What is the cost per show?
​$599.00 or less with discounts
​What forms of payment do you accept?
You can make an online payment with a major credit card or mail us a check.
​Can I make payment installments?
​Yes, please contact us to set up a payment schedule.
​Do you offer any discounts?
​Yes.  We offer discounts for booking multiple shows.  We also offer a 10% discount for ASTA Member Suppliers.
I see you now offer roundtables at your shows.  tell me more.​​
​New in 2024 - We are trialing roundtable discussions prior to our tradeshows.  The spots are limited to only 7 suppliers.  Act fast if you would like to participate!
Do you accept trade for payment?  For example, can I trade you a free trip in exchange for booth space?
​No.  To keep things fair for everyone, we only accept monetary payment for our booth space.
Do you allow booth sharing?
Yes.  It is your responsibility to find a supplier you would like to exhibit with.  It is also up to you to determine how the booth cost will be split.  There is no additional charge to share a booth. ​
What is included in my registration fee?
​Included are a skirted table (8ft in DTW and 6ft in GRR),  dinner, snacks during set-up and one drink voucher.
​Do I need to provide a door prize?
​That is up to you.  Most suppliers give away a door prize when giving their one minute spiel.
What types of door prizes are given?
​Please no alcoholic beverages.  Our venues will not allow alcoholic beverages to be brought in.  We ask that your door prize be valued at $50 or greater.  Make your gift memorable!  If you are giving away a trip, please let us know in advance.  Since advisors are only allowed to win one door prize, we want to ensure everyone has equal opportunity to win any big trips offered. 
​Are there any additional charges?
No
​Can I have a colleague help me at my booth?
​Yes.  You may have up to two additional colleagues help at no additional charge.  We have seen great success from companies that have two people working their booth.  If you will be having more than one representative at your booth, please indicate that on your registration in the notes section so we can properly prepare for the amount of meals needed.
Can I mail my collateral to the venues ahead of time?
We prefer that you bring your materials with you.  Andiamo and Watermark do not have a storage areas to hold on to your items.  If you need to mail your collateral, the venues will accept it only on the day prior to the shows.  They reserve the right to deny shipment or charge you storage fees if they receive your collateral earlier than the day prior.  If mailing your collateral, it is your responsibility to ensure that your items have arrived!  ​
How many travel advisors attend your trade shows?
Prior to Covid, we had close to 200 travel advisors that would attend the Detroit show and just over 100 that would attend the West Michigan show.  In 2023, we had 176 travel advisors attend the Detroit show and 109 advisors attend the West Michigan Show.
What types of advisors attend your trade shows?
We get all types of travel advisors that attend our shows.  We have home based advisors, advisors who work in a retail office, agency owners, new advisors, experienced advisors, advisors who sell escorted tours to those who sell luxury only travel, cruise only advisors to those who sell all types of travel, business travel advisors and leisure only travel advisors.  
​What time is set up?
​Set Up begins at 1 PM EST.  Light snacks and beverages will be provided for you.  Please be set up and ready at least 30 minutes prior to the show.
​What type of booth display do I need to have?
The booth displays at our shows vary from just placing brochures on the tables to elaborate set-ups.  The choice is yours.  Each vendor is supplied a skirted table at each show.  In Detroit, the tables are 8ft and in Grand Rapids, the tables at 6ft.  There is space behind most booths for a backdrop.  However, there is not space to have any backdrops on the sides of the tables.
​What time does the show start?
​Registration and trade show starts at 5:00 PM EST for both shows.
​What is the format of your shows?
Registration and the trade show portion of our event starts at 5:00 PM EST.  During registration, agents are asked to give a business card.  They are then given a name tag.  Agents have until 6:30 PM to walk around to the booths and drop off their business cards.   At 6:30 PM, agents are asked to take a seat and dinner starts being served.  During this time, suppliers take turns coming up to a podium to introduce themselves and give away their door prize.  Prizes will be drawn from the business cards dropped off at the registration table.  Each agent may only win once.  Our show concludes promptly at 8 PM with the grand prize giveaway (a $100 prepaid credit card provided by Great Lakes ASTA). ​
Do you offer any opportunities to give a longer presentation?
​Yes.  We have a very limited number of round table spots available prior to the start of the trade show.   If interested in partnership opportunities or co-hosting a meeting with Great Lakes ASTA, please contact Andrea Doremire at 616-901-1127 or email at [email protected].
​Tell me about the agent name tags.
​Agents are given different name tags to help you distinguish between home based and retail agents.  In the past the tags are differentiated by either color or shape.  The agent's name and company name will be pre-printed on the name tag.​​
​Tell me more about the "passports".
Passports were discontinued in 2016. ​
​Tell me more about my time at the podium.
​During dinner, suppliers are asked to come up to the podium.  We have a lot of suppliers to get through so we ask that you be courteous to your fellow suppliers and adhere to the 1 minute limit.  Introduce yourself and make things brief and memorable. This is your time to shine!  Please remember that you must also give away your door prize during the 1 minute time frame.
Why do you limit us to only 1 minute?
​The main reason we only allow 1 minute is because we want to give each supplier in attendance the same equal opportunity to speak.  In order to get through everyone that is all the time we have.  Our research has shown that after a long day, travel agents have a short attention span and appreciate being able to go home at a decent hour.
​What type of dinner is served?
​ The main entree is typically some sort of chicken.  If you have any dietary restrictions, please let us know at time of registration and we will do our best to accommodate your needs.  Some of our vendors prefer not to eat chicken two nights in a row.  If you prefer to have a vegetarian meal at one of the locations, please let us know.
​​What time does the show end?
​ 8 PM EST
Will you provide me with a list of attendees after the shows?
​Yes. You will be emailed a list of attendees along with all of their contact information and detailed information about their business.  Attendee lists are emailed to you within a week after the show.  
How do you advertise the shows?
We send emails to our extensive database of over 1,000 MI travel agents.  Our shows are listed on our monthly e-news letters.  They are also posted on ASTA's calendar.  We encourage all exhibitors to forward our invitations to their own databases to ensure that we are reaching as many agents as possible. ​
​How do I register?
Registration is done online.  If you have not received an invitation via email, please contact us at [email protected] to have one sent to you.  Invitations are typically emailed out sometime in late Winter.
​Are there hotels nearby if I need overnight accommodations?
Detroit Travel Trade Show - Below are the hotels that Andiamo recommends.
​Residence Inn by Marriott: 586-558-8050
Courtyard by Marriott: 586-751-5777
Comfort inn Utica: 586-739-7111
West Michigan Travel Trade Show - Below is the hotel that Watermark recommends.
DoubleTree on 28th Street - 616-957-0100
​What are the locations of your shows?
​In 2023, Great Lakes ASTA will be hosting travel trade shows at Andiamo in Warren, MI and at Watermark Country Club in Grand Rapids, MI.  For shows hosted by other ASTA chapters, please visit ASTA's calendar.
​Do your venues have free wifi and electrical outlets available?
Yes.  
Do your venues have free parking?
​Yes.  Our venues have free and ample parking.
What is the advantage of being an asta member?
There are many advantages of being an ASTA member.  You will receive 10% off your booth registration fees.  If you have a local event planned, email us the details and we will include it in our monthly newsletter.  To view move ASTA benefits, please visit ​https://www.asta.org/membership/member-resources