Business of Tourism Issue 92 January 15th 2008

On Tuesday, January 8th, the District and the Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism hosted an international marketing workshop, presented by Discover New England (DNE). The purpose of the workshop was to educate tourism businesses on how to attract travelers from the UK, Ireland, Germany and France.

Over 40 people representing all types of tourism businesses throughout Mystic Country from large attractions to smaller ones, hotels, B&B’s, shopping and visitor’s centers turned out for the workshop, which took place at the newly renovated Holiday Inn Norwich. Sue Norrington-Davies, managing director for DNE, gave a presentation that covered how DNE markets to the international tourist and how each business can do their part to make our region more attractive to the foreign visitor.

DNE is a non-profit regional tourism marketing organization funded equally by the six New England state tourism offices. The organization has offices in Stowe, VT, Germany and the United Kingdom. Its key objectives are to increase international visitation to New England and to raise consumer and travel trade awareness of New England as a quality, four-season destination.

Sue explained that the international visitor stays nearly four times longer than the average domestic visitor and they spend ten times more. They are not ‘climate dependent’ like the average domestic visitor, having booked in advance for a long stay; in other words, they do not cancel due to inclement weather.

The US is very attractive due to the excellent exchange rate (the dollar is presently half the value of the euro). Although we may think our gas prices are high, fuel prices in the UK are double what they are in the US. Europeans can drive farther, shop more and stay longer when visiting here.

DNE will be holding it’s 13th annual Tourism Summit & International Marketplace, April 14-16, at the Omni New Haven Hotel. Over 50 tour operators from the UK, Germany, France and the Netherlands will be in attendance, along with key USA receptive operators, who work directly with the international tour operators. By attending the Summit, you have a chance to meet one-on-one with these folks to sell your property as part of their packages. Sellers will be using this year’s Summit to plan their 2009 packages, so it is important to keep this in mind when quoting rates. There will be an opportunity to attend the “How to Summit” workshop and educational sessions on working with the international market prior to meeting with the tour operators.

For more information about the Summit, or to register to attend, log onto http://www.discovernewengland.org/summit.html. Early bird registration ends January 15th – save over $50 per person!

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DONATIONS NEEDED TO MAKE A DREAM MYSTIC COUNTRY® GETAWAY A REALITY
The Eastern Regional Tourism District and Mystic Coast & Country’s 2007 Joint Marketing Campaign was comprised of direct mail, an email campaign, and online advertising, all asking consumers to register to win their ideal vacation to Eastern Connecticut and Coastal Rhode Island by logging onto our website MysticCountry.com.
The third winner, from Sandyston, NJ listed their preferences for an ideal trip to Mystic Country to include accommodations at a B&B or Inn, admission to historic sites and museums, fun on the farm, nature cruises, theater or music, spas and dining on seafood. The newlyweds would love to use this getaway as the honeymoon they never had a chance to take.

If you are interested in donating a prize that fits their preferences, please contact Eliza Cole at ecole@mysticcountry.com or 860-444-2206.

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MYSTIC COUNTRY® FEATURED AS COVER STORY FOR AMERICAN ROAD MAGAZINE
Willimantic’s famed Frog Bridge has landed on the cover of the current issue of America Road magazine, accompanied by a feature article “The Frogs of War” in the recurring Grand Old US 6 department of the publication. Author Joe Hurley tells the tale of how Windham went hopping mad for frogs in this two-page article. He continues on to tell the reader about the historical significance of the city and mentions several sites that are worth visiting, including the new “Garden on the Bridge” and the Windham Textile and History Museum.

American Road is a quarterly, 68-page magazine that celebrates America's two-lane highways and the importance of heritage tourism. The number of individuals interested in the heritage tourism industry is comparable to the number of people who golf (24 million), fish (41 million), and camp (43 million).

The print edition of American Road reaches 45,000 readers, and it’s website, www.americanroadmagazine.com, receives an average of 38,458 visitors, 190,702 page views and 547,118 hits per month.

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REQUESTS FROM MYSTIC COUNTRY®
Reminder – Update Your Business Listing on Mysticcountry.com
The New Year is here and it’s time to update your business listing on www.mysticcountry.com with special offers, packages and events. If you need instructions on how to do this please contact Karen at klong@mysticcountry.com or by phone, 444-2206.

Remember, posting events and specials on our site increases your chance to be featured in the district’s press releases, pitches and newsletters!

What’s New In Mystic Country®?
2008 is here and we’d like to remind travelers why this is such a wonderful place to visit in the new year and the best way to do that is to tell them what’s new in the region. Do you know of a new restaurant, attraction or shop? Does your museum have a new exhibit? Did your hotel recently undergo a renovation? Is your business offering a new package or special offer? Any information you have on what’s new should be forwarded to Eliza at ecole@mysticcountry.com.

New Offerings For Groups and Meeting Planners
Janice Putnam is preparing to travel in February. She will be going to American Bus Association’s Annual Marketplace in Virginia Beach, then Destinations Showcase in D.C. She’d like to know what’s new in the region for groups and meeting planners. Does your property offer a new group rate or package? Has there been changes or enhancements to meeting facilities or catering? Any information you have can be forwarded to Janice at jputnam@mysticcountry.com.

Going Green? We Want to Know!
You hear it in the news almost every day – a new initiative for going green. Businesses across the country and around the world are doing their part to go green. Many hotels are going green by asking guests to not replace their towels daily and using energy efficient lighting in the rooms. We would like to know what your business is doing to help. Please send your information to Janice at jputnam@mysticcountry.com.

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NEWS FROM THE COMMISSION ON CULTURE AND TOURISM
Nominations Now Being Accepted for 2008 Governor’s Awards
On April 9, the Connecticut Commission on Culture & Tourism (CCT) will honor the recipients of the 2008 Governor’s Awards for Excellence in Culture & Tourism and 2008 Distinguished Advocates. The celebration will be held in the atrium at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford.

Governor’s Awards for Excellence in Culture & Tourism honor Connecticut residents for their lifetime achievements and outstanding contributions in the fields of performing, visual or literary arts; film, video or digital media; history, heritage or historic preservation; and tourism. Distinguished Advocates Awards recognize the exemplary contributions of volunteers in the arts, film, historic preservation and tourism in Connecticut.

CCT is currently seeking nominations for both awards. Guidelines and nomination forms may be found on the CCT website: www.cultureandtourism.org. Deadline for nominations is January 30.

Post Your Special Deals for Free on CTvisit.com
Take advantage of reaching the more than two million visitors to CTvisit.com by becoming a CTvisit.com partner today. The Connecticut Commission on Culture & Tourism provides a free service through which any organization that has a listing placed in the Connecticut Vacation Guide may post their special deals or packages online. Forms are provided at http://partners.CTvisit.com that can be completed online. Note: Discounts for stand-alone events are not listed as specials. These can be listed under special events and are posted through Calendar Editor Jean Hebert at (860) 256.2739 or Jean.Hebert@ct.gov.

State Promotes Events on WNPR’s Weekly “Culture Quest” Series
Pita Communications, the CCT in-state PR and advertising firm out of Hartford, has been submitting events from around the state to WNPR to be promoted during their “Culture Quest” series. Four to five major and/or unusual events are submitted weekly and air Monday through Friday, at least once daily to thousands of NPR listeners. Below is a list of the most recent weeks of events submitted by Pita. If you would like to have your event considered for inclusion, please send information directly to Becky at Pita Communications, becky@pitacomm.com.

Week of 12/31
• “Faces and Figures: American Portraits,” Florence Griswold Museum
• 18th Annual First Night Hartford 2008
• 18th Annual First Night Danbury
• “Exploring the Orchestra,” Stamford Museum & Nature Center
• Greater New Haven Youth Ensembles’ Winter Concert, New Haven

Week of 1/7
• “Let Me Down Easy,” Long Wharf Theatre
• “Evita,” Garde Arts Center, New London
• “Snow Queen,” Ridgefield Playhouse
• 14th Annual New Year’s Resolution Nature Walk, CT Audubon Center, Glastonbury
• Stamford Symphony’s Mozart & Friends, Steinway Piano Gallery, Westport

Week of 1/14
• “The Producers,” Bushnell
• “Human's Nature: Looking Closer at the Relationships between People and the Environment,” Connecticut State Museum of Natural History & Archaeology Center, Storrs
• Eagle Watches, Audubon Shop in Madison
• “Pinocchio,” Downtown Cabaret Theatre, Bridgeport
• Whispers and Stephanie Mills, Palace Theater, Waterbury

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MOHEGAN SUN'S CHRISTOPHER PERRY NAMED AMONG HSMAI’S "TOP 25 MOST EXTRAORDINARY MINDS IN SALES AND MARKETING"
Mohegan Sun's Christopher Perry, Vice President of Hotel Sales and Marketing, has been named among the "Top 25 Most Extraordinary Minds in Sales and Marketing" by Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI). The annual ranking pays tribute to the best minds in hospitality, travel and tourism sales and marketing, saluting outstanding individuals who define innovation, vision and achievement and whose work gets great results. "We're thrilled that Chris Perry has been honored by HSMAI and his industry peers," said Mitchell Etess, President and CEO of Mohegan Sun. "It's a great testament to the quality of employees across the board at Mohegan Sun, and specifically to Chris's leadership in hotel sales." Recipients were nominated through a call for entries to the industry-at-large and judged by a panel of senior industry executives. Perry will be honored on stage at the HSMAI Adrian Awards Gala on January 28, 2008 at the New York Marriott Marquis. In addition, he will be featured in the spring issue of HSMAI Marketing Review.

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AAA'S UPDATED DIAMOND RATING GUIDELINES REFLECT INDUSTRY TRENDS
AAA has updated its Diamond Rating Guidelines to incorporate changes in the tourism industry since the last revision in 2001 and reflect the expectations of both business and leisure travelers. The most notable trend is the industry-wide shift to residential-inspired design and amenities in response to guests' desire for a lodging experience more reminiscent of home.

AAA inspectors evaluate more than 60,000 lodgings and restaurants each year and are in a unique position to recognize and validate trends as they occur. They use both established standards and subjective elements in assigning ratings. The new focus has expanded to include entertainment, experience and environment. Some of the comforts of home that inspectors say travelers seek are improved beds and bedding, the latest technology (flat-screen televisions, WiFi, MP3 connectivity) and brighter, more stylish bathrooms with designer-style amenities. Inspectors report that new and renovated guestrooms are becoming more spacious with finer touches such as millwork, built-in closets and furniture finish treatments. Some brands are providing increased flooring options such as custom tile work, wood or laminate flooring with a wood-grain look, all with area rugs.

Mystic Country businesses that have been awarded AAA four diamonds for 2008 include Grand Pequot Tower at Foxwoods, Mohegan Sun Hotel, Mystic Marriott Hotel & Spa, Octagon Steakhouse at Mystic Marriott and Paragon Restaurant at Foxwoods Resort Casino. To access complete Five and Four-Diamond Award lists log onto www.AAA.com/Diamonds.

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UPCOMING EVENTS IN MYSTIC COUNTRY®
We’ve highlighted a few upcoming events for you. To access our complete online calendar of events log onto www.mysticcountry.com.

"Women of Celebrations" Art Exhibition, Opening January 18
“ Women of Celebrations” features the artwork of Merrill Park Keeley and Richard Jaworowski, showcasing the beauty of the feminine form. There will be an opening reception on Friday, January 18th from 5 to 8 pm, with complimentary refreshments and a chance to meet with the artists. Reservations requested at info@celebrationsshoppes.com.
Location: Celebrations Gallery & Shoppes, 330 Pomfret St, Pomfret
Times: Exhibition ongoing during our regular business hours: Wed-Sat 11-5; Sun 11-4
Price: Free
For More Info: 860-928-5492, www.celebrationsshoppes.com

The Sun Winefest '08, January 19 & 20
Don't miss this culinary extravaganza -- meet some of this country's greatest chefs, winemakers, spirit producers and the creators of worldwide craft beers, Trappist ales and organic beer. The Grand Tasting showcases the finest wines, an extensive variety of boutique spirits and ales in addition to wine related accessories. Regional, national, and international suppliers pour over 600 varieties and producers offer personal commentary, answer questions, and provide information on their wines, vineyard tours and pricing. Distinctive New England restaurateurs will be on hand to offer signature-tasting portions for a minimal charge.
Location: The Mohegan Sun Convention Center
Times: Grand Tasting from 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm. Other events scheduled throughout weekend
Price: $65.00 - $95.00
For More Info: 860-728-5700, www.sunwinefest.com

Frozen Swamp Walk, January 21
Join senior researcher Jason Mancini and researcher Candyce King on a winter trek around the 500-acre Great Cedar Swamp. Explore the various habitats, resources and archaeological sites of the swamp, known in the tribal language as "Ohomowauke," or Owl's Nest. A place of refuge and a stable source of food, the swamp holds an important place in tribal history.
Location: Meet in the Gathering Space of the Mashantucket Pequot Museum, 110 Pequot Trail, Mashantucket
Time: 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Price: $10 & $8
For More Info: 800-411-9671, www.pequotmuseum.org

Mavis Staples & Bettye LaVette, January 24
Soul and gospel legend Mavis Staples possesses one of the most recognizable and treasured voices in contemporary music and is an inspirational force in modern popular culture and music. Bettye LaVette is one of the greatest under-recognized soul singers in American music history. LaVette's Grammy-nominated 2007 release "The Scene of the Crime" showcases her unique sound on covers of artists from Willie Nelson to Elton John. In December, both artists were recognized by amazon.com among the Top 10 Albums of 2007 in Gospel and R&B, respectively.
Location: Garde Arts Center, 325 State Street, New London
Price: $30.00 - $58.00
Time: 8:00 pm - 11:00 pm
Phone: 860-444-7373, www.gardearts.org