September 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. New! Visit Tucson: Official Destination Guide
Watch your mailboxes for the Fall/Winter 2008-09 Visit Tucson: Official Destination Guide (formerly the Tucson Official Visitors Guide). The new issue of the MTCVB's most-requested destination-marketing publication has a new look, a new format, and a new name. The Visit Tucson: Official Destination Guide contains the awe-inspiring photos and insider information for which the original Tucson visitor guide is famous, as well as audience-specific information of interest to both visitors and meeting planners.
The new guide is available with or without an inserted 32-page section devoted to group-planning content that previously was housed in the Tucson Destination Planning Guide. Circulation for the new publication is 370,000 per year; of those, 10,000 copies will contain the special section for professional planners. The Professional Planners Edition will be distributed in response to requests from planners and through sales missions to target markets, media missions, and consumer shows.
The Visit Tucson: Official Destination Guide is co-produced by the MTCVB and Madden Media. It is distributed upon request to travelers across the United States and around the world, and made available for free at newsstands and at tourism partner properties throughout Tucson and Southern Arizona. Work It!
Tucson Ambassadors Program 2008 Class Schedule
Learn more about the Tucson Ambassadors Program. Go to www.CTANetwork.com to register for a class hosted by an MTCVB partner between October and December.
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 Allison Cessna, Senior Account Manager 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 Partner Listing
Tuesday, Sept. 30 is the deadline to update your listing online for the 2009 Spring/Summer Visit Tucson: Official Destination Guide (formerly Official Visitors Guide)--changes can take up to 48 hours to appear. If you have forgotten your username (it is your e-mail address) or password, click on "Forgot Password" and it will be e-mailed to you. 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. Know It!
MTCVB & Destination Awards
For a list of Tucson's bragging rights, go to the MTCVB and Destination Awards page in the Media section at visitTucson.org. The extensive list here covers various categories, including MTCVB Destination Marketing Awards, City of Tucson Awards, and Tucson Ranked Among the Top 25 awards. Among the Destination Marketing awards, Meetings and Conventions magazine rate the MTCVB Web site "Most Efficient" in 2008. Gem Show Contact Information
Did you know that contact information regarding each of Tucson's gem shows is available to the public at our Web site? Even when we're outside of peak show season, all information is retained on the Tucson Gem Show page under the Events destination driver. The next time someone asks you for contact information for a specific show, simply refer him or her to the MTCVB Web site. New Farmers' Markets and Farms Page
A Web page devoted to farmers' markets and family farms in Tucson and Southern Arizona has been added to visitTucson.org. The new Farmers' Markets Web page can be found under the Culinary destination-driver section, which is accessible from the homepage, left navigation bar.
Sports Page is Live on our Web Site
For the latest information about Tucson's sports marketing efforts, go to the new Tucson Sports page at the MTCVB Web site. Users can access the main Tucson Sports landing page by clicking on the Meeting Planner bar at the top of the visitTucson.org homepage or by following www.TucsonSports.org URL. MTCVB Signage and Merchandise at UA Bookstore
As part of an ongoing partnership with the University of Arizona Bookstore, we now have Visit Tucson signage accompanying our merchandise in the bookstore on campus. The signs feature our logo and branding elements and give visitors more information about our destination. The UA Bookstore is located at the Student Union Memorial Center. Welcome New Staff
The MTCVB Marketing team has added Kristin Kieffer as a graphic designer. Kristin moved to Tucson a year ago from Sacramento, California. She helps design and produce a variety of destination marketing materials. Welcome Kristin! Use It! Partner Listings
The deadline is September 30, 2008 to update your listing for the 2009 Spring/Summer Visit Tucson: Official Destination Guide (formerly Tucson Official Visitors Guide)--changes can take up to 48 hours to appear (see Update Your Partner Listing above). CTA Certification Renewal
It's been almost one year since the first 400 Certified Tourism Ambassadors (CTA) earned their CTA designation by participating in the MTCVB's Tucson Ambassador Program (TAP). Now it's time for these first CTAs to renew their certification. Those certified in 2007 have until October 31, 2008 to renew. Details are available online at www.CTANetwork.com. The annual renewal is key to ensuring the TAP remains relevant and valuable to the participants, the visitors, and the city. For more information on renewing your certification or to register to become a CTA, contact Laurie White at (520) 770-2131 or by e-mail lwhite@visitTucson.org. New Tucson Attractions Passport
The rising cost of gas is driving many families to take a "staycation" and experience what their own area has to offer, instead of leaving town on vacation. Savvy travelers will find discounts and 2-for-1 offers to Tucson and Southern Arizona attractions inside the pocket-sized Tucson Attractions Passport. The 2008-09 edition will be available for purchase in September. Details are available at the Tucson Attractions Passport Web site. AOT Events Calendar
Arizona Office of Tourism (AOT) is accepting information about 2009 events to be considered for its online calendar at ArizonaGuide.com Events to be considered must be open to the public and of interest to participants/spectators from across Arizona or from out of state. Submissions should include the date/year; community in which event takes place, name of event; venue/venue address; description; admission price, event time; phone number and/or Web site for the public to obtain information. Photography is encouraged. For more information, contact Marjorie Magnusson at (602) 364-3695 or by fax at (602) 364-3702.
Free Tucson Travel Resources
The Tucson Visitor Center at La Placita Village in Downtown Tucson serves as the portal for visitor information about the Tucson region. Refer your customers and visiting relatives here for helpful advice, brochures and pamphlets from MTCVB partners, and fun Tucson souvenirs. Open seven days a week. Links to MTCVB Resources
Follow the links below for information from a variety of MTCVB resources:
Photo and Video Tour
Major Events Calendar
Green Tucson
Tucson Ambassadors Program
New Partners & Partner Anniversaries
MTCVB Visitor Inquiries / July 2008
Walk-in visitors: 2,170
Website unique visitors: 214,527 |
