News from NTA- January 2010
If you have any questions about any of the programs detailed in this newsletter or about becoming part of the National Tour Association community, contact NTA Director of Membership Development Chris Horsley at 800.682.8886, ext. 4354 (U.S. and Canada) or +1.859.226.4354.
ARTICLE HEADLINES
NTA Tour Operator Membership Continues to Grow
NTA Receives Dept. of Commerce Award to Develop Visit USA Center in Shanghai
New Opportunity to Connect to Indian Business
Business Highlights from Convention '09
New Partner2Partner System Introduced at Convention '09
Get Ready for MONTAGE
Tourism Cares Presented World Tourism Award
NTA Tour Operator Membership Continues to Grow
In a challenging economy where you hear that association membership is down and conference attendance is suffering, NTA has experienced growth in its tour operator membership for the second consecutive year. That growth translates into added opportunity to network and grow your business for all NTA members.
The two years of operator growth was felt Convention '09 in Reno. With 400 NTA buyers, plus an additional 200 buyers on hand with the co-located World Religious Travel Expo, there was more opportunity to do business than ever before. The number of NTA buyers at the Convention for 2009 exceeded 2008's numbers... and in this economy too!
NTA Receives Dept. of Commerce Award to Develop Visit USA Center in Shanghai
NTA has been awarded a Market Development Cooperator Program award to create a Visit USA center, to be co-located with the United States Commercial Service. The center, which will promote group leisure travel to the United States, will be located in Shanghai, China, one of the largest metropolitan areas in the world and home to more than 20 million people.
Programs and services that will be available from the Visit USA center include distribution of information on U.S. destinations, development of a Chinese-language Web site to promote leisure group travel, and creation of mini-trade shows and road shows to promote the U.S. as a destination.
The establishment of the Visit USA center in Shanghai allows NTA to further its work with the U.S. incoming market from China. With its China Inbound Program, NTA facilitates group leisure travel inbound to the U.S. in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding established between the U.S. and Chinese governments in Dec. 2007. NTA maintains the only list of U.S. operators approved to work with Chinese travel agents to facilitate inbound travel.
The project funding period begins in January with the goal of an operational office by April 2010.
New Opportunity to Connect to Indian Business
Travel from India is on the upswing. Since 2001, there has been a 122 percent increase in Indians travelling to the U.S. The U.S. is expected to receive 10.2 percent of all Indian travelers by 2011.
If you are interested in tapping into this market, you have the chance to participate in a unique program called "Destination USA: Virtual Matchmaker with India" on January 21, where you can virtually introduce your company, attraction, destination, etc. to a group of Indian tour operators, travel agents and travel industry representatives from Mumbai and New Delhi. This program does not require travel to India yet will offer you an opportunity to do a live presentation from your computer through a live Internet and telephone-based platform.
Rising disposable incomes, better flight connectivity, the advent of low cost carriers and more investments from foreign players in the India market has opened up new avenues for potential outbound travelers. The U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce is organizing this unique virtual buyer-seller matchmaker.
Your participation fee is only US$195, a fraction of the cost of a plane ticket to India. You'll receive the latest update on the trends and opportunities in the Indian market as well as access to follow-up assistance from team of India-based U.S. Commercial Service travel industry experts.
Click here to register for this program or you may contact Tony Michalski at +1.909.466.4137.
Business Highlights from Convention '09
NTA's Convention '09 was a new experience for everyone who attended thanks to its co-location with the World Religious Travel Association and the enhanced business format. Anticipating solid opportunities for business, the number of buyers at this year's Convention was higher than the number of buyers at the 2008 Convention.
Two members offered their opinion in issues of the Convention Daily News. Speaking about the co-location of the NTA Convention with the WRTA World Religious Travel Expo, Agustin Caparros of A Closer Look Tours out of Pheonix, Arizona, said, "The combination of these two shows has been one of the best activities in the dozen years I've been a member of NTA. We're not only exposed to our friends in NTA that we've been seeing over the years, but also, through these different areas and pavilions, we have opportunities to see new people. I have done a lot of good business."
Also, talking about the newly redesigned Destination Pavilion, Jackie Williams of Port of San Diego and Phil Hannes of the Anaheim/Orange County CVB said, "...The new format allows innovative, open collaboration, which is why suppliers come to NTA. What we've done here is break down the walls, because suppliers are talking with other suppliers and DMOs are talking with other DMOs. When you don't have an appointment, it is very easy to reach over and talk to your friendly competitor about trends and opportunities. More importantly, the pavilion allows access to tour operators to renew relationships and conduct business, and that's why we're here."
Look for your December Courier magazine for complete coverage of the Convention. Also, NTA will be sharing photos from the event as well as the highly requested Week in Review video.
New Partner2Partner System Introduced at Convention '09
NTA introduced its new Partner2Partner program, at http://p2p.ntaonline.com/, at Convention ‘09, which will facilitate online member connections 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
With the Partner2Partner system, members receive a number of free listings as an added benefit to their NTA membership. Among the tools of the program, there is an area for tour operators to post tour packages and potential partnering opportunities for other tour operator members to access. Through the Partner Finder search tool, tour operators may send requests for proposals or quotes to other members, including suppliers and destinations. In addition, the system includes a Classified Ads section where all members can post special offers, incentives and last-minute opportunities.
Additionally, the NTA Partner2Partner program will help members track their inquiries and postings made through the system. This is just another way NTA is helping members obtain ROI information and work smarter.
NTA's MONTAGE, in Seville, Spain, April 14–17, will offer more business opportunities for all attendees.
For tour operators, there will be education and relaxed networking with peers and with partners from all corners of the world looking for inbound, outbound and domestic product.
For suppliers and DMOs, MONTAGE provides the opportunity to network not only with NTA buyers, but also with new buyers as NTA collaborates with partners to invite buyers from Europe, India and other areas to MONTAGE.
DMOs and tour suppliers can pay the registration fee to attend rather than having to be a sponsor to gain access to the event. DMOs and suppliers may purchase a booth in the half-day marketplace where buyers can shop destinations and services, and they can increase their exposure through sponsorship.
Click here for pricing on the various registration options.
Tourism Cares Presented World Tourism Award
Tourism Cares Executive Director Bruce Beckham, CTP, received the coveted World Tourism Award during the 2009 World Travel Market. The award, in its 13th year, is being presented by American Express, Corinthia Hotels, the International Herald Tribune and Reed Travel Exhibitions to Tourism Cares for its dedication to sustainable tourism, the preservation of natural and cultural heritage and, in particular, "its extraordinary work to preserve the travel experience for future generations by awarding grants to natural, cultural and historic sites worldwide; awarding scholarships to the future tourism workforce and organizing volunteer projects to help restore tourism-related sites." Tourism Cares is the official philanthropy of NTA. top of page