Tuesday Newsletter – Jan. 15, 2008
January 15, 2008
Tuesday Newsletter Jan. 15, 2008
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This issue of Tuesday is sponsored by Off Square Theatre Company – where the majestic and magic meet! Offering live professional theatre year-round in the heart of Jackson Hole Wyoming in the magnificent Tetons. Let us complete your adventure in the Tetons. Off Square loves groups and provides special group discounts. Visit us online at http://www.offsquare.org/ or call 307.733.3021. |
| Interested in becoming a Tuesday sponsor? E-mail Karla DiNardo at mailto:karla.dinardo@NTA.travel. | |
Volume 28: Issue 2
NTA EVENTS
Register for Spring Meet Today and Save
Audio Sessions from Convention Seminars Available
Save the Date for the 2008 NTA Grassroots Symposium
GOVERNMENT RELATIONS
GR Alert: Submit Questions Online Now for Tonight’s Presidential Debate
NTA Leadership Team Raises Record Amount for GIF/TourPAC
INDUSTRY NEWS
Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative Update
MEMBER BENEFITS
The Trend Helps You Stay Informed
Registration Open for Tourism Cares for New Orleans
NTA Heads to the Northeast in 2008
April Courier to feature Great Lakes, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas
ASSOCIATION NEWS
Remembering Shirley Ann MacLean
NTA Job Center
NTA EVENTS
Register for Spring Meet Today and Save
You can save $50 if you register for the 2008 Tour Operator Spring Meet prior to the Early Bird deadline of March 3. The event will take place April 2-4 at Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut.
There are many reasons to attend Spring Meet: the relaxed atmosphere, networking and learning, the great food and fun, the fantastic resort … the list goes on. But, don’t take our word for it; here is what Shelley Thiessen of Sun Fun Tours in Kamloops, British Columbia, has to say about the event:
"Spring Meet is an excellent opportunity to meet operator-to-operator. The best education is learning and sharing ideas and experiences with fellow colleagues, and Spring Meet is the perfect venue to accomplish this."
For questions regarding Spring Meet or registration contact your Member Services team at 800.682.8886 (U.S. and Canada) or 859.226.4444.
See you at Mohegan Sun in April!
Audio Sessions from Convention Seminars Available
The audio recordings from the educational sessions at the 2007 NTA Annual Convention are now available at NTA Online. From marketing to baby boomers to learning more about wine and culinary tourism, the Convention seminars covered topics that are relevant to your business.
Members wishing to listen to any of the seminars can do so by clicking here. You will need your member ID number and password to access the recordings, which are password protected due to the content’s educational benefit for members.
For some of the educational seminars, PowerPoint presentations and handouts are available. A note will appear beside the audio link if this is the case. If you want a copy of a specific presentation or handout, contact Andrea Richardson at 800.682.8886, ext. 5019 (U.S. and Canada) or 859.226.5019.
Save the Date for the 2008 NTA Grassroots Symposium
With the U.S. presidential elections coming up, this is a pivotal time to be involved with NTA’s government relations efforts, so make plans to attend this year’s NTA Grassroots Symposium. The event will be held in Washington, D.C., June 24-25, with an additional day for Congressional visits on the 26th if needed.
Further details will be available in the coming weeks. If you wish to sign up to attend or want more information, contact NTA Director of Industry and Government Relations Matt Grayson.
GOVERNMENT RELATIONS
GR Alert: Submit Questions Online Now for Tonight’s Presidential Debate
You’ve heard a lot recently about NTA’s efforts to keep travel issues in front of the 2008 U.S. presidential candidates. Another way to do that is for you to submit a question via the MSNBC Web Site for tonight’s Democratic Presidential Debate in Nevada.
Here are some sample questions you can submit that get to the heart of many of the travel industry’s issues:
- Given that the United States has seen a 17 percent decline in overseas travel since 2000-resulting in a loss of $100 billion in visitor spending, almost 200,000 jobs and $16 billion in taxes-and is predicted to fall to the No. 4 travel destination in the world behind France, Spain and China in 2007, what steps will you take to improve travel to the United States in your administration?
- Since the image of the United States has dropped precipitously in recent years, how would you support efforts to increase international travel to the United States as part of an overall effort to enhance our standing in the world?
- This past year there have been innumerable challenges related to the travel process in the U.S. Because the travel experience positively impacts every state, community and corner of this nation, what policies would you implement to significantly reduce the hassle factor and work to facilitate safe and efficient travel by all modes?
To see the form you can use to send your question, click here.
For information on other ways you can help make tourism and travel top of mind for the candidates, visit the government relations home page at NTA Online.
NTA Leadership Team Raises Record Amount for GIF/TourPAC
At the recent Leadership NTA meetings in Portland, Oregon, the 2008 Leadership Team raised a record $7,500 for the Government Issues Fund and TourPAC. That amount was 50 percent higher than the previous record, which was raised in 2001, and the NTA Government Relations Committee thanks all of the members of the Leadership Team who helped get 2008 off to a great start.
You can do your part, too, as items are being accepted for the 2008 Government Relations Silent Auction at the Tour Operator Spring Meet. If you are interested in donating an item or travel package, or making a contribution to TourPac or GIF, contact NTA Director of Industry and Government Relations Matt Grayson.
INDUSTRY NEWS
Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative Update
President Bush signed legislation Dec. 26, 2007, that would delay full implementation of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative until June 1, 2009. NTA has lobbied for this extension for almost three years, however, the issue is still not as cut-and-dried as anyone would like.
A feeling remains among many in the industry that the Department of Homeland Security will still try to force full implementation of the passport before the June 1, 2009, deadline that is now law. Both the DHS and U.S. State Department Web sites previously noted that full WHTI implementation would occur in summer 2008. Those sites have been updated recently to say that implementation will occur "later," but are not listing the June 1, 2009, date.
If the two government departments decide to press the issue, it is likely that the courts will have to decide whether or not the law takes precedent over national security issues.
NTA will pass along updates on this issue as they become available through Tuesday and "This Just In."
MEMBER BENEFITS
The Trend Helps You Stay Informed
Do you see those many newsletters and research reports that cross your desk each month and wish someone would summarize what you need to know?
Well, your association does just that through The Trend – its monthly research-based e-newsletter. For $120 a year, NTA will deliver information on consumers, technology, boomers and hot trends that are affecting the packaged travel industry and your business.
You can subscribe to The Trend two ways. Either select the option to subscribe when paying your dues or e-mail Lisa Thompson, NTA’s vice president of marketing, to be invoiced. Knowledge is power and The Trend is one tool to help keep you ahead of the curve.
Registration Open for Tourism Cares for New Orleans
Tourism Cares is pleased to announce that online registration is now open for Tourism Cares for New Orleans, to be held April 17-19.
Volunteers will work to renovate and restore Louis Armstrong Park, which is historically significant because it was one of the few sites where 18th- and 19th-century slaves were allowed to gather in public to play music. This city, two years after the devastation from Hurricane Katrina, still needs help, and this project will bring tour and travel professionals together to show the people of the Gulf Coast that they have not been forgotten.
Additional details on the project are available on the Tourism Cares Web site.
NTA Heads to the Northeast in 2008
NTA will host a pair of premier events in the Northeast section of the United States in 2008, the Tour Operator Spring Meet (Uncasville, Connecticut) and the NTA Annual Convention (Pittsburgh). These marquee events offer an abundance of opportunities for you to reach tour operators through valuable sponsorships and advertising mediums.
Now is the time to start promoting your property/destination to the key decision makers who will attend these leading industry events and to those who are actively planning tours throughout the year. Set yourself apart from the thousands of NTA members by joining the ranks of our distinguished advertisers and sponsors.
For detailed information about these opportunities, click on the following links:
Target your marketing dollars wisely and reach more than 1,500 tour operators who can impact your business/destination. To find out more, click here or contact Karla DiNardo at 800.682.8886, ext. 4232 (U.S. and Canada) or 859.226.4232.
April Courier to feature Great Lakes, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas
The April edition of Courier covers some of the hottest travel offerings for tour operators and their clients. The issue offers plenty of ways to get your company or destination in front of this key audience.
Features in the April Courier cover historic homes and wine tours. The trip planners showcase the New York and the Great Lakes region. April travel guides highlight Arkansas, Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas.
The space deadline for April Courier is Jan. 28, so there is still time to get in the magazine ranked No. 1 in the industry by tour operators.
Click here to view the full 2008 Editorial Calendar. To reach your account executive call 800.682.8886, ext. 4232 (U.S. and Canada) or 859.226.4232 or e-mail them advertising@ntastaff.com.
ASSOCIATION NEWS
Remembering Shirley Ann MacLean
Shirley Ann MacLean, founder of Halifax, Nova Scotia-based TayMac Tours, died Dec. 3, after losing her battle with cancer. She was 70 years old.
MacLean had a distinguished career in the tourism industry beginning in 1953 with Acadian Lines in Halifax. She started TayMac Tours in 1985 and officially retired Dec. 5, 2006, on her 50th anniversary in the industry. MacLean helped support anyone studying tourism by establishing the Shirley Ann MacLean Tourism Award with Nova Scotia Community College.
Donations may be made to the Shirley Ann MacLean Tourism Award, c/o Nova Scotia Community College, Attention Jenn, P.O. Box 1153, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3J 2X1.
Position Available – Group Travel Coordinator
European Incoming Services
EIS, a wholesale, Mediterranean destination management company headquartered in Rome, Italy, is looking for an experienced Group Travel Coordinator to join our Boston team. Position is responsible for creating travel solutions for a broad portfolio of Leisure and Affinity Group clients. Tasks include destination consultation, proposal/itinerary creation and client management.
Candidate must be extremely detail oriented; cope easily with complex issues and situations; be able to identify clients’ needs; and to consult on a variety of travel niche topics. Bachelor’s degree and excellent written and verbal communication skills required. Knowledge of Italy and/or Italian language important. Spanish, Greek or French language skills are a plus.
To apply, send resume to eishiring@eistoeurope.com. For more information on EIS, visit our Web site at http://www.eistours.com/.
If you have a listing to post in the NTA Job Center section of Tuesday, e-mail NTA Communications Specialist Pat Henderson. The cost is $250 and your ad will run in two consecutive issues.
| To ensure that you’re doing business with an NTA member, go to the NTA Web site home page and click on either "Tour Operator Search" or "DMO/Tour Supplier Search" at the top of the page. |