HCI Monthly News & Updates
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Message from our Board Chair
Hello and happy February. This winter it is especially important to find methods to keep the winter blues away. As I reflected on ways to encourage you, the word “focus” came to mind. When I am helping dress and put shoes on our 2 ½ year old grandson, we use the word FOCUS. We say “please focus,” and he typically says, “you focus” – LOL. As silly as this seems, it truly makes sense these days. It takes a team – not just ourselves – to focus on the goals that we have set for our bank clubs and travel industry.
HCI has this team in place. By focusing on the futures of our businesses, the upcoming tours, events and activities will need to be rearranged a bit. The HCI team of Bankers, PTOs and Partners are focusing on these changes that will be necessary in order to move forward. I find comfort focusing on the months ahead. My mind is in the spring, summer and fall as our bank club directs our focus and tries to embrace new ideas in marketing to our Club members. The upcoming HCI Virtual Conference will focus on these changes, and our team is ready to share the exciting new ideas and creative options that we have for you. These meetings will give pertinent information that you need to help you get back “On the Road Again”! Social interactions with your peers and great networking time will warm your heart and spark new creativity. Special speakers have purposely been chosen for these trying times, and the education sessions will allow you to soak up their knowledge as they teach and share information during our first virtual conference.
Don’t miss this opportunity to recharge your mind and redirect your focus to the future that will include travel and togetherness once again. Let HCI show you the way to get back “On the Road Again.”
I look forward to seeing your smiling faces on our Zoom Peer group conference February 22-26, 2021. Whether you join us or not, remember this team is there for you, and ready to share the great knowledge that they have acquired as travel professionals.
Take care and focus on fun in our future, as now is the time to create new paths together.
Amber
Amber Thomas
Classic Club Director
Central Bank of Illinois
Geneseo, IL
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WE ARE BRINGING PEER GROUP TO YOU
LAST CHANCE TO REGISTER FOR THE HCI
PEER GROUP CONFERENCE!
Registration closes Friday, Feb 5
Cindy Salta, from Bank of New Hampshire in Laconia, NH, will be attending the conference for the first time.
I joined HCI after hearing great things about it from other New England bank club directors, Doreen McKinney, Shelly Morey & Julie Mossa and Sharon Patton. I have found that networking with peers is so important, and it is where I have learned the best information to do my job well. I look forward to forming friendships and learning from other HCI members at Peer Group this year.
-Cindy Salta
Time is running out to register, and you won't want to miss this conference. If you've attended in the past, you already know how special this event is.
Everyone says it - "There's nothing like HCI!"
If you haven't attended before, you will love our Bankers. They are loyal and eager to find new "tour treasures" for their members to experience. You may be just what they're looking for!
Come meet our incredible bankers.
Spend time networking with them.
Learn what they're looking for in a tour destination.
Tell them why they need to bring their group to you during your one-on-one appointment.
This year, the cost has been drastically reduced to just $700.
We have such great education and networking sessions planned for you.
Don't sit this one out!!
- One-on-one business appointments where every Banker will meet with every Partner (meetings will be scheduled prior to the conference)
- Destination Showcases by every HCI Preferred Tour Operator
- Networking, entertainment and happy hours throughout the conference
- Educational sessions
- Using Social Media
- Promoting Travel Today
- Resiliency and the Changing Landscape of Packaged Travel
- Self-Wealth: how to maximize your personal long-term profit through self-care
- Panel of Industry Experts discussing Current State of Travel Post-pandemic
- and MUCH MORE!!
We hope you can join us for this incredible conference. February 23-26, 2021
The Virtual Peer Group conference will kick off for our Partners with a Happy Hour event at 3pm CT on February 23.
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Coming to Virtual Peer Group?
Get comfortable with the virtual platform by attending a Pre-Conference Training Meeting
We are offering two opportunities for you to attend.
First-Timers' Session on February 10, 2021 at 10 am CT
AND
All-Delegates' Session on February 11, 2021 at 10 am CT
We want to make sure that you are completely prepared to participate in our first-ever VIRTUAL Peer Group, so we invite you to attend a Training Meeting via Zoom to show you what to expect and to demonstrate some of the functions of Zoom that you may not have used until now.
The two sessions are identical, except the First-Timers' session will also include a background of HCI to help you better understand the organization.
Join us February 10 or 11 at 10 am CT on your iPad, cell phone or computer.
We can't wait to see you!
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We have a few Virtual Peer Group Sponsorship Opportunities still available
We know that you could really benefit from having extra time with Bankers to promote your destination or attraction during the 2021 Virtual Peer Group conference. Partners and PTOs can promote their destination or attraction throughout the conference via something that we are calling VidEvents.
What's a VidEvent? It is an entertaining destination presentation such as a live or recorded performance, tour or video promotion which you produce that will whet the appetites of our delegates.
When you decide to sponsor a VidEvent, you can choose from a variety of available time slots on the conference schedule to have your content appear on the screen of every delegate. Our bankers will appreciate the quality and creativity of the education, entertainment and experience to which you treat them. So whether you place your content during an introduction to a general session, a coffee break, lunch time or during a happy hour, you can be assured that every delegate will experience the best you have to offer - because you create it!!
VidEvent Opportunities
$95 5-Minute VidEvent
$195 15-Minute VidEvent
$395 30-Minute VidEvent
PLAN NOW TO WOW !
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GOOD NEWS
Amber Thomas, CBCD, has just received clearance for her club to depart in March on their first trip in over a year! They are heading to Charleston, Savannah, and Jekyll Island. Mayflower Cruises & Tours made it possible with all of their safety protocols and by having all the answers to her management's questions at the ready.
They have also included a "super helpful" safety and health checklist to ensure everyone is good to go. This information may even help some passengers decide to stay on the tour because it provides peace of mind that everything possible is being done to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience.
Congrats, Amber, on getting back on the road again!!
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3 Simple Questions
We love getting to know our HCI family members better through their responses to fun questions each month.
Here's who responded to our January questions:
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Michael Lundquist
Mayflower Cruises & Tours
Winston-Salem, NC
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Joy Storer
D.L. Evans Bank
Idaho Falls, ID
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Diane Susong, CBCD
Home State Bank
Crystal Lake, IL
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Jayne Nordstrom
Visit Lake County, IL
Gurnee, IL
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Kathy Leesekamp
Farmers State Bank
Marion, IA
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Renee Zaiser, CBCD
Two Rivers Bank & Trust
Burlington, IA
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Brenda Reicks
F & M Community Bank
Preston, MN
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Dana Howe
VisitNorfolk
Norfolk, VA
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Amy Evans, CBCD
D.L. Evans Bank
Boise, ID
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Here's their responses:
What is your favorite Christmas movie? Why?
- The Christmas Star because I love the 80s. (Michael)
- Anything Hallmark. They are just feel good movies. (Joy)
- White Christmas, it's a classic (Diane)
- A Christmas Carol, new mercies every day. (Jayne)
- A Christmas Story. My family watches this together (Kathy)
- White Christmas I love the music and dancing. (Renee)
- Home Alone - An old family favorite with our boys (Brenda)
- I'm such a sucker for any of the Hallmark movies (Dana)
- National Lampoons Christmas Vacation (Amy)
What do you enjoy most about the holidays?
- Family, friends, traditions and relaxation. (Michael)
- Being with my family cooking, baking & sharing. (Joy)
- Spending time with family & friends & decorations (Diane)
- The anticipation and magical feel. God on earth. (Jayne)
- Spending time, laughs, and stories with my family! (Kathy)
- Family time, food and seeing the kids open presents (Renee)
- Seeing our family, especially our 2 granddaughters (Brenda)
- Decorating & seeing friends & family (Dana)
- Family Time (Amy)
What is the greatest gift you have ever received?
- When I was born to live this life. (Michael)
- Little cigars announcing my twin grandbabies (Joy)
- The day my grandson was born (Diane)
- Parents who believed there was so much more & grace (Jayne)
- A Baby Alive Doll when I was a child! Loved her! (Kathy)
- Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior! (Renee)
- Small china tea set from my Grandma (Brenda)
- Husband home from deployment in time for Christmas (Dana)
- A marriage proposal / A car - it's a toss up! (Amy)
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