Tuesday Newsletter
June 27, 2006
Tuesday Newsletter June 27, 2006
Volume 26: Issue 26
| Interested in becoming a sponsor for Tuesday? Contact Karla DiNardo at karla.dinardo@NTA.travel. |
NOTE – The next issue of Tuesday is slated to come out on July 4, a day when the NTA offices will be closed. Instead, that edition of Tuesday will be sent out the morning of Wednesday, July 5.
One Entrance Closed at Both Yosemite and the Grand Canyon
Two of the most visited U.S. national parks, Yosemite and the Grand Canyon, currently have entrances that are closed.
At Yosemite, a rock and soil slide has closed a section of Highway 140 eight miles west of El Portal, Calif., shutting down the Arch Rock entrance. Even though the Arch Rock entrance is closed indefinitely, Yosemite remains open to motorcoaches and automobiles via two commonly used state highways. Both Highway 120 entrances – Tioga Pass from the east and Big Oak Flat from the west – are open, as is the south entrance via Highway 41. Visitors who normally enter the park on Highway 140 from the west can still take 140 to Mariposa and then go south on historic Highway 49 to Oakhurst and then head north on Highway 41 to the park’s southern entrance.
For updated Yosemite National Park road information, click here or call 209.372.0200.
Grand Canyon officials report that Highway 67 is currently closed from Jacob Lake, Ariz., to the North Rim Visitors Center due to a warm fire, and will remain closed until further notice. The South Rim is unaffected and open to all visitors. Officials are working together to evaluate opportunities to escort the nearly 1,000 park visitors and employees out of the North Rim.
The North Rim’s status will be evaluated daily, and updated information is available by calling Maureen Oltrogge at 928.638.7779 or by visiting the park’s Web site and clicking on the "News" link on the right-hand side.
NTA Convention: Fun Facts About Our 2006 Host
We’re heading to Salt Lake in November for the 2006 NTA Annual Convention. How much do you know about our gracious host city?
- International Appeal: Salt Lake was the largest city ever to host the Olympic Winter Games, when they opened their city in February 2002 for the XIX Olympiad.
- In the "Money": In December 2000, Salt Lake City was awarded the top honor as "Best in the West" in Money magazine’s "Best Places to Live" ranking.
- Serious Altitude: The Unita Mountain range, the only major east-west range in North America, is home to Utah’s highest point, 13,528-foot Kings Peak.
- Native Influence: Five American Indian tribes – Ute, Navajo, Paiute, Goshute and Shoshoni – are represented in Utah and promote their unique and diverse cultures.
- Above Par: Utah boasts an impressive 105 golf courses, 27 of which can be found in Salt Lake County.
Join us in Salt Lake from Nov. 3-7 to get acquainted with this fabulous city. To register for Convention, click here, or call your NTA Member Services Department at 800.682.8886 (U.S. and Canada) or 859.226.4444.
Better Business. Better Be There.
Call for Input Before NTA Leadership Meets July 14-15
The NTA Leadership Team will meet July 14-15 in Lexington, Ky. During the two-day meeting, the Leadership Team will meet as a whole as well as break out into individual committee sessions – Convention Committee, Cultural Diversity Task Force, Government Relations Committee, Membership Development Committee, Strategic Development Council and Technology Committee.
If there is a topic you have for discussion or something you think needs to be brought before the leadership group, now is your chance to make your voice heard. Please contact NTA Vice President of Communications Catherine Prather by June 30 by calling 800.682.8886, ext. 4264 (U.S. and Canada) or 859.226.4264 or via e-mail at catherine.prather@NTA.travel.
Benefit Basics: Prepare for Appointment Scheduling
The appointment scheduling process for eligible NTA Convention delegates will begin July 19. Tour operators should take a few minutes to review their company profile and must make updates by July 7 to remain eligible for the Convention rebate.
To get started, click on the "Update Your Company Information" link under "What’s New" on the right side of the NTA.travel home page, then enter your ID and password. Your profile will appear and you’ll need to review all the screens to make sure your information is correct. Be sure to click on the sections in the shaded blue box called "Company Profile," "Convention Information," "Destinations" and "Origins." To finalize your updated profile, click the "Submit" button after you’re done. If there are no changes to record, click the "Submit" button at the bottom of each of the four sections.
For questions or assistance, e-mail questions@NTA.travel or call your Member Services Department at 800.682.8886 (U.S. and Canada) or 859.226.4444.
Want to Play Host to the 2010 or 2011 Annual Convention?
Looking for a way to bring thousands of travel professionals to your city? Hoping to gain valuable exposure and reap economic benefits for your area? Then put in your bid to play host to the 2010 or 2011 NTA Annual Convention.
NTA’s premier event, held each November, affords its hosting cities and regions tremendous exposure within the travel industry. The economic impact (both immediate and residual), media coverage, relationship development and ultimate increase in tourism are just a few of the accrued benefits to the host.
To get copies of the bid specifications and the hotel contract requirements – or with any other questions about playing host to Annual Convention – contact NTA Director of Operations Lee Carter via e-mail at lee.carter@NTA.travel.
The deadline to submit bids is Aug. 31, 2006.
TIA Presents Webinar on Online Marketing June 28
TIA will be offering a webinar Wednesday, June 28, at 2 p.m. on making the most of your online marketing program. Kevin Johnson, president of Acxiom Digital, will be providing information on the latest digital marketing trends and best practices. Some of the topics he will cover include:
The cost is $49 and you can register by clicking here. top of page
2006/2007 NTA Tour Catalog Planned for September
For the 11th straight year, The Group Travel Leader, in cooperation with NTA, will produce the NTA Tour Catalog. The special supplement is published in September and is distributed to 30,000 packaged travel industry professionals.
Affordable advertising opportunities are available to NTA members who would like to participate. Tour operators can submit a 50-word company listing for inclusion in the supplement. Members interested in advertising information, should contact Kelly Tyner with The Group Travel Leader at 888.253.0455 or kelly@grouptravelleader.com.
NTA Family News – Remembering Manny Cortez
Manny Cortez, the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority’s long-time president and CEO, died June 18 after suffering a heart attack at his home. He was 67.
He served as the head of the authority for 13 years before his retirement in 2004 and, during his tenure as president of the LVCVA, the bureau came to be regarded as one of the travel industry’s leading destination marketing organizations. Travel Agent magazine named Cortez the United States Person of the Year for 1999, calling him "one of the most astute marketers in the tourism industry." He oversaw the famous marketing campaign Vegas Stories, known for the "What happens in Vegas, stays Vegas" tag line.
Donations in memory of Cortez can be made to the Manuel J. Cortez Elementary School, 4245 East Tonopah Avenue, Las Vegas, NV 89115.
Tourism Cares Seeking Auction Items
It’s time for NTA members to begin making donations to the Live and Silent auctions that benefit NTA’s official philanthropic outreach, Tourism Cares. These events are important fundraisers, as well as a great opportunity for suppliers, DMOs and tour operators to showcase their destinations, properties, travel packages and services.
Donated items for this year’s Silent Auction will be displayed online prior to Convention with each donor’s logo and Web site link on their item’s page. Bidding on Silent Auction items will be done via bid slips at the Convention in Salt Lake City, and the auction will conclude with a basket sweep of final bids. Additionally, some items will be available for online bidding prior to Convention. The Live Auction will include some of the most unique donations and feature the award-winning talent of World Champion auctioneer Shane Ratliff.
For a preview of the Silent Auction or to donate a package, service or tangible item, please go to www.tourismcares.cmarket.com/nta. If you have any questions, contact Natalie King at 781.821.5990 or nataliek@tourismcares.org.
The July issue of Courier showcases new offerings at zoos and aquariums and explores musical attractions throughout North America. Courier features great contributions from members in this issue, including an interview with Sharon Holderness, director of the motorcoach department at Menno Travel Service, in which she discusses the advisory council of customers she initiated. There is also a piece from the Portland Oregon Visitors Association about lessons learned when staff members worked to align their internal practices with their "green" mission statement. August trip planners feature Coastal California & Baja and New England, and the travel guides offer you the latest information from Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee and West Virginia.
UPCOMING DEADLINES:
October Issue – Annual Convention – Ad Space: July 20; Editorial: Past
Annual Convention Issue; Great Plains (Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota & Wyoming); Scandinavia; Connecticut; Maine; Massachusetts; New Hampshire; Rhode Island; Vermont.
November Issue – Ad Space: Aug. 25; Editorial: July 1
Dining; Shopping; Chicago; America’s Historic East (Colonial Virginia, D.C., Maryland & Pennsylvania); Delaware; New Brunswick; Newfoundland & Labrador; Nova Scotia; Prince Edward Island; New Jersey; New York; Quebec.
December Issue – Tour Operator Spring Meet – Ad Space: Sept. 27; Editorial: Aug. 1
Tour Operator Spring Meet Preview Issue; Military History; The Rockies (Alberta, British Columbia, Colorado, Idaho, Montana & Utah); Smoky Mountains (Gatlinburg & Pigeon Forge); Alabama; Florida; Louisiana; Mississippi.
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
Autry National Center – The Berkely Group (TPP) – Boyds Bear Country – Coach USA – Dollywood – Foxwoods Resort Casino – Gaylord Opryland Resort and Attractions – Greater Louisville CVB – Mohegan Sun – Northwest Connecticut CVB – Pala Casino Spa and Resort – Paymentech Merchant Services – Pechanga Resort & Casino – Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism – Renfro Valley Entertainment Center Inc. – Shreveport-Bossier CTB – Staples – Top of the Rock – Turning Stone Casino – Yankee Candle Company Inc.
Please click here to view the 2006 editorial calendar online.