Catch Waves of Business Opportunities

ORLANDO, Fla., July 17, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Motivational advice from top industry trainers, the latest in high-tech devices and a chance to network with other real estate professionals: That's what the Florida Realtors® 2012 Convention & Trade Expo has to offer – opportunities to increase business.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110314/DC64568LOGO)

Realtors® from across Florida will attend the state association's 96th annual convention on Aug. 8-12, 2012, at the Marriott World Center in Orlando. The event features about 30 educational sessions from top industry speakers on topics like residential property management, business strategies, identifying investment opportunities, pricing in a competitive market, working with international clients and more.

"Florida Realtors' annual Convention & Trade Expo is a 'can't-miss-this' opportunity for every Realtor in the state," says Florida Realtors® President Summer Greene, regional manager of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Florida 1st in Fort Lauderdale. "It offers five days of inspiration, education, networking with real estate colleagues and exciting entertainment – all designed to boost your business and renew your passion for our profession. The convention is a highlight of the year, and provides outstanding value to anyone interested in the latest trends, technology and best business practices."

A highlight of this year's convention will be the chance to meet Barbara Corcoran – a giant in the real estate industry, novelist, television producer and TV star. Corcoran is already a familiar face to many people as the real estate contributor for NBC's TODAY Show, an investor/shark on ABC's Shark Tank, a weekly contributor to the New York Daily News and MORE Magazine, and on HGTV's Top Ten.

Corcoran will speak at a Florida Realtors' general session on Aug. 10 from 12:15 – 1 p.m., and admission is included in the price of convention registration. For more information, go to http://convention.floridarealtors.org/meet-barbara-corcoran/.

Attendees can enjoy the "Good Vibrations" of the '60s Surf & Beach Party featuring the group Papa Doo Run Run on Aug. 9 from 8:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. Audience members will have "Fun, Fun, Fun" dancing the night away as Papa Doo Run Run delivers that Beach Boys Southern California sound. The house band at Disneyland for 15 years, Papa Doo Run Run sounds so much like the Beach Boys, that when the Beach Boys tour and need someone to sit in, they call the guys from Papa. One complimentary ticket to the concert is included with full convention registration; any attendee can purchase a ticket for $30. Tickets will be sold until 4 p.m. on Aug. 8, or as long they're available. The '60s Surf & Beach Party is co-sponsored by Florida Realtors PAC and Florida Realtors.

Other convention highlights include the Trade Expo with more than 135 booths offering the latest real estate products and technology; and the Keynote Awards Luncheon featuring Jeanne Robertson, a nationally recognized humorist and motivational speaker, who will demonstrate how a sense of humor can be a strategy for success. Video clips of Robertson's speaking engagements have received more than 13.5 million YouTube hits.

Confirmed sponsors for the 2012 convention include: Fifth Third Bank and My Florida Regional MLS at the Boss level; RealEstateExpress.com and TD Bank, Far Out level; Homestaging by Aarons, National Association of Realtors®, Suncoast Schools Federal Credit Union and UPC Insurance, Groovy level; and Bert Rodgers School of Real Estate, Cisco Systems Inc. and IFREC Real Estate Schools at the Cool level.

Realtor members may register online (login required) through July 31 for the Florida Realtors convention at floridarealtors.org/convention or by calling 1-800-669-4327. The full convention fee is $95 for members through July 31. Beginning Aug. 1, registration will be handled at the convention site.

Florida Realtors®, formerly known as the Florida Association of Realtors®, serves as the voice for real estate in Florida. It provides programs, services, continuing education, research and legislative representation to its more than 115,000 members in 63 boards/associations. Florida Realtors® Media Center website is available at http://media.floridarealtors.org.

SOURCE Florida Realtors