Jan 28, 2015

GHTA Announces Location and Dates for 2015 Annual Conference

The Gift and Home Trade Association [GHTA], the industry’s leading non-profit trade association, has announced that its 2015 annual conference will be held in Austin, Texas, November 10-12, 2015. The conference, now known as the Gift & Home Bridgeway Collaborative Conference, aims to bridge the gap between the variety of groups within the industry and will reiterate why the gift and home industry is “stronger together.” This event is designed to provide educational and networking opportunities for all attendees. While last year’s inaugural Gift & Home Bridgeway Collaborative event offered incredible content and a recording breaking attendance of nearly 350 people, this year’s event is poised to be even better.

An early bird registration fee of $299 is available to members of the Gift & Home Bridgeway Collaborative organizations until February 28th, with an increase to $349 on March 1st. Organizations involved in the Collaborative are: GHTA, Gift Sales Managers Association [GSMA], Accessory Resource Team [ART], Young Gift Executives [YGE], and Gift for Life [GFL]. Non-members are also invited to attend the conference at a rate of $399. Online registration, along with additional information, can be found here.

“Within the industry, our annual conference has grown into something incredible, especially in 2014,” said Bob Ricciardi, president of the Gift and Home Trade Association and president of About Face Designs. “We look forward to building upon the successes of last year’s conference and to bringing attendees more purposeful content, increased networking opportunities, collaborative workshops covering desired topics, and a truly authentic Austin experience.”

The Gift and Home Trade Association’s Conference Committee, headed by Joe Harris of Whereoware, has already confirmed many aspects of the conference, which will be announced soon. As always, the two-and-a-half day event will feature a well-known keynote speaker, breakout workshops, cocktail and networking receptions, and the charitable “Give Back” event that the GHTA has made a program staple.

The 2015 Gift & Home Bridgeway Collaborative will be held at the Renaissance Arboretum Hotel in Austin. The GHTA has secured significantly discounted room rates at $149 per night. The Arboretum at Great Hills provides a tranquil environment that is surrounded by natural trails. From the dramatic nine-story atrium to the newly renovated, oversized rooms and fine dining, the hotel experience is pure luxury. The hotel features 65,000 square feet of meeting space, a fitness center with indoor and outdoor pool/spa, and multiple dining options, including the new outdoor Knotty Deck, which features lounge seating, a large fire pit, and overlooks the site’s beautiful scenery.

For more information on the 2015 Gift & Home Bridgeway Collaborative Conference, please visit the GHTA website at: http://giftandhome.org/2015BridgewayCollaborativeConference.aspx. GHTA representatives can also be reached via phone (877) 600-4872 and email info@giftandhome.org.

About the Gift and Home Trade Association:

GHTA is the gift and home industry’s professional trade association formed to help vendors, sales agencies, retailers and industry affiliates who are involved in an industry that is fast changing, with the expectation of making it better together. GHTA’s mission is to support, lead, and unify the gift and home industry, focusing on its long-term success. GHTA can be reached by email at info@giftandhome.org. For more information on the Gift and Home Trade Association visit www.giftandhome.org.