Travel Agent - December 8, 2008 - (Page 29)

NEXT STOP, GERMANY THE ATS ANNOUNCED the transformation destination of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, a state in northern Germany, as the location of next year’s conference. In addition, an ATS partnership with the Tourism Cares organization for next year was announced as well. Mecklenburg-Vorpommern was one of the first seaside resorts on the Baltic, according to Tobias Woitendorf, head of communications for MecklenburgVorpommern Tourism Board. The conference will be held at the end of next October at the Kempinski Grand Hotel (www. kempinski-heiligendamm.com) in Heiligendamm, MecklenburgVorpommern’s “white town by the Baltic Sea” and the first German seaside resort. Approximately 70,000 American tourists come to MecklenburgVorpommern annually by cruise ship, said Woitendorf, but when asked, many Americans refer to the state as a company. The area remains the most popular German vacation spot, however. “So we want to change all that—and let me tell you, we have experienced many changes in the last 20 years that we think make Mecklenburg-Vorpommern more popular in Europe, and maybe abroad too,” he added. “Today, our state is one of Europe’s most modern holiday destinations. In the summer, we get more vacationers than, for example, Bavaria.” In selecting MecklenburgVorpommern, ATS Chairman David Parry said the site “fits in [ATS’s] idea of transformational,” is a relatively unknown area and has ATS partners there who can pull the conference together. The Kempinski is a premier conference hotel, he added, and one of the most famous hotels in Germany. FAR LEFT: The Aqsunqur Mosque—otherwise called the Blue Mosque—in Cairo NEAR LEFT: The Abu Simble Temple in Abu Simble, Egypt ABOVE: Dr. Zahi Hawass, secretary general of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities, shared his expertise at the American Tourism Society Conference The minister said Americans have always been interested in Egypt’s culture and heritage. When Egypt began developing new leisure areas on the Mediterranean and Red Sea coasts, new quotas were developed and the American market remained confined to the heritage sites. “The media has a very big effect on how [Americans] perceive the country,” Garana said. “And a lot of Americans, even my friends, when they come, they say, ‘You’re featured differently. You’re dangerous. You’re in a dangerous region.’…This is one of the reasons we did not actually have our fair share of the American market.” However, an American market growth of 20 percent in the past two years has shown that these feelings are dissipating. Garana still expects a slowdown in 2009 due to the global recession. “In fact, with an eye on the future, we are currently working with the finest international expertise to develop a sustainable tourism development plan, which will further identify ways to maximize our potential, increase our market share and continue to develop our product,” said the minister. So, what is a “transformational” destination, according to the American Tourism Society? “We use this word to describe maybe a country, maybe a state, maybe a district, maybe a big city, that is, in the opinion of the ATS membership, an area that is kind of the opposite of France—not a lot of Americans, not a lot of Europeans, not a lot of Asians are going to these destinations,” said ATS president and executive VP of External Affairs for Tauck World Discovery Phil Otterson. The ATS is also looking at future opportunities in Kosovo and the adjoining countries of Albania and Montenegro. Approximately 50 students from Helwan University in Cairo, 60 local tourism professionals and 56 delegates attended the four-day ATS conference. Delegates were treated to sightseeing tours of the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, the Mosque of Muhammad Ali and the Pyramids, all organized by Wings Tours and Nile Cruises (www.wingsegypt.com). Part of the American Tourism Society’s new strategic plan, developed in 2006 to refashion the organization’s 17-year-old mission statement, was the formalization of a Tourism College. This year, the ATS enhanced its Tourism College with a one-day workshop presentation held at Helwan University. Approximately 400 students from Helwan’s Tourism and Hospitality program attended the three workshops, which were taught by ATS members. The workshop topics were chosen by the university. The ATS has always been involved in education, said Otterson, but the new plan is to continue that educational aspect by “talking with local people about what’s going to capture the American market, and bring together local professionals and tourism students.” The conference included educational panels with U.S. and Canadian tour operators, as well as a keynote address by Dr. Zahi Hawass, secretary general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, and Bruce Beckham, executive director of Tourism Cares. The conference concluded with a five-night Nile Cruise from Aswan to Luxor aboard a brand-new Wings Tours and Nile Cruises ship, the M/S Tamr Henna. I CONNECTING YOU To learn more about Egypt, visit www.travel agentcentral.com/middle-east December 8, 2008 TravelAgent | 29 http://www.kempinski-heiligendamm.com http://www.kempinski-heiligendamm.com http://www.wingsegypt.com http://www.travelagentcentral.com/middle-east http://www.travelagentcentral.com/middle-east

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Travel Agent - December 8, 2008 Reality Check On the Web Contents Contributors From the Editor Europe: Scotland Begins a Yearlong Heritage Celebration Pacific/Asia: Singapore’s Hotel Scene is Vibrant, Inventive and Luxe Egypt: Building Tourism was the Key Topic at the ATS Fall Conference in Cairo Hawaii: Oahu’s North Shore has a Gentle, Laid-Back Ambiance Special Insert: US Airways Vacations—Universal Orlando Master Specialist Canada: The Hotel Le St-James Offers a Taste of Elegance Las Vegas: Sin City May Not See Deals this Good for a Long Time Florida: The Eden Roc Hotel Re-Emerges after a Major Overhaul Central & South America: Chile is an Emerging Hot Spot Caribbean, The Bahamas & Bermuda: Barbados Hotel Undergoes Major Renovation A Jamaica Tourism Official Shares the Island’s Plans Two Little-Known Caribbean Properties are Worth a Look Cruises: 10 Reasons to Love the Ruby Princess Cover Story: Religious Tourism - Faith-Based Vacations are a Growing Niche, and Are Taking Off in Surprising Ways Delta Takes Off: The Delta/Northwest Merger canReshape the Aviation Industry Tours: Traveling in Style with NWA WorldVacations Agent Profile: This Full-Service Agency Turns personalized Service into an Art New Web Trends: Services Aim to Increase Agent Sales Agenda: Fam Trips, Deals & Incentives, Calendar Celebrity Solstice Hosts Forum for Economic Discussion Cap Juluca to Reopen in Anguilla Hawaii Seeks New Tourism Angles IWV: Scam or Opportunity? In the Spotlight Agent Access Classified Marketplace Editorial Index Advertising Index Special Supplement: South Africa: Your Journey Begins Here

Travel Agent - December 8, 2008

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