Travel Exchange Webinars next Week! | Contact Rolls Out Education Tracks |How to Stay in the Know
April 24, 2012
Interested in advertising in Tuesday? E-mail Karla DiNardo.
TODAY’S ARTICLES
Travel Exchange Webinars: Coming your Way next Week!
Contact Rolls Out Three Tracks of Operator-specific Education
How to Stay in the Know
Two Thumbs Up for NTA’s Work in China
National Parks, Adventure Tourism Highlight May Courier
Brand USA Cranks Up a Toe-tapping Theme Song
Got Plans for National Travel and Tourism Week?
Promote Your Company to 20,000 Qualified Group Leaders and NTA Tour Operators
Tips for Marketing to Millennials
Industry News and Updates
NTA Job Center
Travel Exchange Webinars: Coming your Way next Week!
Join us for Travel Exchange: Explore, Expand, Excel—a series of Webinars geared toward helping you have your best success at NTA’s convention in Orlando.
The free sessions, tailored to specific member categories, are hosted by NTA members familiar with Travel Exchange and experienced in NTA events.
Each session will dive into the details of Travel Exchange ’13, including a peek at the schedule, a glimpse at the layout of the floor and a review of the NTA you love—plus the benefits of more business opportunities.
Here’s the lineup of Webinars for each audience, with a link to Webinar registration for each:
Operators
Tuesday, May 1, at 3 p.m. ET
Click here to sign up!
DMOs
Wednesday, May 2, at 2 p.m. ET
Click here to register!
International Members
Thursday, May 3, at 10 a.m. ET
Click here to sign up!
Suppliers
Friday, May 4, at 2 p.m. ET
Click here to register!
Join in the conversation and get ready for the best new show in the industry Jan. 20–24, 2013, in Orlando!
Contact Rolls Out Three Tracks of Operator-specific Education
How does your tour company compare to the benchmarks of other companies? 
Where can you find markets to grow your customer base? What are your peers doing successfully that you could be doing? These are just some of the questions you’ll find answers to by attending the educational sessions at Contact, Aug. 16–18, in San Diego, California.
The full slate of education runs along three tracks: 1) CEO/owners, 2) sales/marketing and 3) operations/product development—each designed to deliver specific, actionable takeaways. That kind of information—not to mention the rare treat of relaxing with your industry peers—makes Contact the must-do tour operator event of the year! Plus it’s in beautiful San Diego!
Contact is a tour operator-exclusive show* and registration is open now. Don’t miss the tour company-specific programming and time with your colleagues! To make Contact even more effective for your company, consider bringing folks for each of the tracks. Register now!
*NTA suppliers and destinations can attend this operator-exclusive event by sponsoring. For more information e-mail Karla DiNardo or call +1.859.264.6556.
Do you know what your industry colleagues are doing or how they’re handling challenges? Here’s how to keep up with everyone:
Have you seen the photos from Pow Wow or COTTM? Check out our Facebook page.
Are you having trouble meeting group minimums? Join the discussion in our Linkedin group.
Do you prefer your news in 140 characters or less? Follow @NTAnews on Twitter.
Have you watched the videos of Paul Nakamoto and Harris Rosen? Flip to our YouTube channel.
What are you loving this month? Share it with us on the Do Big Things blog.
Stay connected to your fellow members by engaging with them through NTA’s presence in social media. All these platforms are here for you, so jump into the exchange and stay in the know!
Two Thumbs Up for NTA’s Work in China
At International Pow Wow in Los Angeles, NTA shared a double dose of good news in regard to China:
Brand USA will partner with NTA to present the Discover America Pavilion at the China International Travel Mart, November 15-19 in Shanghai. CITM, produced by the China National Tourism Administration, is the largest professional travel expo in Asia, with last year’s fair attracting more than 100,000 visitors and 2,200 exhibitors. At the Discover America Pavilion, Brand USA and NTA will host U.S. companies and destinations seeking to enter or expand their presence among Chinese outbound travelers, a rapidly growing market.
Also this week, we learned that NTA took the top prize for the 2012 Chinese Tourists Welcoming Award, winning the Overall Performance category. The CTW Award, organized by the China Outbound Tourism Research Institute, was presented in Beijing during the China Outbound Travel & Tourism Market.
While the U.S. Office of Travel and Tourism Industries placed China at No. 9 among inbound markets last year, China ranked as the second-leading source of visitors handled by NTA tour operators. Overall, the number of visitors to the United States from China increased from 157,000 in 2003 to 1,089,000 in 2011. Projected visitation for 2014 is more than 2 million, with nearly 3 million visitors forecasted for 2016.
National Parks, Adventure Tourism Highlight May Courier
The May Courier gets you ready for some outdoor exploration, as it includes an 11-page special section on North American national parks and an article on adventure
tourism. The business section has an update on the work of NTA’s Canadian Task Force, details on the educational seminars at Contact in San Diego this August, information on preferences of Japanese travelers who visit the United States, and the latest from NTA’s advocacy work and Sustainable Travel International. You can also see a recap of the Tourism Cares for Pensacola event, as well as the month’s destination articles that cover Italy, Montréal, Chicago, the Smoky Mountains, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska.
Repeat advertisers in this issue are Aon Affinity Berkely Travel, Celebration River Cruises, Empire State Building, Forever Resorts, Gatlinburg Department of Tourism, Pensacola (Florida) Convention & Visitor Information Center, The Red Lion Inn, Royal Gorge Route Railroad, Tourisme Quebec and VisitNorfolk. We’re grateful to our repeat advertisers (those who book in three or more issues of Courier per year). Click here for more information.
Upcoming content and deadlines:
August issue: Greece & Turkey, Pacific Northwest (British Columbia, Oregon, Washington), Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin, Special Section: Theaters & Broadway Shows
Ad Space: June 6
Editorial: April 30
September issue: Eastern Europe (Czech Republic, Poland & Slovakia), Southwest (Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas), Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Ontario; Special Section: Sightseeing Rail; Guide: Museums
Ad Space: July 3
Editorial: June 4
October issue: Asia; Great Plains; Connecticut; Maine; Massachusetts; New Hampshire; Rhode Island; Vermont; Hawaii; Special Section: Music, Music, Music; Guide: Motorcoach Companies
Ad Space: Aug. 1
Editorial: July 2
Click here to view the entire 2012 editorial calendar.
Brand USA Cranks Up a Toe-tapping Theme Song
Brand USA is the new tourism marketing entity responsible for promoting the United States to world visitors. And this week in Los Angeles at International Pow Wow, Brand USA unveiled the nation’s first-ever comprehensive marketing campaign, highlighted by an inspiring, original song, "Land of Dreams." Watch the video—then visit NTA’s Linkedin page to join a discussion.
Written and performed by Roseanne Cash, "Land of Dreams," serves as the heart of the campaign, which employs a fully integrated marketing strategy to showcase the diversity of experiences available to visitors in the United States.
"We want to spread America’s message of welcome around the world and invite travelers to experience the limitless possibilities the United States has to offer," said Brand USA CEO Jim Evans. "So we asked ourselves, ‘How can we best speak to multiple countries, across countless languages and cultures?’ We found the answer lay in the only truly universal language—music."
Joel Secundy, vice president of strategic outreach for Brand USA, will talk about his organization’s new campaign at the Grassroots Congressional Travel Summit, May 8 to 10 in Washington, D.C. Following Secundy’s presentation on the morning of May 8, Sen. Mark Begich (D-Alaska), Rep. Jo Bonner (R-Ala.) and Rep. Sam Farr (D-Calif.) will share their analyses of current tourism issues at the Congressional Tourism Leaders Luncheon. For more information about the Summit-and to register, follow this link.
Got Plans for National Travel and Tourism Week?
We’d like to hear about them! National Travel and Tourism Week, May 5 through 13, is coming up soon, and if you have any activities planned or photos to share, please post them on NTA’s Facebook page. Your activities can inspire other members to promote tourism within their communities.
The U.S. Travel Association has lots of resources for National Travel and Tourism Week, including social media tips and samples of a news release, opinion piece and proclamation. You can also find talking points and fast facts. Here’s one: One out of every nine jobs in the United States depends on travel and tourism.
And it’s not too late to join us in Washington, D.C., for the Grassroots Congressional Travel Summit, May 8 to 10. Use this link to find information, a schedule of activities and a registration form.
Promote Your Company to 20,000 Qualified Group Leaders and NTA Tour Operators
NTA’s Trip Planner for Group Leaders, sent to 20,000 qualified group leaders and NTA tour operators who are actively planning tours, is published annually in August, so now’s the time to book your enhanced listing or display advertisement! This publication reaches a wide array of groups: alumni, seniors, bank travel, hospitals, religious and travel clubs. Click here to view last year’s edition and contact advertising@ntaservicesinc.com or call 859.264.6559 today to be included.
Interested in learning more about how you can promote yourself to NTA’s tour operators? Contact the NTA Services team or check out the Media Kit to learn more!
Tips for Marketing to Millennials
Contact ’12 will include a seminar focused on reaching different generations, 
including U.S. Millennials (aged 16 to 34), 79 million strong last year. "Everyone’s trying to figure out how to get younger people on the bus or to travel in groups," said Katrina White, who helped host NTA at last year’s Contact in Rhode Island.
White, travel trade manager for the Rhode Island Tourism Division, points to a survey of 4,000 Millennials (and, for comparison, 1,000 non-Millennials), which provides insights that can be helpful to travel professionals.
According to the study, Millennials are more likely to
- rely on recommendations from peers rather than "experts."
- favor brands that have Facebook pages and mobile Web sites.
- use the Internet as a platform to broadcast their experiences.
- respond to "cause" marketing campaigns.
- seek speedy and efficient transactions.
The authors of the study (click here for the press release) say it’s a mistake to believe common misconceptions that Millennials are a lazy generation or that they don’t pump as much into the economy as previous generations. They are active influencers and spenders, and, though this group’s peak spending years are still to come, it’s worth connecting with them. By 2030, Millennials will outnumber Baby Boomers, 78 million to 56 million.
- A survey of travelers reveals the the top three things they believe a hotel can provide to be considered friendly to the environment: a program for reusing towels and linens, adjustable thermostats in rooms, and water-efficient bathroom fixtures.
- If you use a dedicated credit card for your business, see Kiplinger’s description of the best rewards credit cards for small businesses.
- About half of the Americans surveyed who plan to take a summer vacation said they will not change their plans because of increased fuel costs and airline fees. The HomeAway survey also lists what travelers will give up to afford a vacation.
Senior Tourism Sales Manager with Experience Columbus (Ohio)
The Senior Tourism Sales Manager promotes and sells Columbus as a leisure destination for group tours to tour operators, bus companies and wholesalers; achieves specific individual and team sales quotas; works on product development in response to current industry trends.
Qualifications: Minimum of five years’ experience in hotel or convention bureau sales preferred; sales account management experience; degree from an accredited institution in hospitality management or marketing preferred. Strong verbal and written communication skills; ability to handle multiple projects; well organized; detail oriented, excellent customer service skills; professional and personable manner; ability to travel; attend local, regional, national events on evenings and/or weekends.
Submit your résumé and cover letter by April 25 to:
Vice President, Finance & Administration
Experience Columbus
277 W. Nationwide Blvd., Ste. 125
Columbus, OH 43215
You can also submit by fax (614-221-5618) or e-mail: Resumes@ExperienceColumbus.com. No phone calls please. Experience Columbus is an equal opportunity employer.
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