sheets on all Buyers, Journalists and Suppliers registered for Showcase. Since registration will remain open, this list will continuously be updated until registration closes on Friday, February 21, 2020. A list of pre-scheduled appointments will be available online for each company on Friday, February 28, 2020.
During International Showcase, Buyers and Journalists visit Suppliers in their booths and keep appointments discussing how they can best do business. Announcements are made every seven (7) minutes telling Buyers it is time to check their schedule and move to the next appointment. There will be two minutes between each appointment. All delegates may participate in all marketplace sessions.
We recommend Suppliers bring itineraries and a presentation binder or laptop/tablet with information about their destination or property to show tour operators what is available in their area.
Please note that electricity is not provided in the Supplier booths. In most cases, laptops and tablets can be adequately charged during breaks and between Marketplace sessions so electricity is not essential in the booth.
Travel South USA is a "brochures only" Showcase. We strictly enforce no banners, backdrops, pop-ups, exhibits, posters, electrical, audio visuals or similar decorations from being permitted in the booth. No table-top displays or custom draperies (including table) may be used and will be cited for removal if in violation. You may bring a laptop computer or tablet. (Please note that electricity is not provided in the Supplier booths but can be obtained through the hotel.) In most cases, laptops and tablets can be adequately charged during breaks and between Marketplace sessions so electricity is not essential in the booth.)
In addition to Marketplace appointments, a wide variety of social events are scheduled during Showcase to provide the opportunity to do business in a more relaxed setting, plus learn about some of the exciting destinations in the region.
When you receive your list of pre-scheduled appointments, begin planning your strategy for on-site meetings. Always have a business card with you! Not only to exchange them…many people have booked tours or gotten stories placed from notes on the back of a business card! Stay near your booth! There are plenty of stories from Suppliers who said they had some of their best appointments from people walking by!
If you have questions, need more information or assistance, please contact us at 404-231-1790.
How are the appointments scheduled?
More than 15,000 appointment requests are pre-scheduled for the four Showcase Marketplace sessions. Beginning on January 22, 2020 and ending February 21, 2020, all appointment-taking delegates have the opportunity to electronically research and request appointments with the organizations they most want to meet with during Marketplace. Our automated scheduling system matches appointment requests and schedules nearly 100% of all mutually requested appointments and 90% of all Buyer requested appointments — giving you quality appointments.Travel South Showcase gives you the flexibility of requesting your appointments on our web site allowing you to change and update your requests up until the minute they are scheduled. Once again this year, you will see which companies have requested your organization, allowing you to continually update your requests in order to gain more mutual appointments.
How are the appointments prioritized?
Of the more than 15,000 appointment requests that are pre-scheduled, we instruct the computer-matching program to process appointments in the following order:
- Buyer & Supplier Perfect Match (Buyer & Supplier both request the other)
- Buyer Requests (Supplier did not reciprocate request)
- Supplier Requests (Buyer did not reciprocate request)
- Journalist & PR Supplier Perfect Match (Journalist & PR Supplier both request the other)
- Journalist Requests (PR Supplier did not reciprocate request)
- PR Supplier Requests (Journalist did not reciprocate request)
How long are the pre-scheduled sessions?
You have 7 minutes to discuss business one-on-one and open doors for future business in the pre-scheduled appointments. Buyers have 2 minutes to move to the next appointment.
Requesting Appointments
All delegates will need to access the My Domestic Showcase Page on the Travel South USA website through the link provided in their appointment schedule email. Delegates will use this login to access marketing information about each company, however, only appointment taking Buyer and "Primary Supplier POD Delegate" will have access to appointment requests. Suppliers sharing a POD should give "Primary Supplier POD Delegate" appointment requests for processing. The site will provide detailed instructions on how to request appointments.The appointment scheduling section of the site opens January 22, 2020; all requests are due by Friday, February 21, 2020. During this time, you will be able to access profile sheets on all Buyers, Journalists and Suppliers registered for Showcase. Since registration will remain open, this list will continuously be updated until registration closes on Friday, February 21, 2020. A list of pre-scheduled appointments will be available online for each company on Friday, February 28, 2020.
Keeping Appointments
During International Showcase, Buyers and Journalists visit Suppliers in their booths and keep appointments discussing how they can best do business. Announcements are made every seven (7) minutes telling Buyers it is time to check their schedule and move to the next appointment. There will be two minutes between each appointment. All delegates may participate in all marketplace sessions.We recommend Suppliers bring itineraries and a presentation binder or laptop/tablet with information about their destination or property to show tour operators what is available in their area.
Please note that electricity is not provided in the Supplier booths. In most cases, laptops and tablets can be adequately charged during breaks and between Marketplace sessions so electricity is not essential in the booth.
Supplier Booth Regulations
Travel South USA is a "brochures only" Showcase. We strictly enforce no banners, backdrops, pop-ups, exhibits, posters, electrical, audio visuals or similar decorations from being permitted in the booth. No table-top displays or custom draperies (including table) may be used and will be cited for removal if in violation. You may bring a laptop computer or tablet. (Please note that electricity is not provided in the Supplier booths but can be obtained through the hotel.) In most cases, laptops and tablets can be adequately charged during breaks and between Marketplace sessions so electricity is not essential in the booth.)
Getting the Most Out of Showcase
In addition to Marketplace appointments, a wide variety of social events are scheduled during Showcase to provide the opportunity to do business in a more relaxed setting, plus learn about some of the exciting destinations in the region.When you receive your list of pre-scheduled appointments, begin planning your strategy for on-site meetings. Always have a business card with you! Not only to exchange them…many people have booked tours or gotten stories placed from notes on the back of a business card! Stay near your booth! There are plenty of stories from Suppliers who said they had some of their best appointments from people walking by!