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Tuesday Newsletter – April 13, 2010

April 13, 2010

Volume 30, Issue 15


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Interested in advertising in Tuesday? E-mail Kelley Burchell at kelley.burchell@NTAstaff.com.

TODAY’S ARTICLES
Record-Breaking Opening Day for Convention Registration
NTA Addresses Spanish Media
Stand Up and Be Counted to Show that Travel Matters
Listen Now to National Parks Week Podcast
Is Your Destination a U.S. Wonder?
Five Ways to Engage Reporters
Become a Tourism Caretaker with Tourism Cares
Canadian Citizens Exempt from TPA U.S. Visitor Fee
July Courier—Will your Product or Destination be Featured?
Members Promoting Inbound Travel to the U.S. at COTTM
Sales Manager Position Open with Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railway


Record-Breaking Opening Day for Convention Registration      Register NOW 

Continuing our 2010 success, NTA’s Convention registration opening day numbers were record-breaking, anticipating a successful and must-attend Convention in Montreal Nov. 13-17.

"Good job on the overwhelming response for Convention.  Montreal is an amazingly fun city and there will be many late nights… and good business opportunities too!"

– Doug McCandless
Capilano Suspension Bridge & Park

Member Since 1985

Convention ‘10 is just one of the many ways NTA expands buying and selling opportunities for our members. Register and find out where your membership can take you.

NTA congratulates the following prize winners who registered in the first 24 hours:

Tour Operator Winners:

Jay Kirkpatrick with Sweet Magnolia Tours (NTA dues for 2011)
Barbara Faigen with Gerber Tours, Inc. (social media promotions)
Julie Kozikowski, CTP with Getaway Tours, Inc. (Convention 2011 registration)
Sharon Miller with Sunshine Express, Inc. (MONTAGE 2011 registration)
Myriam Bouchard with Hudson Valley Traveler (Reserved table at the Theatre Direct/Broadway.com/Groups luncheon in Montreal)

Tour Supplier/DMO Winners:

Cathy Tull with Las Vegas Convention & Visitors (a Destination Pavilion presentation)
Millie Matz with Best Western Pepper Tree Inn (2011 Convention Registration)
Kathleen Doyle with StayinSavannah.com (NTA dues for 2011)
Jane O’Donnell with Simco Restaurants (ad in the 2010 Convention Catalog)
Vicky Engelhaupt with South Dakota Tourism (a 2010 Convention Mall booth)
Randi Axelsson with Silver Reef Hotel Casino Spa (social media promotions)
Rachel LeFevre with Jazz at Lincoln Center (Reserved table at the Theatre Direct/Broadway.com/Groups luncheon in Montreal)

Convention sponsorships are available that will ensure you great visibility and benefits. Sponsor at the US$5,000 level and receive an exhibit booth on the exchange floor—the perfect way to stand out to the expected 650 buyers that will be in attendance. Click here for a complete list of sponsorships and benefits or contact Karla DiNardo to secure your spot today!

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NTA Addresses Spanish Media  

Larry Friedman (center), NTA MONTAGE Chair, addresses the media at a press conference April 13 in Seville, Spain. Also pictured are Rosamar Prieto-Castro García-Alix, Presidenta del Consorcio de Turismo de Sevilla (left) and Santiago Garcia-Dils de la Vega with Seville Tourism (right). (Mouse-over photos for captions. To see more photos, click here.)

Larry Friedman, NTA’s MONTAGE chair, and Lisa Simon, NTA president, addressed a dozen representatives of local and national Spanish media this morning in recognition of NTA’s first international event, MONTAGE, which begins tomorrow and finishes April 17.

Rosamar Prieto-Castro García-Alix, president of Seville’s Tourism Authority, Teresa Gancedo with the Spanish Tourism Office of NTA President Lisa Simon, right, listens while Rosamar Prieto-Castro García-Alix, Presidenta del Consorcio de Turismo de Sevilla speaks to the media at the MONTAGE press conference Tuesday.Chicago, Santiago Garcia-Dils de la Vega with Seville Tourism and spokespersons for Andalucía Tourism also addressed the media to formally welcome NTA to Seville and to express their pride in hosting such an important event. Media representatives learned about NTA, details of the upcoming conference activities as well as the conference’s long-term benefits for Spanish tourism. Click here to see footage from the press conference.

Forty NTA members are already in Spain experiencing the delights of Madrid, Granada and Cordoba on the Pre-MONTAGE PDT. Tomorrow, 150 attendees from 14 countries will arrive in Seville for the networking, product development and education that MONTAGE will provide to all categories of members. Following the conference, a group of delegates will remain to explore Spain’s western Andalucía region including Huelva, Jerez and Cadiz on the post-event PDT.

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Stand Up and Be Counted to Show that Travel Matters 

This year’s National Travel and Tourism Week is May 8-16, and NTA, in affiliation with the U.S. Travel Association, is asking you to "Stand Up and Be Counted" as one of more than 10 million American workers whose job depends on travel. Incredible things happen when we unite and speak out together.

Please use this toolkit to help you plan for the National Travel and Tourism Week, including details on staging Travel Rally Day on Tuesday, May 11. Let’s inform lawmakers, media and our local residents just how meaningful the travel industry is.

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Listen Now to National Parks Week Podcast 

Listen while you work to NTA’s first Tuesday podcast! Courier’s Doug Rentz interviews Dean Reeder, tourism chief of the U.S. National Park Service, about the upcoming National Parks Week, April 17-25.

This is the first of a series of short podcast Q&As with travel industry leaders to be featured in Tuesday. Have a topic of interest for a podcast? Contact Kate Bunnell at +1.859.226.4418.

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Is Your Destination a U.S. Wonder?

NTA strives to provide its members with travel industry opportunities. In conjunction with National Travel and Tourism Week in May, AOL Travel is creating editorial galleries to be themed "Explore America! Wonders Across the U.S." and their team of editors is asking for your input.

The galleries are a twist on the popular seven wonders of the ancient world, however, AOL Travel is tailoring it especially for U.S. destinations. In return for submitting content and photos for consideration, you will receive a link back to your official website from their popular site.

To apply for inclusion, submit up to three "wonders" from the following six categories to TourismWeek@aol.com using the submission template (an Excel worksheet). Deadline to submit is Friday, April 16.

  • Architectural (i.e. The Old Johnson County Courthouse in Warrensburg, Missouri)
  • Natural (i.e. Chimney Rock in Bayard, Nebraska)
  • Historical (i.e. Union Pacific Railroad Museum in Council Bluffs, Iowa)
  • Water (i.e. Tahquamenon Falls in Paradise, Michigan)
  • Wildlife (i.e. Sand Lake National Wildlife Refuge in Aberdeen, South Dakota)
  • Unusual (i.e. Avian Flight Practice in Necedah, Wisconsin)

AOL Travel editors will review all submissions. The galleries will be promoted through AOL Travel and, from time to time, on the AOL.com homepage. Since not all entries will be chosen, make sure to include only places that are truly spectacular for travelers!

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Five Ways to Engage Reporters        

While there is always a struggle getting reporters to cover your news, American Express OPEN’s Amy Mae Elliot has five easy tips you could implement today to help get your news out tomorrow:

  • Make your releases available online-Have a permanent press area on your Web site where a reporter could go at any time and see your release history
  • Keep a company blog-When news isn’t big enough for a release, you can get the word out through your blog
  • Send your news to your social network-The people following you on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn are showing that they are interested in your news. Feed that interest with your news-worthy information
  • Give background information-Unless you are already a household name, include basic information in a release, either woven throughout the piece or in a kicker at the end, so the reporters know who you are
  • Provide easy access to images-Within your online media kit or press area on your Web site, provide your logo, images of your destination or product and any other images that could be of use to save reporters time and make it easy to cover your business

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Become a Tourism Caretaker with Tourism Cares       

Tourism Caretaker

Tourism Caretakers

…want to preserve the travel experience for the sake of their children and grandchildren.
…are passionate about the people and places that enrich their lives.
…want to give back.

If this sounds like you, consider making a US$25 tax-deductible donation to Tourism Cares and help to make a difference for the future of tourism. Click here to become a Tourism Caretaker.

In appreciation of your donation, you will receive a lapel pin to wear to work or when traveling, the Because You Care newsletter and a US$25 gift certificate courtesy of the Avis Budget Group. Refer a friend and receive a 20 percent off coupon to Macys.

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Canadian Citizens Exempt from TPA U.S. Visitor Fee   

Under the newly signed Travel Promotion Act, all U.S. visitors will be subject to a US$10 fee which will fund the international promotion of inbound U.S. travel. This fee applies to all countries in the Visa Waiver Program except Canada, due to the special relationship and close border ties between Canada and the United States.

In 2009, almost 18 million Canadians visited the United States according to the U.S. Department of Commerce Office of Travel and Tourism Industries.

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July Courier—Will your Product or Destination be Featured?  

The July 2010 issue of Courier offers numerous ways to place your company or destination directly in front of 1500 experienced tour operators moving 12 million travelers annually.

Key features focus on faith-based travel and zoos and aquariums. The trip planner features include Southern California, classic New England (Vermont, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island), Germany, Switzerland and Austria. Travel guide features include Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee and West Virginia. 

April 28th is the deadline to be included in the magazine rated number one by NTA tour operators. Courier was also chosen as the "one-to-read" monthly, beating the nearest competitor by nearly 36 percent!

Contact your account executive today at 800.682.8886, ext. 4241 (U.S. and Canada) or +1.859.226.4241 to secure your space.

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Members Promoting Inbound Travel to the U.S. at COTTM   COTTM

The following businesses are partnering with NTA to sponsor the NTA U.S. Pavilion at the Chinese Outbound Travel and Tourism Market April 28-30, at the Beijing World Trade Center:

  • Travel Portland
  • The Group Tour Company
  • Explore Minnesota Tourism
  • Mall of America
  • Bloomington CVB
  • Utah Office of Tourism
  • Starline Tours, Tour Coach Charters
  • Galaxy Tour Inc-Honolulu
  • DTE Travel

These partners will be promoting their business to not only the outbound operators attending COTTM but also the 4,000 hosted Chinese buyers to promote travel to the United States. If you are interested in learning more about COTTM and getting involved next year contact NTA Government Relations Administrator Ken Goode.

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Sales Manager Position Open with Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railway   

The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad is seeking an experienced sales and/or business development professional for the position of Sales Manager. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record of successfully building business in the tourism / leisure-travel industry.

Qualifications: Degree in business, marketing, tourism or related field. Minimum three years experience in equivalent position with comparable company. Experience may be substituted for education.

For a full job description, please visit www.durangotrain.com/employment. To apply, please e-mail a cover letter with resume, including salary history, in confidence to bburton@durangotrain.com. Must be received by April 16.

 

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