We’re thrilled to have a fabulous line-up of talented speakers & presenters for the 2009 Wisconsin Lodging Conference & Trade Show!
October 25-27, 2009
Glacier Canyon Lodge at the Wilderness Resort,
Wisconsin Dells
Kicking off our Opening Session on Monday morning is Mr. John Bergstrom. As Chairman and CEO of Bergstrom Corporation of Neenah, Wisconsin, he owns and operates 21 automobile dealerships representing 30 different brands.
In 1974 Mr. Bergstrom and his brother, Richard, started Bergstrom Corporation with a small restaurant in their hometown of Neenah. Today, their business is ranked as one of the Top 50 largest dealer groups in the United States.
Mr. Bergstrom is a three-year honor graduate from the Marquette University School of Business. In addition to being named TIME magazine’s “Number One Quality Automotive Dealer” in the country in 2004, Bergstrom was also presented the “Entrepreneur of the Year” award by Arthur Young & Company, the “Herman W. Lay” national award for Outstanding Performance in the American Free Enterprise System in Washington, D.C., and recognized by Venture Magazine as “Wisconsin Businessman of the Year”.
Mr. Bergstrom knows first-hand the impact today’s economy has had on consumer spending and joins us Monday at 8:45 am to share his perspective on how a recession creates opportunities in “Driving Success in a Tough Economy.”
Author and trainer Ms. Carol Verret, President of Carol Verret and Associates Consulting and Training (CVCT), joins us Monday afternoon and again on Tuesday morning. Since 1999, Ms. Verret and her team have provided sales, marketing, customer service and coaching services to the hospitality industry through seminars, consultations and web casts. Her programs deliver effective tools to sales associates, General Managers and Revenue Managers from corporate sales organizations to independent properties who need an edge in the competitive marketplace of hotel sales and marketing today.
Ms. Verret also writes for various industry publications from Hotel Online to Hospitality Upgrade, keeping industry professionals up to speed on relevant issues. Offered both Monday afternoon at 1:45 p.m. and again Tuesday morning at 9:30 a.m., Ms. Verret will teach attendees how to harness the latest distribution strategies to maximize revenue for their properties in “Accelerating Revenue.”
A career hotelier and educator, John J. Hogan is a successful senior executive with a record of accomplishment in leading hospitality industry organizations at multiple levels, with demonstrated competencies as a strong leader, relationship builder, problem solver and mentor.
Mr. Hogan starts us off Tuesday with “101 Formulas to THRIVE in ANY Economy” at 8:00 a.m. Join us for breakfast as he takes attendees through a fresh look at virtually all areas of lodging operations from marketing and staff development to building guest loyalty and more.
Mr. Hogan then returns at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday with “Effective Selling with or without a Sales Staff” where he shares how to identify and build repeat guests, identify why guests DON’T come back and what to do about it. Attendees will also learn 20 money-making marketing ideas & more.
Wrapping up the Conference Tuesday, we are pleased to once again have Ms. Marlene Colucci, Executive Vice President of Public Policy for AH&LA. Ms. Colucci is responsible for setting the policy agenda and implementing the lobbying efforts of the association, providing guidance on all legislative and regulatory matters impacting AH&LA members, and directing the association’s political activity. In addition, she works directly with Members of Congress and the administration to promote travel and tourism as an industry.
Ms. Colucci brings strong credentials and years of political expertise to AH&LA. Before joining AH&LA, she worked in the White House, serving as a special assistant to President George W. Bush in the Office of Domestic Policy. In that capacity, she coordinated all labor, transportation and postal reform policy initiatives for the White House. She frequently speaks to hoteliers across the country regarding the importance of grass roots advocacy. Stick around to hear Ms. Colucci share her insider’s view of policy and politics, Tuesday at 11:00 a.m. for the closing session: “Capitol Hill & The White House: A View from the Inside.”
Learn more & register for the Wisconsin Lodging Conference & Trade Show – Early Bird rates expire Monday, October 12th. DON’T MISS OUT- Room Block Deadline extended to Friday, October 9th for the $99 rate at the Glacier Canyon Lodge! (download the Conference brochure for Room Block information)
