There’s a unique chance for fully registered travel agents to win a free hotel stay at the Home Based Travel Agent Forum, Oct. 22-24, in Atlantic City. A monthly series of generous prize packages of three free room nights at the brand new Revel Resort was introduced this week by the Travel Show Marketing Group (TSMG), which produces this highly acclaimed event.

Jim Cloonan, TSMG’s president, says these prizes will be drawn randomly for paid-up travel agents in August and September, with full eligibility for those who have signed up since registration first opened in mid-May. “This means that any travel agent who registers between now and the end of August has two chances to walk away with one of these prizes,” he says. “The three nights in question are Sunday night, Oct. 21; Monday night, Oct. 22, and Tuesday night, Oct. 23. So the sooner you register, the more chances you have to win one of these prizes.”

In order to qualify, travel agents are invited to sign up now at a $90 rate by visiting www.ACTravelShow.com, where full details are posted on the section marked “prize giveaways” under the “attendee information” listing. At the same time, agents can lock down a $119 room rate at Revel, which since its formal opening in May has attracted widespread praise from both reviewers and guests.  Rooms are limited at this rate, and agents are urged to register as soon as possible.

The prizes in question will be drawn at the end of each month, and the winners will be notified by both telephone and email. In addition, the names and photos of winners will be circulated throughout the industry by email on various distribution sites, as well as in TSMG’s own “HB Agent Weekly,” which is posted every Thursday.

Travel agents also can take advantage of a 75 percent discount offered by Amtrak from anywhere in the U.S. to such nearby Atlantic City feeder cities Philadelphia, New York, and Newark, N.J. Full details on this rail program are posted at www.ACTravelShow.com under “attendee information” and “transportation.” Alternatively, contact Lisa Marshall at Lisa@TravelSMG.com to learn details of the offer.

In addition, Spirit Air is now offering a daily service over the applicable Home Based Travel Agent Forum dates between Boston and Atlantic City for $99 round trip. Spirit also is flying into the south New Jersey resort on a daily basis from three communities in Florida, Tampa, Orlando and Ft. Myers, for rates as low as $247, with all of them below $300. Daily service is also provided from Atlanta for $218 round trip. Once in Atlantic City, parking for those who drive and stay at Revel is available for $5 for self-parking and $10 for valet, both rates applicable for length of stay. 

Cloonan says the entire conference program, which is almost complete, is now displayed in on www.ACTravelShow.com. The ambitious calendar of events includes dozens of provocative seminars and panels, executive-level discussions, keynote speakers, and training by such renowned organizations as Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) and the Outside Sales Support Network (OSSN), which is the primary sponsor of this trade show and conference.

Also on the program the trade show, which is scheduled Tuesday afternoon, Oct. 23, and Wednesday morning, Oct. 24, with more than 250 domestic and international suppliers. An attractive selection of travel prizes will be drawn at the conclusion of the trade show. Receptions and other sponsored functions will be announced in the near future.

Suppliers who wish exhibit at the trade show or obtain information on available sponsorships are can contact Cloonan at 617-337-5132 or email Jim@TravelSMG.com. For all other information, please visit www.ACTravelShow.com. We look forward to seeing you in Atlantic City!

Martin B. Deutsch is marketing consultant and program director for the Home Based Travel Agent Forum.