Tuesday Newsletter – Dec. 1, 2009
December 1, 2009
Volume 29, Issue 47
Tuesday’s title sponsor is Ripley’s New York
Interested in advertising in Tuesday? E-mail Kelley Burchell at kelley.burchell@NTAstaff.com.
TODAY’S ARTICLES
MONTAGE Offers Added Product Development with Three-day PDT
Thank You for a Great Convention!
New Opportunity to Connect to Indian Business
Participate in a U.S.-Cuba Videoconference with U.S. and Cuban Officials
Webinar Offered Dec. 3 on NTA’s New Carbon Calculator
2009 CTP Graduates
Update on Northern and Southern U.S. Border Crossing
FedEx Expands Services to Include FedEx Office
December Courier has a Convention Wrap-Up and Much More
Sponsorships Now Available for NTA’s MONTAGE
MONTAGE Offers Added Product Development with Three-day PDT
Buyers attending MONTAGE, April 14-17, 2010, in Seville, Spain, have the opportunity to experience more of our host country with a three-day Product Development Trip that starts in Madrid, Spain, on April 10.
This three-day PDT will begin at 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 10, in Madrid and will take you through the cities of Madrid, Granada, Cordoba and then on to Seville for the start of MONTAGE. The cost of the PDT is $150 per registrant (flight to Madrid is not included) and is limited in space. The deadline to register is March 10 and will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Fax a registration form to Lee Carter at 859.226.4434 to secure you space on what is sure to be a popular add-on to MONTAGE.
Thank You for a Great Convention!
NTA has plenty to be thankful for in the wake of a successful Convention ’09. The great NTA member attendance, complemented by a strong contingent of industry guests, created the energy, the business and the camaraderie experienced in Reno. On top of that, the execution of NTA Convention wouldn’t be possible without Convention volunteers.
NTA has had a lot of positive feedback from this year’s Convention. Take a moment to revel in your success by reading this article by David Cogswell, executive editor covering tours for TravelPulse.com.
Also, for those of you who missed Convention or want to re-live it, watch the Week-in-review video and don’t forget to also take a look at the slideshow of all the photos from the week.
Congratulations, NTA members, on a great Convention! See you in Montréal, Nov. 13-17.
New Opportunity to Connect to Indian Business
Travel from India is on the upswing. Since 2001, there has been a 122 percent increase in Indians travelling to the U.S. The U.S. is expected to receive 10.2 percent of all Indian travelers by 2011.
If you are interested in tapping into this market, you have the chance to participate in a unique program called "Destination USA: Virtual Matchmaker with India" on January 21, where you can virtually introduce your company, attraction, destination, etc. to a group of Indian tour operators, travel agents and travel industry representatives from Mumbai and New Delhi. This program does not require travel to India yet will offer you an opportunity to do a live presentation from your computer through a live Internet and telephone-based platform.
Rising disposable incomes, better flight connectivity, the advent of low cost carriers and more investments from foreign players in the India market has opened up new avenues for potential outbound travelers. The U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce is organizing this unique virtual buyer-seller matchmaker.
Your participation fee is only US$195, a fraction of the cost of a plane ticket to India. You’ll receive the latest update on the trends and opportunities in the Indian market as well as access to follow-up assistance from team of India-based U.S. Commercial Service travel industry experts.
Click here to register for this program or you may contact Tony Michalski at +1.909.466.4137.
Participate in a U.S.-Cuba Videoconference with U.S. and Cuban Officials
You are invited to join a limited number of travel sector representatives for a U.S.-Cuba Travel videoconference on Tuesday, Dec. 15, from 2 – 5 p.m. EST in Washington, D.C. to hear presentations from Cuban Ministry officials and Cuban travel executives and participate in a live Q&A. This event will be immediately followed by a reception from 5 -7 p.m. EST. This is not a webcast; you must be present in Washington, D.C., to participate. There is no cost for this event but space will be limited. To RSVP, contact Kirby Jones, with Alamar Associates at +1.301.520.4297.
This event will be hosted by Ambassador Jorge Bolanos, Head of the Cuban Interests Section in Washington, organized by Alamar Associates, and co-sponsored by the NTA and USTOA.
Webinar Offered Dec. 3 on NTA’s New Carbon Calculator
NTA and Sustainable Travel International have teamed to bring members a tool to offset their company’s or organization’s carbon emissions. Use the new Carbon Calculator on NTAonline.com to offset your company’s travels, your everyday business practices or even offer the opportunity to your customers.
Join STI, NTA’s sustainability partner, for an interactive educational Webinar on Carbon Management and Offsetting. In a recent NTA member survey on sustainability, you asked for more information on many topics related to green initiatives, including carbon offsets. This Webinar will cover the basics of carbon footprinting, reduction, and offsetting as it relates specifically to the travel industry. The Webinar also will teach participants how to utilize the recently launched Carbon Calculator . Attendees will leave this session with an understanding of the importance of carbon management and how to engage their company and customers in this sustainable business practice.
Details:
- Carbon Management and Offsetting Webinar
- Presented by Ted Martens, Director of Outreach & Development, Sustainable Travel International
- Dec. 3 at 1 p.m. EST
To register, please go here.
Congratulations to Michael West of AAA Northern California, Nevada and Utah; Connie VanderPoel of Southwest Tours and Travel; Josh Bickerton of The Butchart Gardens; Juan J. Romani of Mohegan Sun; and Leslie Womack of Mayflower Park Hotel for receiving their Certified Tout Professional designation this year. They were recognized at the Convention for their achievement.
Travel professionals who obtain, and maintain, their CTP designation demonstrate to the industry that they are experienced, knowledgeable and motivated professionals who care about the industry and the colleagues with whom they work. To learn more about becoming a CTP, click here.
Update on Northern and Southern U.S. Border Crossing
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced that members of its Free and Secure Trade (FAST) program will not be able to use their old FAST cards in passenger lanes effective January 5, 2010. The CBP has been issuing new cards for current FAST members since March 16 with enhanced security features that allow U.S. citizen cardholders to comply with the documentary requirements under the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative. All members are requested to activate their new cards within 30 days by going here and then destroy the old card.
If members have not received their new cards, they should go immediately to a local enrollment center to either pick up the new card or to apply to have a new card issued, which will take approximately 10 to 14 days to receive. All old FAST cards will be deactivated January 5, 2010. CBP officers will allow a one-time entry into the U.S. to travelers with old FAST cards, but will seize the card from the traveler and refer the member to the Enrollment Center.
The Free and Secure Trade program is available to commercial drivers crossing both the northern and southern borders. Currently, the program has more than 92,000 members.
FedEx Expands Services to Include FedEx Office 
Since 2008, FedEx has been a Corporate Partner of NTA, offering members valuable discounts on their shipping needs. FedEx has now added FedEx Office to the cost-saving services available through the NTA Corporate Partner program. FedEx Kinko’s is now FedEx Office. With FedEx Office, members can save on copying, printing, binding, finishing, signs/graphics, and more.
FedEx Office is a leading global provider of document solutions and business services, with more than 1,800 U.S. locations. NTA members can save up to 20 percent on services such as:
- Copying and Printing – Professional-quality design, printing, binding, and finishing
- FedEx OfficeSM Print Online – Upload, print, assemble and ship materials all from the convenience of your desktop
- Direct Mail Services – End-to-end design, printing, finishing and mailing services for almost any size marketing campaign
- Signs and Graphics – End-to-end design and production for customized signs, posters, banners and specialty graphics
To learn more about the discounts available to NTA members and how you can start taking advantage of the program, contact NTA Member Services.
December Courier has a Convention Wrap-Up and Much More
It’s only been a couple of weeks since Convention ’09 ended, you can revisit all the highlights through the December edition of Courier. The issue includes updates on many Convention happenings, ranging from the buzzing Destination Pavilion and co-location with the World Religious Travel Association to award presentations and the Return to Woodstock party. In addition to recounting all the Reno action, details on 2010 association-sponsored events, such as the Grassroots Symposium and NTA’s five Product Development Trips, are covered in the December business section. The issue also includes destination stories on the U.S. Smoky Mountains region, the North American Rockies, Latin America, Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi.
Advertisers in this issue:
Biltmore Estate — Capital One — Empire State Building Observatory — Greater Birmingham CVB — Historic Temple Square LDS Church — Hollywood Casino Bay St. Louis — John G. Shedd Aquarium — North Dakota Tourism — Chase Paymentech — Planet Hollywood International — Pottruff and Smith Insurance Brokers Inc. — Salt Lake CVB — Silver Reef Hotel Casino Spa — The Berkley Group — Tourisme Montreal — Tulalip Resort Casino and Spa
UPCOMING DEADLINES:
March Issue – Ad Space: Jan. 4; Editorial: Dec. 4
2010 Tour Operator Spring Meet Issues; Golf Resorts and Destinations; Toronto and Niagara Region (New York & Canada); Branson; Dubai; Arizona; Colorado; New Mexico; Utah.
April Issue – Ad Space: Jan. 27; Editorial: Jan. 4
Historic Homes; Gardens; New York City; Antebellum South (Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina and Tennessee); France; Arkansas; Mexico; Oklahoma; Texas.
May Issue – Ad Space: Feb.24; Editorial: Feb. 4
2010 Annual Preview to Convention; Beach Destinations; Wine & Culinary Tours; Canyonlands (Colorado, Grand Canyon, Nevada, Sedona and Utah); India; Iowa; Kansas; Missouri; Nebraska; Northwest Territories; Nunavut & Yukon.
Please click here to view the 2010 Editorial Calendar online.
Sponsorships Now Available for NTA’s MONTAGE!
Join NTA in Seville, Spain, April 14-17, 2010 for three days of innovative buying, selling and partnering on a global scale. Being held in a beautiful city and with no restrictions on attendance, MONTAGE is going to be a great outlet for reaching NTA operators as well as new buyers both domestic and international. Garnering casual business networking, valuable education sessions and a new half-day business workshop, this is one event you can’t afford to miss.
Sponsor at MONTAGE and ensure your company leaves an impression on key buyers in the industry. Click here to learn how your company can attend, exhibit and/or sponsor at MONTAGE or contact Melisa-Beth Rooke at or +1.859.219.3549 for more details. Sponsorships are sold on a first-come, first-served basis so contact Melisa-Beth today!