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The Group Travel Leader Small Market Meetings Going on Faith

Enjoy Super Bowl Sunday in Louisville at the 2018 Select Traveler Conference

Conference Speakers

Who doesn’t need a little career motivation occasionally? That’s Mark Linquist’s specialty. This memorable motivational speaker and entertainer will appear at the Select Traveler Conference to deliver, as Linquist loves to say, “a little jolt; a little kick in the pants” to audience members. He will talk about passion and what it was that led you into your career in the first place. “If you have a big dream for the next level in your life, I’m the guy who is out there showing you that it is possible,” he said.

Linquist also sings professionally. Some delegates may have heard him perform the national anthem before sporting events or other major gatherings around the country.

A second conference speaker will play with the mind: Corporate entertainer and mentalist Steve Haffner will fascinate delegates with his “Conquering Virtual Mind Blocks” production. It’s designed to help audience members improve their personal growth and make better decisions.

“My audience participation includes things like mind magic, virtual mind-reading, prediction, insights into subliminal influences and lie detection,” said Haffner, who promises he will do all this with gentle humor and intelligent fun. Haffner will bring his 30 years of experience in the corporate world to the conference as he reveals the subconscious influences that might be holding us back from being more productive in our career paths.

Destinations FAM Tours

The Select Traveler Conference has arranged both pre- and post-conference FAM tours for delegates. It includes cities directly across the river from downtown Louisville in southern Indiana such as Jeffersonville, Clarksville and New Albany. The cities work with the Louisville CVB, and together they cross-promote the wider area and offer visitor experiences on both sides of the river. However, some Select Traveler Conference attendees may want to return to Louisville at another time to see the sites. The Louisville CVB will be glad to customize a future FAM tour with travel planners.

“We have a lot of Louisville original attractions here,” said Saundra Robertson, tourism sales manager for the Louisville CVB.

The Evan Williams Bourbon Experience is an interesting artisanal distillery and museum that pays tribute to the state’s first commercial distiller, established in 1783. Visits to this Main Street stop are highly recommended. More such distilleries are coming to the same neighborhood this year.

Another Louisville signature attraction is the Belle of Louisville, the oldest river steamboat in operation in the United States. It is an excellent choice for spring, summer or fall group trips up and down the Ohio River from downtown. A slightly smaller boat, the Spirit of Louisville, is also available for group outings.

The CVB promotes various combinations of attractions for groups to enjoy. One example is called Bourbon and Baseball; attendees combine a visit to the various bourbon distilleries downtown with a stop at the Slugger factory and museum or a Louisville Bats baseball game at Louisville Slugger Field. The Bats are the AAA-affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds.

Another combination could have a downtown museum theme. Two group stops could include the Muhammad Ali Center, which provides a fascinating look at the worldwide impact of the heavyweight champion boxer and human rights advocate. Ali was a Louisville native. Another interesting collection is at the Frazier History Museum, which brings together everything in which the people of the Louisville area take pride. Louisville has an intriguing history tied to the river, and it’s even more interesting how the city grew to become a modern American city.

The CVB staff say every time they schedule a FAM tour for a group of travel planners, new business springs from it. “Seeing is believing,” said Susan Dallas, senior marketing communications manager for the CVB. “We are very accessible, group friendly and affordable. There are many unique things you can see and experience here that you can’t get in other places.”