Tuesday Newsletter – Jan. 12, 2010
January 12, 2010
Volume 30, Issue 2
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 Memo #4: Expand/Ensanchar
Important Membership Deadlines
Save Money in 2010: Use NTA Corporate Partners
Have your Voice Heard at NTA’s Grassroots Symposium
Mark your Calendar for 2010 NTA Events
Tips for Focusing your Social Media Marketing
Tourism Cares Scholarship Winner Reflects on NTA Convention ’09
Spend the New Year Focused on your Company’s Character
2010 Leadership Team Set to Meet in February
Advertise in the Membership Directory by Jan. 30 and Save
MONTAGE Memo #4: Expand/Ensanchar 
Expand your business in Seville. At MONTAGE, all members will be in attendance-operators, suppliers, DMOs-offering new potential for buyers and sellers in an open marketplace setting of international travel commerce. Grow your contact list and expand your offerings. There are no boundaries at MONTAGE.
NTA wants to make it affordable for you to attend MONTAGE. Discounts are available through Star Alliance Partner airlines for travel to and from Seville. Reservations must be made by calling our American Express representative The Travel Authority at 888.821.9270. When making reservations, be sure to inquire about any special promotional options available. Discounts through Star Alliance airlines are valid for travel from April 4 through April 24. Participating carriers include Adria Airways, Air Canada, Air China, Austrian, bmi, Croatia Airlines, Egypt Air, Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines, Spanair, SWISS International, United Airlines and US Airways.
MONTAGE is a great outlet for reaching NTA operators as well as new domestic and international buyers. For exposure throughout the entire event, become a MONTAGE sponsor and receive a variety of sponsor benefits including complimentary registration fees and sponsor promotions before, during and after the event. Click here to learn how your company can attend, exhibit and/or sponsor at MONTAGE or contact Melisa-Beth Rooke at +1.859.219.3549 for more details. Sponsorships are sold on a first-come, first-served basis so call today!
No restrictions on attendance. No Boundaries to Selling. That’s MONTAGE. Register today.
Important Membership Deadlines
Renewal Time! Deadline: Jan. 31
As you are settling back into your business routine and kicking off the new year, don’t forget to renew your NTA membership. Great things are in store for all NTA members as the association continues to develop programming and opportunities that not only support your current business needs, but also forage into the future through new market development, technology advancements and innovation at all levels. Count on NTA to help you navigate through the changing travel environment and prepare your company for ongoing success. Membership renewals are due by Jan. 31.
Update Your Member Profile Today! Deadline: March 1
We are excited to announce that NTA has just completed a large project on member profiles over the holiday break. This upgrade allows all NTA members to update membership information online immediately. Previously, contact information updates were delayed 24 hours. With the new upgrade, you’ll be able to verify your changes online without delay. Also, the NTA Membership Directory is scheduled for print in June. The deadline to have your information updated for inclusion in the Membership Directory is March 1.
Update your information so that members can find your company through our many online searches. Log in with your information and select ‘Update Your Profile’ in the box on the homepage. Should you have any questions, please call +1.859.226.4444 or 800.682.8886 (U.S. & Canada) or e-mail us at questions@NTAstaff.com.
Save Money in 2010: Use NTA Corporate Partners
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As you get back to work after the holidays, make sure you take advantage of NTA’s Corporate Partners and the discounts they offer to NTA members.
Check out the money-saving deals from Angstrom Graphics, Bank of America, The Berkley Group, Capital One, FedEx, Pottruff and Smith Insurance Brokers (for Canadian members), Staples and Staples Canada before you go elsewhere. Your checkbook will thank you.
For information on how to become a corporate partner, contact NTA Vice President of Sales and Sponsorship Karla DiNardo at 800.682.8886 (U.S. and Canada) or +1.859.226.4232.
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Have your Voice Heard at NTA’s Grassroots Symposium 
You can help affect change and make a positive impact with your participation in the NTA Grassroots Symposium, Feb. 8-10, in Washington, D.C.
Melissa McKee of Collette Vacations in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, said, "I attended the Grassroots Symposium for the first time last February but it won’t be my last! The opportunity to visit with members of Congress on Capitol Hill to discuss the importance of travel to the U.S. economy was a rewarding, enlightening experience—both personally and professionally."
Don’t stop there—sponsor at this event and you’ll not only have the opportunity to promote your product to those in attendance, but NTA will cover your registration fees. Plus, sponsoring at this event is a perfect way to reach NTA members early in 2010!
Click here to learn more or contact Karla DiNardo, NTA vice president of sales and sponsorship, at 800.682.8886, ext. 4232 (U.S. and Canada) or +1.859.226.4232.
Mark your Calendar for 2010 NTA Events
NTA plans to keep the momentum going in 2010 with a full slate of networking and business events. The key events for NTA in 2010 are:
- Grassroots Symposium, February 8–10 in Washington, D.C.
- MONTAGE, April 14–17 in Seville, Spain
- Experience San Diego Product Development Trip: April 29–May 3
- Explore Slovakia-Hungary PDT: May 8–13
- Big Island of Hawaii PDT: July 6–11
- The Calgary Horsepower Tour PDT: July 16–21
- Discover Egypt PDT: September 2–10
- Lancaster/Philadelphia PDT: October 8–12
- NTA Convention ’10, November 13–17 in Montreal, Quebec
Tips for Focusing your Social Media Marketing 
Social media networks are changing the way you share information about your business as well as how you create relationships with your customers. But, if you’re not careful, your social media presence could be perceived as spam. To avoid this, try implementing the tips below from the social network blog Brand Champs:
- Don’t use the word "consumers" — consumers buy. Use the word "people" — people live.
- People expect honesty from other people and brands on social networks. Your goal should be to earn their trust. Trust is engaging and intimate.
- It’s not about communication — communication is telling. Social media is all about the conversation — conversation is sharing.
- Think about how to develop relationships.
- Social media is not a platform for you to sell products — products fulfill needs. Your social media presence should be about experiences — experiences fulfill desires.
Tourism Cares Scholarship Winner Reflects on NTA Convention ’09
Tourism Cares/NTA Scholarship recipient Jasmine Dottin of Temple University took part in the Experience the Industry Program in Reno. Take a look at her experience.
"By observing the CVB and tour operator mentor appointments and being observant throughout the convention, I finally understand how interconnected all segments of the tourism and hospitality industry are," said Jasmine. "Through networking with my mentors, with the professionals at the round table discussions, and with those who attended the evening programs, I have built valuable relationships that undoubtedly will help me in my career aspirations for the future. With all the benefits I received through attending the Tourism Cares Experience the Industry Program and the financial piece of the scholarship, I could not be more grateful for being picked as a scholarship winner."
Thank you to everyone who mentored scholarship recipients at the NTA Convention. For more information on Tourism Cares’ student program, go to tourismcares.org. Look for information in a future issue of Tuesday on how you can mentor a scholarship recipient at this year’s Convention.
Spend the New Year Focused on your Company’s Character
2009 was a year full of business scandals in the financial realm, turning many businesses upside down in its wake and exposing corrupt business practices. A new year is the perfect opportunity to define what your company stands for before adversity or scandal hits.
According to author Dave Anderson of Dave Anderson’s Learn to Lead, "Character does matter in business. And right now, at the beginning of a new year, is a great time to sit down and define your goals for the character of your company with your employees."
Anderson provides five basic rules to work toward for rock-solid character:
- Don’t Tell White Lies
- Keep Your Commitments
- Go the Second Mile—"Some of the most successful business men and women will readily admit that they are no smarter than their less successful counterparts," said Anderson. "They simply outwork them, outthink them, and, as a result, outperform them."
- Don’t Give False Impressions
- Reconcile and Forgive Immediately— "When you are busy harboring resentment and holding onto grudges, you are taking time and precious energy away from the things you could be doing to increase your productivity and your business," said Anderson.
Dave Anderson is author of "If You Don’t Make Waves, You’ll Drown"; "Up Your Business!"; "How to Deal with Difficult Customers"; and the "TKO" business series, all from Wiley. For more information, please visit learntolead.com.
2010 Leadership Team Set to Meet in February
NTA Chairman and CEO Cathy Greteman has selected a group of more than 40 NTA volunteers representing every aspect of membership to serve as the 2010 Leadership Team. The first meeting of the Leadership Team will take place Feb. 6-7 in Washington, D.C., immediately prior to the 2010 Grassroots Symposium, scheduled for Feb. 8-10.
These volunteers will meet as a large group, as well as in seven individual committees, focused on everything from Meetings and Events to Partnering. The NTA Board of Directors will join with the Leadership Team for the strategizing and planning for NTA’s present and future. If you’d like to see more about the various committees and their charge for 2010—or learn how you can be part of this group of dedicated volunteers in 2011—visit NTAonline.com or e-mail Ken Goode. You also can watch for an update on the outcomes from this February meeting, as well as the Board meeting immediately following Grassroots Symposium, in an upcoming issue of Tuesday.
Advertise in the Membership Directory by Jan. 30 and Save
With a new year comes a new edition of the NTA Membership Directory and using this resource makes it so easy to put members first. This annual directory, containing valuable, easy-to-access contact information of all your NTA member colleagues, will be published in June. There is no better way to showcase your company year-round in front of so many travel professionals than with this reference guide. According to an NTA survey, 87 percent of tour operators use the NTA Membership Directory in their day-to-day job researching company contact information and itinerary planning.
As a valuable NTA member, your company automatically receives a complimentary listing in this directory; however, you have the option of choosing to upgrade your membership listing and/or purchase display ad space. Enhanced listings include your company information highlighted in yellow along with your company’s four-color logo.
The space deadline for advertising in the Membership Directory is March 1, but if you book space by Jan. 30, you can lock-in the 2009 rates for the 2010 edition. Contact your advertising representative at 800.682.8886, ext. 4241 (U.S. and Canada) or +1.859.226.4241 for further sizing and pricing information.