NATSO, the U.S. travel plaza and truckstop association, and the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association announced that they will co-locate two education events for hospitality and truckstop industry leaders in February 2011 – The NATSO Show and the FRLA Social Media Marketing Summit. Set for Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort outside Orlando, Fla., The NATSO Show runs from Feb. 17-21. FRLA’s Social Media Marketing Summit occurs on the same site on Feb. 21.
Each year, The NATSO Show delivers business intelligence, focused networking and innovative products to the nation’s truckstop and travel plaza leaders. “Nothing could be more appropriate than co-locating The NATSO Show with the FRLA Social Media Marketing Summit,” says Lisa Mullings, NATSO president and chief executive officer. “Industry members can access game-changing business intelligence at The NATSO Show, and then tap FRLA’s cutting-edge strategies to build customer loyalty and drive traffic.”
The two events not only are scheduled back-to-back, but FRLA also will bring world-class social media experts to The NATSO Show attendees directly. The NATSO Show’s Great Ideas session for independent operators, scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 20, will feature presenters from the Social Media Marketing Summit, and experts are expected from Google, Yelp and FishBowl Marketing.
Sponsored by Terra Environmental Technologies and The NATSO Foundation, the Great Ideas session will help attendees develop low-cost high-impact marketing plans to help build their businesses. Attendees then can explore social media strategies in greater depth by attending FRLA’s Social Media Marketing Summit on Feb. 21 at a 50 percent discount.
“From location-based social media sites to online review forums and more, digital marketing is having a truly seismic impact on customer relationships in today’s hospitality industry,” says Camron Becker, director of marketing for FRLA. “Whether you operate a truckstop or travel plaza, a restaurant or a lodging business, social media skills are absolutely essential in our online world.”
FRLA members and summit attendees similarly can attend The NATSO Show at the deeply discounted NATSO-member rate to connect to business intelligence, powerhouse networking and forward-looking industry suppliers. Fee information for The NATSO Show is available at www.natsoshow.org.
Truckstop and travel plaza operators can register for the two events by contacting Kimberly Roberts at [email protected] or by calling 703-549-2100. Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association members can register for the two events by contacting Susan Aronson at [email protected] or by calling 888-372-9119, Ext. 226.
