SLAA NEWSLETTER February/March 2017

President’s Corner

Happy April! March and April are very busy months in the attractions world, and we hope all the students coming to visit the Lou enjoy their time with us! Thank you for attending our March Meeting, hosted at Hollywood Casino. I hope you enjoyed learning some networking and table etiquette. Special thanks to Anne Hensley for her wonderful presentation! I’ve heard from some members the folding of the napkin in the lap was a hot topic of debate the afternoon after the meeting! As Anne said, the ideas she presented are not rules, but courtesies, that should be adhered to. Anne does mean what she said at the meeting, please contact her if you have questions; she is a wealth of knowledge.

Click here to read the full article.

Sign Up Now for the May 17th Meeting – St. Louis Tourism Update

Come join us on May 17th at Gateway Motorsports Park for Kitty Ratcliffe’s update on St. Louis Tourism. Kitty will provide information on Explore St. Louis’ projects and the successes we have had so far this year, and provide answers to questions you might have for her. Gateway Motorsports will be providing a fun atmosphere for the meeting – just 10 minutes from downtown St. Louis! Be ready for fun and photo opps on the field.

Click here to register!

Help Us Grow SLAA

Positive testimonials and word of mouth marketing from current members are some of the best ways for us to get the word out about the benefits of joining the Saint Louis Attractions Association (SLAA). Please be sure to share your positive SLAA experiences with others. If you know someone who would benefit from being a member of SLAA, please let the Membership Committee know. They would be happy to reach out to any prospective members to help them learn more about our great organization. To reach the Membership Committee, please contact Renee Eichelberger at reichelberger@explorestlouis.com. Let’s grow SLAA together!

New Members Helping Grow SLAA – Welcome!

Attraction: St. Louis Ambush
Contact: Shelly Clark
The St. Louis Ambush are a Professional Indoor Soccer team that plays at The Family Arena located in St. Charles. The team’s season runs from late October through mid-March.

Thank You!

Hollywood Casino was a great location and host for our informative meeting on Wednesday, March 15th. Guests were able to enjoy the delicious lunch and learn more about dining etiquette and making great first impressions. Anne L. Hensley was an absolute delight of a speaker, and we thank her for her time and the knowledge she shared during a fun lunch.

A special thank you to Anne, Hollywood Casino, and Visit Maryland Heights for sponsoring!

2017 Scholarship Applications Available Online!

Scholarship applications are now available online for the 2017 Saint Louis Attractions Association Carole Moody Scholarship. The scholarship is open to any undergraduate college student or hight school senior entering college majoring in a field that could contribute to the tourism/hospitality industry and maintaining a 3.0 or B grade point average. In addition, the student must have accomplished one of the following:

1. Work in the industry for a SLAA member
2. Completed an internship with a SLAA member
3. Be a current member of SLAA (Student memberships are available!)
4. Be a family member of a SLAA member
5. Belong to a hospitality organization

Each July at the SLAA Luncheon Meeting, one or more students are awarded a scholarship in the amount of at least $1,000. One or more students may be awarded an Honorable Mention Award in the amount of $500.

Applications will be sent to more than 90 area high schools and colleges. Please note that the deadline to apply for the scholarship is June 9, 2017. Applications are accepted online or download an application.

Questions? Contact the Scholarship Committee Chair, Jennifer Hollenkamp, at jhollenkamp@explorestlouis.com or (314) 992-0642,

Happy April From the Fundraising Committee!

Spring is finally here, which means it’s time to start planning the 2017 SLAA Silent Auction. Kelly and Tyler are starting to come up with ideas for the auction this year, and need YOUR HELP! If you are interested in being on the Auction Committee, please contact either Kelly or Tyler (contact information is below). We would love to have as much help as possible to make this the best auction ever!

A big thank you to the The EDGE, Stages St. Louis, and Missouri Life for donating prizes for the March Meeting Trip Raffle! We never stop collecting donations for the Trip Raffles, so if you would like to donate something to have your business featured in the Trip Raffle, please let Kelly or Tyler know! Thanks again for donating to SLAA!

Kelly Hutchison – (314) 923-3080
Tyler Huth – (618) 698-9052

SLAA Internship Program

The 2017 Summer and Fall Saint Louis Attractions Association Internship Booklet is now available! This program has been a successful way to promote your company’s internship opportunities to qualified students. Please contact Jennifer Hollenkamp at (314) 992-0642 or jhollenkamp@explorestlouis.com if you have any questions.

2017 Meeting & Happy Hour Sponsorship Opportunities Are Now Available!

Be sure to secure your spot early, as limited sponsorships are available. For only $200, you can sponsor a SLAA Membership Meeting or Happy Hour, and get the word out about your business or promote your upcoming events. This could be a great opportunity to update fellow SLAA members about something new, upcoming events, or promote partnership with other attractions.

Sponsorship of a SLAA Membership Meeting includes:

• Opportunity to greet incoming guests at the door
• Five minutes to speak at the meeting about your organization
• A reserved table to distribute your organization’s materials
• Opportunity to distribute your organization’s materials on each individual table
• Recognition as a sponsor on email meeting notices
• Recognition in the bi-monthly newsletter

Sponsor the new 2017 Happy Hour events! Includes:

• Opportunity to greet incoming guests at the door
• A reserved table to distribute your organization’s materials
• Recognition as a sponsor on email meeting notices
• Recognition in the bi-monthly newsletter

Click here for information about additional sponsorship opportunities and to sign up! Questions? Contact Tricia Wisbrock or the SLAA office.

Mark Your Calendar for a Great Night of Hospitality Industry Events

5th Annual Hospitality SLUnited Event
With more than 10 industry partners, Hospitality SLUnited brings together St. Louis professionals representing all sectors of the industry into a networking environment that encourages interdisciplinary, strategic collaboration.

Date: Thursday, April 20, 2017
Time: 4:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Place: Wool Ballrooms at the Busch Student Center, Saint Louis University, 20 N. Grand Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63103
Click here for more information and to register.

International Live Events Association (ILEA) 2017 Student-Member Event
Mix and mingle with students and industry professionals, to teach everyone young and young-at-heart how to best find, hire, utilize, and train the next generation of event professionals through successful internships.

Date: Thursday, April 20, 2017
Time: 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Place: Public Media Commons at Nine Network of Public Media, 3655 Olive St., St. Louis, MO 63108
Click here for more information and to register.

Submit Your Nomination for the 2017 Spirit of St. Louis Awards!

Nominations for the Spirit of St. Louis Awards are accepted year-round. The purpose of the Spirit of St. Louis Awards is to honor those members of the attractions and hospitality industry who go the extra mile and put forth exemplary effort in helping to further the goals and objectives of the industry and the Saint Louis Attractions Association. The Association recognizes these noteworthy achievements each year at the January meeting.

Eligible nominees may have served in any of a variety of positions, ranging from front-line service to management, at an attraction, hotel, restaurant, or with any other associated or affiliated industry. Both members and non-members of SLAA are eligible to receive awards; however, nominations must be submitted by a SLAA member. You are welcome to make unlimited nominations.

Click here for more information and to submit your nomination.

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