Tuesday Newsletter – Aug. 11, 2009
August 11, 2009
Volume 29, Issue 32
Tuesday’s title sponsor is BusRates.com
Interested in advertising in Tuesday? E-mail Kelley Burchell at kelley.burchell@NTAstaff.com.
TODAY’S ARTICLES
All About the Enhanced Destination Pavilion
Update on Priorities from the 2008 Travel/Tourism Economic Summit
Mexico City Offers Health Insurance for Tourists
NTA Floor Nomination Deadline is Aug. 14
NTA Chairman and President Attend Sister Cities Conference in Belfast
Get Your Free Capital One Credit Card Processing Analysis
Put the NTA Stamp on Your Company Web Site
Third Edition of NTA Trip Planner for Group Leaders is Online
Display Your Brochures to Chinese Industry and Consumers at CITM
The National Mall in D.C. Needs Your Help
Get Your Message on Every Tour Operator Table at Convention ‘09
Highly Visible Convention Sponsorship Available: Message & E-mail Center
All About the Enhanced Destination Pavilion
Two years ago, NTA introduced the Destination Pavilion at the Kansas City Convention. The format, which groups DMOs and suppliers by geographic region, allows operators to develop product more efficiently. At this year’s event, the Convention floor layout will mimic the Destination Pavilion on Sunday and Monday. With longer appointments (10 minutes), this new format and representatives from 23 countries, more quality business will be happening on the Convention floor.
On Sunday, DMOs will be seated in their regions at individual stations for prescheduled appointments with tour operators walking the floor. Monday, the Pavilion will be open for operators to finalize their new product ideas and continue shopping the floor. Suppliers are encouraged to join their DMOs Monday for the shopping, and with representatives from 23 countries attending the Convention, the Pavilion is a place you can’t miss.
Each DMO (those with prescheduled appointments and those without) will receive a 4’x8′ booth with a small table and two chairs. DMOs can distribute profile forms and business cards during their appointments, and for the open shopping time, they can request literature racks for brochures or itineraries. Click here to see the Destination Pavilion regions.
NTA’s Convention ’09 is all about giving you the most for your time and money. The enhanced Destination Pavilion helps everyone work smarter, not harder.
Update on Priorities from the 2008 Travel/Tourism Economic Summit
On December 12, 2008, more than 30 associations, including NTA, met to outline tourism-related recommendations to the incoming Obama administration. Seven recommendations emerged from the 2008 Travel/Tourism Economic Summit and some significant activity has taken place since that historic meeting. Here is a look at the progress on two of the issues:
- Federal Grants and Loans for Travel & Tourism Development at the Regional, State and Local Levels – Summit participants supported an aggressive program of expanding current grants and creating new grants for marketing, development, and tourism promotion. In 2007, Congressional Tourism Caucus Co-Chairman Sam Farr (D-California) co-authored the "Improving Public Diplomacy through International Travel Act", which would award competitive grants and promote international inbound travel to the United States. NTA is working with Rep. Farr to re-introduce this legislation.
- Re-Examination of Travel Bans – Economic Summit participants recommended that the federal government recognize that the freedom to travel is an important instrument of economic development and mutual understanding. In addition, the U.S. government should adopt a policy that its citizens should be free to travel the globe without artificial restrictions placed on them. Legislation was introduced in February 2009 that addresses the Cuba travel ban, the Freedom to Travel to Cuba Act (H.R. 874, S. 428). The House version of the Act has 160 co-sponsors, while the Senate version has 30.
To see a full report on action taken regarding the seven key issues discussed at the summit, click here. For more information on this topic, contact NTA Director of Industry and Government Relations Matt Grayson at 800.682.8886, ext. 4250 (U.S. and Canada) or +1.859.226.4250.
Mexico City Offers Health Insurance for Tourists
In response to the H1N1 outbreak, the Mexico City tourism ministry has announced a free medical assistance program that will provide its approximately 7 million national and international visitors with medical aid and care in case of emergency.
A medical card is given to tourists during check-in at participating hotels. In addition to covering those who become infected with the H1N1 virus or other diseases, it covers accident assistance, ambulance service, hospital stays, prescription drugs through authorized physicians and repatriation in case of illness. Additional support is available for visitors who fall ill and need to stay in their hotel to recover.
The insurance, provided by MAPFRE, a private insurance company, has no limit so that visitors can get all the services they need in an emergency. A call center also will be available 24 hours a day in five different languages: Spanish, English, French, German and Portuguese. For further information please click here.
NTA Floor Nomination Deadline is Aug. 14
NTA members wanting to serve on the 2010 NTA Board of Directors can still run from the floor until Friday, Aug. 14. The original slate of candidates was announced recently, and floor nominees can join that list.
Members interested in submitting a nomination from the floor should contact NTA Director of Industry and Government Relations Matt Grayson at 800.682.8886, ext. 4250 (U.S. and Canada) or +1.859.226.4250.
NTA Chairman and President Attend Sister Cities Conference in Belfast
NTA Chairman and CEO Michele Michalewicz, CTP, and President Lisa Simon, CTP, recently attended the 2009 Sister Cities International Annual Conference in Belfast, Northern Ireland, to explore how NTA members can facilitate travel between Sister Cities, which is a strategic partner of NTA. The conference drew more than 500 government officials, business leaders and educators from around the world and was the first time the conference had been held outside of the U.S.
"Long-term, this will be one of our most significant partnerships in terms of new business opportunities for NTA members," said Michalewicz. "People who are involved with Sister Cities programs travel. They travel to their Sister City, and they usually stay abroad and see other destinations. It’s a market ready-made for NTA tour operators."
Get Your Free Capital One Credit Card Processing Analysis
Are you taking advantage of the many discounts and services available to you through your NTA membership? Capital One Merchant Services offers NTA members discounted rates on credit card processing to help you save money and boost your bottom line.
Capital One is offering you an extensive hassle-free review of your current processing. Contact Kimberly Bonzelaar at +1.817.334.7388 to get started and remember to identify yourself as an NTA member.
Capital One offers secure and reliable electronic payments through merchant acquiring and point-of-sale transactions. Some of the benefits include no set up or underwriting fees, Visa and MasterCard discount rates, and zero annual fees. For a full list of benefits and to learn more about Capital One, click here.
Put the NTA Stamp on Your Company Web Site
The mark of NTA is one that association members wear proudly. NTA’s rich history and high standards make you a part of a premier group of industry leaders. Let your clients and business colleagues know that you belong to the leading association in packaged travel by placing the NTA logo and Web link on your company Web site.
You can download the NTA logo by clicking here. Choose the color or black and white version to display and hyperlink the logo to the Web site, www.NTAonline.com/. This will allow visitors to your Web site to easily learn about your professional association membership and let them know you are a quality travel provider.
Aside from using the logo on your Web site, you also may use it on items such as your business cards and letterhead, advertisements and tradeshow materials. This also is a great time to ensure you are using the correct NTA logo. For help in using the NTA logo and linking to the Web site, contact NTA Manger of E-Services Sara Spencer.
Third Edition of NTA Trip Planner for Group Leaders is Online
The third annual NTA Trip Planner for group leaders is now available in both printed and digital form. The specialty publication includes feature stories on theaters, wine and culinary product, museums, casinos, shopping, sightseeing excursions and seasonal travel. To see the online version click here.
The most recent Trip Planner was mailed to 20,000 travel professionals, including group leaders and NTA tour operators, with the August issue of Courier. The next issue of the series is targeted at student travel planners and will be distributed in February 2010.
The goal of the Trip Planner publications is to introduce specific types of travel buyers — such as group leaders and student travel planners — to NTA’s tour operator, tour supplier and DMO members and the diverse products they offer. For more information on the Trip Planner series, including advertising opportunities, contact your NTA account executive at 800.682.8886, ext. 4241 (U.S. and Canada) or +1.859.226.4241.
Display Your Brochures to Chinese Industry and Consumers at CITM
If you are looking to reach out to the Chinese travel market, NTA will again feature member brochures at the NTA booth at the China International Travel Market, which will be held Nov. 19-22 in Kunming, China. To see pricing information, click here. For information on how you can reach this important market in an economical manner, contact Matt Grayson at 800.682.8886, ext. 4250 (U.S. and Canada).
The National Mall in D.C. Needs Your Help
Over the past few weeks, the national media has brought to light the disturbing state of the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Without proper funding for reconstruction and basic upkeep, this American icon will continue to turn into an eyesore.
On Sept. 11, which was designated by Congress as a day of service and remembrance, Tourism Cares will bring the travel industry together for the first ever Tourism Cares for America Volunteer Day. Travel professionals and their friends and families will lend a hand to the National Park Service by beautifying parts of the Mall, as well as Lafayette Park, with fresh coats of paint. The work day will begin at 10 a.m. and end at 3:30 p.m. Registration is limited and filling fast. To learn more and to register for this unique opportunity to give back to America click here.
Get Your Message on Every Tour Operator Table at Convention ‘09
Gaining immediate visibility to buyers through advertising at the NTA Convention is a great way to stand out in these challenging economic times, while also allowing your company to stay "top of mind" during this key buying and planning event.
A highly visible and inexpensive way to gain this valuable exposure is by advertising in this year’s Profile Form Notebook. This is a conveniently organized three-ring binder that tour operators use year-round for itinerary planning. Each tour operator participating in the Tour and Travel Exchange will receive a copy. You can either purchase one side of your state/provincial tab divider and/or pre-insert your company’s 8 ½" x 11", double-sided profile form behind your designated state/provincial tab in each notebook. The cost for one side of a tab page is US$1,500, while an insert is only US$1,250.
Contact your account executive at 800.682.8886, ext. 4241 (U.S. and Canada) or +1.849.226.4241 for additional information.
Highly Visible Convention Sponsorship Available: Message & E-mail Center
NTA’s 2009 Annual Convention in Reno, Nevada, will be the place to be, as you can strike deals with approximately 300 NTA buyers and 200 WRTA buyers. One way you can reach these travel professionals with your message before and during the event is by sponsoring the highly visible Message & E-mail Center for US$25,000.
As the exclusive sponsor of the center, you’ll have the opportunity to brand the screen savers on all 22 computers on the show floor and the six computers by the seminar rooms, place your logo on the message center sign-on screen and display your company’s promotional banners and literature. You’ll be placed in a highly visible location on the Convention floor, receive all gold-level sponsor benefits and have a presence on the appointment scheduling Web site from now until October. Also, you can co-sponsor the Message & E-mail Center and make this an even more affordable way to gain great exposure.
All sponsorships are sold on a first-come, first-served basis. Contact NTA Vice President of Sales and Sponsorship Karla DiNardo today to brand the Message & E-mail Center with your company’s message. For information on additional sponsorship opportunities and benefits, click here.