Tuesday Newsletter – Dec. 23, 2008
December 23, 2008
Volume 28, Issue 50
Tuesday’s title sponsor is the Austrian Tourism Office 
Interested in advertising in Tuesday? E-mail Kelley Burchell at kelley.burchell@NTAstaff.com.
TODAY’S ARTICLES
Happy Holidays from NTA
Thirty-seven Organizations Participated in Dec. 16 Economic Summit
DHS Expands Collection of Biometrics for Visitors
U.S. Commercial Service "Guide to Exporting" Available
Submit Case Studies for Greentravel.org
Join NTA Tour Operators at Spring Meet by Being a Sponsor
Tourism Cares Awards Special Grant to Plimouth Plantation
January Courier Preview
NTA Job Center: Experience Columbus
The NTA Board of Directors and staff wishes you a joy-filled and peaceful holiday season and wants to thank you for being a part of the NTA family in 2008. We are happy you choose to belong to this association and look forward to working with you as we face the challenges of 2009.
As the year closes, NTA would like to thank all of its generous sponsors and all the volunteers, including the NTA Board of Directors and Leadership Team members, as well as those who helped out during the 2008 Annual Convention in Pittsburgh.
Also, this will be the final issue of Tuesday for the year. The next edition will be posted Jan. 6, 2009.
NOTE – NTA Headquarters will be closed Dec. 24-Jan. 4 for the holidays.
Thirty-seven Organizations Participated in Dec. 16 Economic Summit
The Economic Summit of Travel and Tourism Association and Organizational Leaders took place Dec. 16, with 59 participants from 37 organizations in attendance. NTA was pleased with the turnout as it demonstrated that leaders of the travel community are focused on the U.S. and worldwide economy and are committed to developing solutions to help stimulate economic growth for their members and the travel and tourism sector overall.
The group met at the new Capitol Visitors Center. For the travel industry to come together in this new facility, which will be a significant tourism draw for Washington, D.C., was a historic moment in and of itself.
It was a full-day meeting led by professional facilitator, John Bobo, vice president of AkinsCrisp Strategic Consulting in Washington, D.C. Using a combination of small group and plenary sessions, Bobo worked with the group to build consensus around ideas that would help stimulate the economy through job creation, increased visitation, tourism development and promotion, and various other avenues.
The outcomes are now being drafted into a document to submit to the Obama Transition Team. Once compiled, the document will be reviewed by all of the participating organizations to ensure that all ideas were captured as discussed and specified in the meeting and that there continues to be consensus. It will then be submitted to the Obama Team in early January. Following that, the document will be released.
DHS Expands Collection of Biometrics for Visitors
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced that it is expanding the categories of non-U.S. citizens required to provide digital fingerprints and a photograph upon entry to the United States. By broadening this aspect of the US-VISIT program, it is hoped that security will be enhanced and that the risk of personal biometric information being misused will be decreased.
US-VISIT biometric collection requirements apply to most non-U.S. citizens, with limited exemptions, entering the United States regardless of country of origin or whether they are traveling on a visa or by air, sea or land. Through the new ruling, the following groups will be added to the list of non-U.S. citizens required to provide biometric information:
- Lawful permanent residents of the United States
- Persons entering the United States who seek admission on immigrant visas
- Persons entering the United States who seek admission as refugees and asylees
- Persons paroled into the United States
- Persons applying for admission under the Guam Visa Waiver Program
- Canadian citizens who are currently required to obtain a Form I-94 Arrival/Departure Document upon entry or require a waiver of inadmissibility to enter the United States (This excludes most Canadian citizens entering the United States for purposes of shopping, visiting friends and family, vacation or short business trips)
For more information on the updated policy, click here.
U.S. Commercial Service "Guide to Exporting" Available
With finances getting tight and businesses continuing to look for different ways to turn a profit, a new resource from U.S. Commercial Service can help companies that are seeking to reach the global market. "A Basic Guide to Exporting" provides expert advice and practical solutions for reaching new customers and making sales around the world.
The book takes an in-depth look at key topics on going global, such as how to identify best overseas markets, financing options and how to create a Web site for selling goods to international buyers. It includes case studies on businesses of all sizes that are involved in many types of commerce, ranging from fiberglass houses that withstand tropical storms to medical devices and machines that use light bursts to purify water.
In 2008, U.S. merchandise exports grew nearly 20 percent (more than $100 billion) during the first three quarters of the year. The total number of exporters is up more than 200,000 over 2007 and more than 97 percent of these U.S. companies are small or medium-sized enterprises with fewer than 500 employees.
Copies of "A Basic Guide to Exporting" are available at bookstores or they can be ordered at www.export.gov/basicguide. The U.S. Commercial Service also has many other resources on its Web site to help you learn more about exporting and dealing with international markets.
Submit Case Studies for Greentravel.org
Early next year, TIA will launch the TravelGreen.org, a Web site containing a wide range of content related to environmentally sustainable tourism with a focus on industry sectors and broader categories.
Attendees at the Marketing Outlook Forum got a look at the beta version of the site, which also will include case studies of existing environmental sustainability programs and/or those in the process of being implemented. Some of the case studies received so far-ranging from statewide green lodging programs and convention centers to wineries and guest ranches-reflect the width and breadth of the travel and tourism industry.
TIA is seeking additional case studies by Jan. 10 to post before the site goes live. If your company or organization has such a study, please click here to see the guidelines regarding what to submit.
If you are not able to meet this deadline, you may send case studies later, since new content will be added to TravelGreen.org regularly.
Join NTA Tour Operators at Spring Meet by Being a Sponsor
Considering 72 percent of NTA tour operators agreed that the sponsors who attended 2008 Spring Meet introduced them to potential business and destinations, sponsoring at this event is a great investment. You can reap the benefits of such an investment during the 2009 NTA Tour Operator Spring Meet in Monterey, California, June 4-6.
Sponsorships start at $3,000 and include an attractive list of benefits such as attendance to the event, sponsor promotions both in advance of and at the event and access to contact information on the attending tour operators. Contact NTA Vice President of Sales & Sponsorship Karla DiNardo at 800.682.8886, ext. 4232 (U.S. and Canada) or 859.226.4232 regarding information on available sponsorships.
Tourism Cares Awards Special Grant to Plimouth Plantation
The Tourism Cares/Tauck World Discovery Special Grant of $10,000 was awarded to Plimoth Plantation. The nonprofit attraction, located in Plymouth, Massachusetts, is a living history museum that is supported by admission fees, contributions, grants and the generosity of volunteers.
The grant will be used for the revitalization of Plimoth Plantation’s Costumed Child Volunteer Program, a feature of the museum’s 1627 Colonial English Village. Tourism Cares funds will support the development and printing of training materials, first stage of training sessions and production of the period wardrobe.
"We are extremely grateful to Tourism Cares for this grant, as it will enhance the experience of Plimoth Plantation’s nearly 400,000 annual visitors from all over the world," said John McDonagh, executive director of Plimoth Plantation. "As a premier cultural heritage destination, we are proud to receive this important support from leaders of the tourism industry."
In addition to providing a grant to Plimoth Plantation, Tourism Cares worked alongside the Tauck World Discovery staff for the annual Tauck Volunteer Day event at the site in October. For more information on Tourism Cares and its grant programs and cleanup events, click here.
You’ll notice a new look for Courier when you receive the January issue. The magazine has been redesigned from front to back, and it is separated into sections that parallel the NTA membership experience: Business, Community and Compass, which includes destination and product development articles. In addition to the fresh coat of paint, you can read the first in a series of columns in which you’ll get to know all of NTA’s strategic partners and what they can do for you. Another business section piece focuses on the first-draft concept for a new Convention format that will debut in Reno this November and the need for member input on the proposed changes. Destination stories shine the spotlight on the British Isles and Ireland, the Great Lakes Region, Alaska, California, Nevada, Oregon and Washington, while the feature stories focus on sightseeing and big-ship cruising.
UPCOMING DEADLINES:
April Issue – Ad Space: Jan. 28; Editorial: Past
2009 Preview to Convention; Historic Homes and Gardens; New York City; Antebellum South (Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina and Tennessee); France; Arkansas; Mexico; Oklahoma; Texas.
May Issue – Ad Space: Feb. 25; Editorial: Jan. 5 2009 Tour Operator Spring Meet; Beach Destinations; Wine and Culinary Tours; Canyonlands (Colorado, Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, Sedona and Utah); Asia; Iowa; Kansas; Missouri; Nebraska; Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Yukon.
June Issue – Ad Space: March 25; Editorial: Feb. 4
Native American, First Nations and Western Heritage; Gulf Coast (Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas); South Pacific; Maryland; Pennsylvania; Virginia; Washington, D.C.
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
Greater Birmingham CVB – Casa Loma – Toronto’s Castle – Empire State Building Observatory – The Irvine Chamber Visitors Bureau – John Hancock Observatory – Maid of the Mist Corporation – Norfolk CVB – Planet Hollywood International Inc. – Rapid City CVB – Riverbarge Excursion Lines – Silver Reef Hotel Casino Spa – Sonoma County Tourism Bureau – Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort – Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding – Tulalip Resort & Casino
NTA Job Center: Experience Columbus
Position Available – Senior Tourism Sales Manager
Position Summary: 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 resume and cover letter to:
Vice President, Finance & Administration
Experience Columbus
277 W. Nationwide Blvd., Suite 125
Columbus, OH 43215
614.222.6143 (fax)
Resumes@ExperienceColumbus.com