Jul 28, 2016

GHTA announces 2016 conference keynote speakers, agenda

The Gift and Home Trade Association [GHTA], the industry’s leading non-profit trade association, has announced its two major keynote speakers and the rest of its agenda for this year’s Gift & Home Bridgeway Collaborative Conference. The conference, which will run September 28-29 in San Diego, California at the DoubleTree by Hilton – San Diego Mission Valley, will feature #1 best selling author and social and digital media expert, Erik Qualman, and respected gift and home industry expert, Connie Lineberry. The conference will also deliver breakout workshops, networking activities, and social events set in beautiful outdoor spaces. Now through August 15, individuals can register for the conference at a special summer show season rate of $399!

The conference’s main keynote speakers will start and end Day 2, a leadership-focused day of the conference. Erik Qualman will address the group first thing on “Socialnomics: Winning Hearts, Wallets, and Minds in these Exponential Times.” Leadership takes many forms, but the key to empowerment is grasping the 5 Habits that all successful leaders practice to achieve success and happiness in our newly hyper-paced and hyper-connected world. Embracing these habits will help everyone become more productive, reduce stress, and drive sales. Qualman’s “Socialnomics” work has been on 60 Minutes to the Wall Street Journal and used by the National Guard to NASA. He has also performed in 44 countries and has reached 23 million people this decade.

Closing the conference is the highly anticipated presentation on “Women in Leadership – There is Only One Game” by Connie Lineberry, who is nationally recognized for her comprehensive knowledge of products, trends, and marketing across the many businesses that make up home furnishings. Over the past 35 years, Lineberry has worked hard to make a difference in her company’s business and to chart a path for the success of other women, believing that business success is based on a few core values and skills, not on gender. A leader in the gift and home industry, Lineberry will be recognized by the industry in January 2017 and will receive the first ARTS Legendary Leadership Award.

Conference Agenda Highlights

Tuesday, September 27: GHTA will host a pre-conference golf outing at Riverwalk Golf Club, which boasts undulating fairways and manicured greens, along with numerous wetland areas, nearly 100 bunkers and an array of picturesque water features. The scramble format outing is $79/person, which includes green fees, shared cart, range balls, box lunch with soft drink, and two beverage tickets. Details and registration can be found online here.

Wednesday, September 28: General Session will be treated to a spectacular kick-off to this two-day event, along with quality presentations and topics, such as wellness, delivered by Cathy Scrivner, a dynamic and persuasive professional with more than 18 years in training and development and millennials in the workplace and talent acquisition-related presentations by CareerBuilder and Talent Plus. The day will also feature networking activities and the election of the 2016-2017 GHTA Board of Directors. Closing the day is a Welcome Cocktail & Networking Reception at the Fiesta de Reyes in Historic Old Town.

Thursday, September 29: Attendees will be hear keynote presentations by #1 Bestselling Author and Social and Digital Media Expert, Erik Qualman and Gift and Home Industry Expert, Connie Lineberry. Two blocks of breakout sessions will also take place and cover a variety of topics, including social media, successful trade show execution, the vendor/sales representative relationship, speed networking, and more. The popular technology-focused presentation will return, covering relevant programs/services, along with an accompanying breakout. The day will close with the annual Evening of Celebration, held outdoors at the host hotel property, containing a cocktail and networking reception, a strolling dinner, live and silent auctions.

The 2016 Gift & Home Bridgeway Collaborative Conference will be held at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel San Diego – Mission Valley, putting attendees in the center of San Diego at a significantly discounted room rate of only $159 per night. San Diego’s popular trolley has a stop adjacent to the hotel, providing rides to the city’s top attractions including San Diego Zoo, Old Town, and the Gaslamp Quarter, plus easy access to the airport.

The $399 special summer show season rate is available to current and new GHTA members through August 15. A non-member rate of $699 is also available. All can register for the conference on the GHTA websitehere.