SALEM, Ohio — Travel groups across the nation will gain tourism insight into the state of Texas this year as a result of a marketing effort by Team Texas to GLAMER group leaders.
Team Texas, a co-op of 28 destinations marketing organizations in the state, has developed an informational CD that will be distributed to group leaders at all 53 GLAMER Chapter Meetings in 2010.
“Team Texas is taking groups into the future by giving them a CD that they can take home and research the entire state to plan a better tour of Texas,” said Tammy Knox of GLAMER.
The CD will allow groups to review brochures from the Texas destinations as well as direct groups to other Web sites of importance to Texas tourism.
“From Abilene to Wichita Falls, groups will plan better tours with this great planning guide from the DMO’s in Texas that welcome groups,” said Knox.
The Team Texas effort was organized by Mark Thompson of the Plano Texas Convention and Visitors Bureau, who can be reached at markth@plano.com.
The destinations taking part in the Team Texas promotion are:
Abilene, Amarillo, Bay Area Houston, Henderson, Denison, El Paso, Frisco, Galveston Island, Glen Rose, Granbury, Harlingen, Hildago County co-op, Killeen, Kingsville, Lake Conroe, Lewisville, Lubbock, McKinney, Mesquite, Odessa, Pearland, Plano, Port Aransas, Sealy, Tyler, Waco, Weatherford and Wichita Falls.
New GLAMER workshop to help group leaders ‘Fill the Bus’
SALEM, Ohio — Group Leaders of America (GLAMER) has announced an educational workshop aimed at giving group travel leaders an edge in filling their tours this year.
Hospitality expert Dave Ventresco will present the free workshop, titled Fill The Bus, to groups attending GLAMER Chapter Meetings this year.
Ventresco is a 30-year veteran of the hospitality and tourism field who brings a wealth of knowledge that includes restaurant ownership, tour operatio, and two tours of duty in Desert Storm with the U.S. Army.
“I learned that serving 12,000 soldiers three meals a day takes a lot of hospitality and that the same effort to satisfy soldiers in the field can be used by group leaders to fill seats on tours,” said Ventresco, who was also a group leader in his former life as a golf club manager.
GLAMER reports that the most often asked questions by group travel leaders are about new destinations and filling tours.
“We have great new tour ideas at GLAMER Chapter Meetings, so we thought it was time to add a seminar about finding new tour members and motivating existing group members to participate,” said Charlie Presley of GLAMER.
Fill The Bus will use the hospitality insight that Ventresco brings along with an interactive session where groups can share ideas. Group leaders interested in finding the nearest workshop and registering can go online to www.glamer.com or call Kim Dolan at (800) 628-0993.
SITA World Tours to bring international message to GLAMER group leaders
SALEM, Ohio — SITA World Tours will reach out to groups across America this year with a message about international travel.
SITA brings seven decades of experience to GLAMER Chapter Meetings, where the company will introduce a brand of exotic and inclusive destinations including Egypt, India, Peru, Taiwan and Vietnam.
The company, founded in 1933, was named a Top Five Tour Operator by National Geographic Traveler magazine in the publication’s 20th anniversary edition.
While SITA recognizes that not all groups have considered international destinations, it believes that education of such tour leads to an understanding that international travel is within financial reach of many and that a SITA Tours can become the trip of a lifetime for the group.
“Companies like SITA World Tours help groups realize a dream come true, and that is what travel is all about,” said Tammy Knox of GLAMER.
Although SITA organizes packages from the peaks of Patagonia to the palaces of India, it makes group leaders’ jobs easy with a self-included tour. Most SITA packages include air, accommodations, meals, local guides, ground transportation, sightseeing and travel insurance.
SITA also has a travel incentive for group leaders that can be learned about at the GLAMER Chapter Meetings.
If your group needs SITA information prior to your Chapter Meeting, call Charlie Newton of SITA World Tours at (800) 421-5643, ext. 1516 or by e-mail at charlien@sitatours.com.
Arkansas to provide free pens at GLAMER meetings
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — The Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism is going to help groups take notes at GLAMER Chapter Meetings this year by handing out pens at the morning session.
The sponsorship is the brainchild of Renee Robinson, Arkansas’ group travel manager.
“Arkansas has come up with a very useful gift that will allow group leaders to make note of a good tour idea or jot down that phone number while at GLAMER,” said Charlie Presley of GLAMER.
“GLAMER thanks Arkansas Tourism for the thoughtful gesture and reminds groups that while the pens can be used throughout the Chapter Meeting, please take a few good notes about Arkansas tourism.”
For information about Arkansas, send an e-mail to renee-robinson@arkansas.gov.
