| Georgia Tourism is excited to bring you the International Inbound Travel Association (IITA) Steps to Success Program, a workshop that will provide you with the keys to work with the international travel trade and their visitors.
Research has shown that the USA is expected to receive 78 million international visitors in 2018.* These visitors tend to travel longer (average 1-3 weeks), spend more money, visit in both the low and high seasons, and explore America more extensively than the local domestic visiting market.
*source: National Travel & Tourism Office
The Steps to Success Program will provide you with an inside and behind-the-scenes understanding of how best to work with international travel trade companies and build a long-term flow of business. Done properly, using the Steps to Success Program will result in business relationships that will keep on giving.
Jennifer Ackerson, president of ALON Marketing Group and a seasoned sales and marketing tourism industry veteran and creator of the Steps to Success Program, will guide you through the following:
- A valuable look at why the international travel trade is critical to developing core tourism business to our destination and your business.
- How to entice your share of the millions of annual international visitors to the United States.
- Provide an achievable step-by-step approach on how to prepare for this business.
- A look at how the destination can work together to be successful and attain this new business efficiently and effectively. Travel trade business is long-term, repeat and turnkey once you develop your understanding.
- Opportunity to participate in a discussion with the ability to ask your questions with two travel trade companies.
We believe that your attendance will be well worth your while, and we look forward to working together to promote Georgia as a viable global destination.
Who should attend:
- Attractions
- Activities
- Cultural Institutions/Museums/Historic Places
- Accommodations – sales managers/directors, revenue managers, general managers
- Dining establishments (All visitors must eat, and it keeps visitors longer.)
- Retail/Services (Shopping is the #1 visitor activity, and programs should be available to drive travel trade visitors into stores.)
- Local Tour Guides
- Transportation providers
- DMOs/CVBs
- Chambers, BIDs
Two dates/times available:
- The DeSoto Savannah*, August 9, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. (includes lunch)
- Jekyll Island Club Resort*, August 10, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. (includes lunch)
*Discounted industry rates are available at each hotel for those requiring an overnight stay
$25 full-day workshop price includes lunch, breaks, dynamic speakers and takeaways. Participants also will receive a 50% discounted rate to IITA’s 2019 Summit in Savannah, February 3-6, 2019.
Please address questions and RSVPs by July 27 to:
Amanda Peacock
Tourism Project Manager-Plantation Trace
Georgia Department of Economic Development
M (+1) 404-615-2672
APeacock@georgia.org
Local hoteliers are highly encouraged to either attend and/or send staff to this special seminar. The Savannah and Tybee Island customer is changing, and understanding how to attract more international visitors is critical and something that every tourism industry business in our area should want to learn more about. International visitors stay longer, spend more and come in what we consider off-peak seasons.
Please be sure to RSVP by contacting Amanda Peacock with GDEcD as soon as possible! |
