| August 2000 Newsletter Headlines: | |
| SPLISH SPLASH BUS BATH | |
| The Chamber’s Group Tour Committee held a very successful fundraiser on Flag Day, June 14, 2000. The Group washed busses to raise money for the National Tour Association Foundation Scholarship Fund. The committee was able to raise enough funds to put Mass. into a dedicated scholarship category – so that funds will go to a student from our state. A check will be presented to NTA President Mark Hoffmann when he visits Cape Cod in September. The event was also designed to raise special awareness of Cape Cod’s commitment to the motorcoach/group tour industry. | |
| Members of the Group Tour Committee wash busses for fun and funds at the Cape Cod Mall on June 14, 2000. Over $4800 has been raised for the NTA scholarship fund. | |
| CHAMBER HIRES V.P. OF SALES | |
| Patti Lloyd of West Yarmouth has joined the staff of the Chamber as the Vice President of Sales beginning August 11. This position, which is new to the organization, will be dedicated to attracting more meeting and conference business to Cape Cod. Patti may be reached at 508-862-0700 ext. 535 or via email at [email protected]. | |
| The Mass. Film Office, the Mass. Office of Travel & Tourism and Hunt’s Photo and Video announce the opening of the 5th Annual Locations Photo Competition. Valuable gift certificate prizes are awarded and the winning photos are published in a calendar that is sent to Hollywood executives. Anyone who lives, works or studies in Massachusetts may enter. The deadline is Friday, September 15th. Numbered applications and rules are available by calling 617-973-8800 or check their website at www.state.ma.us/film. | |
|
The travel industry has seen a great deal of change over the past few years, with the packaged travel segment being no exception. The aging baby boomer generation accounts for some of the recent changes seen in the packaged travel industry, such as an increase in more active and achievement-oriented tours. With
the baby boomer generation reaching an age where packaged travel becomes a
more convenient alternative to venturing on their own, tour operators have
begun responding to the needs of this generation.
While baby boomers will likely be more interested in packaged
travel as they age, it is unlikely that they will be responsive to the
tours of the generations preceding them. The
National Tour Association's Baby Boomer Market Assessment Plan holds that
people of this generation want stress relief and revitalization, and a
sense of achievement, from their tours. Consistent with that finding, the
NTA 2000 Tour Operator Profile Study has noted changes in several
categories of tour packages over the past six years. Among
the most notable changes are: *
A 13 percent increase in the number of NTA tour operators offering
historic/heritage tours, since 1995.
Historic/Heritage tours are among the most widely offered tours,
with 79 percent of NTA tour operators offering tours in this category. *
A 7 percent increase in the number of ecotours offered by tour operators,
since 1995. Almost a quarter
of NTA tour operators - 22 percent - offer these tours. *
A quarter - 25 percent - of NTA tour operators now offer soft adventure
tours, including snow and water skiing, and other outdoor sports and
recreation activities. "NTA
tour operators make a clear effort to listen to their customers and
respond to the desires of travelers," said Mark Hoffmann, CTP,
president of NTA. "Our customers are what allow us to do what we
love, we owe it to them to give them the travel experiences that they
want." The
baby boomer generation makes up a quarter of the population of the U.S.
and Canada, according to NTA's Market Assessment Plan. The
future senior generation, comprised of those between ages 50 and 64, has
also had an impact on the change in tour types. According
to NTA's Future Senior Market Assessment Plan, this generation is far more
independent than the generation before them.
The future senior generation makes up approximately 14 percent of
the population of the United States and Canada. The
NTA Tour Operator Profile Study is an annual survey of the tour operator
membership of NTA. Operators were given 32 categories of tour types from which
to choose, including options from fall foliage and shopping tours to
agricultural, hard adventure and gay/lesbian tours. NTA
is an organization of nearly 4,000 tourism professionals focused on the
development, promotion and increased use of tour operator-packaged travel.
NTA serves as a consumer advocate through membership requirements,
education and a $250,000 Consumer Protection Plan.
For more information about the association, visit NTA's Web site at
www.ntaonline.com . |
|
| PRIDE IN CAPE COD MINI GRANTS | |
|
If your organization is planning a special project for the purpose of accomplishing one of the following objectives, you may qualify for a Pride in Cape Cod grant award of up to $500. It is an opportunity to improve the appearance of Cape Cod: - enhance the appearance of the Cape’s built environment - Protect the Cape’s natural environment - Improve the cape’s economy. You may apply as an individual or organization. Application deadline is August 31, 2000. Grant awards will be announced in September. Pride in Cape Cod is a project of the Working Together for a Better Cape Cod group of banks and the Cape Cod Chamber. For an application email: [email protected] or call at 508-862-0700 ext. 518. |
|
| B&B GUIDE 3RD EDITION PLANNED | |
|
The B&B Committee has launched plans for the third printing of it’s popular and award winning B&B Guide to Cape Cod. Favorite recipes of the innkeepers will be published in the new edition. All member innkeepers are invited to send their recipes for consideration. Those that don’t make it into the book due to space limitations will be published on the Chamber website. Contracts have been sent to all members and the deadline for listing reservations and recipe submissions is September 30. |
|
| E BOOTH CALENDAR OF EVENTS SITE | Below: The Chamber staff have been busy all summer conducting media interviews on everything from the outlook for summer tourism to the affect of rainy weather on the local economy. |
| The Cape & Islands Visitor Information Network Service is offering a site that you can enter your own special events into a searchable database of listings. If you manage a museum, gallery, attraction or special event, email us at [email protected] to request a password. With this password you may enter your own information instantaneously. The e booth site is linked with all the cape Chamber websites as well as those across the Commonwealth. | |
| NEW COMMITTEE CHAIRS APPOINTED | |
|
Neila Neary, Marketing Director of the Cape Cod Mall, has been named as chair of the tourism marketing committee. Neila brings an extensive background in advertising and marketing to this role. She has served on the committee since 1998. Debra Oakes, Executive Director of the Arts Foundation of Cape Cod has been appointed chair of the Arts & Culture committee. This committee is working to promote the Cape’s recent designation as the #1 arts destination in the country. The committee also sponsored the recent Arts by the Sea events during the first week of August. |
|
|
|
|
| SAVE THESE DATES | |
|
Wednesday, Sept. 13:
Digital Summit II (Tradeshow/Workshops/Breakfast) Monday, Oct. 16:
3rd Annual Golf Classic Nov. 3, 4 & 5: Historic House Tour |
|