CTA Connections - Spring 2009
Upcoming Events
Meet & See at VinTabla
Join your fellow Tucson CTAs on Thursday, May 14 from 5-7 p.m. at VinTabla Restaurant & Wine Shop to enjoy complimentary delectable nibbles, exquisite ambiance and key networking opportunities. VinTabla is located in beautiful Plaza Colonial at the southwest corner of Skyline and Campbell. Learn more about VinTabla; click here.
***** Earn 5 renewal points by attending this event! To RSVP click here.
2nd Annual Copper Star Awards Presentation
And the winners are . . . well, you'll just have to attend to find out! On Wednesday, June 17 from 5-7 p.m., MTCVB's "Annual Partner Gathering" at the newly remodeled Lodge on the Desert will include a special presentation of the Copper Star Awards. The awards will be presented to an individual and a company to acknowledge contributions to the tourism industry and enrollment of the most CTAs, respectively.
*****Earn 5 renewal points by attending this event! To RSVP click here.
Check Out
"What's New in Tucson" courtesy of MTCVB's Public Relations Department. See the April update & check back monthly.
***** Earn 5 renewal points by reading these Tucson tourism updates!
CTA Spotlight On. . .
Pam Harlow, Concierge at Loews Ventana Canyon Resort and a valued volunteer at the Tucson Visitor Center shares her perspective on going the extra mile.
"I am an 'inn-keeper' and informational resource to all guests at Loews Ventana Canyon Resort. Visitors come to us from across the country and from around the world! It's a delight to host them at our beautiful Loews setting. My role is to provide services ranging from securing tickets to events, recommending & reserving restaurants, finding a pharmacy or locating places to shop for boots! I also direct guests to current activities and advise them on "what to do" while in Tucson. I will find the answers to any and all inquiries asked. At Loews, our goal is to provide positive customer satisfaction to ensure that guests want to return to Tucson and Loews.
Volunteering at the Tucson Visitor Center is very similar to the concierge role. I offer visitors information about what to do in Tucson, and what "not to miss" during their stay. I get to "wow" them with all that Tucson and Southern Arizona offers to make their experience memorable and lasting. I also volunteer at Tohono Chul Park--it's another great opportunity for me to reach out to Tucson-area visitors.
I chose to participate in the Tucson Ambassadors Program to learn new things about our great city and to enhance my ability to provide great customer service. I enjoyed attending the February event at the Rodeo Parade Museum-and it helped me to better describe to my guests what they'll experience! Since becoming a Certified Tourism Ambassador, I have made valuable friendships that continue to grow and help me in my efforts to get visitors the information they need.
I have a fortunate role in Tucson tourism as my work as a concierge and volunteer allows me to promote the "Old Pueblo" daily. I encourage everyone to become a CTA and watch the doors that will open!"
New Features
Discounts & Freebies
New features at www.ctanetwork.com include a "Discounts & Freebies" section. Special thanks to Arizona Theatre Company, Metro Restaurants, Pusch Ridge Stables, Reisen Tours, "Roll With It," and the Westin La Paloma Resort & Spa for offering discounts to Tucson CTAs!
Login to www.CTANetwork.com and click on "Freebies/Discounts" in the STAY INFORMED section to take advantage of these unique opportunities to experience Tucson like a tourist! Do you want to promote your product or service to your fellow CTAs? It's easy, just follow the directions from the www.CTANetwork.com home page-by first clicking on "Offer Freebies & Discounts." You can also contact Laurie White for assistance at lwhite@visitTucson.org or 520-770-2131.
"Find a Fellow CTA"
Have you given this a try yet?? This feature under STAY CONNECTED on www.CTANetwork.com is now functional-so please log in, take a look and let your fellow CTAs know it's available!
- This new function allows you to search the CTA Directory so you can stay connected with other CTAs .
- We take privacy very seriously-only business information may be searched. Your home address, home phone or cell phone will not be shown to others.
- The information in the CTA Directory is for reference and networking purposes only. Any solicitations generated from this list or any other reported misuse will result in penalties, including the loss of your CTA designation.
- To access the CTA Directory, simply log in, click on MYCTA HOME, enter the STAY CONNECTED box and click on "Find a Fellow CTA."
- A search screen appears to enable you to search in a variety of ways including within your community, by name, by company, or by industry segment.
"Find a Fellow CTA" is another way the CTA program is bringing value to you! As we continue to build out CTANetwork.com, we will develop more exciting features to help YOU in making a difference in the lives of our visitors!
IMPORTANT WEB SITE REMINDERS:
Remember . . . always click on MYCTA HOME to take advantage of the many features accessible only to CTAs! Only CTAs in good standing can login to CTANetwork.com, so be sure to renew annually!
Have you been promoted?
Did your CTA designation make a difference? We'd love for you to share your "career advancement" story at www.ctanetwork.com. Just use your login ID and password and click on "Career Advancement" in the "Stay Professional" box to submit your story. Or, call us and we'll do it for you!
Renewal Update
For those of you who graduated in 2008, now's the time to enter your renewal points! Your deadline for recertification is October 31, 2009. Renewing your certification online is easy. See Renewal Instruction Sheet following the CTA logo below:
Embrace Tourism . . . and Win!
As CTAs, we know that Tucson is the perfect place for any meeting or event! Have you or someone you know traveled to another city to attend a meeting or conference? Are you aware of a corporation, organization or association that meets regularly in other cities? (Professional, religious, fraternal, sports, etc.)
Tell us about a group that could meet here, and our professional sales team will take care of the rest. If the group books their business in Tucson, you will receive a $100 gift certificate to any Tucson Original restaurant! Your name will go into a drawing for other fabulous prizes, including roundtrip airfare for two, $1,000 shopping spree at La Encantada, spa treatments at Miraval, a $5,000 radio- advertising package, or a season membership with the Tucson Symphony Orchestra!
Call Judy Wood, Partner and Group Sales Manager at 770-2148 to learn more about this exciting campaign and to discuss your lead - or go to http://www.embracetourism.com.
We're also looking for opportunities to spread the word about Embrace Tourism - just 5 minutes is all it takes to present the campaign to a group of any size - staff meetings, civic organizations etc.
Renewal of Certification Instruction Sheet
As a CTA, you must recertify every year to maintain your status. All CTAs who graduated in 2008 must recertify by October 31, 2009. All CTA's who graduated in 2009 have until October 31, 2010 to recertify. You may, however, start entering your points now. To recertify, you must earn 50 points. The opportunities to gain points are listed below. Recertification can be done online or via a paper form. If you would like a paper form, you can download and print it from the "View Documents" section on www.CTANetwork.com or contact Laurie White at 520-770-2131 or lwhite@visitTucson.org
If you are using a computer, follow these instructions:
Log in to www.CTANetwork.com with your username and password. If you forgot your username/password, click on "forgot?" and it will be emailed to you.
Click on "Annual Renewal of Certification" on the lower left side of the page.
Click on "Update Your Renewal Application" in the middle of the page.
Update your profile (if necessary) and then click "Save"
The next screen shows you all the opportunities to get points. The first way is by visiting attractions. Click on "View List of Qualifying Attractions." Scroll to the attraction you visited and click "Create New Report." You do not need to fill in every section; the text boxes in this space are there to allow you to enter information only as a future resource. After you enter this information, click "Save."
The second way is by reading books, articles or reports on the tourism industry. Simply fill in this area after you have read any such material. The third opportunity to gain points for recertification is by attending a CTA function or event (other than a CTA class). Networking events or CTA-only opportunities (like those featured in this e-newsletter) are to be included here. You may also record points after you volunteer at a tourism-related function, such as a festival or community event, etc. Finally, you are able to get points by attending educational programs or seminars (other than CTA activities) within the tourism/hospitality field.
Once you have 50 or more points, a "Submit" button will appear. When you click this, you will see payment options for the $20 renewal fee ($15 if you renew by October 31st each year). You may pay via credit card or check. (Check with your employer, as they may pay this fee.) If you choose to pay by check, you will receive an invoice from the CTA program. Please mail this invoice, along with your check, made out to Metropolitan Tucson Convention & Visitors Bureau (MTCVB) to:
Laurie White, CTA
Partner Services Manager
MTCVB
100 S. Church Ave.
Tucson, AZ 85701
If you have any questions, please contact Laurie at 770-2131 or lwhite@visitTucson.org
Spread the Word -- Upcoming Class Schedule
Do you know tourism employees that haven't yet earned their CTA designation?
Let them know about the next three class opportunities!
Register online at www.CTANetwork.com and click on "Tucson."
Thursday, May 21
12:30 - 5 p.m.
Tucson Association of Realtors, 2445 N. Tucson Blvd.
(Registration deadline: April 30)
Wednesday, June 10
8 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Hyatt Place Tucson Airport, 6885 S. Tucson Blvd.
(Registration deadline: May 20)
Monday, July 13
12:30 - 5 p.m.
Sheraton Tucson Hotel & Suites, 5151 E, Grant Rd.
(Registration deadline: June 22)
