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Maine Office of Tourism E-News - March 2005 Travel Show to Help New Englanders Plan Maine Vacations
Sponsored by the Maine Tourism Commission, the Maine Office of Tourism and the Maine Tourism Alliance, the first-ever Maine Vacation and Travel Show will feature more than 75 exhibitors including chambers of commerce, hotels and resorts, outdoor outfitters, restaurants and inns, transportation providers, and more. The goal of the show - to be held at the Portland Exposition Building from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, April 30 - is to educate New Englanders about the extensive vacation opportunities in Maine. Those who attend the show will be eligible for special Maine travel discounts and free giveaways. "We are excited about plans for Maine's first consumer travel show," said Maine Tourism Commission member Fred Cook. "It's a wonderful opportunity for Maine tourism-related businesses to showcase their offerings and for New England residents to see first-hand what Maine has to offer as a vacation destination." The event will also give Maine's hospitality-related businesses a chance to reach travelers living in their own backyard. In hopes of making the show more accessible to residents of the Boston area, the Amtrak Downeaster will be providing complimentary transportation between Boston and Portland to show attendees. For more information on participating in the Maine Vacation and Travel Show, visit www.mainevacationshow.com or call 207-797-9228. Annual Governor's Conference on Tourism Slated for April 29 The Maine Experience will be the focus of a daylong Governor's Conference on Tourism, to be held April 29 at the Holiday Inn by the Bay in Portland. The conference begins at 8:30 a.m. with a trade show in the exhibit hall. From there, conference attendees have a wide range of workshops, led by an impressive roster of internationally-known speakers to choose from. Session topics include: Best Practices in Tourism and Destination Management, led by Dr. Rich Harrill; Leveraging Superior Customer Experience Management, led by Barbara Wold; How to Successfully Create and Maintain the Maine Experience in Your Community and Beyond, led by Andy Shepard of the Maine Winter Sports Center; and a panel discussion that includes some of Maine's most respected and experienced tourism professionals entitled Adding Value to the Maine Experience. The lunchtime speaker will be Costas Christ, CEO of the Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce and former Senior Director for Ecotourism at Conservation International in Washington, D.C. His talk, entitled Responsible Tourism Comes of Age: How it is Changing the Travel Experience, will be followed by the presentation of the annual Excellence in Tourism Awards, honoring those in the tourism industry who bring excellence to their work. Again, registration for the conference can be completed online. Early-bird registration before April 15 is $125 and $150 thereafter. The price of admittance to the awards luncheon only is $35. For complete conference and registration details, visit www.mainetourismconference.com or call 207-797-9228. Special accommodation rates at the Holiday Inn by the Bay for conference attendees are available on a first come, first serve basis. For more information, please call 207-775-2311. Each year, it is estimated that tourism generates over 120,000 jobs and nearly $10 billion in sales of goods and services. In addition, tourism keeps the state's historic and cultural sites vibrant and alive; contributes to the conservation, protection, preservation and maintenance of our natural wonders; provides educational opportunities for our children, creates cultural and recreational opportunity for Maine residents; and contributes millions of dollars to Maine's General Fund. The Governor's Conference on Tourism is a project of the Maine Office of Tourism, the Maine Tourism Commission and their major conference partner, the Portland International Jetport. Office of Tourism Targets Group Tour Operators and Adventure Travelers as Part of 2005 Marketing Initiatives
Maine Office of Tourism (MOT) representatives and their tourism industry partners also met with members of the national travel media in each city, including Smithsonian magazine, the Washington Post, and U.S. News and World Report. A number of productive leads were generated, and a January meeting with Travel Agent Magazine generated immediate results: An article on Maine vacation packages appeared in the magazine's February 2005 issue. The Adventures in Travel shows had a combined attendance of more than 50,000 consumers, travel trade professionals, and media. MOT and its nine industry partners attracted lots of traffic to the Maine pavilions at both venues. In New York City, H2Outfitters set up a pool and conducted kayak demos. A computerized kiosk in both cities enabled the Maine team to capture attendees' contact information and gave guests a chance to win a free Maine vacation. Lafayette Properties of Maine, Independence Air, Eastland Park Hotel, and Amtrak Downeaster donated the getaways. In Washington, D.C., Independence Air's low fare flights between Portland and its hub in D.C. created quite a buzz. Costas Christ, CEO of the Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce, generated more excitement when he announced the launching of the newly-formed Adventure Council. Christ is president of this innovative organization, which will protect and promote adventure destinations worldwide. Mark Turek, product development manager for MOT said, "New York and D.C. were both huge successes. Everyone that stopped by the pavilion was very excited about what Maine has to offer. Those from our industry that participated with us this year have already expressed a strong interest in going back."
Maine was represented at the ABA Marketplace by Turek and Shawn Manter, tourism development specialist with Northern Maine Development Commission and a member of the Maine Tourism Commission. While in Chicago, the two conducted more than 80 prescheduled appointments with tour operators. The "Two Nation Vacation" created through a partnership with New Brunswick, was a big hit. MOT and New Brunswick will be conducting a tour operator FAM this fall so the operators can experience it firsthand. In addition, all six New England states hosted a tour operator reception, and it turned out to be the hottest ticket in town. The event fell on the same night as Superbowl XXXIX, and nearly 300 people showed up to network and watch the game. Manter said, "Prior to going to this show, I had no idea how huge motorcoach tourism has become. It is impressive to see the amount of business that these motorcoach companies bring in. It was also exciting to see the interest these tour companies have in the State of Maine." There are many exciting opportunities on the horizon for Maine tourism industry representatives interested in reaching out to consumers and the travel trade. To learn more about working with the group market or becoming involved in cooperative travel show opportunities, contact your local chamber of commerce or Mark Turek at the Maine Office of Tourism, 207.624.9826 or mark.turek@maine.gov. Boston Globe Advertorial Opportunity The Office of Tourism is inviting businesses to join them in an advertising co-op opportunity with the Boston Globe. The Office of Tourism will be producing a series of four advertorials to run with accompanying ads from Maine businesses. This opportunity represents a significant savings in the cost of regular ad rates. Listed below is a schedule and rate information. For more information, please contact Donna Reinheimer, Marketing Manager at 207-624-9810 or donna.reinheimer@maine.gov. Advertorial Schedule
Web site to sign up: https://bostonglobe.com/promotions/maine/
Successful Media Marketplace Held in New York City On March 15, the second "Taste of Maine" media marketplace was held at the Four Seasons Hotel in New York City.
The Office of Tourism and the participating partners are now working on follow up from the event by providing specific information requested and planning press visits resulting from discussing story angles and ideas. The goal is to secure significant visibility for Maine in these publications and broadcast outlets. For more information on participating in future media events sponsored by the Office of Tourism, please contact Charlene Williams at cwilliams@marshallpr.com.
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A vacation and travel exposition showcasing the best Maine has to offer will provide a one-stop-shop for New Englanders planning their perfect Maine getaway. 
Maine's tourism industry received maximum exposure among the trade, consumer and group tour markets this winter thanks to successful showings at the Adventures in Travel Expos in New York City and Washington, D.C. and the 2005 American Bus Association (ABA) Marketplace.
Twelve industry partners joined the Office of Tourism in meeting with more than 80 New York-based editors and travel writers from newspapers and magazines including National Geographic Adventure, Country Living, Outdoor Life, Town & Country, Saveur, Organic Style and New York Post. Representatives from television's Tony Danza Show and PBS' Great Finds were also there.