TLPA

TLPA’S ANNUAL CONVENTION IN LAS VEGAS

“Join Taxicab Limousine & Paratransit Association members in Las Vegas on October 3-7 for TLPA’s 91st Annual Convention & Trade Show,” says TLPA President Rick Hewatt. Those of you who have been to Las Vegas know that the fun and excitement never stops.You may try your luck at a gaming table or the slots, but the modern Vegas is so much more. It has become a destination of fine dining, invigorating nightclubs and spectacular shows. Even wandering through the hotels and casinos is an amazing way to spend your time!

President Hewatt's theme of "Work Hard: Play Hard" has no better background than Las Vegas. He invites you to join TLPA members at the Annual Convention where each day we will focus on the current topics that affect your business and each night we will explore all the excitement of Las Vegas. Mark your calendars now and plan to attend.

The registration fee includes two breakfasts, two lunches, two cocktail receptions, a tour of a transportation company, a prize drawing, and, of course, the items the exhibitors and sponsors give away.We'll Work Hard and We'll Play Hard too. Plenty of time is built into the convention schedule for you to relax, enjoy and speak informally with your fellow industry members.

Las Vegas at night. Photo Courtesy of Las Vegas News Bureau.

Caesars Palace

Caesars Palace will welcome us to their incredible world of opulence and splendor where luxury accommodations are offered to TLPA registrants at the incredible room rates of:

$145.00 (Run of House single or double);

$185.00 (Forum Tower single or double);

$205.00 (Palace Tower single or double);

$250.00 (Palace Tower Petite King single or double).

Extra persons charged at $30 per night, maximum three guests per guestroom. Complete room descriptions and reservations can be made on our CAESARS PALACE RESERVATIONS link or by calling (866) 227-5944. You must identify yourself as a member of the TLPA to get the group rate.The Palace Tower is the tower where the meeting space is located and the Forum Tower is the latest tower to be renovated.

A limited amount of rooms are also available at the Flamingo Hotel directly across the street from Caesars Palace at a rate of $60/night. The Flamingo rooms can be booked on-line at this FLAMINGO RESERVATIONS link or by calling 1-800835-5686. Our group code at the Flamingo is SFTLP9; they also have us listed under Taxicab, Limousine & Paratransit Association.The cut off date for accepting guestroom reservations for either property is August 25, 2009.

From the moment you walk though the doors of Caesars Palace you know you’ve arrived at the most prestigious resort on the Strip. Caesars Palace is internationally renowned for its fine dining featuring an array of cuisines, world class gaming, and legendary entertainment. The Forum Shops at Caesars are acclaimed as "The Shopping Wonder of the World.” The Forum Shops and the Apian Way, an elegant European style marble promenade lined with exclusive shops are Las Vegas’ premier retail, dining and entertainment destination featuring more than 160 boutiques and shops as well as 13 restaurants.

Las Vegas Attractions

Las Vegas offers unmatched entertainment. Some of the shows and attractions attendees may want to see include: Cirque du Soleil’s most ambitious project to date - "O".The show is amazing. It is a step into the surreal. Basic elements of water, earth, fire, and air are mixed and mingled in a variety of spectacular performances of dancing, swimming, acrobatics, and clowning.

TLPA President Rick Hewatt, Checker Cab Company,Atlanta, GA, will preside over the Las Vegas meeting before turning the TLPA President’s gavel over to New York’s Victor Dizengoff of the BCAC

Over a thousand soaring fountains fill Bellagio's lake, enhanced at nightfall by color and light. Accompanying this water ballet is the music of composers such as Copland and Strauss and vocalists such as Luciano Pavarotti.

The Price Is Right - Come On Down! You could be the next contestant on The Price Is Right as America's favorite game show comes to the stage at Bally's.

"Love," by the combined efforts of Cirque du Soleil and Apple Corps Ltd., is playing at the Love Theatre inside the Mirage Resort & Casino. "Love" is a tribute to the Beatles with their music and images being accompanied by the art and artistry of Cirque du Soleil. It is huge, grand, and amazing.

The great comedian, Don Rickles, is scheduled at the Orleans Showroom October 3 & 4.The Blue Man Group is a multi-media, sensory experience that dashes apart the boundaries of virtually every production show in Las Vegas and it is wonderful. It is a fabulous mix of art, music, thought, sight, touch, words, and sounds.

Phantom - the Las Vegas Spectacular reunites composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, director Hal Prince, and choreographer Gillian Lynne who together reconceived the show into a 95 minute spectacular including each and every song from the original The Phantom of the Opera production. From the moment you enter the magnificent custom built theatre you find yourself in the famed Paris Opera House immediately entranced in the Phantom's world.

One of the highlights of the TLPA Annual Convention & Trade Show is the Silent Auction to raised money for the TLPA Action Fund.

TLPA Trade Show

Caesars Palace has expanded again building a brand new home for our Trade Show.A walk down the hall from our meeting rooms and a trip down the escalators and you will be standing in the foyer of the new Forum Ballroom which will house our Trade Show. Now more convenient, this exposition is the place to discover new products and services from our industry's best vendors.You have the advantage when all your vendors are under one roof and everyone benefits when the meetings and the trade show are under the same roof.

  • The Grand Opening of the Trade Show will be held on Sunday, October 4 from 4:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. with the Grand Opening Cocktail Reception.


  • On Monday, the exhibit hall will be open from 12:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. with a lunch being served early and an o pen bar served later that afternoon.


  • On Tuesday, the trade show will be open from 10:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. with lunch being served early and prize drawings held before the hall closes. TLPA has added an additional general session this year that will take place Sunday afternoon, October 4.The first general session will feature two sets of impressive keynote speakers:

  • Mark Keller, CEO and William O'Grady, Executive Vice President of Confluence Investment Management LLC will present their keynote presentation of New Financial Realities for Businesses; followed by

  • John Boit, CEO and Jon Taper, President of Melwood Global, LLC who will discuss Proactive Public Relations Strategies.



The speakers for the second and third general sessions are equally as impressive:

  • On Monday morning President Rick Hewatt will give his state of the industry & TLPA address followed by the Legislative Report by TLPA Legislative Counsel Ken Butler. The Operator of the Year Presentations will conclude the second general session. The Annual Business Meetings for TLPF and TLPA are the key components of the Third General Session. At these meetings, new budgets will be adopted, bylaw changes will be received and board members will be elected and sworn into office.The highlight will be newly elected President Victor Dizengoff presenting his vision for the future course of TLPA and the industry.

TLPA Las Vegas meetings are always the best attended conventions averaging more than 1,000 attendees and the Las Vegas trade shows draw the most vendors.

The Educational Sessions

The very popular Roundtable Discussions are back, and we're scheduling 18 topics of importance to you. On Sunday afternoon, October 4, we will open the educational portion of the convention with two sets of roundtables. Roundtable discussions are informal Q & A sessions with a moderator. Each table seats 36 people so arrive early to ensure you get a seat at the table. A few of the roundtable discussion topics will include:

  • Call Center:Attracting & Keeping Good Employees,


  • Contracting: Managing Your Broker,


  • Drivers: Coaching for Increased Productivity,


  • Insurance: Optimizing Your Claims Management,


  • Marketing: Budget Conscience Marketing Ideas,


  • Regulations: Getting Enforcement Against Illegal Operators,


  • Technology:Vice Recognition Systems,


  • 20Vehicles: Discussion of Alternative Fuel Commercial Vehicles.


Please see the agenda (www.tlpa.org) for a complete list of roundtable discussion topics and come prepared with your questions and comments. Additional educational sessions include four opportunities to attend concurrent breakout sessions where industry experts will make presentations on a variety of topics including PR Crisis Management Strategy, TLPA's Web-based Taxicab Driver Education Program, Financial Outlook & Strategies, and Cost of Converting to Accessible Taxicabs and many others.

Optional Ticketed Events

Golf Tournament:The Annual Gateway Insurance Golf Tournament to benefit TLPA’s Foundation will be held on Saturday, October 3, with departure from Caesars Palace at 11:30 a.m., and a shotgun tee-off at 1:00 p.m. An awards ceremony sponsored by the Black Car Assistance Corporation/The Black Car Fund through Victor Dizengoff will include dinner, drinks, and drawings for door prizes which will conclude the event.

The Angel Park Golf Club’s Mountain Course is desert golf at its finest.Winding through the rolling natural terrain and skirting dense stands of native vegetation, this course is at an elevation of 2,800 feet and features panoramic views of the Spring Mountains, Red Rock Mountains and the Las Vegas skyline that are simply spectacular. The course, designed by Arnold Palmer and Ed Seay features 6,722 yards of golf from the longest tees for a par of 71 .The course rating is 72.4 and it has a slope rating of 128. The course plays havoc with approach shots. Undulating greens and uphill approaches are the keys to master for a good score here. Most of the greens are elevated and mounded so reading the greens is tricky. The 428 yard par 4 No. 10 hole defines the Mountain course. It requires an accurate tee shot, a second shot over the cart path and over a strip of desert landscaping onto a very uneven green.

Women In Transportation Dinner: The Women in Transportation Dinner will be held Sunday, October 4 at Caesars immediately following the Opening Cocktail Reception.This event is held on the first night of the convention to facilitate the building of relationships early in the convention.

This year our theme is networking. Each table will have a facilitator with a list of possible topics to discuss. Join us and discover the benefits of networking in small groups with other transportation operators willing to share their expertise. Approximately 50 men and women attend this event creating a comfortable setting with a friendly atmosphere.

Closing Event: After days of "work hard" meetings we have arranged a special "play hard" treat. The convention's closing party will be held at The Pussycat Dolls Lounge in the PURE Nightclub at Caesars.Tuesday evening, October 6, we will have exclusive access to this lounge prior to the nightclub's opening. Not only will you enjoy an array of heavy hors d'oeuvres and cocktails, but we've also arranged for a private performance by The Las Vegas Pussycat Dolls.This sultry female dance troupe puts on a high energy rock & roll cabaret style revue — singing, dancing, and teasing with a perfect mix of traditional 30's and 40's glamour in a Rock & Roll fashion — all in a tasteful and corporate friendly format.After our party, you are already "in" the #1 Hippest/Hottest Nightclub in the Nation, explore the rest of PURE including its amazing terrace with incredible Strip views. Join the celebration and the culmination of this year's convention and have a blast with friends old and new…until next year!

Register Today

Make your plans now to attend this fabulous event, the TLPA 91st Annual Convention & Trade Show. By registering now you lock in the discounted early registration fee. To register for this important meeting contact TLPA by going to the association’s web site at www.tlpa.org or call the TLPA office at 301-984-5700.

Hal Morgan,TLPA’s Executive Vice President, provided this article.

SAVE THESE DATES

TLPA Mid-Year International Leadership Conference

The Radisson SAS Royal Hotel
Dublin, Ireland
July 15-18, 2009

 

TLPA 91st Annual Convention & Trade Show

Caesars Palace
Las Vegas, Nevada
October 4-7, 2009

 

TLPA Spring Conference & Expo 2010

Doubletree Guest Suites
Historic Charleston, SC
April 19-22, 2010

 

 

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