Tuesday Newsletter
May 9, 2006
Tuesday Newsletter, May 9, 2006
Volume 26: Issue 19
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NTA’s newest Corporate Partner, Staples, is committed to providing the association’s members with competitive prices on office supplies, access to thousands of office items, Internet ordering solutions and free next-business-day delivery. U.S. members wanting more information should click here or contact Keith Nolfi at keith.nolfi@staples.com. Canadian members wanting more information should click here or e-mail business.solutions@staples.com. |
| Interested in becoming a sponsor for Tuesday? Contact Karla DiNardo at karla.dinardo@NTA.travel. | |
NTA Convention: Get Ready to Register
You’re up to speed on the Annual Convention schedule changes for 2006. You’re excited about getting to hear featured speaker Jamie Clarke. And, you’ve got your dancin’ shoes polished up for the Icebreaker. The next item to check off your "to do" list is … get registered on May 16!
Registration for the 2006 Convention will open one week from today – May 16 – at noon ET. You can register using either your Company or Individual ID. Watch your mail this week for a Convention brochure including highlights, registration and housing information and a list of important dates, including information on appointment scheduling. For quick reference, we printed your Individual ID on the mailing label just to the right of your name.
Need more information before you register to join us Nov. 3 – 7 in Salt Lake City? Feel free to contact your Member Services team at 800.682.8886 (U.S. and Canada) or 859.226.4444.
Better Business. Better Be There.
Take the ".travel" See America Week Challenge
In anticipation of See America Week, coming up May 13 – 21, the U.S. Department of Commerce and Tralliance Corporation, the ".travel" Registry, are challenging states, cities and tourism entities across America to protect their tourism assets by registering their ".travel" Internet domain names.
While many domestic tourism entities have already claimed their ".travel" domain names, a vast number of U.S. heritage sites, state parks and city names on the ".travel" Place Name Priority List remain unclaimed, according to Ron Andruff, president and CEO of Tralliance Corporation.
"This challenge is about preserving our domestic tourism assets for future generations," says Andruff. "(See America Week) provides the perfect platform upon which to challenge state tourism boards, city governments and other relevant administrations to take a proactive role in the global ‘.travel’ movement."
To read more on this topic, click here, or to learn how NTA can help you be authenticated for a ".travel" domain name, click here. Authentication is free for NTA members, but ".travel" domain names are given based on the order in which they are requested, so act now.
NTA Part of Global Travel Network on Avian Flu Preparedness
NTA has joined the Tourism Emergency Response Network, a group of global travel organizations, working to get ready for a potential avian flu outbreak. To best prepare the travel industry, the network has been established to work with governments in order to keep the public informed about the disease.
"NTA is firmly committed to assisting its members and the industry by disseminating accurate and timely information to the traveling public," said NTA Chairman and CEO Judith Thomas, CTP. "As a member of TERN, we can share vital information with our members to help them minimize the negative impact of the threat of an outbreak and develop preparedness plans."
The organizations have agreed that planning for the potential evolution of the virus to a pandemic form is a common concern and they are committed to:
As part of this collaboration, the UN World Tourism Organization is developing a Web portal to provide the basis for an open industry information network to enhance avian flu preparedness.
For more information on this topic, click here. top of page
Georgia Coast to Host Product Development Trip
The Georgia Coast Travel Association will play host to NTA tour operators during a "Georgia Coast Holiday Delights" Product Development Trip, Dec. 8 – 12, as part of the Cultural & Life Enrichment AIM. Areas to be visited include Savannah and its low country, Brunswick and the Golden Isles, St. Simons Island and Jekyll Island.
Participants will enjoy five days of southern hospitality at its best while visiting the Jepson Center for the Arts, the old Bonaventure Cemetery (of "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil" fame), Hofwyl-Broadfield Plantation and more. Participants also will be treated to a riverboat luncheon cruise and performances of "A Christmas Tradition" at the Savannah Theatre and "The Nutcracker" at the Lucas Theatre. In addition to experiencing those attractions and events, tour operators will get to meet with coastal Georgia suppliers during a workshop.
The cost to participate is $100, which includes lodging, four breakfasts, three lunches, four dinners and ground transportation during the trip. Participants are responsible for transportation to/from the Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport.
Click here to view a preliminary itinerary or to register. If you have any questions, please contact Andy Uhlig at 912.644.6419 or auhlig@savannahvisit.com.
Details on 2006 Grassroots Symposium Coming Soon
The NTA Grassroots Symposium has been moved from the spring to the fall this year. The symposium allows you to make your voice heard on the issues that affect you most by giving you a chance to meet face-to-face with your legislators, in addition to updating you on key travel-related legislation. The dates and exact details should be available soon and will be passed along in Tuesday and via "This Just In" on NTA.travel.
"(Last year’s symposium) was our most productive one to date," NTA President Hank Phillips, CTP, said. "It is a credit to our members that they give their time to lobby on everyone’s behalf by attending the symposium, especially since there are many critical issues confronting the tourism industry and our members right now."
NTA has been leading the charge regarding two front-burner topics – the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative and the classification of tour directors – in recent months. Your association’s government relations efforts have helped keep the industry’s opinions and ideas in front of key decision-makers on these and other travel and tourism issues.
Stay tuned to Tuesday for more information about the 2006 Grassroots Symposium.
Benefit Basics: DHL Delivers Savings
How much money does your organization spend on domestic and international shipping annually? That number is probably higher than you’d like to admit. Thanks to NTA Corporate Partner DHL, you can save up to 25 percent off standard shipping rates on packages sent within the U.S. That could add up to some serious savings.
DHL offers a full suite of shipping services including:
- Next Day, 2nd Day and Ground delivery services
- International express service to more than 220 countries and territories
- Dedicated customer support phone line – 1.800.MEMBERS
- ShipReady; prepaid overnight shipping, which features no weight limits, one low rate nationwide and no fuel surcharges
For specifics on the DHL program, call 1.800.MEMBERS or click here to set up an online account.
For more information on how NTA Corporate Partners can help you save money, click here.
Tourism Cares Accepting Auction Items for NTA Convention
The Tourism Cares for Tomorrow Live and Silent Auctions will be a vital part of NTA’s Annual Convention again this year. The auctions, which first took place in 1984 under the auspices of the National Tour Foundation, have become signature events at Convention.
This year’s Silent Auction will feature an online preview of donated items. The event’s format will include bid slips and it will wrap up with a basket sweep.
Donated items help support the mission of Tourism Cares, the official philanthropy of NTA. By providing a product, package or service, your organization will be showcased before the Convention with a link to your Web site, and during the Convention on the display tables. And, you’ll be doing your part to give back through Tourism Cares.
To make a donation, click the link on your NTA Convention Registration Form, which will be available when registration goes live May 16. You also can contact Tourism Cares by calling 781.821.5990 for more information about how you can get involved.
New Member Referrals Still Rolling In
The expansion and diversification of your association has many benefits. It helps give NTA a stronger voice in the industry, provides you with more potential business partners and can save you a little money, too, if you refer a new member. For each tour operator you pass along that becomes an NTA member, you’ll receive $100 off Annual Convention registration through the recruitment rewards program.
The following members have contributed to the association’s growth the past two months by referring a company that joined the NTA ranks:
Click here to learn more about how you can benefit from getting involved with NTA’s recruitment rewards program.
Toast Your Destination by Sponsoring the Wine & Cheese Reception
Show NTA delegates the sophisticated side of your destination by joining title sponsor, The Berkely Group, as a co-sponsor of the NTA Wine & Cheese Reception on opening day of the 2006 NTA Convention.
An estimated 10 wine stations are available to sponsor on a first-come, first-served basis and, by sponsoring, you can provide delegates a sample of wines from your area or region. The reception will be held Friday, Nov. 3, from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. and participants would pay $7,500 and need to provide 48 bottles of wine (24 red varieties and 24 white varieties).
Benefits of co-sponsoring the Wine & Cheese Reception include:
Contact Karla DiNardo today at 800.682.8886, ext. 4232 (U.S. and Canada) or 859.226.4232 or via e-mail at karla.dinardo@NTA.travel for more information or to reserve your sponsorship.