June 2012 NTA News
NTA News is a compilation of stories from Tuesday newsletter, which NTA members receive each week.
Questions about NTA? Contact us today. We'd love to have you join us.
June 2012 Top Stories
Industry & Association News
Make the Most of Your Time. Here's How.
Register Now (Get Better Appointments), Pay Later for Travel Exchange
New Forum at Tour Operator Retreat Focuses on Top-spending Travelers
Tourism Cares for Sacramento
NTA Stands with Brand USA
Save up to 20% on Office Supplies and Services
Survey Reveals Airfare "Tipping Point" for American Travelers
6 Tips for Taking Better Pics with Your Smartphone
Get Business as a Travel Exchange Sponsor
How to Reach 1,500 Tour Operators
Make the Most of Your Time. Here's How.
To do big things you have to make the most of your time. That's what gets tackled in the latest post on NTA's Do Big Things blog.
"Making the Most of Your Time" features a video that asks what you do with 252,000 seconds, 4,200 minutes, 70 hours and five days, as well as three tips for selling from Barbara Bowman, director of sales and division manager for Grand Junction Visitor & Convention Bureau.
So read the post, watch the video, and be sure to share your own tips in the comment section!
Register Now (Get Better Appointments), Pay Later for Travel Exchange
Tour Suppliers and DMOs: Did you know the earlier you register the better-matched your appointments will be at Travel Exchange? If you have to wait for a fiscal year budget to roll over before you can register, we have a solution to help you get your best appointments plus Early Bird savings. By choosing the "Invoice me" option on the registration payment page, you can register now for Travel Exchange and pay later via invoice. You'll save up to $200 with the Early Bird rate and secure your spot at the most diverse show in the travel industry: Travel Exchange, Jan. 20-24, in Orlando, Florida.
And, don't forget: Sellers, you can bring your CEO/executive for free, too.
But, you have to be an NTA member to register! To join NTA, call +1.859.264.6540 or 800.692.8886, e-mail us, or visit NTAonline.com.
New Forum at Tour Operator Retreat Focuses on Top-spending Travelers
According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, "tourist arrivals (to the U.S.) from China are forecast to grow by nearly 200 percent over the next five years, eclipsing arrivals from both France and Germany by 2016." And Chinese travelers have taken the No. 1 spot in spending per traveler, with Department of Commerce numbers showing "the average Chinese tourist now spends about US$6,000 per trip, up from $3,000 just two years ago."
Have you considered how you can take advantage of this market? At Contact, NTA's tour operator retreat (Aug. 16-18, in San Diego, California), attendees will have the opportunity to take part in NTA's first China Market Forum to get statistical insight into the market and learn how to best serve Chinese travelers.
"We created the China Market Forum to give our operators the opportunity to learn about this lucrative inbound market directly from market experts," said NTA President Lisa Simon. "We want our members to be right there, with knowledge and product ideas in hand, to welcome and serve these travelers as they explore the United States."
You'll find more information on the China Market Forum here. And you can register for Contact here. But, you have to be an NTA member to register! To join NTA, call +1.859.264.6540 or 800.692.8886, e-mail us, or visit NTAonline.com. (Hurry! Contact - and the China Market Forum - is just six weeks away!)
Sacramento, California's capital city and the gathering place for the California Gold Rush of 1849, has been chosen as the destination for the fall 2012 give-back volunteer program.
Scheduled to celebrate World Tourism Day, Tourism Cares for Sacramento invites hundreds of travel and tourism professionals to join with their colleagues to give back to historic sites in need of care and rejuvenation. Volunteers will arrive in Sacramento on Sept. 27 and work all day on Sept. 28. Registration is now available on the Tourism Cares Web site.
Travel industry volunteers will paint, landscape and rebuild areas in Old Sacramento, a National Historic Landmark District and State Historic Park located along the Sacramento River. Bustling with activity, the district depicts a bygone era of America's history with world-renowned museums, historic attractions, shopping, dining and entertainment. Much-needed work will also be done at Fort Sutter and other sites around the historic district. The city of Sacramento and its tourism highlights will benefit tremendously from the help of hundreds of enthusiastic volunteers who care.
Companies and individuals are invited to participate through attendance or sponsorship. Merchandise, monetary and in-kind sponsorships are available. For more information, visit the Tourism Cares Web site.
NTA President Lisa Simon contacted Caroline Beteta following Beteta's appointment as interim CEO of Brand USA last month after Jim Evans, who served as CEO during Brand USA's first year, resigned. Simon offered NTA's full support to Brand USA during the upcoming transition.
Under Evans' leadership, Brand USA established partnerships with more than 250 industry organizations, including NTA. Our association is collaborating with Brand USA to present the Discover America Pavilion at the China International Travel Mart in Shanghai this November. See the article in Travel Market Report for more details about Beteta and Brand USA.
Last month Brand USA launched the nation's first unified marketing campaign, promoting the United States as a premier travel destination. In an NTA release, Simon called on industry colleagues to help Brand USA raise cash and in-kind investments: "Brand USA is working to bring international travelers back to the United States, and it's critical for all of us in the travel and tourism industry to support the organization."
During the Grassroots Congressional Travel Summit in May, Joel Secundy, vice president of strategic outreach for Brand USA, briefed attendees on the organization's global marketing campaign.
Save up to 20% on Office Supplies and Services
"The NTA program with Staples is a great member benefit. It has saved us money on supplies and products. It also saves us time by ordering online and having the products delivered right to our office door. We have always purchased our products from Staples. Now we get savings and convenience too ... a great program."
—Ed Dresel, Destinations Unlimited, NTA member since 1989
Imagine getting everything you need for your office in one place and with a discount! NTA members receive exclusive benefits on an extensive selection of products and services from Staples including:
- 10 to 20 percent off all office solutions
- access to more than 30,000 items
- free next-day delivery
- environmentally conscious products
- facility maintenance supplies
- coffee and break room supplies
- computer and technology supplies, furniture and more!
And through the Staples Advantage program, ordering online is easy. For more information on NTA's Corporate Partner benefits, click here. But, you have to be an NTA member to participate! To join NTA, call +1.859.264.6540 or 800.692.8886, e-mail us, or visit NTAonline.com.
Survey Reveals Airfare "Tipping Point" for American Travelers
The majority of U.S. consumers polled (82 percent) said the "tipping point" for purchasing a domestic airline ticket is somewhere between $200 and $500; for international travel, 43 percent consider the tipping point to be between $1,000 and $1,500. Beyond those points, consumers are unlikely to view value in the price of a ticket and are less likely to purchase.
The survey was conducted by Travel Leaders, the travel agency franchise group. More results from the study:
- When asked what could change their tipping point for domestic airfare, respondents said funerals (66 percent), medical needs (45 percent) and weddings (33 percent).
- Nearly 94 percent indicate they will be taking at least one leisure trip this year, up from 89 percent last year.
- Respondents are more likely to travel within their own state or to a bordering state this year.
- Nearly two-thirds of respondents (64 percent) will take land-based leisure trips, while 34 percent will combine a land and cruise vacation, a big increase from last year's 21 percent.
This is the fourth year for Travel Leaders' survey.
6 Tips for Taking Better Pics with Your Smartphone
Smartphones have become the go-to camera, but things can go wrong, especially with clarity and composition. These tips, from Final Proof, can help you make the most of the moment:
- When taking an indoor photo, position your subject under the brightest spot in the room.
- Get closer to your subject, rather than using the zoom, which gives size but not clarity.
- Tap the touchscreen—right on your subject—to improve focus and adjust the light.
- Clean your lens with a cotton swab.
- Use your (polarized) sunglasses to remove glare and soften shadows.
- Steady yourself to avoid a shaky photo, especially in low-light conditions.
For more tips see Smartphone Photography 101.
Get Business as a Travel Exchange Sponsor
"The 2011 NTA Convention in Las Vegas was my best yet! The combination of our sponsorship booth, business appointments and the opportunity to network with new tour operators all resulted in new business!"
—Lisa Itel, Travel Oregon
Want to increase your business and visibility to the estimated 1,000 travel buyers anticipated at Travel Exchange '13 (January 20-24, 2013, in Orlando)? Sponsor and put your company in the spotlight! Click here to learn all about Travel Exchange sponsorships, including what's available, the benefits you'll receive and more! If you have questions about sponsoring or would like to learn more about becoming a sponsor, contact Karla DiNardo by e-mail or phone: 859.264.6556.
How to Reach 1,500 Tour Operators
Courier, NTA's official monthly magazine, reaches 1,500 NTA tour operators. You can put your message directly in the hands of those qualified tour operators by advertising in Courier.
October's issue will feature these destinations:
- China
- Great Plains
- Connecticut
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- New Hampshire
- Rhode Island
- Hawaii
- Special coverage will be Music, Music, Music
November's issue will feature these destinations:
- India
- America's Historic East (MD, PA, VA, DC)
- New Jersey
- New York
- New Brunswick
- Newfoundland & Labrodor
- Nova Scotia
- Prince Edward Island
- Quebec
- Las Vegas
- Special section will be Sun & Sand
We would love to work with you! Please contact advertising@ntaservicesinc.com or call us at 859.264.6559.
For more business information and tips like these delivered to your inbox weekly, call +1.859.264.6540 or 800.692.8886, e-mail us, or visit NTAonline.com to join NTA.