Tuesday Newsletter
June 13, 2006
Tuesday Newsletter June 13, 2006
Volume 26: Issue 24
| Interested in becoming a sponsor for Tuesday? Contact Karla DiNardo at karla.dinardo@NTA.travel. |
NTA Convention: Not Just Another Marketplace
NTA will host its 55th Annual Convention in Salt Lake City, Nov. 3 – 7. Tour operators should look for a mix of the association’s long-standing traditions along with some innovative additions that will help increase return on investment.
In addition to appointments at NTA’s hallmark Tour & Travel Exchange®, here’s a list of what else operators can experience in Salt Lake:
There’s a lot to love about the NTA Convention. Register by the early-bird deadline of July 7 to save $110 on your registration and remain eligible for the Convention rebate.
Better Business. Better Be There.
Tourism Research Funds Available Through New Program
The new International Tourism Research Institute at the University of South Carolina is seeking proposals for tourism research and projects that could range from strategic tourism plans and regional economic impact to visitor profiles and customized research.
The mission of the institute is to provide innovative tourism assistance to communities, development organizations, agencies and individual businesses. Deserving associations and foundations may qualify for a matching grant up to one-third of the project’s overall cost.
This invitation for proposals is open to both international and national entities including CVBs, chambers of commerce, economic development organizations, city and regional planning departments, government agencies and private-sector development firms.
Interested parties should submit proposals to the institute’s director, Rich Harrill, at rharrill@gwm.sc.edu. For additional information, click here.
Share Your Thoughts via Chairman’s Conversation Club
Members continue to gain ideas and share strategies through discussions in the Chairman’s Conversation Club, a monthly conference call moderated by NTA Chairman and CEO Judith Thomas, CTP. The next call, which will be for tour operators, takes place Tuesday, June 27, from 3 – 4 p.m. (ET). On the call, members will discuss various packaged travel topics and talk about challenges they face in their businesses and the industry.
If you would like to be part of the tour operator call on the 27th, please contact Celeste Moore via e-mail at celeste.moore@NTA.travel to sign up. A toll-free dial-in number will be provided after everyone registers.
On a recent call, two of the topics tour operators discussed were online booking and advertising efforts. You can read notes from the previous Chairman’s Conversation Club calls by clicking here.
Deadline Approaching to Run for 2007 NTA Board of Directors
The deadline to submit your interest form to run for a position on the NTA Board of Directors is this Friday, June 16. The Nominating Committee will be making nominations in July for three tour operator seats, one tour supplier seat and one DMO seat to serve two-year terms, along with nominations for the officer positions of vice chair, treasurer and secretary, which are all one-year terms to be filled by tour operators.
To see the criteria operators need to meet in order to run, click here. Those receiving a nomination will be announced to the full membership in early July via Tuesday, which will be your source for all news pertaining to the 2007 Board of Directors and officer elections.
For more information on NTA elections, or to receive an interest form, contact Todd Hamilton at todd.hamilton@NTA.travel.
Register Now for NTA Grassroots Symposium
Registration is now under way for the 7th annual NTA Grassroots Symposium. The Symposium will be held Sept. 11 – 12 in Washington, D.C. The Hotel Washington again will serve as the event headquarters, with a special NTA Symposium rate of $150 per night.
Last year’s symposium was a huge hit with headline speakers Rep. Hal Rogers, R-Ky., chairman of the House Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee and Rep. Jim Oberstar, D-Minn., the senior Democrat on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. "This was our most productive symposium to date," NTA President Hank Phillips, CTP, said. "It is a credit to our members that they gave their time to lobby on everyone’s behalf. There are many critical issues confronting the tourism industry, and our members made sure that Congress heard from them."
To register for the event, please click here. If you’d like more information on how you can advocate for the industry, contact Todd Hamilton at 800.682.8886, ext. 4205 or todd.hamilton@NTA.travel.
Jim Santini Speaks at CRUISE-A-THON
NTA’s Legislative Counsel Jim Santini was a featured speaker at Travel Trade’s CRUISE-A-THON last week in Vancouver. The 24th edition of the show drew more than 1,000 travel agents and hundreds of industry suppliers.
In his speech, Santini talked about some of the hot topics facing the industry and discussed important issues for NTA. He touched on rising fuel prices, avian flu and the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, specifically highlighting the key role NTA played in getting the Coleman/Dorgan Amendment passed by the U.S. Senate.
"Travel Trade continues to have one of the most successful cruise industry trade shows year in and year out," said Santini. "If we had leadership in Washington, D.C., like the leadership that Joel Abels demonstrates day in and day out, then most of the issues in Washington, D.C., would have been resolved years ago."
Over the years, Travel Trade has been deeply involved in many of the issues affecting NTA and remains a welcomed source of support for stronger representation for travel agents and the travel industry.
Benefit Basics: Premium Printing with ITS
Take advantage of the savings you are entitled to as an NTA member. Through NTA’s Corporate Partner program, you are privy to special discounts with a select group of companies, including ITS Printing & Design. ITS is a full-service, turn-key company that specializes in graphic design, printing, bindery services and technical support.
ITS puts the emphasis on superior quality and exemplary customer service and offers NTA members the following specials on printed materials:
For more information on ITS services, contact Lorne Veleti at 403.783.5511 or e-mail him at lvitsdesign@shaw.ca.
Oregon Product Development Trip Coming Up
Experience Oregon’s Culture and Historic Landmarks during NTA’s second North American Product Development Trip being held Sept. 26 – Oct. 1, 2006.
NTA tour operators will get to see the spectacular 620-foot-high Multnomah Falls at River Gorge National Scenic Recreation Area and make stops at other scenic places. Some of Oregon’s top museums are included on the itinerary, including those in Ashland, which is one of the state’s top cultural cities.
In addition to experiencing what Oregon has to offer firsthand, participants can form new partnerships during an evening networking event with local suppliers and DMOs. This business-to-business component helps make the product development trips even more valuable for tour operators looking for new and unique product.
Cost to participate is $150 (not including airfare to/from Oregon) and is limited to one person per tour operator company. The registration form and additional details are available if you click here. For more information, call the Oregon Tour & Travel Alliance at 800.451.2644.
Your Tourism Cares Donations at Work
Throughout the year, Tourism Cares awards grants to nonprofits for tourism conservation and preservation. One of the this year’s recipients is the Wharton Esherick Museum in Paoli, Pa.
The funds from the Tourism Cares grant were matched by a challenge grant from Chester County (Pa.) CVB for the restoration of the south façade of the Esherick Stone Sculpting Studio. The 1926 studio is a National Historic Landmark for architecture and one of 20 sites selected by the National Trust for Historic Preservation to participate in the Historic Artists Homes and Studios project.
Esherick, renowned in the international art and design community, was dubbed "dean of American craftsmen," an accolade not previously bestowed on an American artist. The designation is a good indication of the unique nature of Esherick’s work and influence, and bears out the importance of the museum.
This is an example of how Tourism Cares donations help preserve the very reason why people travel – to see, experience and enjoy the cultural and historic treasures of our world.
September Courier: North America in the Spotlight
The September Issue of Courier highlights a variety of interesting destinations. The feature stories focus on museums and railroads, the trip planners turn the spotlight on Alaska & Western Canada (Alberta, British Columbia & Yukon) and the Southwest (Arizona, Mexico, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas), and the travel guides are on Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina.
Whether you represent a museum with fine art to offer or a destination on the route of a well-known railroad, the September Courier gives you a chance to advertise and showcase your company or area. The space deadline is June 23, so call 800.682.8886, ext. 4238 (U.S. and Canada), or 859.226.4238, or e-mail CourierAdvertising@NTA.travel for more information.