DECEMBER 2015
Industry Forecast Issue
6
Trade Shows
That Should Be On Your Radar A Premier Travel Media publication www.leisuregrouptravel.com
Rule Breakers 10 Planners To Follow
VOL. 25, NO. 6 • DECEMBER 2015
contents
37 ON THE COVER: Christkindlmarket Chicago captures the spirit of Christmas. (©True Shot Studios)
COVER STORY 37 Christmastime in the City
BY RANDY MINK
Aglow for the holidays, Chicago puts on its festive best from late November through New Year’s
COLUMNS
6
On My Mind BY JEFF GAYDUK
INDUSTRY FORECAST SPECIALS
8
On Tour BY MARTY SARBEY DE SOUTO
10
Rule Breakers – 10 Planners to Follow
18
Six Trade Shows That Should Be On Your Radar
43
BY MIKE MARCHEV
58
FEATURES
On River Cruising On Marketing BY DAVE BODLE
25
South Dakota’s Great 8
33
Tennessee’s Cotton Junction Trail
40
Maryland’s Ethnic Festivals
44
River Cruising in Holland and Belgium
48
North Carolina Readies for Travel South
51
Nebraska’s Pioneer Past
54
Arizona Agritourism
56
Great American Aquariums
51
BY DAVE BODLE
BY DANIELLE GOLAB
BY RANDY MINK
BY DAVE BODLE
BY RANDY MINK
BY SUE ARKO
BY DANIELLE GOLAB
Getting up-close and personal with penguins at Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta
NUMBER CRUNCHING
ON LOCATION
900 Approximate number of windmills still left in Holland Lance Harrell, Leisure Group Travel’s director of online media, went kayaking prior to the Adventure Travel Trade World Summit in Chile.
90 Percent of our winter lettuce supply grown in Yuma County, AZ
WHAT’S ONLINE? INTERVIEW: Ted Sykes, President & COO, American Queen
C
elebrating its five-year anniversary, American Queen Steamboat Company is forging ahead with new on-board programming, award-winning cuisine and innovative shore excursions. Learn how this company is helping revitalize small river towns up and down the Mississippi and Columbia rivers. There’s an interesting story playing out here that people don’t know.
3 Reasons Sure to Entice You to the Northeast Georgia Mountains
T
he Northeast Georgia Mountains Region shows off an area of the state that enhances any regional tour, associate publisher Dave Bodle found out on a recent trip. Read his Online Exclusive at LeisureGroupTravel.com.
56
1948 Year that South Dakota’s Crazy Horse carving was started
656,861 Population of Memphis, Tennessee
430 Length of Nebraska in miles
800 Approximate number of different beers brewed in Belgium
60 Museums in Chicago
O N MY M I N D
By Jeffrey Gayduk
Past, Present and Future
Vol. 25, No. 6 December 2015
Editorial & Advertising Office 621 Plainfield Road, Suite 406 Willowbrook, IL 60527 P 630.794.0696 • F 630.794.0652 info@ptmgroups.com
Publisher – Jeffrey Gayduk jeff@ptmgroups.com
AS I PEN THIS COLUMN I’m flying over Pennsylvania, returning from what’s become an annual rite-of-passage, the American Group Travel Awards. This ceremony, held each November at the Diamond Horseshoe Theatre in Manhattan, honors some of the best group-friendly hotels, attractions and destinations in the U.S. in 20 different categories. We’ll have a full report on the AGTA festivities in this coming February’s edition.
Associate Publisher – Dave Bodle dave@ptmgroups.com
Managing Editor – Randy Mink randy@ptmgroups.com Director of Online Media – Lance Harrell lance@ptmgroups.com
While in NYC, we visited customers and got better acquainted with the city’s ever-changing tourism product. I took in the views from the top, as in Top of the Rock Observatory. The nighttime view was spectacular from 70 floors above, and even at midnight the pace of the city was hurried. Earlier that day I found myself below ground at the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, a chilling, yet remarkable tribute to those who suffered from the World Trade Center terrorist attacks. It’s impossible NOT to think what’s possible while reflecting on the enormity of the NY skyline, or harken back to where you were on that fateful morning of Sept. 11 and think about how life has changed as a result. As we wrap up our final issue of the year at Leisure Group Travel, it’s a time for us to reflect while looking towards the future of our industry. This involves taking stock of our accomplishments, not just this year but how we got to this point, and maybe how we could have done it better/quicker. I know I can’t change any of that, but I can plan for the future using history as a guide. As it’s been said, those who fail to learn from history are destined to repeat it, right? Our Industry Forecast issue is written to assist you in using history as a guide while looking for future opportunities. Rule Breakers tells the story of 10 group travel professionals who are breaking the traditional mold of group travel. Their stories are both entertaining and introspective - we can learn from them as we hold our accomplishments up to our peer group. I hope at least one of our rule breakers makes you pause and say “maybe I should…”, encouraging you to take that next big step. In 6 Trade Shows That Should Be On Your Radar, we cover travel industry events slated for next year that could drive you into a new market or help make new contacts, regionally, nationally or internationally. If you’re traditionally not a show-goer, perhaps there’s something here for you. Or if you’re finding yourself in the “same old” trade show rut, these will certainly add some spice to your diet. Most importantly, I want to thank you for reading Leisure Group Travel. Everyone here works hard to produce interesting, informative content. We are rewarded each time you dog-ear an article. Spoiler alert: We’ll have some interesting changes to your magazine next year which I think you’ll like. Stay tuned… Happy Holidays,
Director, Design & Production – Robert Wyszkowski rob@ptmgroups.com
Vice President – Theresa O’Rourke theresa@ptmgroups.com
Regional Business Development Managers Northeast & Eastern Midwest/Canada – Harry Peck P 330.830.4880 • F 630.794.0652 harry@ptmgroups.com
Mid-Atlantic/New England/ Wisconsin/Arkansas – Ellen Klesta P 630.794.0696 • F 630.794.0652 ellen@ptmgroups.com
Southeast/West Coast – Cheryl Rash P 563.613.3068 • F 815.225.5274 cheryl@ptmgroups.com
Frontier & Mountain West/ Illinois/Minnesota/Southwest – Linda Ragusin P 630.794.0696 • F 630.794.0652 linda@ptmgroups.com
Southeast/Texas – Eric Moore P 352.391.3314 eric@ptmgroups.com The publisher accepts unsolicited editorial matter, as well as advertising, but assumes no responsibility for statements made by advertisers or contributors. Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information published, but the publisher makes no warranty that listings are free of error. The publisher is not responsible for the return of unsolicited photos, slides or manuscripts.
Leisure Group Travel (ISSN-1531-1406) is published bi-monthly by Premier Travel Media, 621 Plainfield Road, Suite 406, Willowbrook, IL 60527. The magazine is distributed free of charge to qualified tour operators, travel agents, group leaders, bank travel clubs and other travel organizations. Other travel-related suppliers may subscribe at the reduced rate of $12.00 per year. The regular subscription price for all others is $18.00 per year. Single copies are $4.95 each.
Send Address Change to: Premier Travel Media 621 Plainfield Road, Suite 406 Willowbrook, IL 60527
A
Jeff Gayduk Publisher 6 December 2015
publication
All rights reserved. Materials may not be reproduced in any form without written permission of the publisher.
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There’s something for everyone in your group, including you. From our homestyle cooking that satisfies the pickiest eaters to our country store filled with gifts and games for everyone. With our designated tour bus parking*, dedicated group phone line, and large party seating accommodations, it’s like we were custom built just for you. And as always, a meal for your driver and guide is on the house. It’s just one of our ways of making sure everyone on the road is taken care of.
crackerba el.com/tourgroups • 1-800-576-7693 Sunday–Thursday 6 a.m.–10 p.m., Friday & Saturday 6 a.m.–11 p.m. All locations company owned and operated. *DESIGNATED TOUR BUS PARKING AT MOST LOCATIONS. ©2015 CBOCS PROPERTIES, INC. “CRACKER BARREL OLD COUNTRY STORE” NAME AND LOGO ARE REGISTERED TRADEMARKS OF CBOCS PROPERTIES, INC., REG. USPTO.
By Marty Sarbey de Souto, CTC
O N TOU R
Are You Your Own Tour Operator?
P
erhaps up to now your travel
different itineraries to the same locale
program has consisted of some
or perhaps several itineraries to
great one-day excursions and
different areas. Ultimately you may
perhaps a short Caribbean
find that only one of the three is
cruise. Possibly you even did a small
going to come in within the desired
group trip that you had put together by a
budget.
well-known U.S tour operator for your private clientele. But have you yet operated a tour that
Fourth – Zero in on the selected itineraries and start to get suggestions from city convention bureaus or
you custom-designed, booked, sold
destination management companies
and operated yourself? That is, have
in the selected area. At this point you
you actually worked out the day-by-day
may want to get recommendations
itinerary, booked the accommodations,
and prices for the basic services
services and transportation based on
you plan to include: hotels, coach,
the itinerary you designed? And then
entrance fees, local step-on guides,
have you filled in all the activities,
meals you think should be included.
meals, entrance fees, local guides,
Fifth – Now it’s time to dress it up.
Booking transportation is part of developing a tour “from scratch.”
amount to cover you in case you’ve
social events, tips and other services
Add in special touches that will differen-
overlooked something, made an error.
that constitute a true tour?
tiate your trip from the mainstream.
Establish your GROSS per-person
Perhaps a lecture or meeting with an
sales price.
And after you did all that, did you do the costing and pricing? How about the
expert, maybe a unique hotel instead of
marketing plan, writing and publishing
just a mainstream property, perhaps a
above figures, come up with an estimated
the trip brochure, designing posters,
class to learn something – a cooking
profit if you have 15 and if you have 30.
mailings to past travelers?
specialty, a flower arrangement or
Is it worth it? Do you have to “wiggle”
If you haven’t done all this yourself,
Eighth and lastly – Based on the
special garden, whatever the area is
the prices a little? $978.23 may not
then perhaps it’s time for you to begin to
renowned for. Entrée to private homes
sound like an attractive sales price; try
do a tour “from scratch” and declare
is always appreciated. Maybe a special
$979. Maybe take out one meal and
yourself a true tour operator. If you want
museum could be the centerpiece of
make it $959. Go ahead and book your
to try it, here’s the routine.
your trip including a docent tour ending
hotels and put a reserve on your coach.
in the museum gift shop for attractive
You can’t offer a tour you don’t have
take-home souvenirs.
booked. Be prepared to put up some
First of all, start a year in advance. This is not something you do close in because you suddenly note you have a hole in your travel schedule. Secondly, decide from the outset
Sixth – the hard part. Put together
deposits to hold space, but be sure you
the tour budget to establish the NET
establish important cancellation dates if
per-person cost to you – a per-person
you don’t want to lose your deposits.
who your potential clientele will be. A trip
cost based on 15 and another cost
designed for seniors or single women or
based on 30 paying adult passengers.
trip, pat yourself on the back for making
high school students will have a very
Or 20 and 40 – depending on the
a first try. Learn from your errors and try
different day-by-day itinerary than one
seating capacity you’re dealing with.
again next year.
programed for families or sports fans, or your church. Thirdly, lay out a day-by-day first-
Seventh – Add markup to cover marketing and sales – your tour brochure, cost of sending a tour leader
draft itinerary to an area you’d enjoy
and any other group operational
selling. In fact, you might lay out several
expenses. Throw in a “just in case”
8 December 2015
If you don’t make a mint on your first
Marty is a Certified Travel Counselor who designs and leads tours. Her travel industry consulting and educational firm is Sarbey Associates (sarbeyassociates.com). Her e-book How to Plan, Operate and Lead Successful Group Trips can be ordered on groupuniversity.com.
LeisureGroupTravel.com
Candle Lab
What was Ohio like in the 1950s?
The Kitchen
How do you throw an authentic festa italiana? From exploring charming neighborhoods to sampling old-country flavors, wines and more, Columbus is full of unforgettable hands-on experiences perfect for groups of all sizes. Start planning your Columbus visit today at experiencecolumbus.com/tours or call 800-354-2657. Ohio Historical Center
How does a 200-yearold letterpress work?
Igloo Letterpress
Krema Nut Company
Rule B Breakers
10
PLANNERS
y witness of Leisure Group Travel’s “Rule Breakers” for 2015, it’s an exciting time to be in group travel. Our collection of success stories focuses on men and women who are charting their own course thanks to a driving passion and unique business model. Each of these planners represents a different sector of the business and comes to us with a unique history, driven by their personality, ambition and business acumen. Here is a glimpse into their lives; read the entire stories at www.leisuregrouptravel.com/rule-breakers.
TO FOLLOW Through creativity, ambition and plenty of hard work, these people have carved out a niche for themselves in the travel marketplace 10 December 2015
David Chait, Travefy
D
avid is the co-founder and CEO of Travefy, a three-year-old online and mobile group travel planning service. The platform helps solve coordination headaches that many people encounter when planning a group trip. Travefy helps groups to collaborate on trip details, build rich, shared, mobile itineraries, and track and collect shared expenses so that no one gets stuck with the bill. The idea came from a bad experience David encountered personally. “I was planning one of my best friend’s bachelor party and we couldn’t get ourselves coordinated,” he said. “People were getting stuck with bills and out of just personal need, I was looking around for anything that could possibly help me.” David realized that while there were many single-dimensional tools available, no one solution solved the entire problem. “If you want to communicate with a group, you can use email or SMS. If you want to transfer money, you can use PayPal. But there wasn’t a comprehensive tool that solved all the pain points of group travel,” he continued. “And frankly, if you’re trying to solve a coordination problem, a comprehensive tool is essential.” Out of that experience, he started researching and it snowballed into building Travelfy, an end-to-end solution that’s helping groups get organized and collaborate seamlessly.
LeisureGroupTravel.com
Jennifer Bohac, Texas A&M
J
ennifer is the director for one of the country’s most active alumni travel programs. Texas A&M plans 70 trips annually including far-flung destinations like Antarctica, Peru and Botswana; family-oriented holiday trips to New York; Masters golf weekends; and alumni hunting trips. It’s this combination of authentic experiences that appeal to former students of different age and income brackets that has helped the travel program prosper. In fact, the school has a trip specifically for graduating seniors to inaugurate them into the university’s alumni travel offerings. “We have a very young former student body, which is unusual,” states Jennifer. “Over half of our former students have graduated since 1995.” Jennifer’s constantly on the road, traveling upwards of 240 days a year. “I think it’s unusual for most travel directors to do that much, but it was the model that I inherited and so it becomes a relationship with our travelers.” This helps Jennifer stay in touch with her travelers and travel providers. “I know the destinations. I know the product, so I can help share that knowledge with our travelers.” With a stunning catalog, steady email and social media marketing to former students, this program is clicking on all cylinders.
Julia M. Terwilliger American Trust & Savings Bank
J
ulia’s a former credit union travel club director who’s made the successful transition to bank club director. She took over from long-time director Joan Gibson at American Trust Bank in Dubuque, Iowa and has flourished in her role. “I feel very fortunate that at the bank we have a lot of latitude to make the decisions that I feel are best for the club and the members,” says Julia. “Whereas when I was at the credit union, I was more limited and had to get the OK on everything I did.” This has allowed Julia to spread her wings, planning more exotic trips to destinations like Tanzania. “We would not have been able to have done that at the credit union.” She’s an active member of Heritage Clubs International, the organization for bank club directors. Julia said, “When I first started attending, the welcome feeling from the other Heritage Club members was just phenomenal. The fact that we can either get on the phone with any questions that we have – ‘how do you handle this’ or ‘would you recommend going to this destination’ – is more than you can even ask for.” By their willingness to share their expertise and ideas, Julia and her fellow club directors are helping ensure that bank travel clubs prosper well into the future.
Joey Spellerberg, Moostash Joe Tours
J
oey Spellerberg grew up in the tour business. His father’s tour company, Nebraska-based Moostash Joe Tours, has been leading travelers on vacation for the last 40 years. As a nextgeneration tour operator, Joey stepped into the leadership role at the company, cognizant of what’s made the operation successful, while adding his own brand of digital savvy. Joey comments, “I want to take what was established here with my dad and his name and build a very strong company. I want to help as many people experience the majesty and wonder of God’s creation as possible.” Joey dove into online marketing with impressive early results. “Our customer is 65 and older and most of them are on Facebook. We started with no followers two years ago and are up to almost 1,700. Between that and email marketing we’re gaining traction.” With roots that run deep in the travel industry, Joey is committed to leaving his own mark. “Where that takes me, I don’t know, but this is my passion. This is in my blood.” With over 100 tours per year, this company is moving serious volume out of a rural community. LeisureGroupTravel.com
December 2015 11
10
PLANNERS
Rule Breakers TO FOLLOW
Kurt Kivell, Iron Horse Adventures
K
urt is a Canadian transplant who parlayed his love of motorcycle riding into a new tour business, Iron Horse Adventures. This custom tour company specializes in motorcycle trips for small groups, visiting some of America’s iconic destinations. “Traveling in a group environment on a motorcycle is kind of like summer camp for adults,” says Kurt. “Everybody shows up not knowing each other…but by the end there is a great level of camaraderie.” Iron Horse aims to alleviate some of the issues connected with traveling by motorcycle by offering a support vehicle and trailer that accompanies overnight tours. With this, they transport all of the riders’ luggage and the support vehicle breaks off from the group toward the end of the day. When the tour arrives at the hotel, the luggage is already unloaded and waiting for the group. “There is no need to pack/unpack your bike, and you’re free to enjoy the ride without all the added weight of the luggage,” said Kurt. With motorcycle touring on the rise, this company is positioned well for those who enjoy the freedom of their bikes, but want to skip the hassles associated with over-theroad touring. Kurt said, “The cool thing about our trips is everybody gets to participate, everyone is on a motorcycle experiencing his or her surroundings, whether that’s a beautiful sunny day or a downpour.” With Kurt’s business model and passion for bikes, the forecast looks warm and sunny.
THE HUNTINGTON
Nature, Art, Culture...
Group Tours Specialists 626-405-2240 | Pasadena, CA-adjacent Tours@Huntington.org
12 December 2015
LeisureGroupTravel.com
Brad Conner Tourico Holidays
A
s director of business development at one of the world’s largest tour companies, Tourico Holidays, Brad’s tasked with building relationships with large entities for the firm’s fast-growing Last Minute Travel Club. Brad is a fierce competitor and needs to be with the likes of Expedia and Priceline looming. How does he thrive in such a competitive environment? The answer is in building strong allies. “I’m a relationship owner…I can be a shark and I can be as aggressive as I need to be. However, when I have the right company and I believe in the product, I can make some headway. I believe in Tourico.” Tourico is constantly developing new partnerships, bringing on new hotels and driving better rates for customers. A new group hotel booking solution is in the pipeline for early 2016, while the company’s Tourico Academy helps train aspiring students to become part of the travel industry.
LeisureGroupTravel.com
Mary Cecchini, Living Big
M
ary was a successful brand manager and event producer in Portland, Oregon. With a hectic schedule, she realized she wasn’t making space in her life for her true passions, so she left the corporate world and traveled extensively through Europe. That’s where Living Big was hatched. For much of the trip she was panicked because she couldn’t find her “aha” moment where her marketing skills and travel passion could co-exist. Then it all came together on a bench in the Scottish Highlands. “I was on a large group tour because I didn’t feel comfortable navigating the Highlands on my own,” said Mary. “Everyone in the group went into the castle, but the last few weeks of the trip we had seen a lot of castles, so I opted out. I was sitting on the bench; it was just one of those picture-perfect days soaking in the sun. At that moment I realized I didn’t have to choose one passion over the other. I could do both.” She is. Mary’s company specializes in small-group excursions around the world, primarily for busy women. Adept at social marketing and in-person networking with a strong flair for beautiful design, Living Big is adding trips and fans en route.
December 2015 13
Dan Andrew Trademark Tours
H
arvard-educated Dan Andrew eschewed the traditional career path many of his classmates followed, choosing instead to follow his passion for providing great tours for visitors to Harvard University. “I spent a summer working at Harvard running the freshman orientation for prospective students in the summer of 2005 and I noticed that Harvard ran very few, if any, tours for visitors during the summer, the peak time for visitors,” said Dan. “So, basically, if you were a visitor in the summertime, there’s a good chance that there would be no tour for you to take, which is crazy.” The next summer, Dan quit his job and went out to the middle of Harvard Square and started conducting off-beat, funny tours of Harvard. While the initiation reaction by Harvard was not good – they tried to stop the company in its tracks – Dan and his team prevailed and today have a thriving sightseeing tour business. Trademark Tours has over 100 current students on payroll and the company conducts the infamous “Hahvahd” tour seven days a week from March 1 through Dec. 1, in addition to customized experiences for groups coming from all over the world to see Boston’s iconic sights.
14 December 2015
Numaan Akram, Rally Bus
H
ere’s the success formula for a new model in group travel. Take what’s been an issue for a lot of people. Build in entrepreneurial drive and a strong technological background and wrap it around celebrities with a cause. Shake for 30 days and out pops Rally Bus. This is the story of Numaan Akram, founder of Rally Bus. His company provides motorcoach group transportation to major sporting events, concerts, rallies and festivals with convenient pick-up spots along the way, backed by cutting-edge technology tools that make getting to and from that must-attend event a cinch. It all started with a DC rally sponsored by celebrity TV hosts Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert. Social media buzz was high around the event, but many of the would-be attendees lacked transportation to DC. Having traveled on buses before, Numaan thought he could arrange motorcoaches to pick up participants at pre-defined locations and drive them to DC, splitting the cost. From that, an entirely new business model was launched. Having surpassed 60,000 reservations, this model is catching fire across the country. Says Numaan, “I think we’ve proved now that there’s a demand for this. What is different about us is how we’re getting these groups together. Our average reservation is for a little less than two seats per transaction. We’re getting people that are going in the same direction – they’re like-minded people – one may be fans of the Giants, one may be fans of the Jets, but the point is they’re all going to the game.” This company also has serious game.
LeisureGroupTravel.com
Evie Robinson Nomadness
W
hile studying television and film production at Iona College, Evie Robinson never thought she’d end up in the travel business. But through an epiphany she had while still in college, plus a lot of hard work and determination, she ignited a next-generation group travel business, Nomadness Travel Tribe. Evie’s group harnesses the power of social media and community networking to build a worldwide audience of over 30,000 travel enthusiasts, made up mostly of young, urban, African-American consumers. Nomadness is more than a travel company, it’s a social movement. In a short period of time the organization has catapulted in popularity. Over 50 Meet Ups are hosted around the world and trips sell out in as little as 15 minutes. And from the sound of things, she’s just getting started. “I like being able to create memories with people in every corner of the world. Nothing beats the bond we create and each trip is unique onto itself. I definitely see our numbers scaling. I also see us having our own travel show, post-Facebook platform, apps, books…I have a lot up my sleeve.”
LeisureGroupTravel.com
December 2015 15
TRAVEL INDUSTRY MEMBERS
ABA Readies for Louisville Marketplace BA’s annual tour and travel meeting, Marketplace, is heading to Louisville Jan. 9-12, giving all ABA members the opportunity to meet face-to-face and create and customize motorcoach travel for all types and sizes of groups. Hundreds of ABA operators meet with travel industry professionals in seven-minute prescheduled appointments at Marketplace. The three-day appointment format allows buyers and sellers the opportunity to conduct a year’s worth of business in one location in just a few days.
A
ABA’s Marketplace Works
Join the crowd at this must-attend event.
Marketplace Pre-Scheduled Appointments Are Key
The economic consulting firm John Dunham and Associates
When you arrive at Marketplace, you will already have three days
surveyed the attendees from ABA’s 2015 Marketplace in St. Louis.
of pre-scheduled, seven-minute appointments where motorcoach and
The results are astounding. Nearly $55 million in business was
tour Operator Buyers exchange information and create long-term
booked during the four days of Marketplace and immediately after-
business industry relationships with travel industry sellers. These one-
wards for the nearly 3,500 delegates who attended. As a motorcoach
to-one appointments are the core of Marketplace.
owner/operator, you cannot afford to pass up this type of opportunity
Operator Buyer appointment-taking delegates are seated at indi-
to meet so many potentially great business partners. Many motor-
vidual, private booths for the entire time and have appointments all
coach operators say that if they do just one or two deals at Market-
day. These appointments give Operator Buyers the opportunity to
place they have more than made up for what they are spending on
meet with destinations, hotels and high-quality attractions from all
transportation to and from the event, as well as their hotel and food.
across the United States and Canada. The Marketplace business
These operators come year after year because it is the must-attend
floor is vibrant and active. During the entire show, you can meet peo-
tour and travel event of the year.
ple, exchange business cards and make deals.
Limitless Networking Marketplace lives up to its name. It really is a true “Marketplace” with the product and service associate members exhibiting alongside destinations, attractions and hoteliers promoting their products to the motorcoach and group travel industry. We encourage you to bring multiple members of your team to Marketplace. We promise you they will be busy, they will enjoy the Marketplace experience and they will book business.
Decision Makers Come to Marketplace to Do Business If you want to meet with people who are making the decisions where to do business in the motorcoach, travel and tourism industry, then the ABA’s Marketplace is the place to be. Some twothirds of all of the motorcoaches on the roads in the U.S. and Canada are opThe numbers show it all—ABA’s reach within the United States and Canada is massive. 16 December 2015
LeisureGroupTravel.com
erated by ABA member motorcoaches. “The business appointments that my staff and I participate in at Marketplace are second to none. It gives us an excellent opportunity to enhance the destinations we serve, and it allows us to introduce new products for our clients,” said Bryan Cole, president of Orlando’s Super Holiday Tours. Cole is also serving this year as ABA’s Marketplace chairman. “ABA has such a diverse membership of small, medium and large motorcoach owners and operators and it’s one of our real strengths.”
Many friendships and business relationships are made during social time at ABA’s annual Marketplace.
Contacts made at Marketplace result in business for years to come. The 2016 event is in Louisville.
ABA Operators Come from Every Part of the U.S. and Canada You will meet motorcoach, travel and tourism professionals from all across the United States and Canada. That is because ABA members do business everywhere.
Louisville: The Host City Louisville is one of the country’s vibrant cities with an exciting downtown and plenty of attractions to keep ABA delegates busy when they’re not on the Marketplace floor. Marketplace’s All-Inclusive Registration includes three all-delegate lunches and dinners, plus three operator-only breakfasts. Delegates
THERE’S A JUDITH IN EVERY FAMILY. She’s happy to join in, but she wants ® options. Luckily for you and Judith, “The Waterpark Capital of the World! ” is a crowd-pleaser. With countless group and individual activities from live shows to scenic boat rides, Wisconsin Dells will keep the Judith in your group smiling – something everyone can get behind. Contact one of our destination specialists for complimentary planning assistance.
GatherInTheDells.com | sales@wisdells.com | (800) 223-3557
have access to the networking floor, professional educational seminars, sightseeing tours, plus complimentary airport transportation and shuttles to all off-site events. Register online now at buses.org/marketplace. If you need personal assistance, call the ABA office at 800-283-2877 or email meetingsdept@buses.org. LeisureGroupTravel.com
December 2015 17
1
6
Trade Shows
That Should Be On Your Radar T
he industry’s two major trade associations, ABA and NTA, provide abundant opportunities to meet with domestic travel suppliers via their annual winter marketplaces. So
much so that they’ve become a staple of many tour planners’ winter routines. Both feature educational sessions and delegate networking functions that show off the destination host city. But as this industry grows and diversifies, new types of travel groups are being formed and rule breakers are setting their own path to prosperity. Today, travel planners are seeking to expand their product offerings, dive deeper into local cultures or break into new market sectors. If this sounds like you, here are six shows to consider adding to your schedule in 2016.
World Travel Mart London illed as the world’s largest travel trade show, World Travel Mart is an impressive exhibit featuring thousands of travel suppliers from across the globe. Staged annually in London in early November, it’s a vibrant business-to-business event presenting a diverse range of destinations and industry sectors. It provides a unique opportunity for the whole global travel trade to meet, network, negotiate and conduct business. More than 50,000 senior travel industry professionals, government ministers and international press attend the four-day travel trade industry show. During that time period, World Travel Mart facilitates more than 1.1 million on-site business meetings which see the event generate more than $2.5 billion in industry deals. Additionally, on-site networking events, keynote speakers and educational tracks help delegates uncover trends and position their businesses accordingly. Information about the 37th annual World Travel Mart London can be found at wtmlondon.com.
B
LGT’s Inside Take: If you want to make new connections in the international travel market, this show features a venerable who’s who of destinations near and far. From government tourist office contacts to local ground handlers, you can forge new alliances on-site, while the destination host city is a tourist experience all in itself. 18 December 2015
LeisureGroupTravel.com
2
3 Spotlight Travel Network
Heritage Clubs International
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ank club directors from across the country are preparing to meet at the Honey Creek Resort in south-central Iowa March 14-18, 2016 for the annual Peer Group Conference of Heritage Clubs International. For many of the participants, this will be a homecoming of sorts as Heritage Clubs International was started in Iowa more than three decades ago. The organization grew out of the club at First Citizens National Bank in Mason City. Clubs throughout Iowa joined in the early days, and today more than 150 bank clubs from 32 states are part of the only organization exclusively serving bank club directors. Coming back to the country’s agricultural heartland, club directors will network with peers, meet with travel partners and learn from industry experts at the four-day meeting. The conference theme – Cultivate Ideas, Harvest Success – lays out the expectation for attendees. Club directors will hear from leadership experts, a timemanagement consultant and experienced club directors who will share best practices. Veteran club directors consider the conference to be an annual opportunity to recharge their batteries and return to the bank rejuvenated, full of fresh ideas. In more than 30 years, this is the first time the Heritage Clubs International conference will be conducted in an out-of-the-way resort rather than an urban hotel venue. The organization is anticipating having the entire lakeside property for its exclusive use. Honey Creek Resort, with its inspirational campus, magnificent architecture and exceptional service, features top-notch conference facilities, a golf course, 28 cottages in addition to 105 rooms and an indoor waterpark. During the three days immediately prior to the conference, attendees can participate in a fam tour organized by a coalition of Southern Iowa travel advocates including a visit to Grant Wood's American Gothic House and Vedic Observatory. For more information, visit heritageclubs.com.
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LGT’s Inside Take: As the original bank travel organization, Heritage Clubs maintains a strong network of bankers dedicated to advancing not only their travel programs, but helping their peers succeed in this competitive market. You just don’t find this at competitive shows.
LGT’s Inside Take: This show is a breath of fresh air for those who are interested in developing their regional product portfolio with valuable, personal connections made during the week.
LeisureGroupTravel.com
potlight is a growing regional trade show created by and for group travel professionals. It started back in 1997 with Spotlight on the Southwest featuring destinations and attractions throughout the desert Southwest. Three years ago a new partnership launched an event specifically for the Southeastern U.S., modeled after the same successful formula. Spotlight on the Southeast met with rave reviews and continues to grow in attendance. A third show is set to launch in fall 2016 in the Pacific Northwest and another in the Mid-Atlantic region in 2017. What makes Spotlight work is they’re not attempting to replace any of the national shows. It is small and intimate and operates with the philosophy that big business is done in small groups. The shows draw a loyal group of like-minded tourism professionals interested in developing creative new regional itineraries. It’s a cost-effective way to meet with partners who often don’t attend the larger shows, making it a great way to reach the smaller operators and the only way to receive the information from off-the-beaten-path attractions and destinations. The supplierbuyer ratio is never more than two suppliers to every buyer. While Spotlight’s trade show is designed to better acquaint tour operators with destinations, hotels, attractions and restaurants in the region, it’s the networking functions that have helped make the conferences so popular. Long-lasting, mutually beneficial relationships are formed or cemented here. All delegates can expect to gain valuable information with best practices and handson itinerary planning shared throughout the conference. The 2016 show line-up is as follows: 18th Annual Spotlight on the Southwest – April 17-19 – Las Vegas, Nevada; 3rd Annual Spotlight on the Southeast – July 18-20 – Asheville, North Carolina; Inaugural Spotlight on the Northwest – Sept. 18-20 – Albany, Oregon. For more information, visit spotlighttravelnetwork.com
December 2015 19
ALL NEW and free breakfast too!
Our newly renovated hotel warmly welcomes group tours with special rates and complimentary hot breakfast. Free bus parking and a great location o I-10 near all the a ractions of New Orleans.
Country Inn & Suites By CarlsonÂŽ Metairie (New Orleans), LA 2713 N Causeway Blvd Metairie, LA 70002 (504) 835-4141 countryinns.com/metairiela
20 December 2015
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The Adventure Travel Trade World Summit took place this past fall in Chile.
LeisureGroupTravel.com
Adventure Travel Trade World Summit very year, the who’s who of the adventure travel industry come together at the Adventure Travel World Summit to talk shop, share experiences, get inspired and enjoy a decidedly adventurous destination. Produced by the Adventure Travel Trade Association, the Summit is a critical event for tour operators, adventure travel writers and influencers, tourism boards and outdoor industry partners that are looking to understand and grow their outdoor/adventure travel business. But more than just a conference, the Summit is a gathering of a tightly knit, friendly industry that works hard and plays hard. From deep-dive educational content on critical issues and big-name keynote speakers, you will walk away more enlightened and better equipped to face the challenges of this rapidly expanding market segment. With endless networking opportunities – both structured (Tour Operator Marketplace, Media Connect & Peer-to-Peer Exchange) and offsite (usually while hiking, biking or strapped in a tandem kayak during your Pre-Summit Adventure & Day of Adventure), you will develop key business relationships and likely a few new friends as well. Anchorage is the site for the 2016 Summit, Sept. 19-22. With 3 million lakes, 300,000 glaciers, dozens of vast mountain ranges, over 100 native languages and millions of acres of protected park land, Alaska is big enough to host the 2016 Adventure Travel World Summit and why the chosen slogan for the Summit is “Go Big.” Registration is open at adventuretravel. biz/connect/summit/alaska-2016.
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LGT’s Insider Take: Few conferences have the balance of education, networking and fun that the Summit provides, but what really makes it great are the attendees. As a firsttimer you’ll be welcomed with open arms by this self-professed “tribe” and find it effortless to slide into the community and learn, build relationships and have some adventures along the way.
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December 2015 21
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Mountain Travel Symposium
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t the single largest gathering of mountain travel professionals in North America, millions of dollars in destination travel for
mountain resorts are negotiated for the upcoming year. The 2016 event is being held in the mountain resort community Keystone, Colorado from April 3-9. The event includes consecutive days of Trade, Meeting and Group Exchanges, where attendees meet in pre-scheduled appointments to discuss mutual business opportunities. Travel buyers have the chance to meet with representatives from mountain destinations, resorts, lodging and service providers. The business-intensive exchange provides access to information on a broad cross-section of new venues while allowing resorts to showcase their destinations to buyers that can deliver large groups of visitors. In total, more than 15,000 individual appointments between travel buyers and sellers are completed. The centerpiece of the week-long agenda is the two-day Forum on Wednesday and Thursday, April 6-7. The MTS Forum is the premier thought leadership program in the mountain travel industry, bringing together a day-and-a-half of general sessions delivered by nationally known keynote speakers. General sessions are followed by interactive group workshops on specific topics in distinctive tracks that focus on sales, marketing or destination sessions. For more information about Mountain Travel Symposium, visit mtntrvl.com.
Midwest Marketplace eading into its third year, Midwest Marketplace is capitalizing on the trend towards regionally focused group travel events with a fresh, friendly format. The concept was initiated by the Circle Wisconsin organization as an affordable way to connect group travel buyers with Midwestern travel destinations, large and small. Built upon the successful framework of past Circle Wisconsin marketplaces, the expanded show format features over 70 destination representatives from Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa and the Dakotas. Group travel buyers meet one-on-one with suppliers to obtain new ideas and plan itineraries. Social networking events and included meal functions provide additional opportunities for relationship building throughout the conference. The 2016 event takes place in the southern Wisconsin resort community of Delavan at the Lake Lawn Resort, April 17-19. A fam trip is planned in conjunction with the event, visiting Fond du Lac and the Lake Winnebago region. Information about Midwest Marketplace can be found at circlewisconsin.com.
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LGT’s Inside Take: There are many hidden jewels throughout the Midwest and this event is a great place to uncover them. While it’s a marketplace, the setting is not overwhelming, nor is the appointment schedule. 3 days, in and out to develop new product – not a bad trade-off!
LGT’s Inside Take: Mountain destinations have an enormous appeal for today’s traveler - whether that’s skiing/snowboarding or summer outdoor adventure. If you’re looking to add mountain product, this is the place to start. You will meet directly with the go-to person from premier resort destinations in a one-onone setting and walk away with tangible product ideas. The forum in and of itself is among the best we’ve experienced with an all-star line-up of thought leaders.
22 December 2015
LeisureGroupTravel.com
OUR STORIES BECOME YOUR GROUP’S STORIES.
State Museum at the North Dakota Heritage Center, Bismarck.
Start your group tour’s journey at LegendaryND.com.
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ight stellar sights, a bucket list-worthy selection promoted by the state’s department of tourism, have gone a long way in putting South Dakota on the map for travelers from around the world. Four of the Great 8 attractions operate under the auspices of the National Park Service, which will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2016. Next year, therefore, would be the perfect time to send groups to South Dakota. Conceivably, the eight crowd-pleasers could comprise a tour itinerary in themselves, as all but one are situated in the western part of the state.
South Dakota’s
GREAT8
Mount Rushmore National Memorial n conjunction with the national parks’ centennial observance, this iconic Black Hills treasure marks its 75th anniversary in 2016. Completion of the majestic masterpiece in 1941 marked the beginning of tourism and economic growth in South Dakota. The 60-foot-high granite faces of four U.S. presidents—George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt—represent the country’s birth, growth, preservation and development. Nicknamed the Shrine of Democracy, the powerful symbol of America’s heritage can be viewed from the Grand Terrace or, for a closer look, the trail along the base of the mountain. A high-tech lighting ceremony with patriotic music is presented in the park’s amphitheater from May through September.
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December 2015 25
Wind Cave National Park art of the national park system since 1903, Wind Cave is two worlds in one—the prairie terrain and wildlife of the surface and a hidden labyrinth beneath. In one of the longest cave systems in the world, miles of passages connect chambers with such names as Garden of Eden and Blue Grotto. Five different types of cave tours, including a candlelight tour, are available. Of note is the unusual boxwork, a honeycomb-patterned formation on the cave walls. From park roads, visitors can spot bison, elk, mule deer and pronghorn antelope roaming the 28,295 acres of rolling grasslands, pine forests and ravines in the Black Hills, just north of Hot Springs.
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©Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation
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Crazy Horse Memorial mammoth mountain carving in progress since 1948, the Black Hills’ Crazy Horse Memorial is South Dakota’s most famous Native American attraction. Upon completion, this granite monument to North American Indians of all tribes will be an in-the-round figure of the Lakota chief astride a horse. The face of Crazy Horse was completed in 1998. Visitors can see drillers, bulldozers and explosives shaping the world’s largest carving; bus tours to the foot of the mountain are available. In season there’s a multimedia laser light show that illuminates the carving. The visitor center complex has a movie, a museum with Indian cultural exhibits, and native artists and craftspeople at work.
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26 December 2015
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Jewel Cave National Monument ar removed from the mountains and forests above, this underground wonderland in the Black Hills is the third longest cave in the world, with more than 177 miles of mapped passageways. Ranger-led tours (easy to strenuous) spotlight the glittering calcite crystals for which the cave is named. Also see glimpses of brilliant color and formations of cave popcorn, flowstone, a long ribbon drapery known as cave bacon and hydromagnesite balloons—fragile silvery bubbles an inch or two thick in diameter. The temperature year round is 49 degrees, so dress warmly. On the park’s surface, groups enjoy nature programs, wildflower viewing and bird watching.
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Badlands National Park tark and surreal, this other-worldly realm of flat-topped buttes, deep canyons and sculptured pinnacles preserves the past in layers of whitish sandstone painted with bands of pink and brown. Rich in fossils and carved by eons of erosion, the rugged land—often described as a moonscape—is both barren and beautiful. Wildlife visible from the road might include pronghorn antelope, bighorn sheep and buffalo. Some of the shorter hiking trails can be completed in 20-30 minutes. In nearby Wall be sure to schedule a stop at Wall Drug, one of America’s most famous roadside attractions. The diningretail complex is packed with Western merchandise and other souvenirs.
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December 2015 27
Custer State Park
Missouri River
atchable wildlife, including bighorn sheep, a band of burros and one of the world’s largest free-roaming bison herds, is among the many lures of Custer State Park. Open-air jeep tours go into the backcountry to view bison and other creatures; the 18-mile-long Wildlife Loop Road provides up-close animals encounters as well. Set in the Black Hills, this scenic sanctuary of pine forests, meadows and mountains with needle-like granite formations offers swimming beaches, fishing and boating on four manmade lakes. There are trails for hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding. Accommodations include lodges and campgrounds. Encompassing 71,000 acres, Custer is one of the largest state parks in the nation.
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erving as a highway for explorers Lewis & Clark as they made their way west in the early 1800s, the Missouri River today is a paradise for outdoor lovers. It consists of free-flowing sections and four massive reservoirs known as the Great Lakes of South Dakota— Lake Oahe, Lake Sharpe, Lake Francis Case and Lewis & Clark Lake. Chalky bluffs along some stretches provide scenic backdrops for anglers, kayakers, canoers, waterskiers and windsurfers. Nearly half of South Dakota’s state parks are located on or near the river, which bisects the center of the state, running north to south. The Great Lakes Birding Trail follows the course of the Missouri River through the center of South Dakota and boasts at least 322 species.
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Deadwood
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ucked in a pine-covered mountain gulch, Deadwood is a well-preserved Wild West mining town rich in history, a tourist hot spot fueled these days by 24/7 action at gaming parlors with old-time saloon trappings. A gold mine tour, museums and all kinds of musical entertainment options keep groups busy in this 1870s gold rush town, a National Historic Landmark with brick streets and period lighting. Wild Bill Hickok was shot and killed in a Deadwood saloon, and his grave, along with those of Calamity Jane and other notorious characters, are found in Mount Moriah Cemetery (Boot Hill).
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Begging Burros in Custer State Park
View the monumental masterpiece at Mount Rushmore National Memorial and the surreal landscape of Badlands National Park, take in the natural beauty of the Missouri River and explore the world-famous roadside attractions and historic landmarks. Begin planning your group tours today!
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The National Park Service will be celebrating its 100th Anniversary in 2016, which also marks Mount Rushmore National Memorial’s 75th Anniversary! Experience six National Parks and Monuments in South Dakota. 1-800-952-3625 | TOURSDAKOTA.COM
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ABERDEEN AREA CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU
Aberdeen offers unique tours including Storybook Land, a Hutterite colony, agritourism, and much more. Complimentary services help ensure your group will enjoy every minute of their stay in Aberdeen.
The Akta Lakota Museum & Cultural Center in Chamberlain preserves and promotes the arts and history of the Sioux Indian culture. View contemporary art exhibits and historical artifacts. Open year-round. Free admission.
www.VisitAberdeenSD.com/tour 800-645-3851
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www.AktaLakota.org 800-798-3452
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BEST WESTERN RAMKOTA HOTELS OF SOUTH DAKOTA
CRAZY HORSE MEMORIAL
Family-friendly, full-service hotels featuring pools, indoor waterparks (free for guests), restaurants, lounges, fitness centers, and free high-speed Internet. Located in Aberdeen, Pierre, Rapid City, Sioux Falls, and Watertown.
The American Indian story begins with the world’s largest mountain carving-in-progress. Indian museums, artists/performers, sculptor’s studio, cultural center, restaurant & nightly seasonal laser-light show.
www.BWRamkota.com 800-528-1234
www.CrazyHorseMemorial.org 605-673-4681
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CUSTER STATE PARK RESORT
Take a Buffalo Safari Jeep Ride to see one of the largest publiclyowned bison herds in North America. Ride horseback and experience a Chuck Wagon Cookout. Located in the Black Hills.
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www.KellyInns.com 605-965-1452
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MITCHELL – NEW EAR-CHITECTURE AWAITS
Be among the first to experience the newly-renovated Corn Palace! Museums, more than 50 restaurants and complimentary group services await. Four hours east of the Black Hills, I-90, Exit 332. www.VisitMitchell.com 866-273-CORN (2676)
KELLY INNS LTD.
We welcome motor coaches and understand the needs of the group traveler – Locations in Sioux Falls, Mitchell, Oacoma, and Yankton. Our properties include Best Western, Holiday Inn Express, LaQuinta, and Kelly Inn.
www.CusterResorts.com 888-875-0001
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AKTA LAKOTA MUSEUM & CULTURAL CENTER
PIERRE AREA CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU
Tours of the Capitol building, memorials, Governor’s Mansion and Oahe Dam are available. The Pierre area offers several museums, a winery, distillery and more. www.Pierre.org 605-224-7361
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RAPID CITY – DO BIG THINGS!
Enjoy shopping, dining, events and local favorites like Main Street Square, City of Presidents and more. Nearby, explore Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Crazy Horse Memorial and other Black Hills treasures. www.TourRapidCity.com 800-487-3223
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FALLS – 10 SIOUX THE HEART OF AMERICA Conveniently located at I-29 and I-90, South Dakota’s largest city offers year-round attractions, local cuisine, welcoming accommodations and historic Falls Park. Contact us for customized itineraries and complimentary services. www.VisitSiouxFalls.com/grouptours 800-333-2072
SOUTH DAKOTA DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM
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SOUTH DAKOTA CULTURAL HERITAGE CENTER
Discover South Dakota’s rich heritage at the Cultural Heritage Center in Pierre. Award-winning museum exhibits and changing displays. Exciting hands-on activities. Discounted group tour rates. www.History.sd.gov 605-773-3458
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– YOUR ROUTE 12 TOURSD BEGINS HERE Planning your South Dakota journey is only a click away. The TourSD Highway routes will take you along relaxing prairies, local culture, history and outdoor recreation. www.Tour-SD.com 888-386-4617
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DRUG 13 WALL WORLD’S LARGEST DRUG STORE Wall Drug has been entertaining and educating the traveling public since 1931. This wonderland of free attractions including a restaurant that seats 520. There’s something for everyone. Located in Wall. www.WallDrug.com 605-279-2175
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14 WATERTOWN
Along I-29 & US 212 in northeastern South Dakota. Home of more than 160 Terry Redlin originals, beauiful landscaped zoo, home of South Dakota’s first Governor, boutiques and restaurants. One-on-one itinerary planning. www.VisitWatertownSD.com 800-658-4505
14 SOUTH DAKOTA MOTORCOACH SERVICES
GROUP TOUR PLANNING ASSISTANCE
Wash, dispose, fuel and maintenance.
VICKY ENGELHAUPT South Dakota Department of Tourism www.TourSDakota.com vicky.engelhaupt@travelsouthdakota.com 800-952-3625
DAKOTA BUS www. MyDakotaTrailways.com 605-642-2353 605-641-2353 after hours BLACK HILLS GRAYLINE www.BlackHillsGrayLine.com 800-456-4461 INTERSTATE DETROIT DIESEL www.Istate.com 800-348-3042
on location: south ❖
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he Cotton Junction: Teapots to Sweet Spots Trail transports
production fell on the backs of slaves. The National Civil Rights
visitors from downtown Memphis to Brownsville, traveling
Museum honors the lessons of the civil rights movement beginning
through the cotton fields that gave the route its name. From
with a poignant exhibit, A Culture of Resistance. This graphic pres-
historical and musical landmarks to stories of incredible people, get
entation provides insight into the Atlantic slave trade—the people
ready for a fun and educational experience.
seized and wealth created.
It just makes sense that your first stop on the Cotton Junction Trail
The Slave Haven Museum is located in an 1849-clapboard
is the Cotton Museum in downtown Memphis. It’s at this very place
house. A way station on the Underground Railroad, it was just one of
where the area’s cotton wealth materialized. The museum, in the re-
the hiding places for escaped slaves seeking freedom in the North.
stored members-only Memphis Cotton Exchange, tells the story of
With its hidden tunnels, trap doors and cellars, one has to wonder if
cotton’s economic impact on the region.
this house was built knowing its intended role.
Of course, cotton farming was labor-intensive and the bulk of
A visit to Memphis is incomplete without seeing the Memphis
Tennessee Department of Tourist Development Photos
Traveling Western Tennessee’s Cotton Junction Trail Exhibits explain the cotton trade’s influence on regional culture. Casey Jones Home & Railroad Museum in Jackson remembers the heroic engineer memorialized in the famous ballad.
Discovering Tennessee cities and backroads can be a delight on its 20 trails and scenic byways. Here we focus on one that spotlights the state’s cotton-farming traditions. By Dave Bodle LeisureGroupTravel.com
December 2015 33
Tennessee Department of Tourist Development Photos
Special events include Milan’s Fall Folklore Festival at former Gov. Gordon Browning’s boyhood home and the Tennessee Soybean Festival in Martin.
Rock n’ Soul Museum. Chronicling the home of the blues and birth-
churches were a major part of the town’s fabric. At Trinity United
place of rock n’ roll, the museum tells the story of pioneers who over-
Methodist Church & Cemetery, once known as Buckhorn Church,
came social, economic and racial challenges to create their music.
deer antlers served as hat racks.
The music so credited to Memphis is alive today on Beale Street.
The Cotton Junction Trail will loop north and return to Brownsville
Do not leave town without catching some sounds at W.C. Handy Park
and the West Tennessee Delta Heritage Center, where you’ll discover
or one of the city’s famous nightspots.
what West Tennessee is all about. While in Brownsville, visit College
In nearby Arlington hear the fascinating story of how the com-
Hill Center, home to the Haywood County Museum. A windshield tour
munity responded to the 1878 yellow fever epidemic. S.Y. Wilson
of the Brownsville Historic District is an education in period architec-
& Co. Antiques, Art, Unique Gifts is still family-run by a fourth-gen-
ture. Tripp Country Hams cures hams and bacon to create a one-of-
eration descendent. Groups will not go hungry at local favorites
a-kind taste.
Vinegar Jim’s and Grapevine Tea Room.
It’s on to Jackson, famous for railroad engineer Casey Jones and
Joseph Stanton founded delightful Stanton. He had the Memphis
musical legend Carl Perkins. The latter is honored at the International
& Ohio Railroad re-route its tracks from nearby Wesley. The Stanton
Rock-A-Billy Hall of Fame, the former at the Casey Jones Home &
Welcome Center is a perfect first stop to learn more about the com-
Railroad Museum. Satisfy your sweet tooth at Brooks Shaw’s Old
munity and its history. The Historic Stanton Presbyterian Church &
Country Store. Go antique shopping at Carriage House Antique Mar-
Mausoleum and its marble shaft and doors are a fascinating story.
ket, Yarbro’s Antique Mall and Yesterday’s Antiques. Be certain your
Freed slaves founded the Woodland Missionary Baptist Church in
itinerary includes a visit to the Carnegie Center for Arts and History
1866. Musical icons Tina Turner and Sleepy John Estes worshiped
and West Tennessee Cultural Heritage Museum.
there.
Humboldt has not-to-be missed attractions. The Crown Winery
A true cotton community, Nutbush still has an operating cotton
offers 11 highly regarded varietals. The West Tennessee Regional
gin. Ike and Tina Turner recorded “Nutbush City Limits.” It would be
Art Center is the permanent home for nationally recognized collec-
the duo’s last hit single. As in many small rural communities, the
tions. Herbie Town is off the beaten path and transports the visitor to
Discovery Park of America ocated in the small town of Union City (population about 10,900) in Northwest Tennessee, Discovery Park of America has hosted more than 500,000 visitors since opening just two years ago. Inspiring both adults and children, the attraction is fulfilling its mission of education. A better understanding of the past, present and future of our world is at the forefront. Discovery Center, the cornerstone building, showcases more than 70,000 square feet of exhibits. Ten galleries focus on Energy, Enlightenment, Military, Native Americans, Natural History, Regional History, Science/Space/Technology, Transportation and Children’s Exploration. A Special Exhibit Gallery is set aside traveling exhibits. There are numerous hands-on experiences for the young and the young at heart. Within Discovery Center, Starship Theater features a simulation of the 1811-1812 earthquake that shaped the region’s landmass. A planetary tour is regularly scheduled. A 20,000-gallon aquarium
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34 December 2015
shares the underwater life of nearby Reelfoot Lake. A highlight for the kids is a 60-foot human body replica with a 30-foot slide. Outside of Discovery Center are 50 acres offering even more visitor experiences. Central to the site is a water feature that originates at a 1800s gristmill and winds over waterfalls and under bridges. The stream flows through landscaping and Japanese, American
and European-style gardens. Visitors connect with plants and nature from around the world. Rural life in the 1800s is highlighted through log cabins, farm buildings, and implements and family items necessary for their existence. Not to be missed are the Liberty Bell replica, a 100-year-old church and the train station complete with locomotive and period cars. Groups are certainly welcome. There’s plenty of coach parking and a café onsite for lunch on your own. Grand Hall and Tower Room are available for social events. Teacher resources and a field trip catalog outlining programs are available online. If your travels find you on the Cotton Junction Trail or anywhere in Western Tennessee or Kentucky, this is an attraction you do not want to miss. Groups can call 731-885-5455. Adult groups may email mbondurant@discoveryparkofamerica.com. For education and field trip inquiries, email pbrasher@discoveryparkofamerica.com. Start planning your visit online at discoveryparkofamerica.com. LeisureGroupTravel.com
the Wild West. An enjoyable downtown shopping experience awaits you in Milan. Both Candyland Gift Shoppe and L&T Cakery are perfect for sweet treats. The West Tennessee Agricultural Museum displays the challenges faced by early farmers in the area. Before planning your tour, check out the schedule at Huntingdon’s Dixie Carter Performing Arts Center. Local Tennessee Department of Tourist Development
and national acts perform regularly. At the northernmost point of the Cotton Junction Trail sits Martin and it’s not to be missed. In addition to a charming downtown, the community is honored for creating the first municipal arts commission in Tennessee and one of the first in the South. The University of Tennessee Martin is the perfect spot to experience visual, literary and performing arts. You’ve been wondering about the World’s Largest
This museum is a must-see in musical Memphis.
Teapot Collection and here it is in Trenton. The Teapot Festival takes place in late April. Another attraction is the Battle of Trenton Driving Tour with a CD that brings the action of this important engagement to life. Alamo, rightfully named after Davy Crockett, features the Green Frog Village/Cotton Museum of the South, well worth a side trip. Returning to Brownsville, your last stop should be the West Tennessee Delta Heritage Center. These three regional museums portraying cotton, music and history tie the area’s cultural forces together. It’s the perfect ending to a truly educational and memorable tour. For information and details on all Tennessee trails and byways, call 615-741-9069. Visit online at tntrailsandbyways.com, or tnvacation.com/grouptours. LGT
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on location: midwest ❖
Aglow for the holidays, Chicago puts on its festive best from late November through New Year’s By Randy Mink
Christmastime in the City
Museum of Science and Industry
Trees decorated by Chicago’s ethnic communities highlight Christmas Around the World at the Museum of Science and Industry. Inset: Polish ornaments.
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s far as the eye can see, trees festooned with twinkling
It’s here along Michigan Avenue where Chicago officially ush-
lights line sidewalks jammed with jostling crowds speaking
ers in the Christmas season with the annual BMO Harris Bank
a mix of languages. Tourists from Indiana and India, Mil-
Magnificent Mile Lights Festival. Not only does the event,
waukee and Madrid, stop to take pictures as they stroll along one
staged on the Saturday before Thanksgiving, jump-start the holi-
of the world’s most famous shopping streets.
day season in Chicago, but it’s actually the nation’s premier kick-
Nicknamed the Magnificent Mile, this stretch of Chicago’s North
off to the most festive time of year.
Michigan Avenue, extending from Oak Street to the Chicago River,
On that day more than a million people travel to the Magnificent
is a year-round magnet for locals and out-of-towners looking to
Mile to witness the USA’s largest evening holiday celebration, which
open up their wallets and tap into the energy of America’s third
celebrates its 25th year in 2016. It’s highlighted by a parade fea-
largest city. But the Mag Mile kicks it up a notch during the holi-
turing Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and other iconic Disney char-
days, a six-week period when the magic reaches a crescendo.
acters from Florida’s Walt Disney World Resort. More than a million
LeisureGroupTravel.com
December 2015 37
lights on 200 trees are illuminated as floats, helium-filled balloons
Extra and Hyatt Gold Passport, will be centered on the Chicago
and marching bands proceed down Michigan Avenue toward the
River between Michigan Avenue and Columbus Drive and an-
river, where the Lights Festival concludes with a fireworks finale.
chored by multiple stages of musical entertainment and media
The day also includes stage entertainment and family-friendly ac-
viewing on both sides of the river. At midnight, a giant Chicago star
tivities at Pioneer Court, a riverfront plaza
will ascend 36 stories up the West Tower
that becomes Lights Festival Lane.
of the Hyatt Regency Chicago and be followed by a fireworks show. The Hyatt and
ing, another holiday tradition brings throngs
other hotel partners will offer Chi-Town
of merrymakers to State Street, the major
Rising packages that include access to
shopping artery in the Loop, Chicago’s cen-
private events and parties on New Year’s
The Magnificent Mile Association
Five days later, on Thanksgiving morn-
tral business district. McDonald’s Chicago Thanksgiving Parade features giant airborne balloons, equestrian units, acrobats,
Eve and throughout the holiday weekend. Left: Disney characters lend a touch of magic to the Magnificent Mile Lights Festival.
Arena Partners, LLC.
Left: Vendors at Christkindlmarket Chicago offer beer steins and other German products.
bands and even Hawaiian barefoot
Hotel guests also will receive passes to the
dancers, with Santa and Mrs. Claus hold-
invitation-only Television Audience Zone,
ing up the tail end.
where guests will become part of the show
A marquee event intended to be a new tradition will draw celebrants downtown for the first time on New Year’s Eve, Dec. 31,
True Shot Studios
Fireworks over the Chicago River will ring in 2016 to cap a new event, Chi-Town Rising.
on NBC and welcome in the New Year directly in front of the Countdown Stage. Chi-Town Rising fireworks will coincide
2015. Chi-Town Rising, designed to showcase Chicago as a
with the usual electrifying display across the river at Navy Pier, an-
world-class venue for welcoming the New Year, is privately funded
other hotbed of holiday festivities and Chicago’s most-visited tourist
with support from Choose Chicago and the Illinois Office of
spot. Filled with restaurants, shops and entertainment venues, this
Tourism. The inaugural Chi-Town Rising, sponsored by Corona
great public space that juts into Lake Michigan is the site of family-
38 December 2015
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friendly Winter WonderFest, a vast indoor playground with rides, climbing walls, a skating rink and “snow” tubing hill (early December to early January). Daley Plaza, in the heart of the Loop, takes on a fairy-tale aura during the 35-day run of Christkindmarket Chicago, one of the largest German-style Christmas markets outside of Europe. More than 60 percent of the vendors are from Germany. The red-and-white-striped huts clustered around the plaza’s Picasso sculpture lure holiday shoppers with nutcrackers, cuckoo clocks, beer steins, chocolates, ornaments and toys. The open-air market, now in its 20th year, also has heated, walk-in cabins that offer a cozy place to shop, plus the Grand Timber House and Festival Tent for sitting down to food and drinks. Visitors can fill up on sausages, potato pancakes, schnitzel, strudel and pretzels—and wash it down with German beer or Glühwein (hot spiced wine). Singers and dance groups perform, and on weekends an Alpine brass band entertains with German holiday music. Just north of Daley Plaza, the Goodman Theatre since 1978 has hosted another Chicago holiday tradition—a beloved adaptation of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. The timeless tale of miserly Ebenezer Scrooge and his voyage into Christmas past, present and future captivates audiences from mid-November to late December. The Museum of Science and Industry stages one of Chicago’s oldest holiday favorites, an exhibit called Christmas Around the World and Holidays of Lights, which will mark its 75th year in 2016. Centered around the Rotunda is a forest of more than 50 trees and displays decorated by volunteers from Chicago’s ethnic communities, plus a 45-foot Grand Tree decked out with more than 30,000 twinkling lights. Ethnic dance and choral groups perform on the Holiday Stage. The exhibit runs from the week before Thanksgiving to just after New Year’s. For groups throughout the Midwest and beyond, Chicago sparkles as an epicenter of holiday cheer. Shedding its hard edges in favor of twinkling lights, the big city takes on a magical sense of wonderment. LGT LeisureGroupTravel.com
December 2015 39
on location: northeast ❖
A
lmost hidden along the East Coast, the small state of Maryland is sandwiched between Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia and Delaware. Do not let Maryland’s size fool you, though; this state is packed with cultural experiences, including lively ethnic festivals. To spice up a group itinerary, consider including one of these events.
April Maryland’s oldest Celtic celebration takes place on April 30, 2016, at the Jefferson-Patterson Park and Museum in Saint Leonard. The Southern Maryland Celtic Festival spotlights the Breton, Cornish, Irish, Manx, Scots and Welsh heritages. Enjoy constant music and dancing on three stages, watch craft and country-dance demonstrations, and listen to storytellers. A Celtic marketplace offers a wide array of food and gifts. Competitions include pipers, fiddlers, Highland dancers, drummers, pipe bands and the Celtic Harpers. The festival closes at 6 p.m., but guests are welcome to attend a dance party, known as a “ceilidh,” in the pavilion until 9 p.m. (cssm.org/events/festival)
C E L E B R AT I N G
Maryland’s Cultural Mosaic Pipers enchant the crowds at the Southern Maryland Celtic Festival. Alexander D. Mitchell IV
Ethnic festivals across the state entertain groups with music, dancing, culinary specialties and craft demonstrations By Danielle Golab
40 December June 2008 2015
LeisureGroupTravel.com
May Festival of India makes a stop on its national tour in Baltimore on May 28-29, 2016. This festival was founded in 1979 and continues to make its mark all over the world. It is called a resource for self-realization. Learn about reincarnation, vegetarianism, ancient and modern science, and Vedic history through interactive exhibits. Enjoy some of India’s distinctive cuisine at a free feast. (festivalofindia.org) The annual Greek Festival in Frederick will be sure to keep your group entertained. Held at Saints Peter & Paul Greek Orthodox Church, the five-day celebration of Greek culture features Greek food, music and dancing. Other popular attractions include church tours and children’s entertainment areas. The fest also offers an opportunity to view and buy beautiful Greek art. (stspeterpaul.net)
June The African American Festival takes place in June at the Camden Yards Sports Complex in Baltimore. Interactive experiences include the Black Enterprise Empowerment Zone, Beauty Bar, Health & Wellness Pavilion, Toyota Tech Playground and Bud Light Beer Garden. The festival has live entertainment, cultural exhibits, contests and over 150 vendors. (africanamericanfestival.net) Your group can get a taste of Latino culture at Latinofest in Baltimore. Originated in 1980, the festival is held at Patterson
The African American Festival in Baltimore features electrifying stage entertainment. Below: World of Montgomery Festival in Rockville.
Park. Enjoy many styles of Latino dance including salsa, merengue, bachata, samba and rumba, all while listening to authentic Latin music. Latinofest also offers a taste of traditional Latin foods. (latinofest.org)
July Maryland’s Polish Festival takes place at the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium. This fest is sponsored by the non-profit Polish Community Association of Maryland to preserve Polish culture and traditions. Festival attendees get a look into Polish pageantry, folklore and food. (pcamaryland.org)
August Travel to Baltimore’s Little Italy and take part in a neighborhood tradition, St. Gabriele Italian Fest. Your group can experience traditional Italian favorites such as fried dough, broccoli rabe, calzone and pizzelle. Participate in or watch cannoli-filling and sausageeating contests. A street procession features a St. Gabriele statue. (littleitalymd.com/t/events_activities) FestAfrica is expected to draw some 8,000 visitors to Veterans Plaza in Silver Spring on Aug. 13-14, 2016. The largest African festival in Maryland features international African musicians, cultural dances, African cuisine, fashion shows and vendors. (festafricausa.com) LeisureGroupTravel.com
December 2015 41
Masks intrigue guests at World of Montgomery Festival, a showcase of immigrant cultures in the Washington, DC area.
September St. Demetrios Greek Festival takes place at St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in Baltimore. Get a taste of Greek culture with authentic food, music, folk dancing, jewelry and costumes. Other fun features include a silent auction and kids zone. Your group can participate in the Baklava 5K run/walk to help support the church. (stdemetriosmd.org/festival) At the annual Ukrainian Festival every September in Baltimore’s Patterson Park, live music, ethnic dancing, traditional foods and Ukrainian novelties will captivate your group. Take in Ukrainian folk arts such as painting, wood carving and Psyanky egg demonstrations. (ukrainianfestival.net)
October The second annual SerbFest DC in Potomac will be held at St. Luke Serbian Orthodox Church. Your group can experience Serbian culture through various music and dance acts. Sample some traditional Serbian cuisine including spit-roasted pig and lamb. (svluka.org) Explore many different ethnicities at the World of Montgomery Festival in Rockville. Featured are the cultures of China, El Salvador, Ethiopia and India, the largest immigrant populations in Montgomery County. Enjoy a parade, international village, traditional music and dance, and arts and crafts. (worldofmontgomery.com) Celebrate one of America’s oldest cultures at the seventh annual American Indian Festival. This one-day affair at Patuxent River Park in Upper Marlboro has live performances of traditional and contemporary music, dancing, drumming and storytelling. Participate in or observe activities like beading, finger weaving, flint knapping and archery. Your group can also get lessons in artifacts, languages and genealogy. (pgparks.com/american_indian_festival) LGT 42 December 2015
LeisureGroupTravel.com
By Mike Marchev
O N R I VER CR U ISI NG
How To Maximize Your Next River Cruise Fam Trip
I
am just weeks away from taking my third European river cruise
The AmaCello’s Danube River cruises visit cities like Regensburg, Germany.
and beginning to act like a fiveyear-old counting the days to
Christmas. I know what’s coming, and I also know I will not be disappointed. I will be cruising from Basel, Switzerland down the Rhine to Amsterdam onboard AmaWaterways’ AmaCerto. Once you experience the joys of river cruising, you will see what a great group opportunity this mode of transportation presents. As far as I am concerned, river cruising is as close as you get to a “sure thing” when it comes to leaving home with a
proximately 100 names. Why? Because
shots have been taken, you can put the
tooth brush and a fresh set of clothes. It is
once onboard, Ama will supply you with
camera down and enjoy the scenery first-
perfect for any group movement. If you are
as many 4-color postcards as needed.
hand without staring into a little hole in a
ever given an opportunity to take a famil-
They portray beautiful scenes along your
piece of black plastic. You can see better
iarization trip onboard a river ship, jump at
route, and not only will they supply the
and witness more with the naked eye.
the chance. But do so with a plan. After all,
postage, Ama will mail your postcards at
I am not going to tell you how to pack,
this is a business trip and you should have
the next port of call ... as many as you
but I will remind you to bring comfortable
a clear set of goals and objectives.
write. When your clients and prospects re-
shoes. I will also mention that protection
Start by writing a letter to your sup-
ceive a personalized note from you while
from the wind is the surest way to enjoy
plier’s BDM. Tell them how excited you are
floating down the Rhine, you will have
your experience. It is the wind that plays
to have this opportunity and that you are
firmly positioned yourself on the top of the
havoc with the body’s internal temperature
planning to sell a boat-load of cruises
good-guy list.
controls.
upon your return. Offer to meet with them
Make a “shot list.” The majority of you
Lastly, remember that once you leave
to discuss the trip when you get back so
do not take enough pictures while on a fa-
the shores of your own country you be-
you can jointly plan your marketing efforts.
miliarization trip. Prior to leaving home,
come a diplomat representing the rest of
Next, and still prior to your trip, invite
you are going to sit down and think about
us. When off the ship wandering through
your clients and key prospects to a “river
what your clients and prospects need to
the quiet streets of the towns along the
cruise party.” When you get home you will
see in order to make an educated decision
river, be sure to tell the locals how beauti-
want to share your experiences, photos
on whether to partake in this not-so-inex-
ful their shops are and how much you
and videos with your clients and prospects
pensive vacation.
enjoy their country. The point is, you are
over a cup of coffee or glass of wine. This
You enjoy two benefits from document-
guests, and it is imperative that you repre-
is your fastest way to turn your investment
ing a shot list. Your primary reason is to
sent the ship, the industry and your coun-
into a profitable return on that investment.
make certain you capture everything that
try as the true professional you are.
My river cruise preference happens to
needs capturing. You take chance out of
be AmaWaterways. They have a program
the equation and you will not return home
that I consider to be brilliant. Here is how
lamenting the fact that you missed an im-
it works: Print the addresses of your best
portant shot.
clients and bring it with you. I bring apLeisureGroupTravel.com
Mike Marchev has been sharing his sales and marketing views with the travel industry since 1984. A copy of his latest book, How to Capture More River Cruise Business, can be purchased at his website: mikemarchev.com/river.
Just as important is that once your December 2015 43
on location: europe â?–
Afloat inHolland and Belgium
44 December 2015
LeisureGroupTravel.com
S
eeing Holland at tulip
about the Emerald Star was sleek,
The harbors in some towns are
time and exploring the
sparkling and spankin’ new. Even
so jammed with riverboats, in
Dutch countryside had
the line itself is in its infancy. A di-
fact, that competing lines are
always been on my Europe check-
vision of Australia’s Scenic Tours,
double-, triple-, even quadrupled
list. So had drifting through the Old
Emerald Waterways started last
parked at the piers, allowing
World on a luxury river cruise.
year with the launch of the Emer-
passengers to check out the
Happily, both dreams came
ald Star and her sister, the Emer-
decor of other vessels as they
true this past spring upon boarding
ald Sky. Added to the fleet in 2015
pass through their sun decks
Emerald Waterways’ 182-passen-
were the Emerald Sun and Emer-
and lobbies to get ashore.
ger Emerald Star in Amsterdam for
ald Dawn; the Emerald Belle
a week on the rivers, canals and
makes her debut next spring.
lakes of the Netherlands and Bel-
The first two nights of my very first European river adven-
With the blooming of tulips and
ture were in Amsterdam aboard
other flowers, April and May are
the ship, a welcome feature that
The setting may have been Old
the big months for cruises in Hol-
gave passengers without pre- or
Country traditional, but everything
land and neighboring Belgium.
post-cruise plans a chance to
gium.
Offering insightful narration, canal cruises provide the perfect introduction to Amsterdam, capital of the Netherlands. NBTC
Scenic waterways, quaint towns and brilliant blooms highlight a springtime cruise through the Low Countries By Randy Mink
LeisureGroupTravel.com
December 2015 45
tour the Dutch capital on included shore ex-
and artworks, not to mention gift shops—17
cursions. But we didn’t waste any time get-
of them—selling wooden shoes, Delftware,
ting out into the tulip fields, boarding buses
chocolates, cheese and other souvenirs.
the first morning for famed Keukenhof Gar-
Visitors can choose from a variety of cafes
dens in Lisse, 16 miles southwest of Ams-
and snack stands offering Dutch treats like
terdam. The largest bulb-flower garden on
pickled herring, apple pie and croquettes. I
earth is tulip time central. Open for only eight
enjoyed watching the vendor make my
weeks from late March to mid-May, this hor-
stroopwaffel (syrup waffle), two thin waffle
ticultural showplace is a staple of springtime
disks stuck together with warm caramel
river cruises in the Low Countries. We had
sauce. Back in Amsterdam, we had a ship-
through stunning flower displays bordered
arranged excursion highlighted by a canal
by vivid green lawns, gawking at the beds of
cruise, which I initially thought would be too
colorful blooms artfully designed by 100 bulb
touristy. But the relaxing, one-hour circuit
growers and exporters.
provided the perfect introduction to Amster-
Randy Mink
time to roam Keukenhof’s curving paths
Keukenhof boasts more than seven million bulbs in some 1,600 varieties of tulips, hyacinths, crocuses and daffodils. An 1892
A cannon appears to target the Emerald Star, docked in the delightful Dutch town of Veere.
windmill provides additional picture-taking
dam, a city laced with 165 canals threading 90 artificial islands. From Amsterdam the Emerald Star traveled the Lek River, a tributary of the Rhine,
opportunities, while pavilions offer their own photo set-ups. This past
en route to Antwerp, where we awoke the next morning on the
year’s theme was the art of Vincent Van Gogh, so visitors could pose
Scheldt River, right in the heart of town. Our ship had docked an
against larger-than-life prints of his iconic paintings. The theme in
hour before in Belgium’s second largest city (and Europe’s second
2016 will be Holland’s Golden Age.
leading port, after Rotterdam, in tonnage handled).
Keukenhof’s pavilions feature flower shows, historical exhibits
After an hour-long, guided walk through the medieval core of Antwerp—an enchanting, tourist-friendly quarter just steps from our ship—we had the whole day to poke around on our own. Many passengers went inside the Cathedral of Our Lady to revel in its Gothic glory and paintings by Antwerp’s own Peter Paul Rubens. Besides checking out the sights, my group was determined to sample Belgian food and drink specialties. At the Groenplaats, a cafe-filled square behind the cathedral, we went local with an amber-hued De Koninck beer, the signature brew of Antwerp customarily served in the brand’s goblet-shaped glass. Nearby, at Friteur No. 1, we enjoyed piping-hot Vlaamse frites (Flemish fries) served with a generous blob of creamy mayonnaise. A few blocks from the cathedral and cobweb of medieval lanes, we dove into the Meir, the main shopping street, popping into The Chocolate Line—housed in a former palace—to admire the frescoes and architectural flourishes as well as treat ourselves to truffles. Operated by Dominique Persoone, a TV personality and co-founder of the Guild of Belgian Chocolatiers, it’s one of many Antwerp chocolatiers that upholds Belgium’s reputation for producing the finest chocolates. And you can’t go to Belgium without trying a freshly-
46 December 2015
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and bread crumbs with mustard and mayonnaise for dipping). My very favorite was the kirschenplotzer, a Belgian bread pudding-like dessert made with sour cherries and topped with warm vanilla sauce. In the eastern Netherlands city of Arnhem, the Emerald Star docked right next to the Rhine River bridge that figured in the largest airborne operation in history, when in September of 1944 thousands of British troops parachuted onto fields near Arnhem. Our shore exKeukenhof Gardens
cursion included a brief visit to Arnhem Oosterbeck Cemetery followed by an hour at Airborne Museum Hartenstein, where dramatic exhibits and eyewitness videos describe battles and how Dutch civilians endured the German bombing and looting of their city.
Lovely Keukenhof Gardens, the world’s most famous springtime garden, lies in the heart of Holland’s bulb-growing region.
made waffle, so before heading back to the ship, I went to Queen of Waffles, a tiny place near the cathedral, and ordered one slathered in Nutella. From Antwerp the next morning we took a shore excursion (by bus through the fields of East Flanders) to the wellpreserved city of Bruges. I left the guided walking tour early to wander the cobblestone streets of the storybook meThe following day we pulled into the idyllic Dutch town of Veere and then were off for a tour of the Delta Works, a massive system of storm-surge barriers that keeps lowlying
western
Holland
from
Visit Antwerp
dieval town.
being
the ship, I climbed the tower of the Great
The Chocolate Line, in a palace once occupied by Napoleon and the Belgian royal family, is one of Antwerp’s premier chocolatiers. Left: Wooden shoes abound in souvenir shops throughout Holland.
Church of Veere, just minutes from the
Before sailing back to Amsterdam, we
pier. Then I checked out an Emerald Star
made a stop in Hoorn, a pretty, yacht-filled
bike for a carefree whirl, pedaling along
harbor town on the Markermeer, a lake that
brick streets, watching the canal locks in
was once known as the Zuiderzee, an inlet of
action and making a photo stop at a wind-
the North Sea. Eminently walkable, Hoorn
mill. Little Veere was the Holland I had al-
abounds with little museums and gabled
ways pictured.
merchant houses from Holland’s 17th cen-
swamped by the North Sea. After lunch on
tury Golden Age. An afternoon bus tour to nearby Edam and Volendam showcased
ways good to get back to the ultra-con-
tranquil scenes right from an old-time Dutch
temporary Emerald Star, a regal beauty
painting, complete with cumulus clouds, pan-
accented with mirrors, chrome, and
cake-flat fields and grazing farm animals.
touches of black and white. A unique
This was the last chance to pick up cheeses
Emerald feature: an indoor swimming
and other souvenirs before ending our fairy-
pool that converts to a theater at night.
tale journey through a part of Europe I had
I always looked forward to the dining room’s extensive lunch buffet and couldn’t wait to see what Dutch or
NBTC
Indeed, the Old World trappings were just what I was looking for, but it was al-
always wanted to explore, a trip made worry-
free by Emerald Waterways. LGT
Belgian specialty would be featured each day. Regional dishes included Dutch poffertjes (light, fluffy mini pancakes with egg liqueur sauce to ladel on) and bitterballen (small, deep-fried balls of meat LeisureGroupTravel.com
Emerald Waterways’ Holland/Belgium cruises for 2016 are set for April 26 and May 3. December 2015 47
on location: south ❖
NORTH CAROLINA
Rolls out the Red Carpet for Travel South Delegates With the 34th Travel South Showcase being held in Winston-Salem, the traditional pre-FAMs are perfect for discovering the diversity that is North Carolina By Dave Bodle
B
efore the city tours, opening night reception and marketplace
Appalachian culture is alive and well.
sessions that are all part of the March 6-9, 2016 Travel South
There will be a stop in Cherokee at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino
Showcase, three pre-FAMs will highlight each of North Car-
Resort to test your luck. All your favorite live table games and video
olina’s regions. Now is the time to sign up.
slots and poker are available. The tour continues to Hendersonville,
Each of the pre-FAMs will depart from Winston-Salem on March
tucked nicely between the Blue Ridge and Great Smoky Mountains.
3 and return March 6. All tours begin and end in Winston-Salem. The
This stay includes a visit to the unforgettable 125-foot Triple Falls
cost is a modest $50 per person.
within the DuPont State Recreational Forest. A Brewhouse Tour at the Sierra Nevada Brewery traces its history as a craft beer pioneer.
North Carolina Mountain Escape If the splendor of one mountain range is good, two must be great. The tour begins with arrival in Asheville, a charming community with a welcoming attitude and outstanding group-friendly attractions. High-
BBQ Fires, Smokin’ Tires and More In the Piedmont Region, North Carolina’s middle, you’ll experience small towns and major cities. Your adventure begins a
lights of your visit to Asheville and the Blue Ridge Mountains include
short drive from Winston-Salem in Lexington, the epicen-
a tour of Biltmore Estate house and gardens and Crest Mountain Din-
ter of North Carolina barbecue. Before savoring the
ner Show in the evening. There will be time for a walking tour of down-
taste and learning the history of barbe-
town Asheville with its eclectic shops, restaurants,
cue, you’ll tour
chocolate factory and craft brewery. Next stop is Waynesville, nestled in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This friendly small town has a vibrant arts community. Shops, galleries, cafes and restaurants are located on or just off Main Street.
48 December 2015
LeisureGroupTravel.com
Relax First! Excite Second NOTE: At press time, this tour was sold out. You are welcome to inquire about cancellations. There’s a beach visit on this itinerary with a few stops to and from. Heading east to the Coastal Region the first stop will be Rocky Mount for dinner. Rocky Mount is popular for travelers heading north/south on I-95 and east to the coast. DuPont State Recreational Forest is famous for its waterfalls.
You’ll continue onward to the Outer Banks Area with lessons in maritime history and culture to be
the RCR Museum. The facility once served as home for Richard Childress Racing and the No. 3 Goodwrench team.
learned. Groups have always found the Fort Raleigh Historic Site in Manteo to be on their to-do list. The
It’s on to Concord where speed takes center stage. You’ll
always-blooming Elizabethan Gardens and out-
be moving fast to see Hendrick Motorsports, Sam Bass Gallery,
door drama The Lost Colony at Waterside The-
NASCAR Racing Experience and the Speedway Club at Char-
atre along with nearby Roanoke Island Festival
lotte Motor Speedway.
Park are all popular attractions. You’ll see much
The next stop on this action-packed tour is Charlotte. The itin-
of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore with its
erary takes us to the interactive NASCAR Hall of Fame and in-
pillars of light, which have guarded the Outer
spirational Billy Graham Library. Unique sights, sounds and tastes
Banks for centuries. The event in December 1903
wait at the 7th Street Market. Levine Museum of the New South
at what is now the Wright Brothers National Me-
shares the history of the area following the Civil War. The U.S.
morial in Kitty Hawk changed the world forever.
National Whitewater Center, dedicated to promoting active outdoor lifestyles, will host dinner.
Returning west you’ll visit two Alamance County communities, Mebane and Burlington.
It’s on to the Lake Norman Area and the communities of Cornelius, Davidson and Huntersville. Bring your camera to the Carolina Raptor Center at Latta Plantation Nature Preserve. You’ll view more than 20 species of birds of prey. The circa 1800 cotton plantation is a living history attraction within the preserve. The experience continues at Birkdale Village, a shopping and dining destination with an enticing Main Street atmosphere. Visitors can climb the 214 steps to the top of Bodie Island Lighthouse, notable for its stripes.
Asheville, tucked in the Blue Ridge Mountains, is a tourist favorite.
LeisureGroupTravel.com
December 2015 49
WELCOME TO HIGH POINT
With High Point’s central location, the region is easily accessible to most of North Carolina’s major attractions; including the new Carolina Field of Honor, Linbrook Heritage Estate, and of course our very own Regional Visitors Center featuring 16 galleries with a focus on High Point and the entire region. The Wright Brothers National Memorial is a top Outer Banks sight.
Contact us today to plan your next tour!
North Carolina is a leading wine producer, so it just seems logical to include a winery visit. Iron Gate Vineyards and The Winery at Iron Gate Farm has a history of wine competition awards. The Conservators Center visit provides an opportunity to meet the animals, hear their stories and understand how each fits into its ecosystem. Not yet registered for Travel South USA Showcase? Visit online
1634 N. MAIN ST., SUITE 102 HIGH POINT, NC 27262 336.884.5255 HIGHPOINT.ORG
50 December 2015
at travelsouthusa.org/domestic_showcase/showregistration/buyers/default.aspx. To reserve your space on a fun, educational pre-FAM, call Travel South USA at 404-231-1790 or email showcase@travelsouthusa.com. LGT
LeisureGroupTravel.com
on location: midwest ❖
NEBRASKA’S Trail-blazing groups find historical attractions that chronicle America’s march westward and life on the High Plains
You can feel their pain at the Great Platte River Road Archway in Kearney. Nebraska Tourism Commission
PIONEER PAST By Randy Mink xploring the wide-open spaces of Nebraska, travelers
Costumed interpreters bring the old days back to life at Stuhr
discover reminders of cowboys and fur trappers, sod houses
Museum of the Prairie Pioneer in Grand Island, one of the Mid-
and Pony Express stations. The prairies have stories to
west’s premier living history museums. Covering much of the 200-
tell—stories of hardship, resilience and triumph—and tour groups
acre complex is the 1890s Railroad Town, a village of historical
can get wrapped up in all the lore at a wide choice of museums and
buildings alive in summer with people demonstrating trades and con-
historical sites. In a few spots your group can even witness the orig-
ducting business. You can tour homes, barns, a rural school and
inal ruts made by the ironclad wheels of covered wagons venturing
church, and Pawnee Indian earth lodge. See a multi-media presen-
west on the Oregon Trail.
tation and exhibits in the Stuhr Building, designed by noted architect
E
LeisureGroupTravel.com
December 2015 51
Edward Durrell Stone. The Fonner Rotunda has Old West and Na-
Trading Post, Nebraska’s largest souvenir store. A great roadside
tive American artifacts.
attraction, it has a Western museum and a miniature replica of Buf-
Harold Warp Pioneer Village in Minden, claiming one of the
falo Bill’s Wild West show that plays on the hour.
world’s largest collections of Americana, displays more than 50,000
Farther west on I-80, more Old West fun awaits at Front Street
antique treasures in 26 buildings, including a sod house, original
and Cowboy Museum in Ogallala. A re-creation of a 1880s street
Pony Express station, 1872 railway depot, 1884 church and a gen-
that recalls the town’s rowdy past, it offers a cowboy shoot-out,
eral store stocked with 19th century merchandise. Craftsmen
dance hall musical revue and museum, along with a steakhouse,
demonstrate spinning, weaving and broom making. Among the 350
saloon and gift shop. Also visit Ogallala’s Boot Hill Cemetery,
antique autos is the oldest Buick in existence.
where many cowboys were buried with their boots on.
Kearney is home to the Great Platte River Road Archway, an
Continuing west into the Panhandle region, you note that the
eight-story museum that spans I-80. A self-guided audio tour fol-
prairie starts to give way to a more dramatic landscape, one that
lows the trails, highways and transcontinental railroad that opened
matches our visions of what the American West looks like. Points
up the West. The archway’s outdoor Cultural Learning Trail pays
of interest include unusual rock formations that served as land-
tribute to the Platte Valley’s Native Americans and settlers. Also in
marks for the pioneers who crossed the continent in creaking
Kearney, Fort Kearny State Historical Park looks at frontier life on
wooden prairie schooners on the Oregon, Mormon and California
the Oregon Trail, featuring a replica stockade and reconstructed
trails. Many tours make a photo stop at Courthouse Rock and
blacksmith shop.
neighboring Jail Rock near Bridgeport before moving on to the nat-
Nebraska Tourism Commission Photos
The Old West comes alive at Front Street and Cowboy Museum in Ogallala and Great Platte River Road Archway, a museum that spans I-80 in Kearney.
Gothenburg, also on I-80, has two major frontier-era attractions.
ural phenomenon that pioneers most often mentioned in their jour-
Exhibits at the Pony Express Station chronicle the brief experi-
nals—Chimney Rock. “Towering to the heavens” is how one
ment in long-distance mail delivery by horseback. The Pony Ex-
pioneer described the tall spire rising out of a dome-like outcrop-
press route passed just south of town. Gothenburg’s Sod House
ping. They could see it two days before, from 37 miles away. Many
Museum is a farmstead complex with a replica sod house, a barn
carved their initials on the rock. The interpretive center at Chim-
with exhibits, and life-size sculptures of a buffalo and American In-
ney Rock National Historic Site near Bayard is operated by the
dian horseback rider constructed of miles of barbed wire.
Nebraska State Historical Society and pays tribute to those who
Few figures personify the frontier spirit more than William F.
traveled the trails.
“Buffalo Bill” Cody, the famous showman, army scout and buffalo
Closer to the Wyoming border, Scotts Bluff National Monu-
hunter. Cody’s legacy lives on in North Platte at Buffalo Bill Ranch
ment, 23 miles from Chimney Rock, preserves a more imposing
State Historical Park, which sits on the site of his Scout’s Rest
formation, an escarpment of wind-sculpted buttes that rises 800
Ranch. Groups can tour the elegant Victorian mansion and view
feet above the Platte River Valley. The pioneers were impressed
memorabilia from Cody’s Wild West Show in the huge barn. Also
at the sight of the fortress-like rock—some compared it to the Rock
in North Platte, find Western-themed gifts galore at Fort Cody
of Gibraltar—and were grateful that a third of the trail lay behind
52 December 2015
LeisureGroupTravel.com
who traded with Russia and China. On display are beaver hats, a buffalo robe and 18th century buckskin breeches, along with canoes, skinning and butcher knives, firearms and an 1809 beaver trap. Movie posters recall adventure films like Jeremiah Johnson, starring Robert Redford, and The Mountain Men with Charlton Heston and Brian Keith. In the gift shop you can pick up an elk robe ($200) or a raccoon, opossum, badger or bobcat pelt. On the grounds is a re-creation of the 1837-1876 Bordeaux Trading Post, built on the original foundation stones. As your group travels Nebraska prairielands in an air-conditioned motorcoach and rests comfortably in modern hotels, they no doubt will reflect on the hardships endured
Randy Mink
by earlier generations and how soft we have it today. LGT
The National Pony Express Monument is on the campus of Cabela’s flagship store in Sidney.
them. From the summit, reachable by car and bus, views stretch 100 miles. The visitor center at the foot of Scotts Bluff hosts outdoor living history interpreters in summer and has indoor exhibits that describe the hardships endured on the trek west. The recently established Legacy of the Plains Museum in Gering, sitting on 100 acres with Scotts Bluff as a backdrop, focuses on Native American, pioneering settlers, the establishment of irrigation, development of rural communities, diversity of culture on the High Plains, and the innovative technologies and cultural practices of raising animals and crops in the semi-arid environment. See a working farm, historic farmstead structures, and antique tractors and farm implements. Fort Robinson State Park, occupying the grounds of an old frontier military bastion in the state’s northwest corner, has 22 lodge rooms in a former barrack and more accommodations in cottages and stately homes that once served as officer’s quarters. Activities include horseback trail rides, wagon and stagecoach rides, and open-air jeep rides for spotting mountain sheep. Museums showcase area geology and the fort’s history as a cavalry post and equestrian center. Museum of the Fur Trade in Chadron, as the only museum that tells the whole history of the North American fur trade, spotlights not only the mountain men, buffalo hunters and Indians of the West but also French trappers and others who roamed the wilderness in the Eastern U.S. and Canada, plus West Coast entrepreneurs LeisureGroupTravel.com
December 2015 53
on location: west ❖
Agritourism is Cropping Up All Over Arizona Farm visits showcase the state’s cornucopia of agricultural products, from peaches and peanuts to olives and dates By Sue Arko
W
hen thinking of Arizona, most people imagine a big, hot, dry and dusty desert. But surprisingly, agriculture provides $17.1 billion to Arizona’s economy which in turn creates a thriving agritourism
industry. Agritourism, defined as any event that brings the public to visit a farm or ranch, includes activities like corn mazes, pumpkin patches, field tours, petting zoos, farm-to-table dinners, farm stands and U-Pick. Plenty of opportunities for tour groups can be found throughout Arizona. The western part of the state is home to Yuma County, the nation’s third largest vegetable producer. With rich soil, water access and more than 350 days of sunshine a year, Yuma County is the winter lettuce capital of the world, supplying 90% of the nation’s leafy vegetables between November and March. Yuma’s Lettuce Days, the county's signature festival held in late February, marks the end of the growing season. Designated the Best Special Event - Urban at the Arizona Governor’s Conference, the celebration offers the best of the region’s produce. Groups rants and cooking demonstrations by celebrity chefs. For non-foodies there is an agriculture-inspired art show, live entertain-
Visit Mesa
love the delicious creations by local restau-
ment and a vegetable-carving contest. Yuma’s green winter fields yield addi-
Top chefs host “Dinner Down the Orchard” at Schnepf Farms in Queen Creek, east of Mesa.
tional fresh opportunities for agritourism, such as U-Pick and taking a cooking class using all local ingredients. Combine the two and partake in the “Field to Feast” tour, a cooperative effort between two of Yuma’s research institutions. After receiving an ingredient list, groups harvest fresh produce at the University of Arizona research farm and deliver it to culinary students from Arizona Western College, where they prepare a delicious farm-to-table lunch. This option is so successful that the Yuma Visitors Bureau is planning an “Agri-U” educational program including seminars, field trips, culinary classes and opportunities to meet local growers.
Agritopia, an agricultural community in Gilbert, takes pride in its organic produce. 54 December 2015
Visit Mesa
And there’s more in Yuma. Dates are one of the oldest cultured tree crops in the world, dating back more than 5,000 years. Medjool dates, which originated in Morocco, were introduced in Arizona in 1944, and Yuma is now the LeisureGroupTravel.com
Randy Mink
Groups at Joe’s Farm Grill can eat amid the tamarisk and palm trees.
Visit Mesa
Tours at the Orange Patch in Mesa introduce groups to citrus growing.
world's largest producer. Martha's Gar-
served at Joe's Farm Grill and The Coffee
ily-owned ostrich ranch. Groups can feed
dens Date Farm offers group tours and
Shop - two restaurants on-site. All of the
the ostriches and a variety of other animals.
sells a variety of products including dates,
produce on the farm is grown under the
dried fruits, nuts, date shakes, natural and
USDA organic protocol.
organic gourmet foods.
Continuing south to Benson, located about 80 miles east of Tucson, stop at
Schnepf Farms, a fourth-generation
Apple Annie’s Orchard, a farm that spe-
Did you know peanuts are a vegetable?
family farm and the largest organic peach
cializes in tree-ripened apples, pears and
The Peanut Patch is another favorite for
grower in Arizona, is a pioneer in the agri-
peaches. Apple Annie’s provides group
groups, with a history that dates back to a
tourism industry. Just east of Mesa in the
tours along with seasonal events, most
post-World War II family of homesteaders
quaint town of Queen Creek, groups can
notably the fall pumpkin celebration in
who started growing peanuts on the Yuma
enjoy “Dinner Down the Orchard” in the
October. Its signature apple pie is to die for.
Mesa. Today, it offers a wide variety of
middle of this 300-acre farm. Offered peri-
Groups also enjoy a gift shop, hayrides to
homemade fudge, mixed nuts, dried fruits
odically during the year, each dinner is
the orchard and a huge corn maze.
and other creative delicacies. Free tours
hosted by a popular Valley chef and fea-
So, whether your group is looking for an
are given on Tuesdays and Fridays during
tures the culinary bounty of the season.
authentic experience or the opportunity to
the winter travel season.
Dinners are farm casual and include nu-
learn something new, an Arizona agri-
In the middle of the state, the Mesa area
merous courses paired with wine, served
tourism adventure will fit the bill. LGT
offers a variety of experiences for groups
at sunset and under the stars. Other
to enjoy year-round. Groups may want to
Schnepf’s Farms favorites are the annual
time their visit around citrus in January,
Peach Festival in May and Pumpkin and
peaches in May and olives in October.
Chili Party, which runs the whole month of
The Orange Patch, featuring 110 acres
April. Additionally, you can tour the farm,
of citrus and 30 acres of sweet corn, is one
pick your own produce in season, and shop
of Mesa's original citrus growers. Peak
at the country store and bakery.
season for orange production is January
Also in Queen Creek is Queen Creek
and February. Special group tours include
Olive Mill, a dynamic operation owned by
watching the picking and production
Brenda and Perry Rea. It is Arizona’s only
process. The store has fresh-squeezed
working olive farm and mill, containing over
orange juice, fresh honey, ice cream and
7,000 trees. Groups can participate in an
other gift items for sale.
olive oil tasting, tour the facility and have a
If you prefer to visit a dairy farm in
meal at the restaurant on-site. Weekend
Mesa, Superstition Farm offers a farmer’s
activities might include live music, wine
market, guided hayride tours, a petting zoo,
tasting, or arts and crafts shows.
milk tastings, ice cream, cheese, butter and a seasonal hay maze.
In the southern part of the state, groups will want to include Apple Annie’s Orchard
Agritopia, located in Gilbert, is an
in Wilcox and Rooster Cogburn Ostrich
urban village with a patchwork of seasonal
Ranch in Picacho as part of their agri-
specialty crops. Pathways allow guests to
tourism itinerary.
view the crops and see firsthand how fertile
Located between Tucson and Phoenix
Arizona's desert landscape truly is. How-
just off Interstate 10, Rooster Cogburn’s is
ever, the best part is that the same-day har-
truly the “Darndest Place You Ever Will
vest is sold at the nearby Farm Stand and
Visit”. The Ranch is a third-generation fam-
LeisureGroupTravel.com
December 2015 55
Great American Aquariums By Danielle Golab
very year millions of visitors flock to aquariums to get a closer look at ecosystems that feel so far away—in oceans, rivers and other bodies of water inhabited by slippery creatures of all kinds, many of them quite exotic. The United States is home to some of the world’s best aquariums, places that go above and beyond the typical display tanks. Many of these aquatic showcases provide unique interactive experiences that will leave groups with unforgettable memories. Include some of these attractions in your itinerary and your travelers will not be disappointed.
E
Georgia Aquarium • Atlanta
H
ousing over 10 million gallons of water and attracting more than 18 million visitors since opening in 2005, Georgia Aquarium is the biggest aquarium in the Western hemisphere. It is home to thousands of animals and the only aquarium in North America that houses the largest fish in the world—whale sharks. Go on a Behind the Seas Tour, have an animal encounter, stay overnight or see a show—the possibilities are endless at the Georgia Aquarium. (georgiaaquarium.org)
National Aquarium Baltimore
SEA LIFE Minnesota Aquarium Bloomington, Minnesota
ne of the top three aquariums in the country, the National Aquarium brings the aquatic world to Baltimore’s Inner Harbor with 20,000 animals in award-winning exhibits. Here, guests can encounter a 500pound green sea turtle in an Indo-Pacific reef, explore the colorful canopy of a tropical rain forest, descend into shark territory and get hands-on with Mid-Atlantic animals in Living Seashore. With special talks, feedings and animal encounters daily, there’s always more to discover. (aqua.org)
ocated in an unsuspecting place, the Mall of America, is SEA LIFE Minnesota Aquarium, the largest underground aquarium in the world. This aquarium is home to a 300-foot ocean tunnel, 30 display tanks and over 10,000 sea creatures. Interactive touch pools, talks and feedings entertain guests daily. One-of-a-kind activities such as Feed the Rays, Behind-the-Scenes Tours, Snorkel Programs, Dive Programs, Overnights and Sharks After Dark will provide your group with an unforgettable experience. (visitsealife.com/minnesota)
O
56 December 2015
L
National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium Dubuque, Iowa
T
he National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium explores wildlife that is found in the Mississippi River and Gulf of Mexico. Visitors will be able to observe animals like giant catfish, sturgeon, frogs, turtles, rays, octopuses and river otters. Educator talks and creature features are daily activities. Guests can witness a Paddlefish Feeding and listen to the Green Sea Turtle Chat. Get an exclusive look at the ecosystem of the Mississippi River. (rivermuseum.com)
By Dave Bodle
O N MAR K ET I N G
4 Tips for Keeping Sales & Marketing on the Same Page A recent blog, 10 Tried-and-True Tips for Sales and Marketing Alignment by Carolina Samsing, made some good points, but in summary it seems there really isn’t a best procedure or process for better workings between sales and marketing. ©iStock.com/skynesher
W
e need to be market-specific.
ment. You may want to make it part of a
geographic specific consumer advertising
The packaged travel industry is
weekly sales meeting.
campaign, make sure you know well
certainly made up of diverse companies of all sizes. From
Unfortunately, the carpet from market-
enough in advance to undertake a sales
ing to the CEO is often more worn than
blitz. That ad campaign will build aware-
the largest corporation to the smallest
the path from marketing to group sales.
ness of a destination, and the astute tour
family-owned tour operator and from the
Regardless of how you collect the content,
operator, when they know what’s coming,
national accommodation flags to the
recognize your sales reps are on the front
will very likely have a package ready.
smallest independent, we are an industry
line and will often see things marketing
of differences.
overlooks.
4
However, regardless of your company’s
Organize your sales tools in one location. Times they are a changing
Coordinate marketing campaigns
and no longer is that closet by the kitchen
with sales. This one seems obvious,
the solution for storing materials the reps
size or employee alignment, here are
3
some “smarketing” practices that could
but it’s often assumed or just overlooked.
will need. The bottom line is marketing
work for you.
The purpose is obvious. Sales reps need
goes to great lengths to produce promo-
1
Marketing and sales need to meet
to be kept up to date with what promotions
tional pieces. The materials the reps need
regularly. Results of marketing’s
are being offered and the lead source
for follow-up should be in an accessible
efforts need to be analyzed and evaluated.
where they originate. Here are some
online “Rep Center.”
The number of sales leads generated,
steps to take:
the percentage of those leads that were
Keep your campaign calendar there
Include the promotion on a shared
ready for download. Links to all relevant
worked and the actual conversion of those
calendar. Regardless of what marketing
offers are a must, along with the recom-
leads to sales are important metrics.
is planning – email blast, advertisement,
mended templates for follow-up. DMOs
social media – make sure it’s on the
and suppliers should have images, logos
and I do both the sales and marketing.
calendar. This can avoid an embarrassing
and other materials a tour operator might
You still need to analyze and evaluate,
moment between client/prospect and
need in the Rep Center. Do make sure
regularly and honestly.
sales rep – “I just received that other offer
each promotion is well labeled and once
this morning.”
the promotion is completed remove from
Comment: We’re a small company
Comment: This sounds like it’s mostly online marketing. Regardless of how leads
Send the promotion to the sales team.
are generated – print, online, sales calls,
Make it clear where the promotion is going
marketplaces, and direct mail – marketing
and provide talking points for the sales rep.
and sales need to do their analysis. Comment: We have sales reps
Build templates for sales reps use for
the Rep Center. Sales and marketing need to know and respect one another if successful “smarketing” is to be part of your company.
each promotion. Whether the sales follow-
Working together and being comfortable
scattered all over. Whether you meet by
up is email, visit or telephone, there
with one another will keep packaged
conference call, Skype, Facetime, or
needs to be a template that corresponds
travel an important part of your business.
another method, regular meetings are too
with the promotion.
important to allow organizing challenges to get in the way.
2
Note to DMOs and supplier group sales: If your business is planning to run a
Contact Dave at 843-997-2880 or email dave@ptmgroups.com.
Capture your sales rep’s street knowledge. Salespeople are talk-
Looking Ahead To Our
ing with prospects and clients everyday.
February Issue
They know what’s getting them excited. The challenge is getting this knowledge to marketing. Make it easy for reps to record with a Google or Excel docu58 December 2015
Culinary – Food & Spirits, Agritourism The Arts – Museums, Architecture, Garden Scenic Rail Trips Alumni Organizations & Non-profits Trade Show Coverage – Group Travel Awards, OMCA
See our page-flip edition & past issues at LeisureGroupTravel.com We can help showcase your business to groups. Call us 630.794.0696 or advertising@ptmgroups.com
LeisureGroupTravel.com
surround your group in the romance
of a
european river
The Danube River Offer the world to your travelers with journeys to all seven continents.
To learn about our extensive tour selection, call 800.762.5345 or your local travel agent. CST# 2006766-20 UBN# 601220855 Nevada Seller of Travel Registration No. 2003-0279
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Request advertiser information by January 15 ❑ Arizona Renaissance Festival, Gold Canyon
❑ Experience Columbus, OH
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❑ Arkansas State Parks
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❑ Rapid City CVB, SD
❑ Be Native Tours/Chickasaw Nation, OK
❑ Fayetteville Area CVB, NC
❑ Renfro Valley Entertainment Center, Mt. Vernon, KY
❑ Bellingrath Gardens and Home, Theodore, AL
❑ Fire & Ice, Boston, MA
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❑ Billings CVB, MT
❑ Fredericksburg Area Tourism, VA
❑ Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Library, Simi Valley, CA
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❑ Grand Ole Opry, Nashville, TN
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❑ Ho-Chunk Casino, Wisconsin Dells, WI
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❑ The House of the Seven Gables, Salem, MA
❑ Coco Key Hotel & Water Resort, Orlando, FL
❑ The Huntington Library, San Marino, CA
❑ Collette Vacations
❑ Illinois Railway Museum, Union, IL
❑ Colonial Williamsburg, Williamsburg, VA
❑ Lake George Area in NY's Adirondacks, NY
❑ Country Inn & Suites, Metairie, LA
❑ Laughlin CVB, NV
❑ Country Music Hall of Fame, Nashville, TN
❑ Mall of America, Bloomington, MN
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❑ Meet AC, Atlantic City, NJ
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❑ National Aquarium, Baltimore, MD
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❑ North Dakota Tourism
❑ Wisconsin Dells Visitor & Convention Bureau, WI
❑ Earl Enterprises
❑ Oakwood Resort, Syracuse, IN
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