Coppola Resorts
January 25, 2010
Coppola Resorts is a small award winning portfolio of properties owned by film director and entrepreneur Francis Ford Coppola. The resorts reflect the style, creativity and attention to deal of their owner. They’re small, intimate and unique with a strong focus on creating individual experiences and delivering outstanding service. Each resort has a unique personality with lodge design and construction techniques drawing on the sustainable resources and skills of the communities that surround them. Our guests are well travelled, educated and conservation oriented and this means we are constantly striving to tread lightly, employ locally and support biodiversity conservation. Our sustainable tourism philosophy is reflected in the support for a range of biodiversity conservation and community related projects. We employ a full time conservation officer and our staff are proud to serve on the boards of partner NGOs. We offer a comprehensive range of inbound services for our guests and travel... Read More →
Member Press ReleasesShare Your Most Absurd Holiday Experience and Win a Trip to Finland
January 25, 2010
“I wish I was in Finland” is a campaign by the Finnish Tourist Board that questions tourist clichés and challenges travellers to share their most absurd holiday experiences for the chance to win a vacation in Finland. The campaign launches Finland’s new tourism portal at www.visitfinland.com. The Finnish Tourist Board launches a campaign which challenges tourist clichés and traditional mass tourism destinations. With the tag line “I wish I was in Finland”, the humorous campaign introduces Finland as an authentic and interesting destination for travellers looking for a fresh alternative to the conventional. The campaign features a playful photo competition in which visitors are challenged to upload photos of their most absurd holiday experiences at the new portal. The ten top-rated photos will automatically qualify for a lottery to win a luxury holiday for two in Finland. The photo competition runs from December 15 to February 28, 2010 at www.visitfinland.com New Visit... Read More →
By the Numbers Member Press ReleasesSurvey Reveals Traveler Motivations for ‘Once in a Lifetime Trips’…and more
January 25, 2010
The Trip of a Lifetime Travel Report 2010, a travel study about the motivations and preferences behind vacations that are considered “A Trip of a Lifetime.” This report was conducted by GeckoGo and iExplore in conjunction with Lasso Communications. Given the rise of experiential travel, the goal of this survey (conducted between December 2009 and January 2010 with 2,311 respondents) was to obtain a snapshot of consumer attitudes globally towards taking “lifetime” trips, what destinations are considered, the importance of travel companions, the price and duration. The survey looks at the difference between expectations for what a trip of a lifetime means, compared against those who have already gone. Key findings of this report Seeing the World Wonders, safaris and rain forest expeditions are the top experiences travelers are most interested... Read More →
ATTA EventsQ1 Dates Selected for ATTA’s U.S. Regional Meeting Series
January 22, 2010
ATTA’s Regional Meeting series is coming to key locations around the United States. The ATTA’s regional meetings are open to all travel industry professionals, typically creating peer-to-peer networking among tour operators, destination marketing representatives, specialty and adventure travel agents, and consumer and travel trade media. Mark your calendars for the Regional Meetings in the following cities: Boulder/Golden: February 11th Boston: February 19th (learn more & register) New York City: February 24th San Francisco: March 12th Read More →
Industry Partner NewsNTA’s 2010 Priority Advocacy Issues Include Focus on Entry/Exit Procedures, Travel Restrictions to Cuba
January 22, 2010
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Entry/exit procedures, opening Cuba for travel and funding for destination marketing organizations and national parks are among NTA’s eight priority advocacy issues for 2010. Although the association’s government relations team will monitor all legislative activity, these eight issues will receive top attention. “Based on legislation that can either impede or help our members’ business interests, the NTA Board determines these priority issues to set the focus of the association’s government advocacy work for the coming year,” said NTA President Lisa Simon, CTP. The eight issues adopted by the NTA Board are: Hotel occupancy tax issues U.S. entry and exit procedures, visa issuance and the expansion of the Visa Waiver Program Marketing grants for destination marketing organizations and nonprofit organizations Airline policies that impact sellers of travel Lifting of U.S. travel restrictions to Cuba Effective implementation of the... Read More →
By the NumbersGermany’s Online Travel Market Gains Significant Ground
January 22, 2010
Sherman, Conn. USA — In a year when global travel markets struggled under the weight of recession, Germany’s online travel market held up to the pressure. Travel industry research authority, PhoCusWright Inc., reveals that the online travel market in Germany grew by 10.4% in 2009 even while overall revenues declined in its recent publication, PhoCusWright’s German Online Travel Overview Fifth Edition. Online travel agencies (OTAs) have a recognizable competitive advantage in this strained economy because they enable consumers to find affordable options and build their own dynamic packages. As dynamic packaging drives growth—and demand for customized holidays remains high—German OTAs will continue to benefit. The German travel market underwent a less severe fall in demand in comparison to other major European markets in 2009. Online channels experienced a countercyclical lift that we often see in markets that are soft, but not suffering major declines. Currency exchange rates... Read More →
Spotlight: Sustainability Trade EventsWorld’s Innovative Travel Entrepreneurs to Gather to Share Geotourism Successes
January 21, 2010
WHAT: The Second Annual Geotourism Change Summit will take place at National Geographic headquarters Tuesday, Feb. 2, as travel leaders whose businesses range from eco-tours in rural villages to top-line resorts in major cities gather. They will share how to best cultivate destination stewardship and protect the world’s special places from the negative effects of mass tourism. Geotourism, a growing travel trend, is tourism that sustains or enhances the geographical character of a place — its environment, culture, aesthetics, heritage and the well-being of its residents. Registration $175 (general delegate) WHEN: 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 2. WHERE: National Geographic Society, Washington, D.C. Enter at 1146 16th Street N.W. WHO: The 10 finalists of the 2nd Geotourism Challenge, representing Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, Costa Rica, India, Mongolia, Spain, the United States and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Their enterprising tourism ranges from adventure bike tours through... Read More →
Member Press ReleasesThe ROC Collection Provides Strategic Resources Which Enhance Business Experiences
January 20, 2010
ASPEN, COLORADO — After a successful launch in October 2009, the ROC Collection continues to expand its portfolio of active and sporting business experiences for Executives and Meeting Professionals. As a unique collection of global suppliers, the ROC Collection provides a ‘one stop shop’ for custom event experiences which may be personalized by an organization’s business objectives. Business professionals can search sample programs based on destination or activity, as well as researching business solution areas such as Executive Retreat, Incentive, Client Loyalty, and Leadership Development. It is this focus which justifies why ROC Collection partner experiences are not simply “luxury”, but yet extremely affective meeting and event solutions, which provide a higher Return On Commitment for all participants involved. In December, Dream Outdoors continued to increase the integrity of The ROC Collection’s business focus by introducing a partnership with some of the best, and... Read More →
Member Press ReleasesBorea Adventures and the Arctic Fox Center join “1% for the Planet”
January 20, 2010
In 2001 Yvon Chouinard the founder and owner of Patagonia and Craig Matthews the owner of Blue Ribbon Flies started an organization they called “1% for the Planet“. This is an alliance of businesses pledging to donate at least 1% of sales towards active efforts to protect and restore our natural environment. Both of these companies had actively supported grassroot environmental organizations and they shared their personal belief that a healthy natural world is essential for humankind ́s survival. “1% for the Planet” exists to build and support an alliance of businesses financially committed to creating a healthy planet and the way it works is that each member company contributes 1 percent of its annual sales as donations to non‐profit environmental organizations. Members choose from a list of groups approved by and registered with “1% for the Planet”. Today there are around 1200 members of this exclusive alliance and 2000 non‐profit environmental groups... Read More →
Media BuzzNewly-Formed Outside Television Appoints Programming Head
January 20, 2010
Award-Winning Producer Rob Faris Tapped as Senior Vice President of Programming and Production NEW YORK, NY – Outside Television, the active lifestyle network formed in partnership of Outside Magazine publisher Mariah Media and Resort Sports Network, today announced the appointment of television industry veteran Rob Faris as Senior Vice President of Programming and Production. Faris, a multiple Emmy Award-winning television producer, will oversee the creation and development of programming content for the network, which will launch in June. Based in the Outside Television’s New York City office, he will manage the Television Operations department and will supervise an acclaimed production team of producers, directors, and writers. His duties will also involve collaborating with Outside magazine’s editors on the conception of a host of new series that will reflect the editorial content of the publication. “Rob Faris is very well regarded, and his broad experience and relationships... Read More →
