Visit the IFA2019 Convention with a delegation of the German Franchise Association Delegation benefits: Each delegation member will be assigned an IFA Member Ambassador Reserved seating at General Sessions (for delegations of 10 or more) IFA will arrange room blocks upon request Special speech by and meeting with IFA President & CEO Robert Cresanti Access to the International Lounge over the course of the Convention Special Delegation pricing: $950/person for 4-9 people $850/person for 10 or more people from the same association This pricing only applies when the delegation registers together. The nonmember registration fee is $2,300 per person When and where will the Convention take place? The 2019 Annual Convention will take place February 24 th through 27 th, 2018 at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. IFA s last Las Vegas Convention by the numbers (2017): Attendees from 41 countries 272 supplier exhibitors 175 Business Solution Roundtables 48 breakout sessions 6 full day CFE special sessions How do we book hotel rooms and can we get a room block? For individual reservations, please visit https://www.franchise.org/convention To coordinate a block of rooms at one of the two IFA Convention hotels, please contact Andie Snider at asnider@franchise.org. Andie will put you in touch with the rooms coordinator at Mandalay Bay who you will send your final rooming list and payment to. All rooms much be confirmed no later than January 15, 2019, or the rooms will be released. Can IFA supply a letter of invitation if it is needed for visa purposes? Yes, please make these requests as soon as possible by emailing Josh Merin at jmerin@franchise.org.
How do we register? A special form has been created for members of international delegations. You must register together to take advantage of discounted IFA member group pricing. One form must be completed per person (including an email address which is necessary for confirmation letters to be sent) and emailed to IFA s Conferences Department at events@franchise.org. What is the deadline to register? Pre-registration closes on February 1, 2019. Who do we contact with Convention questions? The primary contact for your room block or meeting space needs at Convention is Andie Snider. She can be reached at asnider@franchise.org or +1-202-662-4178. For registration questions, please email events@franchise.org. Info on payment and invoicing? Registration fees can be paid via check, credit card or wire transfer. Registration forms should be sent to IFA s Conference Department at events@franchise.org for processing. If you are paying by wire transfer, an invoice will be sent to the primary contact of your association or company. For questions, please call +1-202-662-0763. Where do we find the Schedule of Events for IFA s Convention? The most up-to-date schedule can be found at www.franchise.org/convention. Information will also be available via our mobile app approximately four weeks before Convention. Visit the App Store or Google Play and search IFA Meetings. Please note, IFA s mobile app provider has changed. You will need to download a new app for this event. What is the latest data on franchising in the U.S.? $757 billion in direct economic output 759,000 franchise establishments 8.2 million jobs in franchise establishments Over the last year, the fastest growing franchise sectors include: Quick Service Restaurants (7.3% economic growth) Table/Full Service Restaurants (7.2% economic growth) Personal Services (7.0% economic growth) Lodging (6.2% economic growth
Where and when can delegations pick up registration kits (name badges, tote bags, etc.)? Registration materials will be picked up onsite. After submitting their registration forms, attendees will receive an email confirming their registration and payment. Approximately one week prior to the event, attendees will receive another email with a QR code. Attendees must retain the email with the bar code as it will be needed to pick up their badge onsite. Upon arrival, pre- registered individuals will proceed towards the self-check-in stations and scan their QR code to have their badge printed. Once the badge is printed, attendees will also receive their materials such as ribbons, registration bag, etc. The registration/information desk will in the Mandalay Bay Foyer of the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, South Convention Center. Registration will be open at the following times: Sunday, February 24, 7:00 am 7:30 pm Monday, February 25, 7:00 am 7:00 pm Tuesday, February 26, 7:00 am 6:00 pm Wednesday, February 27, 7:30 am 12:00 pm What should these delegation members expect at the event? IFA s Convention is one of the biggest and oldest gatherings of the international franchise community every year. Now in its 59th year, IFA's Annual Convention features top speakers, franchise experts, development and networking opportunities with over 4,000 franchise leaders. The IFA Convention includes ICFE Special Sessions, the Annual Leadership Conference and Franchising Gives Back. An exhibit hall will showcase the latest products and services of well over 200 companies supplying services to the franchise industry. Recognizing the ever-increasing significance of franchised business moving across borders, IFA will host a lounge for international attendees and feature a track of international educational programming. In your opinion, why is it important for international attendees to participate in the 59th IFA Convention? IFA s Convention is a unique opportunity for franchise businesspeople to learn and share the latest trends and best practices and network with the most admired executives in international franchising. If you want to be a part of the evolutions taking place in franchising, there is no other place to be. An invitation to participate in your association s delegation. Attending IFA s Convention is not only important for the evolution of your business, but you will be acting as an ambassador, facilitating dialogue and business across the international franchise community. IFA invites you to the premier event in franchising and hopes to see you in Las Vegas! Can IFA President & CEO Robert Cresanti speak to our group? During IFA s Convention, Robert Cresanti is scheduled throughout the day and night.
This makes it impossible for him to visit individually with all of the groups and individuals he would like to. Robert Cresanti will speak to and visit with all the delegations attending IFA s Convention on Tuesday, February 26, 1:15 pm 2:15 pm. Please plan for your group to be there. Topics Cresanti will discuss include: The state of American franchising The outlook for 2019 The importance of participating in the Annual Convention Importance of international delegations to the development of global franchising Can other IFA staff members speak to our group or attend our group s private events? IFA appreciates your attendance and will do its best to accommodate your requests, buts asks that they be submitted judiciously and as far in advance as possible. IFA staff is scheduled very tightly for the duration of the Convention, beginning at 6 am and often stretching well into the evening. Can IFA arrange for IFA members to speak to our group? Please submit any requests for IFA members to speak as soon as you are able to Josh Merin at jmerin@franchise.org. Please make your request in the form of an invitation email that IFA can forward to the appropriate contact. In the email please include the following information: A description of your group (its composition and size) Why you want this person to speak to your group What you want them to talk about If you are asking them to prepare any materials (such as slides) in advance When you want them to talk to your group and for how long Once an IFA member has agreed to speak to your group, IFA will put you in touch directly with that member. Any further coordination can take place directly between your group and the speaker. Can private rooms be set aside for our group to meet? Yes- but private meetings rooms need to be approved by IFA first and meeting space at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center is very limited. No meeting can take place during IFA events. To arrange for a private meeting room please contact Andie Snider at asnider@franchise.org. Space is limited so please contact Andie to enquire about meeting space as soon as possible. Can our private meetings be catered? Yes but catering requests for private meetings would be made separately through the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino and paid for by the delegation.
Can IFA arrange for audio-visual equipment such as projectors, screens and microphones to be in our private meeting rooms? AV equipment can be ordered and paid for directly by delegations through the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino. On request Andie Snider will provide the appropriate contact with the Mandalay Bay. We want to split-up our group to get the best of all the Business Solution Roundtables. Where can we find a schedule with the names and themes of the Business Solution Roundtables? This information will be available closer to the Convention via the mobile app or the printed program each attendee will receive onsite Where can we find a map of the hotel and conference facility? Where are the rooms of the convention super session, panels and roundtables? All events will take place within the South Convention Center of the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino complex. Please visit Mandalay Bay s web site to view maps of the complex. Room assignments for the convention will be posted at a later date on our convention mobile app which is free to download. However, we recommend that attendees check the reader boards each day in the conference center for updates. Room assignments will also be published in the printed program book that attendees will receive onsite in their registration tote bags. What is the dress code for IFA s Convention? Business casual attire is the order of the day. Please keep in mind that meeting rooms tend to be cool, so you may be more comfortable with a jacket. We also advise that you wear comfortable shoes. Jeans are discouraged except during exhibitor set up and dismantle hours. Where do we go for up-to-date information including the program brochure: Please visit: www.franchise.org/convention