South Point Resort in Las Vegas to Host Spotlight on Experiences and Events – A Niche Market Tourism Conference – October 18-20
August 31, 2011 by webmaster
Filed under Latest News, Niche Travel
The South Point Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, NV will host the Spotlight on Experiences and Events on October 18-20, 2011. It’s a conference not to be missed for those interested in creating destination events and tours which touch travelers psychologically, evoke passion, and trigger emotional connections. Discussions will include how to enhance existing tours and events to allow guests to feel the heartbeat of the destination by participating in a favorite activity or special event.
Keynote speaker will be Melody Johnson from the International Culinary Tourism Association, where “Food is the Attraction”. Culinary tours are whetting appetites in destinations throughout North America. Find out more about this key niche market. A trade show, educational seminars, and social functions complete the Spotlight agenda. A Spotlight Pre-Fam Tour to the destinations of Laughlin, Primm, and Mesquite NV is also available for tour operators.
Spotlight is casual and intimate. Delegates don’t just network – they build relationships at Spotlight. There are three days of inter-action in which to conduct business. The goal is to build lasting relationships. New and creative tour itineraries and special events which take place in the Southwestern USA are highlighted.
What people are saying about Spotlight:
“Spotlight on the Southwest was one of the most enjoyable conferences that I have ever attended! Many thanks go to Sue and her team for all the planning and effort that went into all the events. It was a pleasure to get meet some new friends and get reacquainted with some friends from the past. I attended the conference as a supplier, but feel like I left as a true partner, looking forward to the future with Spotlight!”
Bernadette Anthony–CasaBlanca – Mesquite NV
“Thank you for arranging Spotlight so well! The impact on my life was multi-dimensional: professional, personal & spiritual.”
Carroll Driscoll – Travel Turtle Tours
“I just wanted to thank you again for all your work on Spotlight. It was great to see people I knew and to make new friends. I got a lot out of the fams and the contacts at the trade show. Wish I’d have been doing Spotlight for all 11 years, but you can’t do everything!”
Sandy Gibson – Around and About Tours
About Spotlight on Experiences and Events:
Spotlight features destination events, and experiences that create psychological and emotional reasons for travelers to visit destinations, hotels, and attractions. It’s a great way for niche travel groups to find the destination events which determines where and when they travel. The Conference will follow the same Spotlight format and philosophy and will be open to niche travel planners in addition to tour operators.
For more information visit www.spotlightsw.com or contact Sue Arko at 480-926-5547 or sue@freespiritvacations.com.
Study Ranks Top Adventure Travel Countries
July 29, 2011 by Randy Mink
Filed under Associations, Latest News, Niche Travel
A study published by George Washington University, the Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA) and Vital Wave Consulting has revealed that Israel, the Slovak Republic and Chile are among the top adventure tourism destinations for 2010.
The Adventure Tourism Development Index (ATDI), now in its third year, offers a ranking of countries around the world based on principles of sustainable adventure tourism and is calculated through a combination of expert survey data and quantitative data gathered from international indices.
“When we first developed the technical method for scoring countries in 2008, we didn’t know how it would be received,” said Kristin Lamoureux, visiting assistant professor of tourism and hospitality management. “Three years later, countries are using the Index to argue for sustainable tourism over less favorable types of tourism development.”
The top 10 developed and developing countries are as follows:
Developed Countries: Switzerland, Iceland, New Zealand, Canada, Germany, Sweden, Ireland, Norway, Finland and Austria.
Developing Countries: Israel, Slovak Republic, Chile, Estonia, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Jordan, Romania and Latvia.
“The ATDI ranks countries based on key touristic value pillars including sustainable development policy and entrepreneurship, putting importance on these issues which we now know are crucial not only for communities and the environment but also for business success,” said Christina Heyniger of Vital Wave Consulting. Heyniger originated the concept of the Index and the principles on which it is based. “Looking at this year’s rankings we see Eastern European countries again dominating the emerging-market rankings, and also the appearance of Canada in the top 10 for developed countries.”
Countries were ranked by 10 pillars organized into three factors:
• Safe and welcoming: sustainable development, safety, natural resources and health
• Adventure: entrepreneurship and adventure activity resources
• Readiness: humanitarian, infrastructure, cultural resources and image
The scores are not a reflection of a country’s current popularity or visitation numbers for adventure travel, although in some cases a country’s ranking does correlate with those factors.
“The adventure travel industry is keenly aware of the potential advantages and disadvantages of adventure tourism development,” said Shannon Stowell of the Adventure Travel Trade Association. “The ATDI is an important tool our industry has to promote travel, which requires less development than traditional industry.”
With the goal of promoting and informing sustainable development of adventure tourism, the ATDI was created to support entrepreneurs and governments who want to create and market sustainable adventure tourism products and services for the benefit of communities and the environment.
To view the study, visit www.adventureindex.travel/downloads.htm.
Why Women’s Group Travel Fails, When Mixed Tours Succeed?
April 27, 2011 by webmaster
Filed under Latest News, Niche Travel
1. Overpricing of trip and single supplement. Women earn less, are more price sensitive and want private rooms frequently.
2. No pre or post tours. Once away from work, women ask for add on’s to personal trips. Many women calculate travel on per diem costing.
3. Selling time is too short. Women have more combined work/family obligations and need almost a year’s advance notice.
4. Organizations miss subtle selling points: ie. ‘Escorted by’ is important, as is a welcome meeting, even if only on-line.
6. Tours forget details. Women are concerned about travel pace, light menus etc.
7. No co-marketing by the travel vendor. Women research before booking and a tour operator should help sell with continuing engaging copy.
8. Program seems elite; only Board members sign up. High trip pricing suggests an ‘in’ group, unwelcome to new prospects.
9. Staff unable to say NO to VIP’s. The friendliness of a group and its leaders is key to new bookings. No one must feel VIP’s have an advantage.
10. Limited staff time to sell the tour. Women will not book, if rushed on the telephone, or not supplied with exact information.
The Women’s Travel Club organizes tours for women and women’s organizations. Groups range from 10 artists going to London to 100′s attending conventions in China. The WTC newsletter contains additional expert travel tips and deals.
For more information: PStoller@womenstravelclub.com
www.womenstravelclub.com 1 -800-480-4448.
Travel Agents: Experience the Show for Faith Based Tourism
October 14, 2010 by lgtadmin
Filed under Latest News, Niche Travel
At the World Religious Travel Expo you’ll find more buying, selling and networking to build your faith-based product and tap into this burgeoning marketplace! Check out exactly what you’ll experience when you register today to join the World Religious Travel Association in Montréal, Nov. 13-16!
Registration is still open for this November's World Religious Travel Show
- St-Joseph’s Oratory (Montréal)
- Notre-Dame-du-Cap Sanctuary (Cap-de-la-Madeleine)
- Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré Basilica (Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré)
- Ermitage-Saint-Antoine (Lac-Bouchette)
