National Tourism Foundation Launches New Web Site

May 11, 2004

National Tourism Foundation Launches New Web Site
May 11, 2004 – Lexington, Ky. – The National Tourism Foundation is pleased to announce the debut of its new Web site this week. The enhanced interactive site is designed to help foster interaction between students and travel professionals and will include many new and updated features for their benefit. The site can be accessed at http://www.ntfonline.org/

The updated Web site is valuable for students and educators planning careers in travel and tourism. Students can view information on grants and scholarships, as well as search for internship opportunities that professionals submit on the site.

The Foundation is currently asking professionals to contribute to the internship database and post job openings for a separate database, which will be available in a few weeks. Students and educators can also search a database of schools with tourism and hospitality programs. These customized searches meet the demands of students and educators by allowing them to quickly find post-secondary schools and to view the most current openings in the industry.

Other features of the Web site include more up-to-the-minute news and announcements, access to award recipients’ resumes, industry research, and nomination forms for the Foundation Board of Trustees and Hall of Fame.

The launch of the enhanced Web site also marks the introduction of Practitioners in the Classroom, a program designed to connect travel and tourism students with experienced members of the industry. Practitioners can volunteer to speak in classrooms as part of the "Ask the Expert" component or mentor students via e-mail exchange as a "Cyber Mentor".

"Our new technology developments enhance the basic mission of the Foundation. The Web site, along with the new electronic newsletter, and various other programs we are currently implementing will all help students and professionals prepare for the future of travel", said Foundation 2004 Chairman Roland Kreps.

The Foundation distributed its first electronic newsletter last month, and will continue to enhance these initiatives. Plans are already underway to develop scholarship applications and auction donor forms that can be submitted from the Web site.

The National Tourism Foundation is a nonprofit organization that supports research and education in travel and tourism. Since 1982, the National Tourism Foundation has awarded more than $1.5 million to travel and tourism students in the form of grants, scholarships and awards. For more information, visit http://preseason.ntaonline.com/www.ntfonline.org

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