Tuesday Newsletter
June 20, 2006
Tuesday Newsletter June 20, 2006
Volume 26: Issue 25
| Interested in becoming a sponsor for Tuesday? Contact Karla DiNardo at karla.dinardo@NTA.travel. |
Hurricane Preparedness a Front-Burner Issue
With the opening of the 2006 hurricane season this month, many media stories have focused on the key question of whether the U.S. government agencies and citizens are ready for this year’s storms. Drawing from the "Lessons Learned" document it compiled after last year’s season, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security recently issued a hurricane preparedness fact sheet outlining many changes for this year.
Some of the points of emphasis outlined by the DHS are increasing the nation’s stockpiles of relief supplies, retooling FEMA for the 21st century and emphasizing individual and community preparedness. Other key topics that the fact sheet covered include:
To see the full text of fact sheet "Strengthening Preparedness for Hurricane Season," click here.
If you are impacted by a natural disaster, please keep NTA informed so that we may offer assistance as well as share your news and information with other members. Updates should be sent to NTA’s Manager of Public Relations Sara Morton at sara.morton@NTA.travel.
NTA Convention: Have You Made Hotel Reservations?
The 2006 NTA Annual Convention will commence in Salt Lake City, Nov. 3. You’ve registered to attend … you’re preparing to make your appointment requests … but have you made your hotel reservation? The headquarters hotel is already sold out, so don’t delay.
Click here to view the Convention properties in Salt Lake City, which include three 4-diamond hotels. You can make your reservation online or by contacting the Salt Lake Housing Bureau at 888.221.9425 (U.S. and Canada) or 801.534.4953.
Registration for the 2006 NTA Annual Convention is available at http://convention.nta.travel/. We look forward to seeing you in Salt Lake.
Better Business. Better Be There.
Grassroots Symposium: One Member’s Perspective
Does that thought of meeting with your U.S. senators or representatives leave you shaking in your boots? Fear no more! NTA makes sure you are ready for those face-to-face meetings during the 7th NTA Grassroots Symposium with preparations before and during the event.
Carol Jordan of Territorial Tours in Oklahoma City, Okla., recounts how uneasy she felt as she prepared for her first symposium, but how everything turned out fine. "Although I was very apprehensive about it, I should not have been. Looking back after attending four of the symposiums, I can say that they are definitely a high point in my life," says Jordan. Click here to read more of Jordan’s thoughts on the Grassroots Symposium.
This year’s symposium takes place Sept. 11-12, and the Hotel Washington again will serve as the event headquarters, with a special NTA rate of $150 per night. To register for the event, click here. If you’d like more information on how you can be an advocate for the industry, contact Matt Grayson at 800.682.8886, ext. 4250 (U.S. and Canada) or 859.226.4250 or via e-mail at matt.grayson@NTA.travel.
Tour Operators to Hold Conference Call Tuesday, June 27
Tour operators are encouraged to participate in the next Chairman’s Conversation Club conference call with NTA Chairman and CEO Judith Thomas, CTP, which will be held Tuesday, June 27, from 3-4 p.m. (ET). On the call, operators can share their thoughts on changes and challenges in packaged travel, as well as ideas on other industry-related topics.
Advance registration for the call is necessary so that a toll-free dial-in number can be sent to all participants. Please e-mail NTA Executive Assistant Celeste Moore at celeste.moore@NTA.travel to sign up for next Tuesday’s call.
If you want to see what NTA members said on previous Chairman’s Conversation Club calls or look at some of the topics that were discussed, go to the archives by clicking here.
NTA’s Cultural Diversity Task Force Seeks Your Feedback
In reviewing NTA’s strategic direction of growing and diversifying the association’s membership, the Cultural Diversity Task Force developed position statements to succinctly outline the value of this direction for NTA members and the association. Click here to review this brief information.
"For many years NTA has communicated the importance of growing our membership and has been especially focused on looking at ways to diversify our membership to reflect the world we live in," said Ed Hall, CTP, chair of the Cultural Diversity Task Force. "Since 2002, NTA has accepted companies outside North America as members, and going in that new direction for diversified growth has not been without its challenges. The task force created these position statements to help all NTA members understand the benefit of this growth for their individual businesses and for the association as a whole."
Hall said the Cultural Diversity Task Force wants NTA members to send in their case studies on working with culturally diverse markets, both domestic and international. "We want feedback on these papers, and we want to share information from the members so we can learn from each other’s successes and failures."
To pass along your thoughts on NTA’s goal of growth and diversification and to share your case studies, please e-mail NTA Vice President of Communications Catherine Prather at catherine.prather@NTA.travel.
Benefit Basics: Amtrak Delivers for Your Group
Consider transporting your group by rail with NTA transportation provider Amtrak. Amtrak offers NTA members special pricing and dedicated service for group bookings.
Click here for more specifics related to the Amtrak program or call John Thomas at 303.467.0655 or e-mail him at thom0655@comcast.net.
For a full list of NTA Transportation Providers, visit http://www.ntaonline.com/index.php?s=&url_channel_id=18&url_subchannel_id=&url_article_id=1371&change_well_id=2.
Tourism Cares is Ready to Rock NTA
Get ready to dance the night away for a good cause at the Tourism Cares Rock for Tomorrow dance party in Salt Lake City! Party-goers can network with old and new friends, show off some of their best dance moves and enjoy great music, all while supporting the mission and programs of Tourism Cares.
Rock for Tomorrow takes place Sunday, Nov. 5 from 9 p.m.-midnight. You can purchase your tickets when you register for Convention and save $10 – they are $40 in advance and $50 on site.
Tourism Cares is NTA’s official philanthropic foundation and the nonprofit that brings people together to "give back" to our industry.
That’s all it takes to sponsor an entire meal function with NTA! You can co-op a lunch sponsorship with 10 partners at $5,000 each, and your destination/property will receive premium visibility at NTA’s premier event.
If you are looking for a way to make an impression, this is it. You can offer themed tables during the luncheon and invite tour operators to sit at your table for additional networking opportunities.
Click here for more information on sponsoring, or call Karla DiNardo at 800.682.8886, ext. 4232 (U.S. and Canada) or 859.226.4232 or e-mail karla.dinardo@NTA.travel.