Operators: Can VisitScotland Pick Up Your Montage Hotel Bill? | Walking the Halls in Washington
January 25, 2011
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TODAY’S ARTICLES
Operators: Can VisitScotland Pick Up Your Montage Hotel Bill?
Walking the Halls in Washington
Crystal Ball in One Hand, Rearview Mirror in the Other
How to Manage the Risk of Cyber Storage
A Trick to Help You Track
Learn the Latest Inbound Travel Trends
How Will You Get Noticed in the 2011/2012 Membership Directory?
Education at Your Convenience
Tourism Cares and CLIA Form Partnership
Industry News and Updates
NTA Job Center
Operators: Can VisitScotland Pick Up Your Montage Hotel Bill?
Not only does Montage offer you the opportunity to experience Scotland on the Product Development Trip and attend the VisitScotland EXPO, but our great hosts are also offering complimentary hotel lodging April 12–14. Check out these guidelines to see if you qualify:
- You are employed by and receive compensation from a tour operator company (group or FIT).
- You have programmed international products (preferably Europe) or are introducing international products to your company.
- You complete the profile information included in the registration materials.
- You accept and attend appointments with VisitScotland EXPO suppliers. Appointments are 15 minutes each and will be scheduled on Wednesday, April 13. (A minimum of eight appointments is required.)
Any tour operators meeting the above criteria will receive complimentary hotel lodging during Montage in Aberdeen at the official hotel, Mercure Aberdeen Ardoe House Hotel and Spa, compliments of VisitScotland.
The first step? Register! Operators, register today for Montage—it’s only $79!
The fine print: Operators will be responsible for their own incidental expenses incurred during their stay, as well as costs associated to traveling within and from Aberdeen. While multiple attendees from a tour operator company may attend Montage and participate in the VisitScotland EXPO appointments, this offer is limited to two rooms per company.
Walking the Halls in Washington
The special 60th Anniversary feature in February’s Courier magazine includes a timeline of 60 of NTA’s most memorable moments and historical photos.
One of the association’s most memorable players is Jim Host, NTA’s executive vice president from 1974 to1997. Courier‘s Managing Editor Doug Rentz recently visited with Host to discuss key moments in the association’s government relations history. As a member, you can be as proud as Host is to see how NTA has become a major force in shaping travel regulations.
The following excerpts capture NTA’s rich history of industry influence:
- "The [NTA] president, Earl Harmon, and I would usually go to Washington, spend two days a week combing the halls of Congress, asking about congressmen joining the travel and tourism caucus. When we held our very first tourism caucus event, it was a huge success; we raised a huge amount of money … "
- " … We were instrumentally involved then in [NTA President] Hal Mischnick’s administration to change the entire bus manufacturing industry. Up until that time there were little windows in the motorcoaches … We were able to work with the manufacturers directly, [convince them] to have wider windows and easier access, and that’s when you started to see Prevost hit the market [with] the luxurious motorcoaches that you have today."
- "As we obtained more and more status in the industry, we became more and more involved with our government relations in Washington. I remember in the ’90s going to the White House as one of five representatives of the travel industry with Bill Marriott Jr. of the American Hotel Motel Association and three others to meet President Clinton."
Click here to read the entire transcript of Host’s comments. It’s an interesting look at how an organization of like-minded professionals can move their industry forward.
Crystal Ball in One Hand, Rearview Mirror in the Other
The Orbitz Insider Index is loaded with facts about where (and when) U.S. travelers ventured in 2010-and where they’re headed in 2011. Highlights from the Orbitz.com release include the following:
- Vegas, New York and Chicago remained in the top spots for 2010 destinations, and New Orleans and Honolulu hopped into the Top 10, replacing Boston and L.A.
- The busiest travel week in 2010 was Dec 19–25, followed by weeks in August, June and March.
- Trend predictions for 2011 include the comeback of vacation packages, travel to London and Australia, and booking travel with mobile devices.
Find details and other tidbits in the full release.
How to Manage the Risk of Cyber Storage
Most companies have important and sensitive data stored electronically but have no idea how to protect it and manage the risk. Do you know all you need to know? Jeremy Ong, Division VP for Technology and Cyber Risk Insurance at Great American Insurance, will present a Webinar, Managing Your Cyber and Data Risk, for NTA members on Tuesday, Feb. 22, at 2 p.m. ET.
During this hourlong session, Ong will help you understand data breach statistics and trends, applicable regulatory laws, the financial impact of a data break and how to manage your cyber and data risk. Wondering if this session is worth your investment? Here’s what a few of your colleagues had to say after hearing Ong’s session in Montreal:
"What a wake-up call! I’ll take the valuable info back to my office to share with the owner. This session should be mandatory! Excellent seminar!"
"Worth the time! Very important topic."
"New and cutting-edge topic that should be addressed."
To participate in the Webinar, complete this registration form and fax it to NTA by Friday, Feb. 18, to secure your company’s spot. The cost is US$25 (payable by credit card). If you have questions about the Webinar, please e-mail Lisa Thompson, NTA’s director of research and education.
Jay Smith with Sports Travel and Tours shares this trick for remembering to track:
"Put a weekly or monthly reminder in your Outlook (calendar), handheld, daily planner or even a Post-It note on your computer screen that just says ‘TRACKING’ … It takes less than a minute to actually process and report to our DMO family. The only thing we all need to do is remember to use this uncomplicated tool."
It’s that easy. And it’s a great way to not only thank your DMO members for the wonderful service they provide you, but also to help them continue to support the packaged travel industry. Follow this link to see a list of tour operator companies that tracked in 2010. (Thanks!)
Not familiar with the tracking program? NTA Chairman and CEO Cathy Greteman is here to help. Cathy shared this video with members at Convention ’10 in Montreal. It’s a quick two-minute video that takes you step-by-step through the NTA tracking system:
Do you have a tip that helps you remember to track? Share it on Facebook. From those of you who share tips, we’ll draw a name at the end of March for a $25 Visa gift card.
Learn the Latest Inbound Travel Trends
The fourth quarter results on the Travel Trade Barometers from Canada, Mexico, Japan, the UK and Germany are in! Here’s just a sample of what subscribers to these Barometers receive (in addition to the 5 percent discount earned by being an NTA member):
- Canadian tour operators upgraded the change in bookings for fourth quarter 2010 from the previous survey session from flat to higher. And they’re projecting bookings to be higher at the beginning of 2011. Seven in 10 respondents projected first quarter 2011 bookings to be higher.
- According to the Mexico Travel Trade Barometer, a strong majority (83 percent) of Mexican tour operators reported (as of Oct. 26–Nov. 26, 2010) that fourth quarter bookings will be higher and all of the trade projected bookings to increase in the beginning of 2011.
- Japan tour operators reported that bookings for travel to the United States in the fourth quarter 2010 are projected to remain positive. Nearly two-thirds (64 percent) of the trade project higher bookings in the fourth quarter 2010, and seven percent project much higher bookings for the first quarter 2011 compared to the first quarter 2010.
- The Germany Travel Trade Barometer reports that half of the German tour operators believe bookings to the United States would continue to grow through fourth quarter 2010. Bookings are forecast to stall in the first quarter 2011, with six in 10 respondents projecting bookings to be about the same in the beginning of 2011.However, one in three (30 percent) German tour operators project bookings will continue to be higher into the first quarter 2011.
- Modest growth from the summer for the UK was projected to carry over into the fourth quarter; seven out of 10 respondents projected increased bookings, and another 10 percent projected much higher bookings year over year. The majority of trade (67 percent) projected bookings to be higher at the start of 2011. However, on average, first quarter 2011 bookings were projected to be about the same as first quarter 2010.
NTA’s Travel Trade Barometer program not only gives you projections for inbound travel from tour operators in each country, it also tells you what is motivating and/or deterring travel from that country, new trends and much more. Interested? Subscribe today and keep your finger on the pulse of what’s happening with inbound travel to the U.S. from the five top markets!
NEW for 2011—NTA will begin production on a China Travel Trade Barometer in the first quarter of 2011. If you’re interested in subscribing or sponsoring at a level that would allow you to include a question on the survey, contact Lisa Thompson, NTA’s director of research and education.
How Will You Get Noticed in the 2011/2012 Membership Directory?
"Whenever anyone in our office needs a supplier in a destination where we don’t already have connections, we go straight to the NTA Membership Directory. It’s our first stop while creating new product."
—Nicholas Calderazzo, RMP Travel
With contact information for all members, the NTA Membership Directory stays on desks year round as a critical business resource for members. And get this: 80 percent of tour operators use the directory in their day-to-day jobs.
Advertising options include a variety of sizes, upgraded positions and enhanced listings. Contact your NTA Services team today to standout in this year’s directory: +1.859.219.3533 or advertising@ntaservicesinc.com.
Convention ’10 was jam-packed with educational sessions that covered important business topics like social media, industry trends and research, marketing, crisis management and more. If you attended Convention ’10, the session recordings are free for you to download. You were sent an e-mail with instructions and a password to access these free recordings. But if you missed it, e-mail NTA and we’ll resend the info.
If you missed Convention ’10, you can still access this highly rated educational programming. For only $49 you can purchase all 18 audio recordings. Just complete and fax this order form and we’ll send you instructions.
Tourism Cares and CLIA Form Partnership
Cruise Lines International Association has formed an alliance with Tourism Cares, the travel industry’s charitable organization for preservation, conservation, restoration and education, as a Silver Level Corporate Partner for 2011. Working through the Cruise Industry Charitable Foundation, CLIA’s primary role will be to assist in fundraising for Tourism Cares’ scholarship, grant-making and volunteerism projects around the world.
"Tourism Cares plays an essential role by ensuring that future generations of travelers will continue to enjoy and appreciate the landmarks, facilities and attractions that make the tourism experience memorable and inspirational," said Bob Sharak, CLIA’s executive vice president. "We are delighted to lend the cruise industry’s support in making this possible."
For more information on this partnership, visit http://www.cruising.org or www.tourismcares.org/clia-supports-tourism-cares.
- The Air Transport Association reported that passenger revenue rose 9 percent in December 2010 compared to December 2009, marking the 12th consecutive month of revenue growth.
- After a 4 percent global decline in tourism in 2009, the number of international tourists worldwide increased 6.7 percent in 2010, according to the U.N. World Tourism Organization.
- How will relaxed restrictions on travel to Cuba affect Caribbean tourism? A Miami Herald columnist presents two answers.
Tourism Cares seeks a talented Director of Development to lead the planning and implementation of a development plan that will carry the organization through a period of growth and expansion by rapidly increasing revenue and solidifying sustainability. Reporting to the Executive Director and working closely with the Board of Directors and the Development Committee, the Development Director will build a comprehensive development program encompassing major gifts, special fundraising events, annual fund and corporate/foundation support and will manage a portfolio of key prospects and donors. Qualified candidates will be seasoned fundraising leaders with a minimum of 10 years of progressive experience, a proven track record of raising significant gifts, an ability to motivate by example, experience working with boards and a commitment to Tourism Cares’ mission. Experienced, mission-driven development professionals are encouraged to apply.
Tourism Cares seeks a talented Marketing Director to lead the planning and implementation of a marketing plan that will carry the organization through a period of growth and expansion by enhancing our brand and increasing our base of support. We have a simple and powerful story to tell. Our Board of Directors is committed to expanding our programs, and we need an exceptional Marketing Director to help us achieve our goals, which include increasing international recognition of the brand. As a key member of the Management Team, this position is responsible for developing and implementing a marketing and communications strategy. This position reports to the Executive Director.
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