Tuesday Newsletter – July 28, 2009
July 28, 2009
Volume 29, Issue 30
Tuesday’s title sponsor is BusRates.com
Interested in advertising in Tuesday? E-mail Kelley Burchell at kelley.burchell@NTAstaff.com.
TODAY’S ARTICLES
Break the Ice at the National Bowling Stadium at Convention ’09
California Budget Deal Will Mean State Park Closures
Nominations from the Floor Period for NTA Elections Still Open
Convention Newcomer Webinar is Aug. 5
US-VISIT Webinar for Latin America is Next Week
Want to Host an NTA Product Development Trip in 2010?
And Speaking of Product Development Trips . . .
Update Your Profile and Win a $100 American Express Gift Card
Follow the Lead of President Obama by Volunteering
2009-10 NTA Membership Directory Addendum
Want to Receive Sponsor Benefits with Ad Placement?
August Courier Preview
NTA Job Center: Tourism Cares
Break the Ice at the National Bowling Stadium at Convention ’09
Kick off Convention ’09 at the "Taj Mahal of Tenpins" — the National Bowling Stadium. Reno’s bowling palace, which received its nickname from the Los Angeles Times, is home to 78 championship lanes and is the only facility of its kind in the world.
Reno-Tahoe will sponsor this year’s Icebreaker at which Convention delegates will enjoy food, dancing and entertainment. Different stations with culinary treats will be set up throughout the stadium, each featuring a different theme that is unique to Reno such as Hot August Nights, the Reno Balloon Festival, Reno Air Race Championships and the Nugget Rib Cookoff. And since the event is being held at a bowling stadium, you’ll also have a chance to "Rock’N Bowl" with glow-in-the-dark bowling balls.
Get set to join your NTA colleagues at the National Bowling Stadium, set of the movie "Kingpin" starring Bill Murray. There is still time to get registered for Convention ’09. Click here to make sure you don’t strike out.
California Budget Deal Will Mean State Park Closures
A budget compromise between California lawmakers could result in some state park closures. Based on the deal reached July 20, the California State Department of Parks and Recreation would receive a reduced budget and be forced to undertake a cost-benefit analysis to see which parks would need to be closed.
NTA urged California lawmakers to preserve funding for California state parks, noting their importance to tour operators and gateway cities. NTA will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates in future issues of Tuesday.
Nominations from the Floor Period for NTA Elections Still Open
NTA members wanting to serve on the 2010 NTA Board of Directors can still run from the floor. 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. The deadline for nominations from the floor is Aug. 14.
Convention Newcomer Webinar is Aug. 5
Everyone wants to hit the jackpot the first time they pull the slot machine. Well, now is your chance to get that big win by learning how to maximize your first time at the NTA Convention. NTA will conduct two Webinars about Convention ’09, the first of which will take place Aug. 5 at 2 p.m. (ET).
During the Webinars, you will learn how to research and prepare your list of Tour & Travel Exchange requests, find out how to navigate the online appointment request system and hear about the enhancements to this year’s event, which takes place in Reno, Nevada, from Nov. 14 to 18. Both sessions will conclude with a question-and-answer period.
These Webinars are geared to introduce Convention ’09 to first-time attendees, but they also offer a great refresher for any member. Contact NTA Manager of Member Relations Lori Rempe with any questions or click here to RSVP for the Aug. 5 session.
US-VISIT Webinar for Latin America is Next Week
Officials from different U.S. government departments will hold a free Webinar regarding the Latin American and Caribbean non-Visa Waiver Program countries and the US-VISIT program. From visa issuance and inbound market statistics to the deployment of 10-fingerprint collection and the status of biometric exit procedures, this briefing will provide the information you need to ensure your travelers are prepared for their trip to the United States.
The session takes place Tuesday, Aug. 4, beginning at 1 p.m. (ET). To receive an e-mail with a link to the Webinar sign-up and dial-in instructions, please send your name, title, organization, address, telephone and fax numbers to rsvp.webinar@dhsbiometrics.com.
These sessions will be available online a week after they’ve taken place. Recordings of previous 2009 Webinars — which covered Australia and New Zealand; Japan and South Korea; European Visa Waiver Program countries; European non-Visa Waiver Program countries; Canada; and Mexico — are available if you click here.
Additional seminars scheduled for the coming months include China (Sept. 8) and Asian-Pacific non-Visa Waiver Program countries (Oct. 13).
Want to Host an NTA Product Development Trip in 2010?
NTA is accepting proposals for 2010 Product Development Trips. These trips offer NTA member destinations a way to put themselves in front of serious tour operator buyers and offer them a firsthand look at their area. Tour operators reap the benefits of seeing the destination themselves, as well as exploring new product ideas and meeting with area tour suppliers.
To host a 2010 trip, please send a proposed itinerary with pricing details and registration capacity to NTA Vice President of Marketing Lisa Thompson by Sept. 30. If you’d like to see a list of the Product Development Trips NTA has offered in the past, click here.
And Speaking of Product Development Trips . . .
Registration is now open for the American Tourism Society Conference and NTA Product Development Trip in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany, Oct. 27-Nov. 1. NTA members can attend the conference, which goes from Oct. 26 to 29, at the ATS member rate then take part in the NTA trip from Oct. 30 to Nov. 1.
The ATS Conference marks two milestones — the 20th anniversary of the American Tourism Society and the 20th anniversary of the reunification of Germany after the fall of the Berlin Wall. NTA tour operator members have the chance to join in these celebrations and take part in education, networking and product development alongside ATS members.
Another exciting part of the conference is Tourism Cares’ first international event. This exciting initiative will include tree planting in National Park Vorpommersche Boddenlandschaf’s Climate Forest, which is an area of the park specifically designated for the Tourism Cares and the American Tourism Society project. The event also is the first international cooperation by the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Ministry of Agriculture and the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Tourismusverband.
Register today so you can experience an exceptional destination as well as develop new product ideas during the post-conference Product Development Trip. Also, if you register by Aug. 1, you can save $100 on your total registration fee.
Update Your Profile and Win a $100 American Express Gift Card
Maintaining an updated member profile is a smart business practice and now it can help you earn extra money, too. Update your NTA profile between now and Sept. 15, and you will be entered in a drawing to win a $100 American Express gift card. A prize will be awarded to one tour operator, one tour supplier and one DMO member.
To update your profile, click here and follow these simple steps:
- Login by clicking the link in the blue box on the right side, then click "Update Your Profile" in the same box
- Review and update all defining characteristics for your company, then make sure to click "Save"
Once you have updated your profile, you must send an e-mail to questions@NTAstaff.com with "Updated Profile" in the subject line. After your e-mail is received, NTA will verify your profile has been updated and you will then be entered into the drawing.
Don’t forget to add your company logo and some images of your destination, attraction or tour product. For information on how to do that, check out this How To guide.
Making sure your profile is up to date is a smart way to prepare for better business at Convention ’09. Learn about other ways NTA is helping you work smarter by clicking here.
Follow the Lead of President Obama by Volunteering
Tourism Cares will host a volunteer clean-up project Friday, Sept. 11, at the National Mall and Memorial Parks in Washington, D.C. The inaugural Tourism Cares for America Volunteer Day will bring not only the travel industry together to make a difference, but also give others the chance to participate and help beautify the U.S. capital city.
Following the lead of President Obama, who signed the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act in April to expand the mission of national community service and recognize Sept. 11 as a national day of service and remembrance, Tourism Cares hopes the event will entice all Washington, D.C., visitors to perform a great service at our nation’s capital. Volunteers will assist with much needed painting projects at the World War II Memorial, the Korean War Veterans Memorial, the Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial and Lafayette Park between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.
To register or learn more about the project and sponsorship, click here.
2009-10 NTA Membership Directory Addendum
NTA apologizes to the following members for their incorrect listing information and/or advertisements in the 2009-10 Membership Directory. All members are encouraged to note the following companies and corrections that need to be made in the publication.
The corrected information is highlighted below in orange and you also will find the page number that corresponds with the listing so you can make the changes. You can also link to the online version to see all updated listings by clicking here.
Page 48 (under PERU)
LIMA
PROMPERU
Elisabeth Hakim
Call Uno Oeste #50 Lorpac
San Isidro
Lima, Uma 27 Peru
+51.1224.3131
Fax: +51.1224.9366
E: ehakim@promperu.gob.pe
www.promperu.gob.pe
Page 220
Fredericksburg Convention & Visitors Bureau (TX)
Daryl Whitworth
302 East Austin Street
Fredericksburg, TX 78624 USA
+1.830.997.6523
888.997.3600
Fax: +1.830.997.8588
E: marketing@fbgtx.org
www.FredTexLodging.com
Page 110
Georgia Aquarium
Sarah Dollacker
225 Baker Street NW
Atlanta, GA 30313 USA
+1.404.581.4139
Fax: +1.404.581.4303
E: sdollacker@georgiaaquarium.org
www.georgiaaquarium.org
Page 102
Newseum
Linda Jeffries
555 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20001 USA
+1.202.292.6690
888.639.7386
Fax: +1.202.292.6148
E: groupsales@newseum.org
www.newseum.org
Page 138 & 141
Salem Witch Museum
Please note their ad ran incorrectly. The updated/corrected ad can be found on page 138 in the online version of the Membership Directory.
Salem Witch Museum
Tina Jordan
19 1/2 Washington Square North
Salem, MA 01970 USA
+1.978.744.1692
800.544.1692
Fax: +1.978.745.4414
E: tinaj@salemwitchmuseum.com
www.salemwitchmuseum.com
Want to Receive Sponsor Benefits with Ad Placement?
You can reach all NTA tour operators and WRTA buyers at the upcoming NTA Convention through the Convention Catalog. The publication is an easy-to-carry, all-inclusive catalog for tour operators and travel agents to use as they shop regionally on the Convention floor this November in Reno, Nevada.
The catalog, which has a year-long shelf life, will combine the official program and the delegate registry. According to the 2008 NTA communications survey, 83 percent of respondents said the Convention program was useful, so you will get year-round exposure through this valuable tool.
If you book a full-page, four-color ad in the Convention Catalog, you will receive silver-level sponsor benefits, which include:
- FREE 10 x 10 exhibit booth on the Exchange floor
- Sponsor listing in the October issue of Courier, the Profile Form Notebook, at www.NTAOnline.com and in the Convention Catalog
- Guaranteed acceptance into the prescheduled appointment process (one delegate per sponsorship)
- A database of delegate mailing addresses
- Participation in sponsorship conference phone call (post Convention)
- Sponsor ribbon with badge
Keep in mind that only 10 full-page sponsorships are available, and they will be sold on a first-come, first-serve basis for USD$5,000 net. Additional ad sizes and rate information are available if you contact your NTA account executive today at 800.682.8886, ext. 4241 (U.S. and Canada) or +1.859.226.4241. NOTE: This offer is not valid on previously booked insertions and cannot be combined with any other offer/sponsorship.
Among the key benefits of your NTA membership are the networking opportunities and connections it offers you. The August issue of Courier picks up on that theme as it includes a recap of the recent NTA Spring Meet and an article that provides a concise overview of many aspects of the upcoming NTA Annual Convention. The month’s feature stories highlight the ever-popular world of theater and spa and wellness travel. Destination articles focus on Greece and Turkey, Québec, the U.S. Pacific Northwest, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ontario and Wisconsin.
UPCOMING DEADLINES:
November Issue – Ad Space: Aug. 26; Editorial: July 1
Dining Attractions; Shopping; America’s Historic East (Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Washington, D.C.); San Francisco Bay Area; Italy; Delaware; New Brunswick, Newfoundland & Labrador, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island; New Jersey; New York; Québec.
December Issue – Ad Space: Sept. 30; Editorial: Aug. 5
2009 Convention Coverage; The Rockies (Alberta, British Columbia, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Utah and Wyoming); Smoky Mountains (Asheville, North Carolina; Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee); Latin America; Alabama; Louisiana; Mississippi.
January 2010 Issue – Ad Space: Oct. 28; Editorial: Oct. 5
Sightseeing Cruises; Cruise Ships; Great Lakes Loop (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Ontario and Wisconsin); British Isles and Ireland; Alaska; California; Nevada; Oregon; Washington.
The Berkely Group (TPP) — Biltmore Estate — Callaway Gardens — Capital One Merchant Services — Empire State Building Observatory — Grapevine Convention & Visitors Bureau — John G. Shedd Aquarium — Visit Lubbock CVB — Metropolis at Metrotown — Myrtle Beach Area CVB — Oklahoma City CVB — Pensacola, FL Convention & Visitor Information Center — Philadelphia Museum of Art — Pottruff & Smith Insurance Brokers Inc. — Roaring Camp Railroads
Click here to see the 2009 Editorial Calendar. Also, the 2010 Editorial Calendar is available as part of the NTA Media Kit, which you can view by clicking here.
NTA Job Center: Tourism Cares
Event Coordinator
Tourism Cares, the official philanthropy of NTA, is accepting applications for the full-time position of Event Coordinator in its Canton, (south suburban Boston) Massachusetts, headquarters. The successful candidate will possess superior organization and communication skills, both verbal and written, proficiency in MSOffice (Excel, Word and Outlook) and the ability to multi-task with exceptional attention to detail. This friendly and enthusiastic person will work in concert with the Tourism Cares event team to ensure the smooth operation of all fundraising and give-back events. A significant amount of travel is required. The desire to work closely with a group of highly motivated and dedicated staff members is a must. A detailed job description will be furnished upon request. Please submit resumes to info@tourismcares.org.