Schedule Overview / Content Highlights

Join your peer network of destination meetings and groups sales professionals for the 2nd Annual Group Sales Symposium presented by Georgia Association of Convention & Visitors Bureaus and Southeast Tourism Society. REGISTER NOW!

Wednesday, November 13 at 11:00 am to Thursday, November 14 at 3:00 pm - Sandy Springs, GA

Agenda Keynotes, General Session, and Breakout Highlights (Topics & Guest Speakers)

General Session - Embrace the Funnel! Gary Hernbroth, Training for Winners!

The term “sales funnel” is tossed around often, yet many salespeople candidly share that they do not really fully understand the concept, and even more admit that they do not know the numbers inside their own sales funnels - What do they mean? How do they affect my sales success? Why is it important? Thus, there can be fear and misunderstanding surrounding the whole Sales Funnel concept. The more you and your salespeople understand how everything you do affects your sales funnel, the better you can manage your valuable time and your best sales efforts.

Participants will get the opportunity to share ideas and dilemmas about the concept of sales funnels with their peers, lighting the spark for an energetic Group Sales Symposium. Gary's full bio and CVB/Meetings Industry Clients

General Session - Creative Ways to Present Hotel Options to Clients Moderator: Andy Williams, Executive Director (Visit Roswell) Learn how to make your proposal to presentation to site visit stand out. Creative proposal process and pitch for CVBs or hotels and how to compete for business.

General Session - Let’s Kick Up Our Sales Games Together! Gary Hernbroth (Training for Winners)

Interactive Workshop - Peer-to-Peer Learning - Come ready to roll your sleeves up for this dynamic session designed to kick up your sales game and share ideas in a number of areas that directly impact your group sales success, and that of your team and destination, too. This will give participants opportunities in small-table discussions to tackle real issues facing CVBs of all sizes. Gary calls this a “Give & Get” session, where participants will be able to give success stories and share ideas with each other, and also get answers and learn solutions from others.

General Session - "The Current State of Group Business" Chris Klauda, CHIA - Senior Director, Market Insights (STR)

Group & Meeting Research - In this session, STR Senior Director of Market Insights will share the state of group business in the hospitality industry (trends and forecast) and include highlights from the STR biennial DestinationMAP study of meeting planners.