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OSSN National Conference Preliminary
Agenda
Thursday, October 19, 2006
San Jose Fairmont Hotel
8:30AM – 5:00P
8:30AM – 9:00 AM
Welcome by Gary Fee, OSSN President and Founder and Anita Pagliasso-Balamane,
OSSN Western Regional Manager
9:00AM – 9:50AM
Keynote Presentation
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Grow Your Net Worth by Growing Your Network!
Presented by: Kathleen Ronald
Founder and President of SPEAKtacular
Professionals need to have well-honed networking skills as well
as a solid network. In a world where trust matters, personal relationships
really do count and word of mouth is the principal method of attracting
new business, developing and nurturing a strong network of contacts
are essential.
Travel professionals, particularly in the early stages of their
sales careers, can feel surprisingly uncomfortable when "networking"
yet the ability to do so with ease and enjoyment can determine how
well you will do in this industry.
In the keynote, we will hear from the expert in the “networking
arena” Kathleen Ronald aka: The Queen of Business Networking!
DO you want to improve your NETWORKING skills?
DO you want to expand your NETWORK?
LEARN Kathleen's secrets to move from "Mediocrity to Mastery"
in your networking skills and your ability to build your network.
In this Keynote:
- Understand why your limiting beliefs are holding up your
profits
- Learn the critical strategies to expand your network
so you can double your net worth
- Leverage the ONE key that will LOCK in your success rate
– only 2% are doing this now
- Incorporate Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) strategies
that will give you the best "Networking Tools" which
will make the process Fun, Exciting and a Pleasure!
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10AM – 10:30AM
Welcome to San Jose! Pat Dando, President of the San Jose Silicon Valley
Chamber of Commerce
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Pat Dando has gone from PTA mom to redevelopment queen
to San Jose city councilwoman then San Jose Vice Mayor and now the
current President of the Silicon Valley San Jose Chamber of Commerce.
Ms. Dando will talk about the power of small businesses working
together and how to leverage your involvement with your city. |
10:30 – 10:40 Break
10:40AM – 12:00PM
MEET THE NICHE EXPERTS AND LEARN THEIR MONEY MAKING SECRETS
Moderated by: John Dalton
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John Dalton - Industry Consultant, Panel Moderator
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Patrick Toal - Open Seas Travel
Patrick was a Geriatric Social Worker for over 15 years before
working in the travel industry. While he was in graduate school,
he interned at Duke University Medical Center with Lisa Gwyther.
At the time, Ms. Gwyther, was one of the top Long Term Care Specialists
in the United States. Patrick contributed information to several
published works and then co-authored a book with Lisa in 1999.
Today it is not as uncommon to hear news stories about healthy
centenarians or a 70 year old celebrating a milestone birthday by
taking skydiving lessons. And when we hear about seniors "surfing,"
they are not always talking about the internet, but rather the sport
of Hawaiian kings. With the age of the Baby Boomer upon us and advances
in medical technology, a new breed of senior traveler is emerging.
This new breed of traveler is certainly not one to be overlooked
and has the potential to be a great moneymaker for your agency.
- Why Seniors Make the BEST Clients
- Offering Soft Adventure Travel for Seniors
- How to Get Your Foot in The Door at Retirement Communities
- General Information about Using Ship Infirmaries
- Filing Medical Insurance after Disembarking
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Marlene Caracalas. CTC, MCC - Caracalas Travel
Owner of Caracalas Travel for 11 years specializing in Greece,
Canada, cruises, golf and adventure travel. When Marlene moved to
a new community where no one knew her, she had to redefine her business
and my approach to selling travel. Learn about the steps she took
that helped her to become a success:
- Became visible and available
- How to get to know the “movers and shakers” in the
community.
- Presented myself as an expert in the travel business.
- Partnered with local businesses to put together groups and used
their very large mailing lists to fill the groups.
- Contacted the local community college and offered my expertise
and knowledge by giving presentations to tourism classes.
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Kelly Rubingh – Family Travel
Kelly Rubingh has been a travel agent for twelve years in the Bay
Area. She began as an outside agent while still working in the performing
arts, then started Family Travel as a home-based agency in 1997.
Her first son, or "guinea pig" was born the following
year, and she now travels with her two boys and husband around the
world exploring destinations from the "family travel"
viewpoint. Her agency is located in San Carlos, California where
she is active in her church, children's schools, and community.
- How did I decide on this particular niche
- How did I break into the market
- What do I do to promote myself within the market
- How do I stay an "expert" in the field
- Why I love it!
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 12:00PM
– 12:50PM
Lunch Sponsored by India Tourism – Introduction by Melody Fee,
OSSN Vice President. Presentation by Mr. Venkatesan Dhattareyan, Assistant
Director, India Tourism
1:00PM – 1:50PM
HONEYMOONS, WEDDINGMOONS, BABYMOONS & REGISTRIES
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Rita Hittler, Honeymoon and Destination Wedding
Specialist with Ticket 2 Honeymoons (A division of Ticket To Travel)
rita@aticket2travel.com
(408) 223-4601
Rita Hitter has been in Travel since 2002. She took her love of
travel to the next level and started planning trips for her friends
and family. That led her into a career that she is very passionate
about. “When I send a client on a trip of a lifetime I am
as excited for them as if I were going with them” says Rita.
Rita has cruised on most of the major cruise lines, traveled to
Europe on many occasions and loves vacationing in Mexico and Hawaii.
She is an Official Cancun Specialist, a Celebrity Cruise Line Specialist,
Certified Hawaii Specialist and a Honeymoon and Destination Wedding
Specialist.
Whether it is a weekend in Napa, a cruise to Alaska or a trip to
Italy, Rita combines her love of travel and her compassion for people
to design dream vacations and honeymoons for her clients.
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Lee Cromwell, Honeymoon Wishes (Honeymoon Registry)
Lee comes to us from London, England. He first came to the USA
to play soccer in 1978 and played professionally through 1989. A
pioneer in information technology, Lee was the President of Touch
Screen Centers, an Information Kiosk company marketing to the tourism
industry. Lee continues to be an innovator in information technology
by overseeing all new concepts and strategic partnership developments
of OSSN allied supplier, www.HoneymoonWishes.com |
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Chuck Warner, West Coast Representative, Couples
Resorts
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Melody Fee, Vice President OSSN |
1:50PM - 2:00PM Break
2:00PM – 2:50
GETTING READY FOR PRIME TIME
After this presentation you will have a comprehensive understanding of how
to use the media to your fullest advantage.
- Press Releases and Press Interviews
- Understanding the Media and what they are looking for in a press release
- Improving your business image
- Public Relations and Advertising
Speakers:
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James Shillinglaw, CTC, a veteran travel editor and journalist,
serves as editorial director and editor in chief for Agent@Home and
Cruise & Vacation Agent. He also oversees ModernAgent’s
Travel Pulse, a daily online and e-mailed newsletter. Shillinglaw
was the recipient of the American Society of Travel Agents’
2003 Travel Journalist of the Year award, which recognizes a journalist
whose efforts have contributed to the promotion of the travel agent
community. His extensive body of writing and reporting includes articles
on travel agents, cruise lines, hotels and resorts, tour operators,
airlines, car rentals and travel technology. He also has served as
a speaker at top travel industry event and has moderated seminar panels
at travel trade shows and conferences. |
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Kate Koziol, president of Chicago-based K Squared Communications,
Inc., is a veteran publicist with more than 20 years of marketing
and public relations experience. Named Women Business Owner Star
of 2003 by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council
in recognition of entrepreneurial leadership and professional excellence,
Ms.
Koziol brings her senior executive experience to a wide range of
organizations, from Fortune 500 companies to entrepreneurial startups.
Ms. Koziol developed an inside and in-depth understanding of marketing
and public relations working for industry leaders such as United
Airlines and Westvaco. Ms. Koziol also worked for business-to-business
e-marketing pioneers such as Apollo Travel Services and Galileo
International. |
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Michael Martinez, travel writer for the San Jose Mercury News
Michael Martinez has been the Mercury News' travel writer since
2001 after previously covering sports for 27 years. Martinez writes
the travel section's weekly Q&A column and also covers traveler
consumer issues, trends, cruises and destinations. His travels have
taken him to Latin America, Europe and the South Pacific.
In 2004, he was the silver award winner in the Travel Journalist
of the Year competition sponsored by the Society of American Travel
Writers.
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3:00 – 3:50PM
THE NUTS AND BOLTS OF INSURANCE – WE’VE GOT YOU COVERED
Cynthia Perry, CTC
V.P. Retail Sales
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TravelSafe Insurance – Consumer Travel Insurance
TravelSafe Insurance has become the gold standard in travel insurance
products through innovation, experience and excellent customer service.
Since 1971, they have marketed and administered the most comprehensive
policies available in the industry and are leading the way in developing
new solutions for the insurance needs of individuals and families
throughout the United States and Canada, such as their industry-first
“Cancel For Any Reason” option. TravelSafe is a preferred
supplier of OSSN.
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Travel Professionals Insurance Network – Agency E & O Insurance
 Travel
Professionals Insurance Network™ (TPIN) is lead by a team of travel
industry and professional liability specialists dedicated to providing
liability insurance solutions for travel professionals.
TPIN offers Travel Agent Protect™, a travel agents E&O insurance
program designed specifically for home-based travel agents that provides
protection for claims alleging errors and omissions in the performance
of travel agent services. Travel agents in most states can apply for and
purchase a Travel Agent Protect policy online with a credit card. For
more information, visit www.travelproins.com
TPIN is a service of MPP Company, Inc., a leading underwriting and claims
manager providing specialized products and programs for a variety of niche
markets.
4:00 – 4:50PM
MAKE THE CONNECTION! PROVEN TECHNIQUES FOR NETWORKING AND PROSPECTING
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Mike Daly
Creative Solutions
Industry Veteran, speaker and writer
Mike Daly is President of CSI Creative Solutions, Inc. and Vacation
Planning
Party. He knows how to build winning game plans that create new
business. He
has worked with such renowned organizations as the AARP, Smithsonian
Journeys,
A&E Television Networks and PBS. He helped travel industry
leader Collette
Vacations into new opportunities, new customer segments, and new
strategic
partnerships resulting in millions of dollars of new revenue.
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Kristy Rogers was just named “Managing Director of
the Year” by eWomenNetwork and she was recently crowned “The
Royal Schmoozer 2006” by the San Jose Silicon Valley
Chamber of Commerce. Connecting people is what Kristy does and does
well. Being the Regional Executive Director of eWomenNetwork San Jose
and Co-founder of Women in Networking, has provided years of experience
connecting people and learning what makes for powerful connections. |
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Margie Weidert – Long time home-based agent and fellow
OSSN member who has built her business by networking. Margie will
give you first hand networking techniques and the marketing strategies
that have made her a success! |
5:00PM - Grand Prize Drawing for stay at Couples Resort
Friday, October 20, 2006
7:30 PM - 10:30 PM
OSSN Member Reception – Tech Museum – IMAX Theater
Join the fun, meet other OSSN Members at OSSN’s Conference Reception
located across the street from the Fairmont Hotel.
A special film will be shown at the reception called, “Mystic
India” in the IMAX Theater.
 Mystic
India, the first epic large-format film on India, follows the journey
of an extraordinary 11-year-old child named Neelkanth as he treks for
7 years, 8,000 miles, barefoot across the length and breadth of India.
Walking with this young yogi, experience the colorful traditions and festivals
of an ancient land, explore a diverse country of deserts, tropical forests,
mountains, and plains, and introduce yourself to over a billion people
who speak 18 different languages and over a thousand dialects.
Mystic India is a journey of exploration, a journey of education, but
above all else a journey of inspiration. Through all its colors, breathtaking
landscapes, and intriguing faces, Mystic India has one simple message
- the universally inspiring message of Unity in Diversity. As he narrates
the film, Peter O'Toole highlights the theme of Neelkanth's journey: "We
are all one people; we share the same sky, walk the same earth, breath
the same air; that we are a single human family."
Filmed by award winning cinematographer Reed Smoot, directed by the respected
Keith Melton, with music by the renowned Sam Cardon, Mystic India has
been acclaimed at film festivals around the world. In Paris, Mystic India
took the "Audience Choice Award" at the 10th Annual
International Large Format Film Festival. From Singapore to San Jose,
the accolades keep rolling in for Mystic India.
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