2008 MCASC Annual Meeting & Marketplace
August 24 -28, 2008
Columbia, SC
Radisson Hotel Columbia & Conference Center
Click here to visit Capital City/Lake Murray Country website
Click here to visit Radisson Hotel Columbia website
2008 Tentative Schedule of Events
Sunday, August 24
12:00 – 4:30 Registration open
12:00 – 2:30 Board Meeting and Lunch
Sponsored by Courtyard Northeast Columbia
2:30 – 4:30 Registration: Board Members Meet & Greet
Registration Bags Sponsored by Lancer Insurance Company and Service Insurance Agency
Pocket Schedule sponsored by Lexington County Museum
Program (sponsorship opportunity)
Name Badges sponsored by Sardo Bus and Coach Upholstery
Coach Display (Parking for motorcoach display located in
Hotel parking lot near convention center.)
3:00 – 4:00 New Member/First Timer Orientation
Moderator: Linda Morris, Staff
If you are a new member or this is your first time to attend the MCASC annual meeting representing a current member, please be sure to attend this session. While it is not an orientation to the industry, as a new member or first timer, you will learn a great deal that will help you as you learn the industry and help you as you seek to build strong business relationships with other members. (Making the most of your 5-minute interview time with operators in market place.)
6:15 All aboard! You’re off to Lake Murray.
Sponsored by Capital City/Lake Murray Country Tony’s Party Store, Southern Patriot, Renee’s Custom Catering
Transportation provided by ABC Companies, Daimler Buses, Prevost, and Motor Coach Industries
6:45 Dinner at The Brantley Manor
A luxurious Bed & Breakfast on Lake Murray. After dinner, enjoy an evening cruise on the Southern Patriot tour boat. Enjoy dessert, cordials and the sunset as the Captain tells the history and fishing tales of Lake Murray. Then, get ready for Lake Murray’s #1 attraction, the “Purple Martin Phenomenon,” the world’s largest natural roosting habitat on Bomb Island in Lake Murray.
9:30 Return to the Radisson
Enjoy evening cocktails and entertainment by Not Necessarily the Band.
(The band will begin entertainment at 8:00 for those who do not participate in the dinner event. The band will conclude at 11:00.)
Monday, August 25
8:00 – 5:30 Registration
8:00 – 9:00 Breakfast
Tour Operators – Surprise Breakfast (Breakfast in your Slippers)
By Capitol Tours
8:00 – 3:00 Golf Tournament at Lexington Country Club
Tee Off and challenge your golf game at The Country Club of Lexington. This tree-lined course by Ed Ricciboni is a private club that has been around since the 60’s. Each hole on the course has five tees for regular play and two junior tees, Par 72.
Golf Coordinator: Tim O’Bryan, Service Insurance Agency
Box lunches will be provided for the golfers.
Leave hotel at 8:00 a.m.
Transportation provided by Daimler Buses
Board Coaches for Tours
Tour 1:
6:30 – 12:00 Fishing Tournament on Lake Murray
Sponsored by Sportsman’s Warehouse
Gone Fishing! Head to Lake Murray where the fishing is hot and the water is cool. Lake Murray is famous for its striped bass and trophy winning large mouth bass. Professional guides will share their fishing tips with you.
Tour guide: Buddy Young, Capitol Bus Lines
Transportation provided by Prevost
Tour 2:
8:00 – 12:00 Canoe Trip Down the Saluda (Adventure Carolina)
Take an adventurous guided river trip to see nature at its best. Enjoy interpretation along the way and a stop at Corley Island (If conditions are conducive, the guide will lead you upstream for a glimpse of the resident Bald Eagles.)
Tour guide provided by Adventure Carolina
Transportation provided by Motor Coach Industries
The participants for the Fishing Tournament and the Canoe Trip will enjoy an “Indoor Picnic” at the Environmental Center in Saluda Shoals Park.
Sponsored by Hampton Inn - Harbison
Tour 3:
9:00 – 2:00 Metro Tour
Tour the historic and trendy Downtown Columbia. The first tour will begin at the Robert Mills House & Park; sample Adluh flour biscuits & jelly as you learn more about Historic Columbia. At the next stop, watch artists use modern and age-old glass-blowing techniques at the One-Eared Cow Glass Studio. One-of-a-kind pieces, including sculptures, bowls and vases in kaleidoscope colors are displayed and available for purchase in the gallery.
Head over to the Columbia Museum of Art for a wide variety of European and American fine and decorative art. The Museum showcases one of the largest collections of Baroque and Renaissance art in the Southeast.
Take a stroll through the unique, local shops of The Vista. The Vista is a revitalized area in the heart of downtown Columbia featuring restaurants and shops with trendy merchandise and rare antiques.
Lunch sponsored by The Comfort Suites of Columbia
Tour guide provided by Capital City/Lake Murray Country Convention and Visitors Bureau
Transportation provided by Bus Group
Tour 4:
9:00 – 2:00 Country Tour
Arrive at Maize Quest and GET LOST. Along the way, you will find clues, pictures, and games. Maize-o-Vision secret decoders help you navigate the multi-acre puzzle. Can you find your way out?
The next stop is Harmon’s Tree Farm & Christmas House. An on-site museum features antique farm machinery and a working grits mill. Start your Christmas shopping early at The Christmas House, featuring decorations from around the world. After you explore, The Christmas House and farm museum, get ready to Do-Si-Do as you learn the basic square dancing steps.
After your drive-by of the Lexington County Museum you will head to Hudson’s BBQ for lunch, one of the top BBQ “Holes in the Wall” by the Turner South Network.
Tour guide provided by Capital City/Lake Murray Country Convention and Visitors Bureau
Transportation provided by Capitol Bus Lines
2:30 – 4:00 Operator Session
Featuring Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration
4:15 Board coach for evening event.
4:30 Who Needs Mayberry – You’re Heading to Newberry
Welcome Reception & Tasting Tour of Newberry
You will enjoy a Taste of Newberry as you stroll through the shops around the Town Square. Settle down at the Newberry Opera House for an unforgettable performance. Professional touring companies perform regularly at this beautifully restored piece of history.
9:00 – 12:00 Hospitality
Tuesday, August 26
8:00 – 5:00 Registration
8:00 – 9:00 General Session I: Breakfast
Industry Update: Peter Pantuso, American Bus Association
Sponsorship opportunity
9:15 - 10:30 Market Place I: Coach Sales
9:15 - 10:30 Associate Business Session
Election of Associate Director
Operator/Associate Round Table:
“Building Itineraries and Learning What Is Needed”
Selected Operators will have the opportunity to sit down at rounds with a selected number of associates to discuss operator needs and how to build itineraries. Operators will move to the several tables to talk with different Associates. This should prove to be beneficial to both members in terms of learning about what is needed by both sides to accurately plan an itinerary and meet the needs of both at the same time. It will help associates as they plan for their market place visits. Associates and Operators will learn information that will make market place more beneficial and efficient.
Moderators: Louise Meyers, Capital City/Lake Murray Country
Sandy Haines, Myrtle Beach CVB
10:45—12:15 Market Place II:
Operators and Associates assigned to this session
Refreshment Break in Market Place Sponsored by American Bus Association
Market Place Binders sponsored by Smith Family Theater
10:45 – 12:15 Associates Education Session To be determined
Refreshments sponsorship opportunity
12:30 Board Coaches Please be prompt.
1:00 - Lunch at SC State Museum – Science Show
2:30 - 3:00 Dessert at SC Confederate Relic Room & Military Museum
Sponsored by SC Confederate Relic Room & Military Museum
3:15 Board Coaches
4:00—5:30 Market Place III:
Operators and Associates assigned to this session
Refreshment Break in Market Place Sponsored by American Bus Association
4:00 – 5:30 Associates Education Session To be determined
Refreshment sponsorship opportunity
6:30 Board coaches for evening events
Transportation provided by ABC Companies, Daimler Buses, Motor Coach Industries, Prevost
Reception at Embassy Suites Hotel
Icebreaker Event:
Take a wild ride to the Riverbanks Zoo & Garden
This nationally known attraction offers a 70 acre Botanical Garden and more than 2,000 species. Travel through the desert, rainforest and undersea kingdom in the Aquarium Reptile Complex.
9:30 Board the bus to the Radisson
-Midnight Hospitality
Wednesday, August 27
8:00 – 5:00 Registration
8:00 – 9:30 General Session II: Breakfast
Industry Report: Vic Parra, United Motorcoach Association
Sponsored by Motor Coach Industries
9:45 – 12:00 Market Place IV: Operators and all associates
Refreshment Break in Market Place Sponsored by American Bus Association
12:15 Board coaches
12:30 – 2:00 General Session III: Lunch
Sponsored by Hilton Garden Inn
Business Session: Association Reports and Election
2:15 Board Coaches
3:00– 5:00 Seminar Session for Operators
Panel Discussion: Nuts & Bolts Shop Talk
Featuring Sales and Technical Staff for ABC Companies, Daimler Buses, Motor Coach Industries, and Prevost
3:00 – 3:30 Refreshment Break
Sponsorship opportunity
3:00 – 5:00 Seminar Session for Associates To be determined
3:00 – 3:30 Refreshment Break
Sponsorship opportunity
6:00 Reception
Sponsored by 2009 Host –
7:00 General Session IV: Awards Dinner
Sponsored by Prevost and Columbia Convention and Visitors Bureau
12:00 Hospitality will open after dinner event.
Thursday, August 28
8:00 – 9:00 Registration
8:00 – 9:00 Breakfast and Networking Session
Sponsored by South Carolina Parks, Recreation, and Tourism
9:15 – 10:15 Board of Directors Meeting
