September 2011 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.
September 2011 Top Stories
Industry & Association News
VIDEO: Watch These Members Take a Special Tour of Las Vegas
Why NTA Members Go to Convention
Latest NTA Trip Planner Promotes NTA Members to 20,000 Group Leaders
Your Membership Could Be Paid for. Here's How.
Which Cities Offer the Best Visitor Value?
Get ‘Peace of Mind' for Yourself and Your Clients
Join the Ranks of NTA Certified Tour Professionals
China Inbound Travel to the U.S. Continues to Rise, NTA Reports Show
Industry News and Updates
Business Tips
4 Big Benefits of Stepping Up to Lead
Top 5 Pitfalls of a Family-owned Business
7 Ways to Make Great Things Happen
VIDEO: Watch These Members Take a Special Tour of Las Vegas
Just 68 days to go until Convention '11! Want a preview? Check out this video, starring Laurie Lincoln, 2011 Convention Chair; John Meyer of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority; Larry Friedman with the Nevada Commission on Tourism; and a special guest who makes a cameo appearance just after the 2:00 mark. Also, don't miss some of the best footage ... at the very end.
Join NTA now so you can attend Convention Dec. 5-9, in Las Vegas to push your business forward. Come see where NTA can take you! (You can see who's already registered here.)
To join, call 800.682.8886 (U.S. & Canada) or 859.264.6540.
Important Convention '11 Fam Tours Update: The "Bags and Bright Lights" and "Put It in Drive and the Park It in Nevada and Utah" pre-Convention '11 Fam Tours are now full.
The deadlines to sign-up for the remaining on-site Convention tours are: Nov. 1 for sightseeing on Monday afternoon (Dec. 5), and Nov. 4. for the Pre- and Post-Convention Fam Tours.
You'll find tour specifics on the Convention Web site.
Why NTA Members Go to Convention
If you've never been to the NTA Convention, it's hard to imagine. Here's how our members describe the atmosphere, how to work the show and why they attend year after year:
The Perfect Environment to Buy, Sell and Build by Cathy Greteman, Star Destinations
Convention Tips from a 20-year Veteran, by Laurie Lincoln, Main Street Tours Inc.
Using Convention to Develop Your Next Product, by Mark Hoffmann, CTP, Sports Leisure Vacations
Why Convention Exists. Moving beyond the handshake to establish new-and lasting-connections.
How One DMO Developed a Strategy to Work Convention
Why You Should Follow Up on Your Appointments, Renee M. Eichelberger, St. Louis CVC
Latest NTA Trip Planner Promotes NTA Members to 20,000 Group Leaders
The fifth edition of the NTA Trip Planner for Group Leaders is now available in printed and digital form. In this new publication you will find details on more than 20 shows that will be part of the 2011-12 Broadway season and an article profiling NTA members that link travelers to history's key events and characters.
The "I Want to Go There" section provides a look at unique group tours, budget-friendly options, culinary specialties and festivals in 20 top cities around the world. The publication also includes feature stories on shopping, casinos and dining, and Q & As with specialists in faith-based travel, literary tours and international rail travel.
The purpose of the two NTA Trip Planners (for group leaders and for the student market) is to introduce travel buyers to NTA members and educate them about the diverse products offered by the association's tour operator, tour supplier and DMO members. Each magazine is distributed to more than 20,000 buyers. The next issue of the student Trip Planner will come out in February 2012.
For information on advertising in either the student or group leader version of the Trip Planner, e-mail advertising@ntaservicesinc.com or call +1.859.264.6559.
Your Membership Could Be Paid for. Here's How.
"Thanks to the NTA Corporate Partner programs, my NTA membership doesn't cost a thing. I save so much through the programs like Fed Ex, that I reap more from my member benefits than what I'm paying in dues. It definitely is a win-win!"
—Donna Cappa, Tulalip Resort Casino & Spa
Being a member of NTA gets you valuable, exclusive discounts from NTA Corporate Partners on payroll and credit card processing, insurance, shipping, office supplies and more. Join NTA to take advantage of the valuable business-building opportunities, while saving your company money.
For more information on NTA's Corporate Partner Program and other NTA member benefits, call 800.682.8886 (U.S. & Canada) or 859.264.6540.
Which Cities Offer the Best Visitor Value?
Las Vegas and Bangkok provide tourists the best bang for their U.S. buck, according to a TripAdvisor cost comparison of 15 U.S. cities and 50 popular travel spots around the world.
To rank the cities, the travel Web site priced four items in each destination:
- One night at a four-star hotel (between June and August 2011)
- Five-mile taxi ride
- Dry martini
- Large cheese pizza
(Hotel costs were the big driver in the study.)
Topping the list of U.S. cities was Las Vegas, with a total cost of US$164, Dallas (US$210) and New Orleans (US$210). New York City arrived with the highest cost (US$367).
On the list of global cities, Bangkok (US$112), Beijing (US$120) and Sharm El Sheikh (US$128) were rated the best values, while Paris (US$429) presented the highest tab. At US$136, Sofia, Bulgaria, was the best-value European city for U.S. travelers.
Click here to see more city rankings.
Get ‘Peace of Mind' for Yourself and Your Clients 
"One of my clients broke her leg while in the airport. Berkely Insurance contacted her and her husband, even before the ambulance arrived, and took care of everything seamlessly. Service like that helps me keep loyal clients. The commission adds nicely to our bottom line, and I know my clients are protected. That gives them, and me, peace of mind."
—Katherine Setness, Setness Tours
Aon Affinity | Berkely Travel, an NTA Corporate Partner, offers customized travel insurance products that are available exclusively to NTA members*, such as:
- an administration-free product that can be distributed to clients for purchase
- a group product that offers you more flexibility in pricing and compensation
Both programs offer you up to 35 percent compensation per sale, and tour operators also have access to exclusive toll-free customer service numbers. And, Berkely Travel's best-in-the-industry automated claims-handling system enables the company to handle and follow up quickly on claims.
For more information on this and other NTA member benefits, call 800.682.8886 (U.S. & Canada) or 859.264.6540.
*The travel protection programs designed for NTA by Aon Affinity l Berkely Travel are available only to NTA members in the United States.
Join the Ranks of NTA Certified Tour Professionals
NTA's Certified Tour Professional (CTP) program is the only certification program in the industry developed by tour and travel professionals for tour and travel professionals. The study-at-your-own-pace program is designed to be completed in one year, with all related course materials available conveniently online.
Earning your CTP demonstrates—to your peers and the industry—your commitment to professional competency and excellence in the packaged travel industry.
"I chose to be part of the CTP program because I wanted to show our industry and our travelers the high value our company places on education. This, in turn, demonstrates a desire to better understand and serve our travelers."
—Rick Pharr, CTP, CTN Travels
To develop the most comprehensive and specialized certification program in the industry, NTA teamed with Temple University's School of Tourism and Hospitality Management. Packaged travel professionals who obtain their CTP designation demonstrate to the industry that they are experienced, knowledgeable and motivated professionals who care about the industry and their colleagues.
Non-NTA members can sign up for the Certified Tour Professional program for $900. For NTA members, the cost is $150. For additional information about becoming a CTP, please visit Becoming a CTP or call 800.682.8886 (U.S. & Canada) or 859.264.6540.
China Inbound Travel to the U.S. Continues to Rise, NTA Reports Show
Chinese travelers are visiting the United States in increasingly large numbers—and will continue to do so—according to two recent NTA reports.
The majority of Chinese tour operators reported that bookings to the United States increased by an average of 16 to 20 percent in the second quarter of 2011, as reported in the China Travel Trade Barometer. None of the surveyed operators reported a decline. The Barometer, produced quarterly by NTA in partnership with Travel Market Insights and Ivy Alliance, captures input from top Chinese travel firms that promote and sell travel to the United States.
This increase is in line with surveys of participants in NTA's China Inbound Program. Based on a survey of U.S. tour operators registered with the program, the number of tourists during the first quarter of 2011 was 99,752. Prior to the 2010 opening of the NTA Visit USA Center in Shanghai, a baseline of 46,709 leisure group travelers visited the United States during the second quarter of 2010. The baseline was established to monitor the progress of the NTA Visit USA Center and inbound travel from China to the United States.
"The increase of travelers served by tour operators in the NTA China Inbound Program essentially doubled," said Lisa Simon, NTA president. "And those visitors represent nearly $600 million in travel and spending on U.S. lodging, food, entertainment and shopping."
Click here for more information on NTA's China Inbound Program, or call 800.682.8886 (U.S. & Canada) or 859.264.6540.
- The Statue of Liberty will close for a yearlong repair project, starting in late October. Liberty Island will remain open during that time.
- PhoCusWright's latest U.S. Consumer Travel Report finds that after lackluster numbers last year, the leisure travel market is on a firm upswing—yet with a tinge of anxiety.
- Travel-related jobs in the U.S., rising for the eighth consecutive month, now account for 11 percent of the total number of jobs created in 2011.
4 Big Benefits of Stepping Up to Lead 
Offering your services on a nonprofit board or committee is a selfless act, right? Absolutely. But beyond helping others, volunteerism also carries rewards for you and your business. Vincent Hyman explores four ways that stepping forward as a volunteer can also elevate you and your company:
- Good business. Most executives say that acts of corporate citizenship add to the bottom line, and nearly three in four Americans consider a company's commitment to social issues when deciding which stocks to invest in.
- Good marketing. When you join a group of talented business people on a board, you and your business will be listed among leaders in your community, enhancing your reputation. You'll also make valuable connections with other board members.
- Good career development. There's a reason that some large corporations use nonprofit board service as a professional-development tool: Board service allows you to exercise the skills you've mastered while expanding into new challenges involving law, marketing, fund development and human resources.
- Good for you. Not only will board service enhance your reputation, it will also improve your emotional health: Volunteer board members report a profound sense of engagement and renewal as they share their talents for a worthy cause.
Hyman's article includes questions you should ask yourself before volunteering to make sure you have the necessary time and commitment. Click here for his article.
Top 5 Pitfalls of a Family-owned Business
A family-owned business, big or small, carries a lot of positives: stability, flexibility, shared commitment, etc. But whether you're together on a corporate board or in a storefront, there are a few minefields to avoid.
Katie Morell discusses common mistakes in an article on Open Forum. If your travel business is a family-run endeavor, watch out for these danger zones:
- Mixing work and personal matters: Respect each other's boundaries, and don't drag up an old issue from your personal life and drop it in a meeting at work.
- Taking work home: While it's one thing to mention schedules or reminders, you should declare most work-related issues off-limits at home.
- Assuming your kids will want to join the business: Maybe they will, maybe they won't. Let the choice be theirs when they're old enough to decide.
- Feeling entitled to a job: Make sure all employees—family and nonrelatives—understand that positions are filled based on ability, not last name.
- Keeping loose financial arrangements: Better to put all major agreements in writing than to rely on memory
And for a related article on managing a family business, click here.
7 Ways to Make Great Things Happen
Getting rewards in life isn't a matter of luck, fate or a generous gene pool. It's a matter of taking advantage of the opportunities that suit your unique abilities, says Liz Strauss of Inside-Out Thinking. She advises people to take control and position themselves to usher opportunities into their lives.
Here are seven habits that can put you in the right position:
- Pay attention: You'll become a valuable resource for people around you.
- Think of your work as important: If you place value on what you do, others will look for ways to use your skills, allowing you to advance.
- Be aware of your impact: Get in the habit of thinking how your actions will affect those around you. Your thoughtfulness will make you more desirable as a colleague.
- Imagine opportunities: Look for ideas and trends and think of ways you can improve them to work better for you and others.
- Share what you do well: Tell others how much you enjoy a favorite project, and then lend your skills to help them.
- Watch and record opportunities: Keep track of ideas that interest you, and others will notice—and contribute.
- Don't hesitate to take new opportunities: When you take on a challenge and grow, people will be more likely to offer you more opportunities.
Strauss says that by seeing and grasping new opportunities, you can enjoy more consistent success—not by luck, but by design. Read the full story here.