Support for convention continues to run high
Press Release: ARDA
April 8, 2002
Washington, DC -- With one week remaining until the opening of its national convention, the American Resort Development
Association (ARDA) has released its final list of Expedition 2002: Beyond Boundaries sponsors and partners.
In a year characterized by economic challenges, ARDA has experienced a notably high level of support for its convention.
The association has nearly matched the prior year's convention sponsorships, has broken previous fundraising records
for its awards sponsorships, and has garnered first-time participation from major international companies including
eBay, CapitalSource, and Citicorp Diners Club.
ARDA traditionally has offered three sponsorship tiers: signature sponsorship-the convention's highest level of
participation; convention sponsorship, which helps provide goods and events that convention attendees have come
to expect at an ARDA meeting; and awards sponsorships, which support the ARDA Awards Program and its annual gala.
ARDA's signature sponsors play a high-profile role in enabling ARDA to engage in convention activities and to provide
benefits to ARDA attendees that would not otherwise be possible. Without Signature Sponsor RCI's assistance, for
instance, ARDA might not have been able to secure renowned business guru Tom Peters for the Crystal Ball Luncheon.
The support of new Signature Sponsor Holiday Systems International (HSI) allowed ARDA to book comedian Howie Mandel
as the entertainment for ARDA's Awards Gala. And ICE Gallery's Signature sponsorship has provided the Connections
Café and ARDA's messaging service to keep attendees in touch with their home offices and each other, as
well as to allow them free access to Web-based services including the ARDA itinerary builder and the on-site convention
evaluation.
Remaining signature sponsors for 2002 include: American Express (ARDA's top sponsor for the second year running),
CapitalSource (a new ARDA Trustee member sponsoring the Tuesday night award winner/ARDA past chairmen reception),
Interval International (sponsoring the room key cards), Options, Philip Morris USA (providing Monday morning's
continental breakfast), and USA Today (making available daily copies of USA Today and a special ARDA Convention
issue).
ARDA's 15 2002 convention sponsors are companies covering the gamut of vacation ownership services, from finance
companies to law firms to developers. The support of convention sponsors provides ARDA attendees with the nuts
& bolts elements that make up the annual convention, from the registration briefcase (co-sponsored by GE Capital
Real Estate and Piper Marbury Rudnick and Wolfe) to the pocketsize daily planner (sponsored by Baker & Hostetler
LLP). New convention sponsors for 2002 include Citicorp Diners Club (sponsoring the Tuesday morning continental
breakfast), Holland & Knight (sponsoring the speakers' handouts binder), and OurVacationStore.com (co-sponsoring
the on-site program with ICE Gallery).
Finally, the ARDA Awards Program has enjoyed a remarkably successful year. Thanks to a growing number of sponsors
for this program and the boost provided by Holiday Systems International's participation, the awards sponsorship
program will exceed last year's record total by $10,000 or more.
A number of other companies have formed new partnerships with ARDA to help implement special projects. For example,
ARDA has developed a unique alliance with eBay that will provide a live auctioneer for an auction held in the exhibit
hall on Tuesday, April 16. The eBay auctioneer will take bids for items contributed by ARDA members and staff,
including a condo week in Hawaii, an American flag that has flown over the U.S. Capitol building, and a private
dinner with ARDA president Howard Nusbaum. All proceeds from this auction will benefit the ARDA International Foundation.
Marriott Vacation Club International's sponsorship enabled ARDA to book keynoter Marcus Buckingham, author of Now
Discover Your Strengths. And thanks to the assistance of Buckingham's colleagues at the Gallup Organization, ARDA
will be able to use Buckingham's "StrengthsFinder Profile" system to take a closer look at the strengths
of the timeshare industry. The results of over 250 industry profile submissions will be released during Buckingham's
General Session keynote speech on Monday, April 15.
ICE Gallery has also agreed to host the second annual "Passport Program," a prize drawing that offers
ARDA attendees the chance to win prizes while they peruse the offerings in the exposition hall. Select exhibitors
have donated prizes to the Passport Program's "treasure chest." By visiting the booths of participating
exhibitors and collecting stamps for their passport, attendees become eligible to win the treasure chest of prizes,
including a palm pilot, a Johnny Bench Louisville Slugger Bat, a Callaway golf package and a seven-night stay in
a manor home in England.
The ARDA International Resort Development Convention & Exposition will be held at the Bally's and Paris Las
Vegas hotels in Las Vegas, Nevada, April 13-16. On-site registration will be available.
SIGNATURE SPONSORS
American Express Tuesday Luncheon CapitalSource Tuesday Evening Reception in Honor of ARDy Award Winners and Past Chairmen Holiday Systems International (HSI) Gala Entertainment Sponsor (Howie Mandel) ICE Gallery Technology Sponsor, Connections Café, Passport Program, On-Site Program Co-Sponsor Interval International Room Key Cards Options, Philip Morris USA Monday (General Session) Continental Breakfast RCI Crystal Ball Luncheon Sponsor USA Today Convention Special Edition
CONVENTION SPONSORS
ARDA International Foundation ARDA-TV Underwrite ARDA-ROC ARDA-TV Underwrite Baler & Hostetler LLP Daily Planner Sponsor Chicago Title Notepads Sponsor Citicorp Diners Club Tuesday Continental Breakfast Sponsor Fairfield Resorts Exhibit Hall Opening Reception Sponsor GE Capital Real Estate Registration Briefcase Co-Sponsor Greenberg Traurig LLP Attendee Listing Sponsor Holland & Knight LLP Speaker Handout Binder Sponsor Marriott Vacation Club International General Session Keynote Speaker Sponsor OurVacationStore.com On-Site Program (co-sponsored with ICE Gallery) Piper Marbury Rudnick & Wolfe Registration Briefcase Co-Sponsor Textron Financial Corporation Neck Cords and Name Badges Sponsor Travel Advantage Network Registration Packet Pens Sponsor Unifocus Session Evaluations Sponsor
AWARDS SPONSORS
PLATINUM LEVEL
DIAMOND LEVEL
GOLD LEVEL
SILVER LEVEL
BRONZE LEVEL
FRIENDS LEVEL
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Contact: Jason Tostevin, (202) 371-6700 x123