Welcome To The Travel Industry's Premier Trade Association For The Home Based Seller Of Travel

Kathleen Ronald, “Queen of Business Networking,” is an unparalleled networker, an internationally renowned speaker-trainer, and the founder of Speaktacular. Kathleen has more than 25 years of experience providing custom inspirational keynotes and training seminars to Fortune 500 companies, smaller business, and professional associations. Author of the soon-to-be-released Networking Bible,Queen Kathleen excels at helping people shed the cookie-cutter approach to prospecting and develop personal, authentic strategies that “build their net worth by building their network.”

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!

Irfan Dama has been with the Hotel industry since the age of 16. He was a graduate of the Institute of Hotel Managemet in 1993, and was selected by the Sheraton Group of Hotels to join their prestigious Management Training Program.

Irfan has worked with several hotels including the Sheraton, and Fairmont Hotels in both Canada and the United States He is currently the Senior Sales & Catering Manager at the Hyatt Regency in Silicon Valley where he works closely with the Corporate and the Social Market segment. Outside of work, Irfan is an avid cook specializing in Indian cuisine, a Tri-athlete raising funds for cancer research and likes to be an Ambassador to his culture.

At the end of this informative presentation home-based agents will understand how the Hotel sales process works for rooms and banqueting. The goal is to give agents an increased comfort level when working with Hotels and contracts in general.

• The Contract - It's not such a bad thing: Overview of a contract, what's the purpose and what does it cover. What are the obligations of a contract
• Room Block: Getting an understanding of room blocks and attrition clauses. Why certain date ranges work while others do not.
• Planning and event: What is Food & Beverage Minimum - what is Meeting room rental and should you pay it.
• Making the hotel work for you instead of against you: When are the best times to call. How does flexibility help you get a better deal? Should you let your Sales manager suggest a course of action?
• Harnessing the power of numbers: The more contracts you are willing to commit to, the better are your chances of getting a deal
• Making your Catering/Sales Manager your friend: The power and the effects of contacts and repeat business.

This panel of experts and travel suppliers know the importance of working with home-based agents and have built programs to work with you. They will give you the tips and guidance to help you build your business and make more money in 2008. You will learn how to work smarter, not harder.

Natalie Windsor is a broadcast journalist... and a consultant... and a writer... and a guest lecturer at venues as varied as UCLA, the National Association of University Women, and the Entertainment Publicity Professionals Society (EPPS) ... and the parent of a ten-year-old... and still, she's never too tired to bring information and some humor to a group eager for insights. Ms. Windsor is also extremely proud of having once sung the National Anthem before a Dodgers-Reds game.

Natalie Windsor
Former AP Correspondent
Author and Business Consultant

Windsor's extensive experience in both local and national media makes her uniquely suited to showing small business owners and others "how to get the media to say 'yes' to you." Her broadcast work has included 15 years with the Associated Press Radio Network, and radio stations in Cleveland; Rochester, New York; Chicago; Phoenix; and Los Angeles. She is the author of six books on humor, business and travel. Her articles have appeared in newspapers and periodicals all over the country. .

Promoting Yourself:

• How do you get the media interested in you, to write about/talk about you?
• How to write a press release that does what you want it to do?

Presenting Yourself:

• How to talk to the media properly when they call?
• How to sound like an expert and still sound like a person you'd want to listen to?

Jeff Grieder, OSSN Mid-West Regional Mgr & Houston Chapter Director

Don’t miss OSSN’s “Roving Reporter”. Watch for Jeff throughout the OSSN Western Regional Conference. He’s determined to get the answers to those burning questions!

"Everything You've Always Wanted To Know About Becoming A Successful Home Based Agent, But Were Afraid To Ask"