August 2008 e-NewsletterWelcome to TourISm Tucson (pronounced "Tourism Is Tucson"), your monthly e-newsletter from the Metropolitan Tucson Convention and Visitors Bureau (MTCVB). Each month, we invite you to use this medium to stay informed of news and other information that will help ensure your success as a partner of Tucson's tourism community. Walker Named Arizona Tourism Champion of 2008
The Metropolitan Tucson Convention and Visitors Bureau is pleased to announce that CEO Jonathan Walker was named Tourism Champion of the Year at the 2008 Governor's Conference on Tourism at The Westin La Paloma Resort and Spa. Walker and other tourism leaders were honored at the 2008 Governor's Conference by Arizona tourism professionals and the Arizona Office of Tourism (AOT). AOT Director Margie A. Emmermann and Deputy Director Kelly Paisley presented the awards during the Governor's Awards Luncheon at the resort on July 10, with more than 500 tourism industry members from private and public sectors in attendance. Honorees were chosen based on qualifications such as exceptional efforts, innovation, uniqueness, and measurable results. Walker was honored by his peers for more than 20 years of dedicated service to the hospitality industry in Arizona; he joined the MTCVB as Vice President of Sales in 1994 and became CEO in 1999. Work It!
Tucson Ambassadors Program 2008 Class Schedule
Learn more about the Tucson Ambassadors Program. Download an application and/or register for a class hosted by an MTCVB partner between October and December.
First Tuesday: Tucson's Prominence in the World of Cycling
Tuesday, Sept. 2, 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Arizona Inn, 2200 E. Elm St. Featuring Matthew Zoll, Bicycling and Pedestrian Program Manager, Pima County Department of Transportation. Sponsored by Pima Community College Center for the Arts. For more information or to RSVP, click here.
Educational Seminar: MTCVB Web Site Update and You!
Wednesday, Sept. 17. Registration at 8 a.m. Meeting 8:30 to 9:30 a.m., Doubletree Hotel Tucson at Reid Park, 445 S. Alvernon Way Tucson AZ 85711. Presented by Erin McNamara Lair, Webmaster at the MTCVB, and Dana Padula, EMedia Product Specialist at Madden Media. More than 2.5 million individuals ‘unique visitors' are accessing MTCVB's Web site. Is your company taking advantage of this incredible exposure to your potential clients? For more details or to RSVP, click here.
Update Your Listing
Tuesday, Sept. 30 is the deadline to update your listing online for the 2009 Spring/Summer Tucson Official Destination Guide (formerly Official Visitors Guide) and the Professional Planners Edition of the Tucson Official Destination Guide (formerly Destination Planning Guide)--changes can take up to 48 hours to appear. If you have any questions or forgot your username and/or password, call Laurie White at (520) 770-2131 or by e-mail lwhite@visitTucson.org. First Tuesday: Tucson/Canada Partnership
Tuesday, Oct. 7, 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Arizona Inn, 2200 E. Elm St., Tucson AZ 85719. Featuring
Rick Stephenson, Consul and Senior Trade Commissioner, Canadian Consulate Trade Office. Sponsored by Encore Creative. For more information or to RSVP, click here.
Meet and See at McClintock's Saguaro Ranch
Wednesday, Oct. 15, 5 to 7 p.m. at Saguaro Ranch, 3800 W. Moore Rd. Tucson AZ 85742. Savor the beauty of a desert sunset while enjoying appetizers and drinks (cash bar) on the rooftop grill of McClintock's -- in the heart of Saguaro Ranch. For more information or to RSVP, click here. First Tuesday: Update on Tucson's New Downtown Arena
Tuesday, Nov. 4, 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Arizona Inn, 2200 E. Elm St. 85719. Featuring Rich Singer, Director, Tucson Convention Center. Sponsored by Tucson Jazz Society. For more information or to RSVP, click here. First Tuesday: It's All About Tucson--Marketing Our World-Class Destination
Tuesday, Dec. 2, 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Arizona Inn, 2200 E. Elm St. 85719. Featuring Toby Parks, Director of Marketing, MTCVB. Sponsored by Madden Media. For details or to RSVP, click here.
Use It!
Best Practices on 'Green Tucson' Page
The Travel Industry Association (TIA) is asking its members throughout the United States to proactively address industry issues related to climate change, energy consumption, and resource conservation. A report on the TIA website outlines the association's plan to prevent travel industry regulation and, ultimately, increase profits for members. Travel industry partners could "go green" in a way that impresses consumers and leads to more travel. Already many American hotels, restaurants, airlines, theme parks, and auto rentals are involved in eco-friendly practices that appeal to the "growing number of consumers willing to eat at environmentally-responsible restaurants and stay in environmentally-conscious hotels."
Travelers interested in Tucson's environmentally conscious travel options can find information on the MTCVB Web site's new Green Tucson page. The Green Tucson Web page, accessible from the left navigation bar on the homepage, displays best practices within Tucson's tourism community. Currently featured are partner attractions and accommodations, which completed the MTCVB's online survey in June. Numerous Tucson tourism partners are in the process of becoming green-certified and eco-friendly, so the page is continually updated. Partners with relevant information to add may request an online survey by contacting Erin McNamara Lair, MTCVB Webmaster, at elair@visitTucson.org. New Interactive Heritage Tourism Map
The Santa Cruz Valley Heritage Tourism Map is now accessible from the MTCVB Web site. A link to the beautifully illustrated, interactive map can be found on the Heritage and Culture page at visitTucson.org. The map identifies various destinations that tie into 10 heritage experiences or themes unique to the roughly 3,300-square-mile area, which stretches from Catalina to Nogales and from Arivaca to Elgin. Viewers can plan outings based on their interest in the 10 themes. The non-profit Santa Cruz Valley Heritage Alliance (SCVHA) created the map as a project of the proposed Santa Cruz Valley National Heritage Area. Rick Vaughan, MTCVB Sr. Vice President of Sales and Marketing, serves on the SCVHA Board of Directors. Vanessa Bechtol, SCVHA Programs Manager, is available to speak to groups about the proposed Santa Cruz Valley National Heritage Area; contact her at (520) 429-1394.
Online Video Gallery
We've added a collection of exciting videos to the Image Gallery at visitTucson.org. The new collection currently includes ten clips that use colorful imagery and enticing music to showcase top-rated Tucson vacation experiences. The videos offer potential visitors the opportunity to quickly sample Tucson golfing, horseback riding, hiking, mountain biking, dining, spa pampering, and neighborhood walking tours. There is no charge to view the videos or download them for the purpose of promoting Tucson or a Tucson event. Given that video is a cost-effective way to connect with potential customers, the MTCVB is planning to produce several more clips on topics of interest to visitors. I'd Rather be in Tucson!
August is Tucson's birthday month and tourism businesses all around town are celebrating. Tucsonans are wearing yellow "I'd Rather be in Tucson" buttons and volunteering at and/or attending public events that celebrate everything that makes our city great. The Tucson Birthday Celebration committee, led by Tucson pioneer Cele Peterson, encourages local residents to acknowledge our city's actual birthday, August 20, 1775, by attending some of the all-ages events during August. A calendar of events and more information is at the Tucson Birthday Celebration Web site.
Know It!
MTCVB Wins 2008 M&C Gold Service Award for 19th Year
For the 19th year, Meetings and Conventions magazine has awarded the MTCVB its Gold Service Award for outstanding service to meeting professionals. This prestigious award honors CVBs that have excelled in professionalism and dedication in their service to meeting professionals. This year, the readers of M&C presented the Gold Service award of distinction to 77 domestic and 13 international CVBs. Relying on their extensive industry experience in both corporate and association markets, the magazine's readers made selections based on key criteria including: professionalism of staff; support on hotels and site inspections; assistance with ground transportation planning; guidance on local attractions; and liaison with local vendors and services. The MTCVB and other winning CVBs will be featured in Meetings and Conventions' 2008 Gold Awards issue, due at news stands in November. New MTCVB Director of Tourism a 22-Year Industry Veteran
Jackie Ludwig has joined the MTCVB as Director of Tourism. Ludwig has lived in Tucson for 26 years, during which she worked in destination management as part of the hospitality industry for 22 years. Most recently, she created the in-house Department for Destination Management at the JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort and Spa. Ludwig will be working closely with the MTCVB Travel Trade / Group Tour staff and Sr. Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Rick Vaughan. She takes over the position formerly held by Beah Blackledge, who retired in July after 13 years as MTCVB Director of Tourism. Ludwig can be reached at 520-770-2147 or jludwig@visitTucson.org. I-10 Widening Alert
Work is currently in progress on widening I-10 from Prince Road to 29th Street. The three-year project is scheduled for summer 2007 through spring 2010. For details and updates, phone the information hotline at 520-327-6444, 1-877-961-1010, or click here.
4th Avenue Underpass Update
Traffic alerts related to construction, detours, and closures during the 4th Avenue Underpass construction project in downtown Tucson are issued periodically and are available online. To find out more, click here.
Links to MTCVB Resources
Follow the links below for a variety of MTCVB resources:
Tucson Ambassadors Program (CTANetwork.com)
Download "Partner of MTCVB" logo
TourISm Tucson e-Newsletter Archives
New Partners & Partner Anniversaries
MTCVB Visitor Inquiries / June 2008
Information requests: 4,650
Walk-in visitors: 2,188
Website unique visitors: 218,802
Year-to-Date (July 2007 -June 2008)
Information requests: 157,264
Walk-in visitors: 51,776
Website unique visitors: 3,056,404 |
