See you in Rapid City,
Airport Transfers:
The Holiday Inn will be suppling transfers for the two hotels. Please come to the Holiday Inn and we will transfer you to the Howard Johnson's Hotel. There will be volunteers at the airport to assist you on Saturday and Sunday from 10 AM to 6 PM. After hours, please use the Holiday Inn courtesy phone and they will send a van. Only 50% of delegates have sent their airline informaton to TAP. We can only plan according to those arrival times.
Registration:
Registration will be held in the Atrium Lobby of the Holiday Inn on Saturday and Sunday from 10 AM to 6 PM. If you arrive after those times, please plan on receiving your packet at the first breakfast on Monday Morning in the Dakota Ballroom at 7 AM. You can also check the Presidential Suite later Sunday Evening when staff returns from dine arounds. Thank you to Spokane, WA for sponsoring registration.
Howard Johnson's Delegates:
For those delegates staying the Howard Johnsons. It is walkable, but a little far. We will have shuttles that leave each morning 15 minutes prior to the breakfast time. There will also be shuttles available, upon request, during the day. Just see the registration/hosptality suite for a ride. You will also have a coach at the hotel at departure time for the evening events and will be dropped off at your hotel after evening functions.
PPTP Wednesday Event:
We have been gettng quite a few phone calls asking what we are doing. In true TAP fashion, it is a surprise. We asked that you bring a baseball cap or head covering. Whirly gigs on top of the hat are NOT REQUIRED. In order for us to speed up the process on Wednesday, feel free to wear your casual clothes (jeans acceptable) to the appointments on Wednesday since we will be leaving for the event directly after our last appointment.
Minor Schedule Change:
Tuesday evening transfers have been moved back to 5:45 from 6:15. Sorry for the inconvenience.
TAP Offices Closed from May 28:
Tap Staff will be leaving on May 28 to get ready for TAP DANCE. You can reach us at the Howard Johnsons Hotel at 605-737-4656.
Jim Palmeri
May 14, 2009 Update:
Golf:
The Golf Tournament is now full with the addition of Mitch Knothe of Idaho and Murray and Linda Lee of Shebby Lee Tours. Each PPTP will be playing with at least one, possibly two, TAP tour operators. Please send your $75 check to the TAP office. ALL proceeds go to charity. Thank you to the Newseum for picking up all expenses.
Transfers:
Please note that all delegates will be met at the airprot on the 30th and 31st and transfered to the Holiday Inn and Howard Johnson's Hotel.
Gifts for Operators:
Please remember that there are NO GIFTS allowed to be offered to the TAP Partners. Please bring a one page profile form (similar to what you would use at another show) to give to the operators. You HONOR US with your attendance and we appreciate your partnership with our organization.
PPTP Event:
Please bring casual clothing ( jeans, shirts, hairties, baseball caps, camera with flash).
Hint - Are you claustrophobic? Do you like really cool places?
Final Dinner:
Did you hear that Branson has over 100 shows? One of them is coming to Rapid City.
IF you are going to be leaving before the PPTP event or final dinner, please contact us so that we can adjust counts and keep next year's costs down.
Dietary Restrictions:
If you have dietary restrictions, PLEASE contact us immediately to inform us so that we can arranget the appropriate diet for you. Thank you.
May 8, 2009 Update:
Golf Tournament:
The Golf Tournament will be held at Red Rocks Golf Club, sponsored by the Newseum.
The following Operators and PPTPs are scheduled to play. If you would still like to participate, please mail form below to the TAP office Immediately. Please be advised that this tournament is being held at the same time as the PPTP event. You must choose in which activity you will participate.
Participants:
TAP Operators
Serge Talbot - Talbot Tours
Rick Barringer - Travel Authority
Bob Buesing - East Coast Touring Company
Dave Lange - Tri State Travel
Bob Cline - US Tours
Jim Palmeri - Travel Alliance Partners
PPTPs
Joe Urschel - Newseum
Lee Morris - Tourism Kamloops
Ron McConnell - Mobile Bay CVB
Tracy Aldridge - Visit Charlotte
Debra Aldridge - Visit Charlotte
Tom Haberland - Valley Forge
Adam Feehan - Reno Sparks CVA
Chuck Carter - Red Lion Hotels
May 1, 2009 Update:
TAP DANCE Update – for PPTPs
TAP DANCE is only four Weeks AWAY.
Dine - Arounds – When you arrive on Sunday, May 31, 2009, you will be able to register in the hotel from 9AM to 6 PM. Signs will guide you to our registration suite.
The TAP partners will be finishing their semi-annual partner meeting and will be available for dining with PPTPs after 7:30 PM. Below is a list of restaurants that will accept reservations. PLEASE MAKE RESERVATIONS EARLY. Since it is a Sunday, some of the restaurants are only opening for our convention. Thank you to Michelle Thomson of the Rapid City CVB for compiling a great list. A list of attending TAP Partners appears at the end of this memo.
DINE AROUND IN
Downtown Rapid City is within easy walking or shuttle/taxi distance from your host hotel. A variety of options are listed below.
* If you are interested in dining one of these three restaurants, please call Julie Jones (605-718-8481) or Michelle Thomson (605-718-8489) with the Rapid City CVB for assistance making arrangements. These restaurants are closed on Sundays, but have offered to open for reservations. You can also email your request to Thomson@visitrapidcity.com.
Restaurants within a 5-10 minute walk of your host hotel:
* Botticelli Ristorante Italiano (Italian)
Downtown
523 Main Street, Rapid City, (605) 348-0089?
Exceptional Italian fare! After meeting in Seattle, two Italian food lovers brought their dream of a fine restaurant to Rapid City and the Black Hills of South Dakota. The downtown location they chose, had been the site of a number of dreams that had gone awry, but Botticelli Ristorante has proved to be the exception. Now in its 10th year of business, the popular eatery offers lunch and dinner specialties based on cuisine from Northern Italy. Botticelli’s offers an extensive variety of unique Italian-inspired original creations.
* The Corn Exchange (Gourmet/European/American)
Downtown
727 Main Street, Rapid City, (605) 343-5070? * Delmonico Grill (Gourmet/European/American) Downtown 609 Main Street, Rapid City, (605) 791-1664?
Chef MJ Adams is sure to please you with a find dining experience. Using artisanal cheese from Italy, French wines and chocolate, and American organic produce and meats, the Corn Exchange brings the best in simple fresh ingredients together to develop a national and local network of creative, innovative and healthy dishes. The Corn Exchange has been recognized in Food Arts magazine (June 2000), Elle magazine (January 2002) and Gourmet magazine (October 2003).
Has closed and is no longer available
El Patron Mexican Restaurant (Mexican)Downtown Open Sundays
100 St. Joseph, Rapid City, (605)716-9416
El Patron Mexican Restaurant in Rapid City features lunch and dinner items from their 30-year family recipe box. The menu is complete with appetizers, house specialties and healthy choices, ranging in price from $5.95 to $21.95. El Patron features Mexican cuisine and a full service bar, including Specialty Margaritas.
Enigma Restaurant- Radisson Hotel (Mediterranean/European)
Downtown
Open Sundays
445 Mount Rushmore Road, Rapid City, (605) 348-8300?
Classic Midwestern meets Mediterranean at the Enigma Restaurant, located at the Radisson hotel in downtown Rapid City. With an exclusive lobby entrance, Enigma Restaurant is making headlines for its appealing menu, stylish interiors and relaxed ambiance. Enigma Restaurant features an International wine list, two private dining rooms with seating for eight to 45 and their specialty Mystery Dinner, which will challenge your senses and delight your palate with a fusion of marvelous tastes prepared just for you by our chefs.
Firehouse Brewing Company (American/Casual)
Downtown
610 Main Street, Rapid City, (605) 348-1915?
Open Sundays
Take a step back in time! The Firehouse Brewing Company, located in an old 1915 building, attracts boisterous crowds with its beer garden and pub grub such as cream of Reuben soup and buffalo burgers. Firehouse Brewing makes and pours beers (like Rushmore Stout and Hay Camp Light) in the former red-brick headquarters of the fire department. As you might expect, this restaurant and pub is decorated in a firehouse motif with fire and rescue memorabilia adorning the building. Lunch and dinner are relaxing, attire is casual, and the burgers are large. Try the Backdraft, a vegetable burrito or some of the English-styled offerings, such as bangers and mashers. And don’t forget the beer bread — it’s easy to eat so much of this that you forget to leave room for the main offerings.
Sanfords Grub and Pub (American/Casual)
Downtown
306 7th St., Rapid City, (605) 721-1463
Open Sundays
A local favorite, full of televisions and fun décor collected from garage sales and junk yards. With the license plates, framed photos, random transportation objects and police badges hanging on the walls and suspended throughout the main dining area, Sanford's is a feast for the eyes as well as the digestive system.
Tiffany Grille- Rushmore Plaza Holiday Inn (American)
Located within your host hotel, 605-348-4000
200 seat restaurant, Tiffany Grille, and piano lounge are both located in the atrium.
There are also a number of bar and grills downtown for the more casual diner.
To view other restaurants in Rapid City, outside of the downtown district, please go to www.visitrapidcity.com/WhereToEat or call Julie (ext 8481) or Michelle (ext 8489) at the Rapid City CVB, 800-487-3223.
Below is previously distributed information. New information is in RED.
Golf Tournament – Those who wish to GOLF, (graciously sponsored since the beginning of TAP DANCE) by the Newseum, need to fill out the form below. Golfers will leave the hotel on Wednesday for Red Rock Golf Course at the same time the delegates leave for the PPTP event. THIS IS A CHARITY EVENT. Cost is $75/golfer. Club rentals are available. PLEASE SIGN UP IMMEDIATELY. No later than May 8, 2009. www.golfclubatredrock.com is the web address. Currently we have 4 foursomes scheduled with Operators and PPTPs properly mixed together. We will limit to 5 foursomes. Please send in form ASAP if you have not done so.
Airport Transportation Schedule – TAP has made arrangements to provide complimentary airport transfers for our delegates via the Holiday Inn Hotel Shuttle. Please fill out form below and fax to 610.258.1903 (no later than May 8, 2009) to assure your greeting during your airline arrivals. We will arrange transportation based on these responses. TAP will have staff & volunteers at the airport on Saturday and Sunday, May 30 and 31, 2009. Departures are at your leisure by hotel van.
NTA Spring Meet Delegates – Please contact NTA for a list of flights that they have researched to get you to Monterey on June 4.
Hotel – You should have all made your individual reservations by the time you receive this email. Holiday Inn is now SOLD OUT. Please call the Howard Johnsons at 605-737-4656.
Weather – Rapid City had a very cold winter, but things always warm up for TAP DANCE. Average daytime temperatures are in the mid to upper 60s. But you never know. It may be warmer!
Dress – Please remember that TAP DANCE is business casual. We will be holding meetings both in the hotel, as well as a surprising TAP twist (Jeans would probably be appropriate …Well …. Maybe!!!) Meetings are indoors. Our Monday and Tuesday evening events will be outdoors. A sweater would be appropriate. The final dinner is business casual, but maybe a little dressier would be nice. Name Badges must be worn at all events. Cameras are a highly encouraged.
* Be certain to bring a really cool hat (preferably with a whirligig on top) for the Wednesday afternoon PPTP private function.
Groupings – Check the Groupings Page
Guests – If you have paid and registered a guest for TAP DANCE, they are allowed to attend the following events: Airport Transfers, Monday and Tuesday Evening Dinner Event, Wednesday Afternoon PPTP Private Event and Wednesday Evening Dinner. Breakfasts and Lunch are NOT included in their registration. They MUST wear name badges at all events.
Talentless Contest – Please frown. Our final night Talentless Contest has run its course and will be replaced this year. You will STILL LOVE IT!
Post Fam Tour - If you are going on the Post FAM, you should contact Shebby Lee Tours ASAP.
Office is closed from May 28th to June 4. You can reach TAP staff at the Holiday Inn Rapid City during the pre conference time.
Golf Form – Fax to 610.258.1903
Name: ______________________________________________
Company: ___________________________________________
Club Rentals – Left or Right handed (Circle One)
Shoes (if needed) Size: _____________
We will charge the credit card we have on file. If none filed with registration, please send check to:
TAP
PO BOX 152R
Martins Creek, PA 18063
Airline Arrival form: Fax to 610.258.1903
Name: _________________________________________
Organization: ____________________________________
Arrival Day - May 30, 2009 or May 31, 2009 (Circle One)
Airline Name: ____________________________
Flight Number: ___________________________
Arrival Time: ____________________________