Tuesday Newsletter
November 28, 2006
Tuesday Newsletter November 28, 2006
Volume 26: Issue 47
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This issue of Tuesday is sponsored by Tourism Montréal.
Millions of destinations. One city.
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| Interested in becoming a sponsor for Tuesday? Contact Karla DiNardo at karla.dinardo@NTA.travel. | |
Western Hemisphere Air Travelers Must Have Passports by Jan. 23
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Department of State announced that citizens of the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Bermuda will need to present a passport to enter the United States when arriving by air from any part of the Western Hemisphere beginning Jan. 23, 2007. This includes American citizens returning home via air transportation from anywhere outside the country.
As previously announced, there is a separate proposal addressing land and sea travel. This provision, which won’t go into effect until Jan. 1, 2008, at the earliest, requires all those traveling by land or sea between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean and Bermuda to present a valid passport or other documents as determined by the Department of Homeland Security.
DHS has created a FAQ concerning the new requirements for air travel, which can be accessed by clicking here. Any additional questions from travel industry professionals can be e-mailed to DHS officials Jan Mares or Tara Riordan. top of page
The Nov. 21 issue of Tuesday directed members to the November Board of Directors meeting update, which originally included incorrect information. The update stated that the board amended the NTA Election Policies and Procedures to allow the Nominating Committee to "group nominees to fill two or more elected officer positions with the positions filled in order of the highest number of votes received by the candidates."
This is, in fact, the information that the board deleted from the election policies and procedures. Please click here for the corrected board meeting update.
NTA Adds Capital One as Corporate Partner
Capital One has signed an agreement with NTA to become the association’s latest Corporate Partner. The company will offer members discounted rates on credit card processing, online reporting for a minimal fee and competitive transaction fees.
Rates for NTA members have been secured as low as 1.14 percent for credit card processing. Other benefits for NTA members using the Capital One program include:
To learn more about NTA’s official Corporate Partner, Capital One, click here.
Capital One becomes the second NTA Corporate Partner, along with Chase/Paymentech, to offer members discounted rates on credit card processing services.
Public Comments Sought on Tourism at the U.S. National Mall
The National Park Service is seeking feedback on plans for America’s National Mall site in Washington, D.C. As part of a long-term usage study, NPS officials are in the midst of a public planning process that ranges from providing direction on how the National Mall is managed for the foreseeable future to improving ways that visitors experience the National Mall.
One part is a planning initiative that gives Americans the opportunity to weigh in on the use, appearance and landscape of the National Mall. The current level of visitor usage, along with its environmental impact, presents challenges in helping ensure that future generations will be able to enjoy the National Mall’s open spaces, monuments and memorials. The NPS is seeking input from travel professionals, as well as the general public, who can become involved by visiting www.nps.gov/nationalmallplan to learn more about the NPS’ efforts and how they can provide feedback.
Additionally, the NPS announced the public release of the Washington, D.C. Visitor Transportation Study Environmental Assessment. This study focuses solely on the transportation aspect of tourism and the National Mall, and presents concepts for future visitor transit services to the mall and to historic sites in nearby Arlington.
Public comments on this study are welcome and will be accepted until Jan. 5, 2007. A copy of the EA document and a link for electronic comments can be accessed at the National Mall & Memorial Parks Web site. Additionally, comments may be made in writing and mailed to: National Park Service, Transportation Planner, 900 Ohio Drive S.W., Washington, DC 20024.
Contact National Mall & Memorial Parks Transportation Planner Alexa Viets with any questions on these items via e-mail at ncr_transportation_study@nps.gov.
Peru, Alaska and Poland Part of 2007 Product Development Trip Lineup
NTA is proud to announce a trio of outstanding Product Development Trips for 2007. The Alaska Travel Industry Association and the Destination Alaska Team is putting together a trip to Alaska. On the international front, Akorn Destination Management, a division of Abercrombie & Kent, will offer a trip to Peru, and Travel with Marion, in conjunction with the Polish National Tourist Department, has a great itinerary for Poland planned.
The Alaska trip will offer two adventurous itineraries to tour operators. The first starts in Fairbanks, then heads to Denali National Park and Talkeetna, includes a boat cruise in Whittier and ends in Anchorage. The second itinerary begins in Valdez, then the group hits Glenn Highway and the Mat-Su area, takes a cruise from Seward, stops in Alyeska and closes out the stay in Anchorage. After the scheduled itineraries end, tour operators will have the option of extending their stay and visiting Southeast Alaska to experience Haines, Juneau and Sitka on a pre-arranged tour. Both trips take place Sept. 6-13 and each is limited to 10 tour operators.
The Product Development Trip to Poland will highlight Warsaw, Czestochowa and the famous Black Madonna Shrine, Krakow, Wieliczka and a 700-year old salt mine that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Finally, a trip to Wiand Zakopane at the foot of the Tatra Mountains will include a boat ride down the Dunajec River and Pieniny Mountains National Park. This trip, which takes place May 19-27, will give tour operators a great look at this fantastic country and offer some new product ideas.
The Peru trip, slated for Dec. 6-12, will begin in Lima – a city founded by the Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizzaro in 1535. After touring this fantastic place, the trip will then move to Cusco, former ancient capital of the Inca Empire. While in this area, tour operators will have a chance to visit, among other things, the fortress of Ollantaytambo and the ruins of Machu Picchu.
Once registration information is available, it will be passed along in Tuesday. In the meantime, if you have questions about Product Development Trips contact NTA’s Vice President of Marketing Lisa Thompson at lisa.thompson@NTA.travel.
Convention Evaluations Due Dec. 5
There is still one more week to complete and return your 2006 NTA Annual Convention evaluation – the deadline is Dec. 5.
The survey was e-mailed to all attendees Nov. 13, and it seeks feedback on all aspects of NTA’s premier event. Some of the things that delegates have mentioned on past evaluations have resulted in improvements to Annual Convention, so your suggestions are important. On Dec. 3, an e-mail reminder also will be sent to delegates who haven’t responded yet.
Contact NTA’s Sandy Stansfield via e-mail at sandy.stansfield@NTA.travel with any questions regarding the survey.
Spring Meet: Transportation Reminders
Tour operators who are planning to book their transportation to Kelowna for the 2007 NTA Tour Operator Spring Meet should consider checking flights to Vancouver, British Columbia. Tourism Kelowna will offer group transportation from Vancouver to Kelowna and back at no cost to tour operators. Suppliers will pay $100 per person. Click here to learn more.
Additionally, due to the implementation of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, U.S. residents will need to have a passport if they fly to the Tour Operator Spring Meet in April. The first phase of the initiative, which requires a valid U.S. passport for air travel between the United States and Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Bermuda, is slated for implementation Jan. 23, 2007. (To learn how to apply for a U.S. passport, click here.)
Visit the Spring Meet Web site for more information about the 2007 NTA Tour Operator Spring Meet, April 26-28, in Kelowna, British Columbia.
Nominations Sought for Pioneer Award
NTA members are encouraged to send in nominations for the Pioneer Award, which honors individuals whose accomplishments have resulted in a significant change in the travel industry, from which NTA and its members (specifically tour operators) have benefited.
Any person employed by an NTA member company is eligible to make a nomination which, at minimum, should include a brief narrative (approximately 250 words) about the nominee. Additional information or material may be included with the narrative. The NTA Board of Directors established the award in 2005 and presented the inaugural one at the 2006 Tour Operator Spring Meet to Charles "Chuck" West (posthumously).
Nominations for the award, which will be presented at Tour Operator Spring Meet in Kelowna, British Columbia, are due Dec. 22 and should be submitted to NTA Executive Assistant Celeste Moore via e-mail at celeste.moore@NTA.travel.
Registration Open for 2007 Tourism Cares for America Project
It’s time to get signed up for the 2007 Tourism Cares for America cleanup project in historic Virginia City, Nevada, May 17-19. Volunteers at previous cleanup events have requested to "Go West" and what better place than this authentic western town!
In the late 1800s, Virginia City was "the richest place on earth" where the townspeople feasted on oysters and champagne, wore the latest Parisian fashions and attended opera houses where the likes of John Barrymore, Harry Houdini and Lillie Langtry enthralled audiences. Today the restoration and upkeep of the relics of this once booming, boisterous town are the sole responsibility of fewer than 1,100 citizens, who need our help.
To register for the Virginia City cleanup event, click here, or for more information call Tourism Cares at 781.821.5990 or e-mail tcfa@tourismcares.org.
NTA is an annual Association Sponsor of the Tourism Cares for America events, and its members and staff have been strong supporters through their participation. Tourism Cares looks forward to working alongside all of you again this year.
The December issue of Courier provides a thorough preview of the 2007 NTA Tour Operator Spring Meet, to be held April 26-28, in Kelowna, British Columbia. The article talks about what attendees will experience during this event, including the chance to gather packaging and product development ideas while surrounded by the Okanagan Valley’s lush scenery and world-class wineries. Other stories focus on military history tours, the Smoky Mountains and the Rockies. The December Travel Guides can get you caught up on Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi. In "One Member’s Perspective," Jeannie Barresi of Beyond Boundaries Travel provides thoughts on putting together innovative tours that were outside of her comfort zone.
UPCOMING DEADLINES:
March Issue – Annual Tour Operator Spring Meet Issue – Ad space: Jan. 3; Editorial: Past
2007 Tour Operator Spring Meet; Hotels, Resorts & Spas; Toronto & Niagara Region (New York & Canada); Mississippi River Valley (Arkansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi & Tennessee); Arizona; Colorado; New Mexico; Utah.
April Issue – Ad space: Jan. 25; Editorial: Dec. 1
Historic Homes & Gardens; Wine Tours; New York City; Great Lakes Loop (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Ontario & Wisconsin); Arkansas; Mexico; Oklahoma; Texas.
May Issue – Ad Space: Feb. 23; Editorial: Jan. 1
Preview to Convention; Beaches; Canyonlands (Colorado, Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, Sedona & Utah); Asia; Iowa; Kansas; Missouri; Nebraska; Northwest Territories, Nunavut & Yukon.
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
Anderson Vacations – Autry National Center – The Berkely Group – Beverly Garland’s Holiday Inn/Universal City – Greater Birmingham CVB – Boyds Bear Country – Chase Paymentech – Civil Rights Memorial Center – Coach USA – Colorado Springs CVB – Dollywood – Indianapolis Museum of Art – Isle of Capri Casino & Hotel – ITS Design & Printing Inc. – Jefferson CVB – Menopause The Musical – Montana Department of Commerce – Norfolk CVB – Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism – Shreveport-Bossier CTB – South Dakota Tourism – Staples – Top of the Rock – Tunica CVB – Virginia Beach CVB
To view the 2007 Courier Editorial Calendar, click here.