Newsbriefs for March 13, 2008

-------------------------------

THREE SHOWS FOR ONE PRICE AT THE MEGA WEEK OF TRADE SHOWS!
The Game Manufacturers Association (GAMA), the National Retail Hobby Stores Association (NRHSA), and the National School Supply and Equipment Association (NSSEA) are pleased to announce a "Mega Week of Trade Shows" in Las Vegas, from April 20-26, 2008.

All three associations will be having their respective shows autonomously, yet registration and badges for any individual show will be accepted for entry into the other two. Please check with the individual show websites for times and locations.

Entry to exhibit halls does not guarantee entry to all seminar and special membership programs in each show. The shows are being held at the Las Vegas Hilton and Bally’s Las Vegas.

-------------------------------

BALLY’S ROOM BLOCK CLOSES MARCH 19!
The room block for GTS at Bally’s closes March 19th -- just days from now! Book your rooms before the cutoff to get the best rate!

To reserve your room for GTS 2008 online, you can go to our custom Bally’s reservation site at https://www.harrahs.com/CheckGroupAvailability.do?propCode=BLV&groupCode=SBGMA8

Staying longer than 7 nights? Book your reservation through the Bally’s Las Vegas call center at +1 800-634-3434 (or +1 702-967-4111). Ask the reservation specialist for the “Game Manufacturers Association 2008 Trade Show” rate, convention code SBGMA8.

Very important - We have had two calls from people who are saying the reservation agents can’t find our code or event name in the reservations system. As there are 200 reservation agents, we are trying to track down WHO is making this error. Our contacts have verified – again – that our info is in there correctly so this is very, very disturbing. If are having this problem, we need the name of the reservation agent you spoke with, approximate time of call, and number called from. This will enable our Bally’s contacts to pull the recording of the call and figure out what the problem is.

Reservation deadline is Friday March 19, 2008. Bally's accepts Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover and Diner's Club.

Questions? Contact Jodie Panzeri at Ops(at)gama.org or +1 614 255 4500.

-------------------------------

OFFICIAL POLICY: CHILDREN AT GTS
Like most other trade shows in our related industries--WITRA, ASTRA, Toy Fair, Etc.--GTS does not allow children (under age 18) on the exhibit hall floor. Most professionals love children, but with the limited time at a trade show, they find that children are a distraction to business. Unlike most shows however, GTS does allow children in other areas of the convention. That said, if they are in convention areas, then they must be with you at all times and you must take them out of the area if they are disruptive. Children do not need a badge at GTS.

-------------------------------

GTS EXHIBITORS: PROMOTE AND CONTROL YOUR GIVEAWAYS WITH THE FREE GTS RETAILER PASSPORT
Giving away product samples at this year's GTS? Let the GTS Retailer Passport program help you easily promote and monitor your giveaway program. Here's how it works: Every attending store location gets one passport. Someone from that location presents the passport at your booth. You tell them about your product, stamp the passport, and give them your sample. It's an easy way to make sure that the right people get the right amount of your goodies!

To participate in the GTS Retailer Passport program, contact Matt Ragsdale (sales@gama.org, 614-255-4500). Register by April 11, 2008 to get into this year’s program!

-------------------------------

REGISTER FOR GTS TODAY (AND SAVE ON YOUR HOTEL ROOM!)
Beat the March 19 deadline hotel deadline by getting your GTS badge and making your 2008 hotel reservations now!

Lock in the special GTS rate of just $127/night, good from April 17 (Thursday) through April 24 (Thursday). Make the trip part business, part pleasure!

For show registration, visit www.gama.org/gts/shop-online.
For hotel information, visit www.gama.org/shows-and-events/gts/travel.
To make hotel reservations, visit the special GTS reservation page at https://www.harrahs.com/CheckGroupAvailability.do?propCode=BLV&groupCode=SBGMA8.

-------------------------------

HEAR THE BEST OF GTS 2007 SEMINARS AT PULP GAMER
Relive the best of both the retailer and publisher seminar track from GTS 2007 thanks to the folks at the Pulp Gamer podcast. Hear the seminars for free at www.pulpgamer.com/category/gama-trade-show-seminars/.

-------------------------------

BUILD YOUR BUSINESS WITH KNOWLEDGE AND CONNECTIONS!
Expand your network of professional retailers and game industry experts through GAMA’s forums: the Game Industry Network and the GAMA Retail Division forum, both on Delphi Forums.

* The GAME INDUSTRY NETWORK (GIN) hosts an industry-only discussion on all aspects of games, from creation through sales. Game professionals use the forum to discuss issues, make announcements, look for and give advice, and more.

To join the conversation, send your request to Anthony Gallela (ed@gama.org). Please include the following:
* your first and last name
* preferred email address
* for retailers: name, location, and your title of your store
* for other industry pros: name of your company and your title

* The GAMA RETAIL DIVISION FORUM gives GRD members a place to discuss GAMA-related topics (the organization itself, things that members want GAMA to do, and such) with fellow members and GAMA staff.

To join the GRD forum, please send your contact information to Trey Reilly (programs@gama.org).

John Kaufeld
GAMA Communications
pr@gama.org