Tuesday Newsletter – Sept. 1, 2009
September 1, 2009
Volume 29, Issue 35
Tuesday’s title sponsor is BusRates.com
Interested in advertising in Tuesday? E-mail Kelley Burchell at kelley.burchell@NTAstaff.com.
TODAY’S ARTICLES
See the King of Blues in Reno
NYC Remarketer Tax Goes Into Effect Today
NTA Celebrates the Career of Legend Jim Santini in Reno
What Does Your NTA Membership Give You?
More Visitors, Improvements at National Parks
Where in the World is Courier?
Lower Airfare, Hotel Prices a Boon for Travelers
New Affordable Opportunities to Reach Tour Operators at Convention
Nevada NTA Delegate to be Guest Auctioneer at Live Auction
NTA is Event Endorser for the China Leisure Travel Summit
Take Advantage of NTA’s One-time Only Rates
The legendary King of Blues, B.B. King, will perform Saturday, Nov. 14, at 8 p.m., in Reno. NTA members can receive a discount on tickets to the show, which will take place in the Grande Exposition Hall at the Silver Legacy, a co-headquarter hotel.
B.B. King is an American blues guitarist and singer-songwriter who Rolling Stone magazine ranked as No. 3 on its list of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time. Advance tickets may be purchased through Silver Legacy at 800.687.8733 (U.S. and Canada) or +1.775.325.7401. Retail ticket prices range from $65 to $85, and NTA members can receive $5 off these prices by identifying their NTA membership when ordering. You will be asked to present your NTA badge when you pick up your tickets at Will Call.
NYC Remarketer Tax Goes Into Effect Today
The New York City Department of Finance posted a memorandum Aug. 14 indicating that, starting Sept. 1, all New York City hotel room remarketers would be required to collect and pay hotel tax on the additional amount they charge hotel room occupants. Remarketers were defined in the memorandum as "any person, excluding the operator, having any right, access, ability or authority, through any means whatsoever, to offer, reserve, book, arrange for, remarket, distribute, broker, resell, or facilitate the transfer of rooms…"
At this time, there is no instruction on the New York City Finance Web site regarding how remarketers should collect, track or pay this new tax. According to the Aug. 14 memorandum, a Registration Certificate is required for all NYC hotel remarketers and this certificate is to be obtained by this Thursday, Sept. 3. The method of obtaining a certificate through the New York City Finance department is not currently known.
NTA opposes this revision on the hotel room occupancy tax and is actively petitioning for additional answers and guidance for members. As soon as additional information is obtained it will be distributed to members.
NTA Celebrates Legislative Counsel Jim Santini in Reno
NTA members are invited to celebrate the many accomplishments of NTA Legislative Counsel Jim Santini during a special dinner at Convention ’09, Saturday, Nov. 14 from 7-9 p.m.
Santini has represented the association in Washington, D.C., since 1983 and has worked extensively on behalf of NTA and the industry. Prior to his work with the association, he served four terms in the U.S. Congress as the only House member from Nevada. He was one of the founders and the first secretary/treasurer of the United States Congressional Travel and Tourism Caucus in the House of Representatives. Under his chairmanship, the Caucus led the legislative charge that produced the first and only National Tourism Policy Act of 1981.
All members will receive a formal invitation in the mail this week. Proceeds from the ticket sales will go to TourPAC and the Government Issues Fund. Questions about the event or tickets should be directed to NTA Director of Government and Industry Relations Matt Grayson at 800.682.8886, ext. 4250 (U.S. and Canada) or +1.859.226.4250.
What Does Your NTA Membership Give You?
Want to know how you can get more from your NTA membership? Check out the Member Benefits Grid on NTA Online for a quick visual on the many benefits available to you.
From information and educational opportunities to increased exposure and business prospects, NTA has the tools you need to learn, network, grow and increase your return on investment. Many of the benefits on the grid are hyperlinked so you can easily put these resources to work for you. If you have additional questions about how you can take advantage, please contact NTA Headquarters at 800.682.8886 (U.S. & Canada) or +1.859.226.4444.
More Visitors, Improvements at National Parks
U.S. national parks are seeing more visitors in 2009 than 2008, according to visitation information collected by the National Park Service. In the first half of 2009, national park units experienced nearly 128 million visits, an increase of nearly 4.5 million visits over the same period the year before. In June alone, visitation to national parks increased by over 718,000 visits between 2008 and 2009.
National park units serve as primary economic generators in local communities across America. Each year, park visitors spend US$11 billion, which helps local economies and supports 213,000 jobs in gateway communities. This includes 54,000 jobs in the hotel and restaurant sectors, 23,000 jobs in retail, and 18,000 in amusement sectors.
To stimulate economic activity and protect the national parks for future generations, the Department of the Interior is investing US$750 million in nearly 800 projects through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Projects will preserve and protect national icons and historic landscapes, improve energy efficiency and renewable energy use, remediate abandoned mine lands and provide US$15 million in grants to protect and restore buildings at historically black colleges and universities. Additional funding through the Federal Highway Administration will improve park roads for millions of visitors.
NTA has long been a champion of the National Park Service and has a solid relationship with park officials that has greatly benefitted NTA members over the years. To learn more about the close relationship between NTA and NPS, click here. To see more information about NPS, click here.
Where in the World is Courier?
We all know that many of you catch up on your Courier reading when you travel. It’s not just a great way to pass the time in an airport or on a plane, but it also allows you to stay on top of all the great product ideas, NTA information and industry updates included in the magazine.
We want to know where you and your Courier have gone. Next time you’re traveling with the most recent issue (or the three you need to catch up on!), spot a landmark, grab a camera and send us a picture of you and your Courier! Who knows, you might see it in the next month’s issue.
Submit a high-resolution photo and a note about where in the world you were with your Courier to Managing Editor Doug Rentz. To check out the first snapshot, click here and turn to page 4.
Lower Airfare, Hotel Prices a Boon for Travelers
More than half of travelers (56 percent) say their travel plans have been positively impacted by the airlines reducing airfares. Additionally, some 44 percent say similar reductions in hotel rates have done the same.
See exactly what impact information like this has on your business with The Trend, NTA’s monthly research e-newsletter. For only US$10 a month (US$120 for the year), you will have access to information that can help you grow your business, better understand your customer’s needs, target new customers and much more. Don’t worry that you’ve missed a few issues. Subscribers will receive a link each month to archives of The Trend so you won’t skip a beat. To subscribe, e-mail NTA Vice President of Marketing Lisa Thompson today.
New Affordable Opportunities to Reach Tour Operators at Convention
NTA is pleased to announce the addition of two new, cost-effective opportunities to set your company/destination apart and gain the attention of the tour operators attending NTA’s Annual Convention Nov. 14-18 in Reno, Nevada.
Destination Pavilion Presentations
On Monday, Nov. 16, NTA will allow companies/destinations to make presentations at two mini-stage areas in the Destination Pavilion during open shopping time from 10 a.m. to noon and 4:15 to 6:15 p.m. Presentations are available at a cost of US$750 in 10-minute time slots and are limited to the first 16 registrants. The presentation areas will be centrally located in the Destination Pavilion and will include guest chairs for the buyers, a podium and a projector. Presentation times will be posted in Monday’s Convention Daily newsletter as well as on signboards located in the Destination Pavilion.
Registration Bag Inserts
Do you have a unique item or marketing brochure you’d like to distribute to tour operators? The opportunity is now available to include a marketing piece in tour operator registration bags at prices starting at only US$1,000 (size, item* and weight restrictions apply). You supply 400 items and NTA will do the rest (member is responsible for any shipping/delivery charges incurred).
To claim your marketing opportunity, please contact NTA Vice President of Sales and Sponsorship Karla DiNardo at 800.682.8886, ext. 4232 (U.S. & Canada) or +1.859.226.4232.
*Due to sponsored items, the following are excluded from Registration Bag Inserts: bags, sticky notes, pens, staplers, notebooks, luggage tags, key cards, business card portfolios and badge holders.
Nevada NTA Delegate to be Guest Auctioneer at Live Auction
Ed Spear, an NTA veteran and the unmistakable cowboy who’s been seen at many travel industry events wearing his signature western shirt, silver buckled belt and black cowboy hat, is a familiar figure representing White Pine County, the Pony Express Territory, and the state of Nevada. At the NTA Convention, this long-time supporter of Tourism Cares will, figuratively, be wearing a different hat as he brings his professional auctioneering expertise to the Tourism Cares Live Auction Tuesday, Nov. 17.
Spear has been in the tourism industry since 1978. As a small business owner in a small community, he realized the need to promote his state of Nevada first. His success is testimony to that belief. Spear also recognizes that in order to receive, you must give, so his passion for Tourism Cares comes naturally. He’s been a perennial volunteer at Tourism Cares for America Projects where he’s rolled up his sleeves in other people’s communities to give back to sites in need.
Be prepared for excitement and fun at the Tourism Cares Live Auction as one of Nevada’s favorite sons leads the charge. Be sure to check the Tourism Cares Web site in the coming weeks to see some of the great packages and exciting items that will be featured at the auction.
NTA is Event Endorser for the China Leisure Travel Summit
NTA has signed on as an official event endorser of the 2009 China Leisure Travel Summit, to be held Dec. 10-11 in Beijing at the Commune by the Great Wall Kempinski. The event, conducted by Noppen, will feature more than 100 Chinese travel agents and 40 international tour operators in prescheduled one-to-one business meetings. NTA also will speak at the summit, discussing inbound travel from China to the United States.
NTA members receive a 10 percent discount on their registration for this event. For more information, 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.
Take Advantage of NTA’s One-time Only Rates
Until Sept. 15, your company can save 20 percent (net) on an advertisement in any of the following 2009 publications: December Courier (Post-Convention issue), Profile Form Notebook, Convention Catalog or NTA’s China Group Leisure Directory. Click here for net rates. Call 800.682.8886, ext. 4241 (U.S. and Canada) or +1.859.226.4241 or e-mail advertising@NTAstaff.com to reserve your space today!
Please note the following exclusions: Offer not valid on previously booked insertions, offer not valid on premium positions, offer cannot be combined with any other offer/discount, including agency, not valid on 2010 orders or other 2009 publications.