AME Companion Program

We are pleased to offer the AME Companion Program to all family members and friends of attendees at the AME Excellence Inside International Conference. Our dedicated and passionate volunteers have made arrangements for our Companions to see a few of Dallas’s highlights during our international conference. We hope all our attendees will extend the AME Conference experience to their families and friends.

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Monday Pre-conference Mystery Shopping Trip:

The Companion experience begins before the conference even starts. That’s because we have arranged a trip to an amazing mystery shopping location in the Dallas area. If you know Dallas, you can probably guess the location. If not, you are in for a surprise. But either way, you’ll enjoy the experience.

Transportation is provided complements of AME, but there is a small charge of $60 per day for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday’s Companion Program or a discounted price of $150 for all three days.

Companions’ Breakfast

Start each day with an amazing breakfast in the AME Companion Room, while you look out over the glorious Dallas skyline from the top floor of the Sheraton Dallas. It’s a great way to start your day, and a great place to renew old friendships and develop new ones.

Day One: Tuesday

Companions Head West to Ft. Worth for the Ultimate Texas Experience

Companions in Dallas will be exploring new territory and witnessing the world's only Longhorn cattle drive through the streets of the Fort Worth Stockyards. Be one of those Companions, take a glimpse into the past and enjoy some rich, western Texas heritage. Still known as Cowtown, the City of Fort Worth has its own herd of Texas Longhorns—a steer for each decade of Fort Worth's 150-year history. Get up close and personal with genuine cowboys, as they demo roping tricks and more. Then join us after the cattle drive and just before lunch, as we take a bus tour of the famous Stockyards.

Yeeehahhh!!!!

Next, take a bit of time to enjoy a little cowboy/cowgirl retail therapy, by browsing the many western gear shops in the Stockyards. Companions will then board the bus and sample Texas-style lunch vittles at Reata, in downtown Fort Worth.

At the end of the day, we will leave Fort Worth and head back to the Sheraton Dallas to hear Temple Grandin, the afternoon’s outstanding Conference Keynote Speaker. You won’t want to miss this. Her HBO Program, “A New Way of Seeing Things,” has won multiple awards, and she will be sharing some of her rich insights.

Day Two: Wednesday

A Trip to the Iconic Neiman Marcus Flagship Store in Downtown Dallas

Before we head out after breakfast for a great day two, we will get to listen to a mystery musician, who will be one of the highlights of your day. After our pleasant serenade, we will board our bus and head to the visual history of Neiman Marcus’s flagship store, and take a little time to enjoy the exceptional original art throughout the store. For over a century, The Neiman Marcus Group has stayed focused on serving the unique needs of the luxury market and been recognized as the premier luxury retailer dedicated to providing its customers with distinctive merchandise and superior service.

You’ll be treated to lunch served on the sixth floor of the flagship Neiman Marcus store in downtown Dallas, in the famed Zodiac Room, made famous by the late Helen Corbitt. Lunch will be glorious. How can it not be when they have over 50 years of fine dining experience! The Zodiac led the way in establishing and maintaining Neiman Marcus's reputation, not only as an exceptional fashion store but also as a venerable dining destination! Count on a few surprises during lunch!

After lunch, we will head toward Oak Cliff in South Dallas to the Bishop Arts District—BAD to the locals. The BAD is a gem of a historic district that has been described variously as hip, funky, charming, cool, kitschy and “an original with a genuine feel.” Enjoy the Artists Cooperative, one of a kind boutiques and wonderful restaurants that you can step into to enjoy a wonderful glass of “sweet tea.”  

Day Three: Thursday

Milestone Culinary Arts Center and High Tea at the Adolphus Hotel

The Thursday morning bus ride will take us to the Milestone Culinary Arts Center, very near downtown Dallas. There, Companions will be divided into groups and each group will be given the same cooking ingredients. The Companions will then join in what we call “Stainless Steel Chef Competition.” The dishes they complete will be judged by the Center’s chefs, with the winning team receiving prizes and, of course, praise from the rest of the group.

After the competition, Companions will have a Texas-themed (AND TEXAS-SIZED) brunch. There will also be time to browse the many shops along Knox Avenue before departing for our afternoon event in downtown Dallas, where we will enjoy tea at The Adolphus Hotel. Built by beer baron Adolphus Busch, this baroque masterpiece has been a legend among America's historic hotels since 1912. What better venue to enjoy afternoon tea, with the same menu that Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip enjoyed during their state visit. Enjoy 21 stories of unabashed beaux arts splendor that critics have called "the most beautiful building west of Venice."