January 2016 Update for ABC Members

Press Releases

Jan 5

To the ABC community,We wish you a very special 2016 where you dream big dreams, and make them come true. Each of you has unique strengths, so market them. And use these great ABC resources to help you book more business in 2016:The fully revised ABC Professional Wedding Planner program ( PWP )The fastest way to earn your ABC Certified Wedding Planner credential is to take the core educational program at ABC. We are pleased to highlight that this course has now been fully revised by ABC Master Wedding Planner and Director of Education, Ms. Gloria Boyden.The course now comprises 7 full sections, and is available either by hard-copy where you can easily makes notes as well as through an on-line version or CD-ROM version which you can take on your laptop.The price to ABC members is $550, and the cost to non-members is $770, which includes a first-year ABC membership. This course can also be taken by ABC vendors, leading to their ABC Certified Wedding Vendor title. If you have already completed the PDP, you have earned your "certified" credential. But remember, most brides are first-time buyers, and they are searching for certified professionals. So be sure to earn your "certified" credential to increase your SEO inquiries and bookings. Click here to order (http://www.bridalassn.com/mPDP02.aspx)Upcoming ABC Annual Conferences: 2016 Dallas & 2017 Mexico ABC Dallas 2016 - November 6 - 8, 2016 Dallas - Celebrity wedding planner Donnie Brown and ABC Master Wedding Planner Carmen Mesa, welcome you to a fabulous conference in Donnie's home town. Everything starts with a warm embrace from the Adolphus Hotel, the Dallas home of the rich and famous.Because of Donnie's connections, the historic Adolphus hotel is offering ABC an incredible $139 per night rate, at this 4-Diamond property. The ABC 2016 Dallas conference is to include great, new content, and planned tours of Dealy Plaza, the JFK Museum and much more. The early Conference Registration price of $565 is available if you register and deposit by February 28, 2016.Thank you in advance to Carmen and Donnie for their great efforts on AC Dallas 2016! Learn more or register at: www.ABCAnnualConference.comABC Mexico 2017November 6 - 10, 2017 - Just like our fabulous combination "Educational Conference and Resort Get-a-Way" in the Caribbean 2014, we are escaping to a resort in November 2017. We'll be staying in the Riviera Maya, the calming vacation zone 25-minutes south of the newly renovated Cancun airport (CUN) on the popular Yucatan Peninsula. Spouses are welcome and you will personally get to know some wonderful locations for honeymoons, vow renewals and destination weddings.Sign-up now for the ABC Mexico 2017 educational conference to reserve your space, before this event sells out. Conference pricing is an incredibly low $375 If you register before February 28, 2016. We are finalizing resort location and details, but ABC member lodging will be capped at $145 per ABC member, per night. You can bring your spouse for an optional $50 per night.Traditionally, lodging pricing at these Riviera Maya resorts runs $350 to $450 per night, so a great approximate 50% discount awaits us at $145 per member, per night. ABC is able to offer this five-day/ four-night package with members who are to arrive Saturday November 4, 2017 and depart Wednesday, November 8, 2017. Space available, two additional nights after our event are to be offered at our same, low rate. Deposit now for November 2017 on your calendar to enjoy the "spirit of celebration" with our warm, close-by neighbors in Mexico.Mexico Tourism BoardABC continues to thank the Mexico Board of Tourism for their support and help arranging client trips to Mexico. There is great value in Mexico, and a wonderful chance to enjoy the local, colorful towns and the people of Mexico.

ABC Sandals Program & ABC Sandals TA portalsABC clients always get the personal touch when working with an ABC wedding planner, but it is also important to use technology to leverage your time. The new ABC Sandals TA portals do just that!

If you have yet to do so, be sure to open your personal, ABC Sandals Program TA portal, so you can get instant pricing and resort availability at your fingertips. You can now provide instant price updates, and resort updates, while you are on the phone with your clients, and afterward via e-mail. If you are currently using some outside travel agency platform, be very wary of these "card mills". These card mills usually carry a monthly fee, and the pay-out to you is generally less than you earn at ABC. ABC travel services are included in your ABC membership. To open your individual, ABC Sandals TA portal, go to:https://taportal.sandals.comVisit Sandals Portal * Click "create an account", and create your own user name and password.* When asked for your e-mail, you MUST use the same e-mail address that you haveon file at ABC, or you will not be recognized and approved.* When asked for your IATA #, enter ABC Sandals Program Code # 06-1061513.* If the TA portal asks for your location, type in location # 0 (zero), not # 1. * If you have any questions during the set-up process, call Sandals Inside Salesat 1-888-48-Special or 1-888-487-7324 during weekday, business hours.* You will probably also need to open a larger checking account (!) since i am sendingmore and more Sandals checks to ABC members every month. These portals work,and i would like to send some ABC Sandals checks to you.* Also note . . . do not download Sandals website banners from the TA portal, as theywill NOT track back to you. . . . To properly add a Sandals banner to your website, go towww.BridalAssn.comand click on the Sandals logo bottom left, and follow the instructions.We have invested heavily to have these banners automatically track back to you,and to credit any trips booked thru your website . . . automatically to you !