NTA tour operators love U . S . national parks
BUSINESS
InBrief NEWS
COMPILED BY PAT HENDERSON
AND NOTES ABOUT YOUR ASSOCIATION AND THE INDUSTRY
Travel Exchange ’ 18 reg opens March 12
Cheers to Milwaukee !
NTA ’ s annual convention is heading to Brew City USA , Nov . 4 – 8 . Mark your calendars for March 12 when registration for the event opens at noon ( Eastern time ).
Tour suppliers , DMOs and tour operators who register as sellers can save $ 300 until June 12 with early-bird rates . Appointmenttaking buyers attend for only $ 99 , and any additional appointment-takers from the same company can register at no cost .
Milwaukee is the birthplace of Harley-Davidson , and the motorcycle manufacturer ’ s museum will be the site of the Icebreaker event at Travel Exchange . The city on the shores of Lake Michigan also is famous for its rich brewing tradition , which ranges from legendary German brewers Blatz , Pabst , Schlitz and Miller to modern craft brew masters .
“ We look forward to showcasing our city , with its exceptional blend of natural beauty , big city arts and entertainment , and our own brand of Midwest hospitality ,” said Paul Upchurch , president and CEO of VISIT Milwaukee .
Go to NTAonline . com / convention to register and learn more about NTA ’ s signature event and use # TREX18 in your social posts .
Speaking of Travel Exchange … Fort Worth tabbed to host 2019 event
VISIT FORT WORTH
Following a successful convention in San Antonio in December , NTA will return to Texas in 2019 and hold Travel Exchange in Fort Worth .
The dates for the event , NTA ’ s first in the iconic Texas city , are Dec . 8 – 12 , 2019 . NTA ’ s convention in San Antonio marked the association ’ s return to fourth-quarter dates , a move championed by members . And while the timing and location were well-received , the convention itself proved to be enormously popular with members .
“ We always collect detailed feedback from Travel Exchange , including an overall rating for the event ,” said NTA President Pam Inman . “ And the number for San Antonio was a jump up the scale . That jibes with the many positive comments that members have shared in person , by handwritten notes and by email .”
NTA tour operators love U . S . national parks
The U . S . national parks are some of the most-visited attractions by your association ’ s tour operator members and their clients . Most NTA operators — 74 percent — report that they currently include a national park in their itineraries . Here are some other stats from that NTA survey :
Top parks for NTA groups
1 . Yellowstone 2 . Grand Canyon 3 . Arches 4 . Bryce Canyon 5 . Zion 6 . Canyonlands 7 . Acadia 8 . Great Smoky Mountains 9 . Denali 10 . Grand Teton
Based on the number of individuals taken to parks by NTA tour operators
By the numbers
32,000 groups
Collectively , NTA tour operators take approximately 32,000 groups to the parks each year .
560,000 people
More than a half-million individuals annually visit the parks as part of a group tour they booked with an NTA tour operator .
$ 85 million spend
In total , tour operators spend more than $ 85 million each year in the national parks and at the surrounding concessionaires . The numbers don ’ t take into account any additional spending by individuals .
Advocacy update on park fee increases
NTA has been working with the U . S . National Park Service recently regarding proposed fee increases and seasonal peak pricing at 17 of the top parks . The most significant takeaway from the Feb . 5 meeting NTA President Pam Inman had with senior officials from the U . S . Department of the Interior and National Park Service was that the agencies should release a final announcement in the next few weeks . Make sure to check NTA ’ s Tuesday e-newsletter for updates .
8 March 2018