MOST SUCCESSFUL ESTO IN 24-YEAR HISTORY
The 2007 Educational Seminar for Tourism Organizations (ESTO) was the best attended in the event's 24-year history. The three-day program brought top-level speakers such as Daniel Pink, Marti Barletta and Josh Hallett, to name a few, to the almost 500 hundred destination marketing professionals in attendance. Furthermore, delegates enjoyed highly targeted professional development and interactive breakout sessions as well as a number of strategic networking opportunities. Click here to view highlights from the ESTO conference.

NOCERA HONORED DURING ESTO'S WILD, WILD NIGHT OF AWARDS
Bud Nocera, President & CEO, VISIT FLORIDA, was named State Tourism Director of the Year during ESTO’s Awards Banquet. Nocera’s leadership at VISIT FLORIDA began just after it was founded in 1996 and under his direction it continues to grow as a model for successful privatization and an organization that cares about its industry, its staff, and its community.  His accomplishments include some groundbreaking, innovative tourism programs such as the www.VISITFLORIDA.com 3.0 initiative, Dialogue Program and Cover Your Event Insurance to name but a few. His dedication to the tourism industry has spanned an impressive 35 years, having held leadership positions in Fort Myers and Jacksonville prior to joining VISIT FLORIDA.

The Indianapolis Convention & Visitors Association, the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority, and the Lee County Visitor & Convention Authority (Florida) were recognized with 2007 Destiny Awards for Marketing Programs — Single Targeted Promotion, Marketing Programs — Full Campaign and Special Projects, respectively. The Destiny Awards are presented by the National Council of Destination Organizations (NCDO), an industry council of TIA. All three destination marketing organizations received their awards during the Wild, Wild West Awards Ceremony at ESTO. Mary Hubbard and James Wallace, Indianapolis, are pictured receiving their award from Margie Emmermann, Arizona (center). Click here for full details.

The National Council of State Tourism Directors (NCSTD) recognized ten state tourism offices with thirteen separate 2007 Mercury Awards, which honor the best in state tourism office marketing and promotion programs each year. Entries ranged from print and broadcast advertising to niche marketing. The awards were presented during the ESTO closing ceremony. South Dakota, pictured, received two awards, Cooperative Marketing and Special Promotion — Environmental. Click here for a full list of winners.

TWO TIA COUNCILS ELECT NEW LEADERSHIP AT ESTO
Bob Warren, Tourism Program Manager, Redding (CA) Convention and Visitors Bureau, and Sharon Rossi, Vice President of Advertising, the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation, have been unanimously appointed to the positions of chair and vice chair respectively of the National Council of Destination Organizations (NCDO). The over 400 destination marketing organization members of TIA are represented by the NCDO, whose mission is to enhance the effectiveness of tourism destination marketing professionals and organizations.

The National Council of State Tourism Directors (NCSTD) unanimously elected Joe David Rice, Tourism Director for the Arkansas Department of Parks & Tourism, and Margie Emmermann, Director of the Arizona Office of Tourism, to the positions of chair and vice chair, respectively. Joe David has served as Arkansas’ Tourism Director since 1987 and in 2003 was elected State Tourism Director of the Year by his peers. Margie has been head of Arizona tourism for over five years during which Arizona’s tourism industry saw a record 31 million visitors in 2005, spending $17.5 billion. The NCSTD leverages the collective strength of state tourism offices to influence public policy and to provide leadership and the forum for information sharing and education on issues impacting tourism. All elected leaders will serve a one-year term effective from the date of their respective annual meetings.

ODYSSEY AWARD WINNERS TO BE HONORED AT MARKETING OUTLOOK FORUM
The Travel Industry Association in partnership with National Geographic Traveler, are pleased to announce the 2007 Odyssey Award Winners. “Twenty Bucks for the Road” - South Dakota Office of Tourism won the Domestic Discover America Marketing Award. The International Travel Advertising Award went to Tourism Montreal’s “Britswanted” campaign. Virginia Tourism Corporation won the International Inbound Discover America Marketing Award for “Virginia’s Royal Welcome.” The “Hungry Suitcase” campaign bagged Royal Caribbean International the Online Advertising Award. Walt Disney Company Canada’s “Passport to Dreams” received the Partnership for America Award. And, Explore Minnesota Tourism - “My Favorite Minnesota” won the U.S. Domestic Travel Advertising Award. The winners will be presented with their awards at the 2007 Award Gala, sponsored by National Geographic Traveler, during Marketing Outlook Forum in Charlotte North Carolina on October 23rd. Please join us as we celebrate excellence in the travel industry.

In related news, Dawn Drew, Vice President and Publisher, National Geographic Traveler will present “Geotourism — Ideas for Change” at this year's Forum, a highly topical session in today’s world with ever increasing concerns for the environment and the impact we're making. For more information please visit www.tia.org/marketingoutlook.




ESTO ATTENDEES GET UPDATE ON DISCOVERAMERICA.COM
The DiscoverAmerica.com team presented an update to state tourism directors and destinations during ESTO. "Input and feedback from this key group of industry leaders is invaluable," said Adam Vance, TIA's Senior Vice President of Marketing Product Development." He continued, "ESTO delegates provided some great ideas for the upcoming Discover America websites."

GROWTH IN U.K. ARRIVALS LIKELY TO REMAIN FLAT
According to the British travel trade, entry and exit requirements and increasing competition for the venturing British traveler have had a negative impact on British arrivals to the United States in the first half of 2007, and will likely continue to drag on arrivals for the near future.  British bookings for the second half of 2007 are projected to continue to grow at the same pace as the first half of 2007 (up 1.5 percent through May). This trend occurs in spite of a very favorable exchange rate, with the British Pound at its strongest rate against the dollar in 15 years. These and other factors that impact travel to the United States are available through TIA’s Travel Trade Barometer program, a quarterly survey of the travel trade in the United Kingdom, Germany, Mexico, and Canada.  For more information about this program, click here.

THETRADESHOW OFFERS TRAVEL SUPPLIERS UNMATCHED ROI
This year's THETRADESHOW, September 9-11 in Las Vegas, will bring together more than 2,000 travel agents from across the globe, providing exhibitors with unmatched access to the top-producing, professional sellers of travel. Whether through networking on the tradeshow floor, at one of the many special events or through one-on-one business appointments designed to match suppliers with a pre-qualified group of agents, the THETRADESHOW provides the ideal environment for establishing new business relationships and maintaining existing relationships with travel retailers, wholesalers and destinations.  Visit THETRADESHOW.org for more details.