Tuesday Newsletter
December 13, 2005
Tuesday Newsletter December 13, 2005
December 13, 2005: Volume 25; Issue 42
As the concerns about avian flu continue to dominate the headlines, NTA and other travel and tourism organizations are responding. In order for NTA to provide accurate and timely information concerning the avian flu – so you’ll be equipped to talk to your customers about it – a special page was created at NTA Online.
The page contains background on pandemic influenza, a business planning checklist, tips you can pass along for your clients and links to other avian flu-related sources. Click here to go to the page, which will be updated regularly.
When passing along information of this nature, it is important to not overreact, which could lead to an unwarranted travel crisis. To minimize the negative impact of the threat of an outbreak and/or of an actual outbreak, NTA encourages its members to stay abreast of the facts related to the threat of avian flu and be prepared to communicate accurately with clients.
Contact NTA Headquarters at questions@ntastaff.com with comments or concerns.
The year is wrapping up, but the benefits of the 2005 Annual Convention just keep on giving. Be sure to take advantage of the following resources:
Convention Seminar CD – This complimentary CD contains both audio and PowerPoint presentations (where available) from all 42 educational sessions. You also can access the Delegate Registry and the "Week in Review" video from it. The CD, which is sponsored by the Alaska Travel Industry Association, The Greenbrier and Theatre Direct International and Broadway.com, should hit the desks of Convention delegates around the first of the year.
"Week in Review" Video – You can relive Convention and see your photos in the 2005 "Week in Review" video that was unveiled during the Final Night Gala, by clicking here. NTA thanks our partners, PhotoVision and SharpShooter Imaging, on this fabulous production, in addition to the members who submitted photos.
Convention Photos – SharpShooter Imaging has posted photos from the 2005 NTA Annual Convention on its Web site for delegates to peruse and purchase. Click here to check ’em out.
Thanks for making the 2005 NTA Annual Convention such a great success! Mark your calendars and join us in Salt Lake City, Nov. 3-7 in 2006.
Better Business. Better Be There.
Stay in Touch With Your 2006 Leaders
In her letter to all NTA members last week, association Chairman and CEO Judith Thomas, CTP, said one of her main priorities was communication. She encouraged members to keep in contact with their elected and volunteer leaders throughout the year and to pass along any thoughts and ideas they may have.
With the first meeting of the 2006 NTA Leadership Team and Board of Directors taking place Jan. 20-22 in Banff, Alberta, please take a minute to send any discussion items you’d like to see addressed to your representatives. To see the names of the people who will serve on the board and leadership teams for 2006, please use these links:
The groups will continue to meet regularly in 2006. Here is a schedule of their other meetings:
Tour Operators: Have You Registered for Spring Meet?
Have you marked your calendar for the 2006 NTA Tour Operator Spring Meet? The brand-new Muhammad Ali Center and renovated Churchill Downs, home of the Kentucky Derby, are pulling out all the stops for NTA in Louisville, Ky., March 22-25.
Register online by the early-bird deadline of Jan. 27 and save $50 (U.S.) on your registration. Hotel, sign-up and event info is available on the Web site, and you’ll need your member ID and password to register. If you need assistance, please call your Member Services team at 800-682-8886 (U.S. and Canada) or 859-226-4444.
Spring Meet – It’s all about you!
Change in Southwest Airlines/NTA Agreement
NTA received word late last week that the Southwest Airlines "one free tour conductor ticket per 20 passengers" promotion will be ending Dec. 31, 2005.
The discontinuation of this special offer, which has been available to NTA members since 1997, does not affect travel already booked for 2006. Additionally, any new travel booked through Dec. 31, 2005, will be eligible for the one free tour conductor ticket per 20 passengers promotion. As of Jan. 1, 2006, tour conductor tickets will be offered at a one per 40 passenger rate.
For more information contact Scott Anderson, Southwest Airlines group marketing manager, at 214-792-6496.
Sustainable Tourism Awards Presented
Tourism Cares for Tomorrow is proud to announce the recipients of the 2005 Sustainable Tourism Awards. Winners were presented with $20,000 on Dec. 4 at the United States Tour Operators Association luncheon, sponsored by Smithsonian magazine. The winners are:
Preservation Category: The Louisa May Alcott Orchard House in Massachusetts
Opened in 1911 to the general public, the 315-year-old Orchard House brings to life the Alcott legacy in literature, art, education, philosophy and social justice through tours, living history events, educational programs and original family furnishings and archives.
Conservation Category: The Black Sheep Inn Ecolodge in Ecuador
The 10-room lodge was built with sustainable techniques including solar panels, compost toilets and rainwater collectors. Guests are educated in conservation and sustainable living habits in a comfortable setting.
For more information on the Sustainable Tourism Awards or the winners, please visit http://www.tourismcares.org/.
Beth Rhoades of the Tourism Council of Frederick County, Md., passed away Dec. 8.
As the Tourism Council’s assistant director, the 36-year-old Rhoades was a regular participant at NTA’s Annual Convention. She began her career in the travel industry in 1992 as tour/marketing coordinator and continued to advance with the Tourism Council. Her passion for Frederick County’s culture and history was only surpassed by her devotion to her family, her many friends and her community.
A memorial service was held Dec. 13 at the Frederick First Baptist Church, and anyone wishing to make a contribution can send it to the Rhoades to Recovery Fund at 900 Motter Ave., Frederick, MD 21701.
The March 2006 issue of Courier provides a great way to showcase your company not only to current NTA members, but to 500 prospective NTA tour operators who receive this issue. This means nearly 2,000 tour operators will be reading this issue, in addition to all the people who will see it at NTA’s 2006 Tour Operator Spring Meet in Louisville, Ky.
The deadline to reserve space for the March edition is Jan. 4. To give your company extra exposure to tour operators through that issue, contact your account executive today at 800-682-8886, ext. 4238 (U.S. and Canada) or 859-226-4238.
Also, you need to hurry if you want to lock in at 2005 rate-card prices for your ’06 ads, as that cut-off date is Dec. 19. Additional deadline information is found on the Courier editorial calendar, which can be accessed if you click here.
Next week’s issue of Tuesday will be the final one in 2005, as one will not be sent Dec. 27. Tuesday will return to its regular weekly schedule Jan. 3, 2006.
Sponsorships of NTA’s weekly e-newsletter, Tuesday are being sold for 2006 at a rate of $1,000 per month or six months for $5,000.
The sponsor’s logo and a link to its Web site, along with 30 words of text about the sponsor, will be featured in two places – on the e-mail that goes to NTA members and on the newsletter home page at NTA Online. To see a sample of how your sponsorship would look in the e-mail, click here.
For more information on getting involved with this unique sponsorship, contact Karla DiNardo at karla.dinardo@ntastaff.com or by calling 800-682-8886, ext. 4232 (U.S. and Canada) or 859-226-4232.