Tuesday Newsletter
May 10, 2005
Tuesday Newsletter May 10, 2005
May 10, 2005: Volume 25; Issue 12
Convention Registrations Roll In – Sign up Now to "Maxx"imize your Opportunities
Registration for the 2005 NTA Annual Convention opened Tuesday, May 3, in record-breaking fashion. An all-time high 686 registrations were received on opening day and, after the first week, 932 members had signed up for this year’s Convention.
While the membership gets ready for another great event, excitement is building in the host city, as well. Detroit is pulling out all of the stops to welcome NTA members in November, according to Larry Alexander, president and CEO of the Detroit Metro CVB.
"Our NTA host committee and our city has been preparing for this convention for several years," Alexander said. "With $30 billion of new development in our region, including new attractions, restaurants and entertainment options, we have never been more ready to host this influential group."
Additionally, host city Detroit is giving away a two-year lease on a 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx to one lucky tour operator at Convention. Tour operators participating in the Tour & Travel Exchange® must register by the early bird Convention deadline – July 8 – to be eligible to win. Click here to learn more.
If you haven’t signed up already, online registration is fast and easy. Click here to visit the NTA Convention Web site, or call your Member Services department for assistance at 800.682.8886 (U.S. and Canada) or 859.226.4444.
Better Business. Better Be There.
Convention Chair Chris Shepler Shares His Thoughts on Detroit
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| Chris Shepler |
Man, I wish you all knew how fired up I am about this year’s NTA Convention coming to Detroit. Yeah, yeah, I know I’m sort of a local and am a little biased, but this city has been working like crazy to get ready to show NTA a rockin’ good time. The CVB recently hosted a Fam tour for Michigan folks to get acquainted with some of the attractions that will be on stage when NTA comes to town in November. Here are some of the cool things that we were able to check out:
Okay, okay, I’m running out of room here. That’s only a fraction of what we got to see on the tour, so click here to read more about what Detroit has in store for you. Bottom line: Detroit is going to rock! Better be there for sure.
Reno Board Meeting and Strategic Planning Update
As reported in the May 3 issue of Tuesday, outcomes from the NTA Board of Directors strategic planning and board meetings included the decision to conduct a comprehensive member needs assessment survey, consider addressing members’ level of interest in a name change for the association in this survey and reinstate board candidate speeches at Annual Convention.
The board also reaffirmed NTA’s strategic direction to focus on packaged travel and expand and diversify the membership, including international members, while recognizing that group travel remains the predominant element within the mix of travel services represented by NTA members.
For the complete update from these meetings, please click here.
NTA is now seeking nominations from members who would like to run for a 2006 office. The nominations are for the positions of vice chair, treasurer and secretary, which are one-year terms, and for three tour operator seats, one tour supplier seat and one DMO seat (two-year terms).
If you would like to be considered, please fill out an interest form by June 1. You can get that form by contacting Todd Hamilton via e-mail at todd.hamilton@ntastaff.com, or by calling him at 800-682-8886, ext. 4205 (U.S. or Canada), or 859.226.4205.
The association’s Nominating Committee will review these forms, along with learning more about the candidates through written profiles, questionnaires and personal interviews. The committee will make formal recommendations in June, and they’ll be announced in early July via Tuesday.
Tuesday, your association’s e-newsletter, has been weekly for a little more than a month now. What have you liked? What can we change? Are there different things you’d like to see us write about? If you have thoughts on these or other topics pertaining to Tuesday, we’d love to hear them.
Please pass along comments to e-newsletter editor Pat Henderson via e-mail at pat.henderson@ntastaff.com, or by calling him at 800-682-8886, ext. 4425 (U.S. or Canada), or 859.226.4425.
2006 Spring Meet Host City Welcomed Horses and Superstars
Last Saturday, the 131st Kentucky Derby was run in Louisville, Ky., site of the 2006 NTA Tour Operator Spring Meet. And, if this year’s edition of the Kentucky Derby is an indicator, you won’t want to miss the upcoming Spring Meet – March 22-25, 2006 – as Louisville prepares to shower NTA delegates with the same type of hospitality that it does those attending the Derby.
The 2005 edition of "the greatest two minutes in sports" thrilled the fans at Churchill Downs as long-shot Giacomo emerged from the 20-horse field to win the blanket of roses. The second-largest crowd in Derby history of 156,435 – which trails only the 163,000-plus that turned out for the 100th anniversary in 1974 – was on hand for the wild and surprising finish.
In addition to the world’s greatest thoroughbreds, the race attracted superstars and celebrities to Louisville for a festive weekend. Kid Rock and Smokey Robinson, who hail from 2005 Convention host city Detroit, were in attendance as were fellow musicians Travis Tritt and Josh Groban. Even billionaire Richard Branson, owner of Virgin Atlantic Airways, made his way from his native England to sample the horses, hospitality and mint juleps that make the Kentucky Derby a world-class event.
Still Seeking Information on Insurance and E&O Rates?
If so, NTA is your source for information on what association corporate partner The Berkely Group has to offer. There are many helpful documents posted at NTA Online where you can learn more about updates and changes for 2005.
Also, NTA held a pair of Web seminars featuring Berkely representatives, and you can click here to listen to the audio portion of both seminars, which included such topics as the new application process and procedures for renewing professional liability coverage.
NOTE: You will need your individual ID and password to access both of the links listed above.
Deadline Extended for Sustainable Tourism Awards
The due date to submit nominations for the 2005 Smithsonian Magazine/Tourism Cares for Tomorrow Sustainable Tourism Awards has been changed to May 28. The Sustainable Tourism Awards are presented for outstanding efforts in two categories – preservation and conservation.
If you know of any projects in the U.S. or overseas that have demonstrated innovation in sustainable tourism, you can make a nomination by filling out the proper forms, which are available at http://www.sustainabletourismawards.com/. For further information, contact Tourism Cares Executive Director Bruce Beckham, CTP, at 781-821-5990 or via e-mail.
The space deadline of May 30 for the August Courier is approaching. The August issue will feature Theatres, Festivals & Events and include Trip Planners on the Adirondacks & Upstate New York and Continental Europe (Austria, Denmark, France, Sweden & Switzerland). The monthly Travel Guides will profile Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ontario and Wisconsin.
Contact your account executive today to learn about these opportunities and many more by calling 800.682.8886, ext. 4238 (U.S. and Canada), or 859.226.4238. For a complete list of upcoming deadlines, click here to see the 2006 Courier Editorial Calendar.