The International Association of Reservation Executives was founded in 1985 by a group of hotel reservation center managers for the exchange of ideas and opportunities that were relevant to their profession.  The group has grown to include more than 100 member companies whose reservation activities span across the entire spectrum of the travel industry. Our members fuel a global economy by allowing persons from all over the globe to share their interests and economic well-being with others no matter where they may be. 

The IARE Annual Conference is the association's premier event where members can learn about trends and techniques to enhance their operations; engage in valuable networking and idea-sharing activities, and share the latest in industry products and services. Our upcoming Conference will be held April 26-30, 2003 at the Red Lion Hotel on Fifth Avenue in downtown Seattle, Washington, U.S.A. 

The Red Lion Hotel on Fifth Avenue is centrally located in downtown Seattle, close to shopping and restaurants, with easy access to the Monorail to Seattle Center and a few blocks walking distance from Pike Place Market. The hotel is offering specially discounted group rates of $130 single/double for IARE  conference participants. 

A preliminary Conference schedule is listed below. The Conference Planning Committee is working diligently to create another outstanding program with plenty of time for vendor demonstration, member networking and education.

Conference registration fees will be $499 for IARE Members, $479 for additional member registrants from the same company, and $799 for non-members until March 21st. (Fees will increase by $50 after this date.)

We hope you will mark you calendar and make plans now to attend! Please bookmark this page and return frequently for ongoing updates!

Saturday, April 26, 2003
2:00 pm IARE Board of Directors Meeting
3:00 pm Committee Meetings

Sunday, April 27, 2003
7:00 am IEX Golf Tournament
10:00 am Registration
3:00 pm Exhibitor Check-in & Setup
5:30 pm Newcomers Orientation
6:30 pm Conference Opening Reception

Monday, April 28, 2003
7:30 am Continental Breakfast
8:00 am General Session: Beyond Customer Service
10:00 am Grand Opening of Exhibit Hall
12:30 pm Networking Lunch & Awards Presentation
1:30 pm Education Sessions & Supplier Showcase
3:00 pm Refreshment Break
3:30 pm Discussion Groups: Customer Service, Attendance & Incentives, Human Resources, Executive Forum
6:00 pm Teambuilding Activity

Tuesday, April 29, 2003
8:00 am Continental Breakfast
8:30 am Education Sessions & Supplier Showcase
10:00 am Refreshment Break
10:45 am Education Sessions * Exhibits tear down
12:15 pm Lunch and IARE Annual Business Meeting
1:30 pm Call Center Forum: Small, Medium, Large/Mega
3:30 pm General Session: The Power of Losing Control
5:00 pm Evening on your own
5:15 pm IARE Board of Directors Meeting

Wednesday, April 30, 2003
8:30 am Continental Breakfast & Conference Wrap-up
9:00 am Call Center Tours
1:30 pm Conference adjourns

• Program includes two general sessions, Monday morning and Tuesday afternoon.
• Instead of a Wednesday morning general session, a featured speaker will end the programs on Tuesday afternoon. Attendance at Wednesday morning sessions has been minimal for the past few years; the rationale is that more people will participate on Tuesday afternoon.
• Participants will be divided into two tracks: A and B. Each group will attend two workshops plus Supplier Showcase during Monday and Tuesday. (Workshops are presented twice.)
• Exhibit hall is open from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Monday, and from 8:00 to 10:45 a.m. on Tuesday.
• Discussion groups have been added for those with emphasis in human resources, customer service, reservations, plus an Executive forum (if enough executives are willing to attend). Facilitators will moderate these groups.
• The Call Center Forum has been condensed to two hours on Tuesday. The agenda for each forum will be determined in advance through email requests and announcements during the Conference so that discussion will focus on idea-sharing.
• The schedule also considers that Board members should attend the Tuesday afternoon general session. The Board meeting is scheduled after Tuesday programs so as not to compete with other sessions.

Click here for Sponsorship and Exhibit Opportunities

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