News from the National Tour Association
August 2009 Update
There's never been a better time for you to be a member of NTA. Contact NTA Director of Membership Development Chris Horsley to learn more about the programs and services covered in this newsletter and to learn how you can save 50% off the regular membership dues rates, by calling 800.682.8886, ext. 4354 (U.S. and Canada) or +1.859.226.4354.
ARTICLE HEADLINES
NTA Convention 2009 Serves Up More Business for the Right Price
NTA Creates Financial Toolkit
Call for U.S. Legislative Action on United Airlines Credit Policy
NTA Adds a Facebook Fan Page
U.S. and Canada Chambers Offer "Shared Border" Report
Members Share Positive Feedback on NTA Spring Meet
Gordon Bell and Congressman Sam Farr Named NTA Pioneers
Berkely Products Can Help Your Bottom Line
Tourism Cares Announces Worldwide Grants
NTA Convention 2009 Serves Up More Business for the Right Price
NTA has created a way for tour suppliers to meet with more tour operators and get more appointments at its 2009 Convention, which is now even more affordable. The new Fast Pitch session gives tour suppliers exclusive time to pitch new business ideas to operators, and a tool to help suppliers work smarter.
In the NTA Fast Pitch session, suppliers will have five-minute prescheduled appointments with tour operators that they had requested but were not scheduled as part of the Tour & Travel Exchange. That means suppliers can reach more of the tour operators they requested than ever before.
After the Tour & Travel Exchange appointments have been scheduled in October, the system will automatically schedule remaining supplier requests for the NTA Fast Pitch session. So, it is critical that tour suppliers submit a complete list of appointment requests to maximize opportunities for both the Tour & Travel Exchange and the Fast Pitch.
Below, NTA has also created four ways you can save money and participate in the NTA Convention '09 in Reno, Nevada, Nov. 14-18.
- Join NTA now and recieve a 50% discount on membership dues through the end of the year.
- Hotel rates - Operators can stay for as low as US$54 per night, and the lowest supplier and DMO rate is US$58.
- Tour operator rebate - Operators who take part in all prescheduled appointments can earn up to US$650 to offset travel, food and lodging expenses.
- Buy one, get one free - For every appointment-taking delegate a tour operator registers, they can bring another appointment-taking delegate for free.
- Bring an operator, pay for Convention - Suppliers and DMOs who sign-up a non-member, appointment-taking operator through the NTA Guest Program will get US$500 toward their Convention registration.
- Hotel rates - Operators can stay for as low as US$54 per night, and the lowest supplier and DMO rate is US$58.
- Tour operator rebate - Operators who take part in all prescheduled appointments can earn up to US$650 to offset travel, food and lodging expenses.
- Buy one, get one free - For every appointment-taking delegate a tour operator registers, they can bring another appointment-taking delegate for free.
- Bring an operator, pay for Convention - Suppliers and DMOs who sign-up a non-member, appointment-taking operator through the NTA Guest Program will get US$500 toward their Convention registration.
Click here for more information on the 2009 NTA Annual Convention.
NTA Creates Online Financial Toolkit
NTA is focused on addressing member needs by developing cost-effective and relevant programs, services and tools to help you work smarter, not harder. That is why the association has created an online financial toolkit to help members deal with the current economic situation.
When members visit the page, they will have access to expert analysis, research and articles. These kinds of financial resources were compiled to help business thrive in any economy.
Tools such as these, along with other benefits like the new Convention format, a redesigned Web site and access to news and research, are just some of the ways NTA is helping members stay informed and prepared to make the best decisions.
Call for U.S. Legislative Action on United Airlines Credit Policy
Much has been said lately about United Airlines' proposed change in its credit policy, and now there is a chance to make your voice heard. Contact your members of Congress through NTA's Legislative Action Center and urge them to push for congressional hearings on the issue this fall.
The proposed change in United Airlines' credit policy, which was scheduled to go into effect July 20, was delayed at least 60 days due to industry and congressional pressure. The policy will make small travel agents unable to use merchant accounts and will shift credit card fees to travel agents. If agents cannot use merchant accounts, charges owed to consumers as a result of cancellation of flights or service disputes will be the responsibility of the agent instead of United Airlines.
Please 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 if you have any questions.
NTA has created a new page on Facebook to better communicate, and you can become an NTA fan by clicking here.
On the NTA Facebook Fan page, you can read quick updates and fun facts about the association and the industry. Also, you can access the new Convention blog, written by Convention Chairman Suzanne Slavitter, CTP. The blog helps prepare for the new Convention format through weekly highlights on enhancements, business and networking events, and entertainment and sponsor information.
Become a fan of NTA today and stay in the know. If you're new to Facebook and need some help getting started, check out NTA's How To guide.
U.S. and Canada Chambers Offer "Shared Border" Report
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with 47 business associations from both countries, issued a report titled "Finding the Balance: Shared Border of the Future." The joint report offers specific recommendations to reduce border costs in the short-term while increasing security at the border and competitiveness of all industries.
The recommendations for both governments to act on within the next 18 months include:
- Streamlining border wait times
- Implementing trusted shipper programs to enhance supply chain security without imposing a one-size-fits-all regulatory burden on businesses
- Enacting the NEXUS program to expedite clearance for 1 million low-risk travelers
- Offering pre-clearance of goods and people beyond the currently defined border area
- Providing funding for a single, electronic filing system
The two counties have the largest bilateral trade partnership in the world, with $1.6 billion in two-way trade and 300,000 travelers crossing the border on a daily basis. More than 10 million jobs rely on this partnership, including 7.1 million jobs in the U.S. and 3 million jobs in Canada and 37 of the 50 U.S. states count Canada as their largest export market.
To download a free copy of the report click here.
Members Share Positive Feedback on NTA Spring Meet
NTA's Spring Meet offers member networking in a casual setting, dedicated time for education, opportunities for peer-to-peer discussion and a chance to explore the host destination. If the feedback from some of the tour operators, suppliers and DMOs in attendance at the 2009 event is any indication, NTA and host Monterey, California, hit all the right notes.
"It was an overall great experience at NTA Spring Meet," said Uday Marwah with Uday Tours & Travel, who said it was worth flying 21 hours from New Delhi, India, to attend. "Other than business relationships, I made some great new friends at the NTA. I am very positive and eagerly waiting for Reno in November and then followed by Spain in 2010 to explore more and more new clients for my business and more than that, to make many great new friends from different parts of the world all in one place."
"The NTA Spring Meet was an incredible opportunity to network with travel professionals from the United States and internationally," said the California Travel and Tourism Commission's Glenda Taylor. "[The pre- and post-Fams] also provided an excellent platform for California destinations and products to showcase the abundance that California has to offer."
"I like going to the Spring Meet as it gives us time to meet new people and connect again with friends in a relaxed atmosphere," said Taunya Wolfe Finn, CTP, of Wolfe Adventures & Tours. "Going to the educational seminars is something I find important, too. I look forward to more chances to talk to other tour operators about the issues that affect us such as pricing tours, employee benefits and marketing as we did in the seminar that did it the 'Tour 20 Group Way.' "
"NTA is such an important organization for the businesses at PIER 39," said Jodi Cumming of PIER 39 in San Francisco. "Our sponsorship of the NTA Spring Meet allowed me additional face time with many of our tour operators and also allowed me to meet additional NACTA members that I would not have had the opportunity to meet. It was money well spent!"
The National Association of Career Travel Agents held its Western Regional meeting in conjunction with the NTA Spring Meet, which added another level of partnership development to the event. To see photos from Monterey, please visit NTA on Facebook and mark your calendars to attend next year's event to be held April 14-17 in Seville, Spain.
Gordon Bell and Congressman Sam Farr Named NTA Pioneers
NTA presented the fourth annual Pioneer Award to Congressman Sam Farr and Gordon Bell (posthumously) during the 2009 Tour Operator Spring Meet in Monterey, California. The award honors individuals whose accomplishments have resulted in a significant change in the travel industry from which NTA and its member, specifically tour operators, have benefited.
Bell and his wife, Ethel, are longtime owners of Three Valley Gap Heritage Ghost Town and Chateau Three Valley Lake, in southern British Columbia. The Bells acquired seven acres of lakeside property in the area shortly after the announcement that the Trans-Canadian Highway was coming through in 1956 and opened a seven-room motel, a coffee shop and a museum in 1960. They purchased 20 acres of swamp land a year later, which allowed them to expand into what is now a thriving resort with 200 guest rooms, restaurants, gardens and a Heritage Ghost Town, all of which is run by a self-sustaining hydro plant the Bells developed and installed.
Farr became a congressman in 1993, representing the area that includes tourist destinations such as Monterey, Santa Cruz, Big Basin Redwoods State Park and Pebble Beach along the central California coast. Since 1997, he has been a co-chair of the influential Congressional Travel & Tourism Caucus and has consistently worked on many fronts to further legislation that has proved favorable to the industry. He also serves as a member of the highly visible House Appropriations Committee and is the chair of the Oceans Caucus.
The awards were presented to Bell's family and Farr on Saturday, June 6.
Berkely Products Can Help Your Bottom Line
For more than two and a half decades, The Berkely Group has provided the travel industry with quality insurance products and services. As a long-time NTA Corporate Partner, Berkely has helped U.S.-based association members protect themselves and their clients through its customized travel insurance products.
Tour operators looking to earn additional income should consider the Berkely Travel Protection Plan. Tour operators who offer this plan, which was designed exclusively by and available only to U.S.-based NTA members, can receive up to 35 percent for every sale.
Additionally, NTA tour operator members may qualify for a premium credit by attending risk management educational sessions at the 2009 NTA Convention. The discount comes in addition to the already low rates on Professional Liability coverage members receive. This coverage protects insured companies from claims citing negligence arising out their tour operator operations, and it includes Professional Liability, errors or omissions and General Liability coverage.
For more information on Berkely and other NTA Corporate Partners, click here.
Tourism Cares Announces Worldwide Grants
Tourism Cares, NTA's official philanthropic organization, awarded $45,000 in grants to six non-profit organizations as part of its Worldwide Grant Program for summer 2009. With dollar-for-dollar matching funds available to nearly all recipients, a total of $87,500 will be presented to the organizations for efforts containing a combination of projects on voluntourism, sustainable tourism, and conservation and interpretation at cultural and heritage sites.
Grant recipients include:
- American Hiking Society, Silver Spring, Maryland for the U. S. National Parks
- Backbeat Foundation Inc., New Orleans, Louisiana
- Friends of Khmer Culture Inc., Norfolk, Connecticut for Cambodia
- Jamestown S'Klallam Association, Sequim, Washington
- Let's Go Africa Foundation, Maryland for Ghana
- Pompey's Pillar Historical Association, Worden, Montana
"As part of its mission, Tourism Cares has long been an advocate of conservation and preservation as a means to engage in responsible tourism," said Bruce Beckham, executive director of Tourism Cares. "The worthy recipients of the Tourism Cares Worldwide Grants this summer have demonstrated similar goals."
For more information on grant recipients and projects click here.