ANDERSON, Ind. — A group of travel industry members in Indiana is finding strength in numbers, especially when it comes to marketing to travel groups.
Mike Kase of Hoosier Park Racing and Casino recently helped organize a group travel summit that brought together 20 hotels, attractions, restaurants, tour operators and destination marketing organizations for the purpose of increasing the group sales effort in their part of Indiana.
The travel summit was held at Hoosier Park, which acted as host to the event in conjunction with GLAMER.
“We work well together in Indiana, and by helping one another out in the group travel market, we all win,” said Kase.
The meeting came about as a brainstorming telephone call between Kase and Tammy Knox of GLAMER.
“We were going to be in Indiana and thought it would be a good idea to have a get-together on group travel,” said Knox. “Hoosier Park understood the opportunity to build group bookings and offered to not only host the event but to invite local travel industry members.”
The group spent the morning discussing group leaders and how they could better serve the group travel market.
“We got right down to sales,” said Knox. “The two-hour session addressed group sales, where the market is headed and how an area can work together to build a team effort in group sales.”
Members in attendance were Kase of Hoosier Park Racing and Casino, 765-609-4616; Sandi Hill, Fairfield Inn and Suites by Marriott in Fort Wayne, 260-442-3040; Gyneth Augsburger, Jay County Tourism, 260-726-3366; Angie Satterfield, Switzerland County Tourism, 812-493-9572; Ellen Fischer, Good’s Candy Shop in Anderson, 765-642-7247; Kori Stark, Hamilton County CVB, 317-848-3181; Carla Wardlaw, Hampton Inn, Indianapolis, 317-359-9900; Sandi Robeson, Hampton Inn and Suites, Greensburg, 812-663-5000; Debbie Hennessey, Old National Centre, Indianapolis, 317-536-6507; Amanda Million, Fairfield Inn, Anderson, 765-644-4422; Maureen Lambert, Anderson/Madison County CVB, 800-533-6569; Becky Rogers, Holiday Inn Express and Suites, Anderson, 765-779-0111; Judi Ramey, The Travel Agent, 800-347-2512; and Mervin Kilmer, Hoosier Gym Community, 800-668-1895.
Destinations interested in the group travel summit idea should contact Knox at 800-628-0993 or tknox@glamer.com.
