The 1992 Annual USIA National Convention takes place in Orlando, Florida, from June 1st through the 4th. As usual, the site is a great vacation destination and the facilities and amenities are terrific. It’s important, though, for those planning to attend and for those still trying to decide, to get a feel for the business side of the Convention. We hope this will help ski area management personnel make their plans for this important event.
Sunny Orlando, home of hundreds of attractions and thousands of hotel rooms, merits a visit by anyone in the tourism and travel industry even without a convention to attend. In today’s world, unfortunately, just having a good time is not enough reason to attend a convention. USIA staff and committees have put together a good program that we believe is a proper mix of business and pleasure.
A session that should be of general interest to all is the Opening Session & Keynote Speaker on Monday featuring the entertaining and controversial journalist, Arnaud de Borchgrave. Those who heard him at last year’s Convention know he will have some provocative observations about the political and economic scene. The Annual Business Meeting & USIA Services Report first thing on Tuesday morning is worthwhile for all Convention goers.
The Trade Show, open from Monday evening through Thursday, is an important part of the Convention. Suppliers of products and services that cover all facets of the ski area and resort industry will be attending and exhibiting giving Convention attendees unequaled opportunity to look, sample and make decisions. Most afternoons are relatively free of meetings to allow for ample time in the show.
General and operational ski area managers and staff have many choices. On Monday’s schedule there are technical workshops on Ski Lift Management Systems, Challenges In The 90s and New Snowmaking Systems plus a panel discussion by STN about Working With Ski Retailers. On Tuesday GMs and other managers will be interested in David Cleary’s Legislative & Case Law Update which includes the review of a 10-Year Skier Injury Study. Later Tuesday morning, Brian Fairbank will lead a discussion of the Quality Improvement Process and an introduction of USIA’s new Quality Assurance Project will be made. Also of interest that morning is the OHSA Update. At lunch on Tuesday, a variety of Table Topics will be featured. In the afternoon, an important session for GMs and other operations managers is entitled Snowboard & Alpine Skiing: Managing The Conflict.
Sessions of interest to general and operations managers continue on Wednesday with Managing For Performance with Steve Mulvany who advocates a “top-down” system of management very unlike the widely touted “team” system. Later that morning, attend Summer Programs That Make Money and then perhaps Quality Service…A Competitive Edge. On Thursday, seminars include Small Ski Areas/Issues & Answers, a discussion that should be of interest to all ski areas, then 2001: The Future Is Now featuring ski area suppliers with their prognostications for the future. Later that day, there will be sessions on the American Ski Federation’s Activities with an emphasis on the hot wetlands issue plus a Consumer Panel of just plain skiers who offer some interesting insight.
Several seminars are planned for those involved in the financial side of the ski business. One Technical Workshop on Monday will cover Snowmaking Cost Control. On Tuesday, the OSHA Update and a number of Table Topics at lunch will be of interest. CFOs and the like should also participate in Wednesday’s Summer Programs That Make Money and Financing to the Year 2001 seminars. On Thursday, choose between How to Prepare Industry Financial Data and Small Ski Areas/Issues & Answers then participate in the Risk Management/Loss Control meeting.
Ski area marketers and anyone involved at all in public relations have a special three-hour long session on Wednesday morning devoted to National Travel Trends, USIA Marketing Update, Public Relations, Promotion Planning and Winter Olympics Marketing. At lunch, several Table Topics will focus on marketing issues. That afternoon, Bob Gillen will coordinate a special Public Relations Information Exchange Workshop followed by Jim Spring’s report on The National Skier Opinion Survey and USIA Ski Vacation Planning Survey. On Thursday, special luncheon round tables will feature Regional and State Association Discussions.
There is another facet of the Convention that is extremely important to anyone in the business. This is the unequaled opportunity to meet with others from throughout the country to discuss any of hundreds of issues facing the ski industry.
Besides the social and vacation activities, this year’s USIA Convention offers a terrific opportunity to learn more about our business. If you have any further questions about the annual USIA Convention in Orlando, please contact Tom Morano at USIA.
