Welcome to EMT Express, providing bi-weekly news and tips for the people who market Minnesota tourism.

• Tourism Awards: Carlson Named Outstanding Individual In Tourism
• Highlights of the 2009 Explore Minnesota Tourism Conference – "2020 Vision"
• Winter Partnerships/Budget Reductions
• 2009 Accommodations Surveys Reminder
• Electronic Marketing Tip
• Host the ESTC 2010 In Your City
• Hotel Ivy Receives Four Stars

Tourism Awards: Carlson Named Outstanding Individual In Tourism
Annual Tourism awards, recognizing excellence in Minnesota’s tourism industry, were presented at the Explore Minnesota Conference on Tourism.

Bonnie Carlson, President and CEO of the Bloomington Convention and Visitors Bureau was named "Outstanding Individual in Tourism" for her long-term work on behalf of the Minnesota tourism industry. Carlson has led the Bloomington CVB for the past 19 years. She has been active in several other tourism organizations including the Explore Minnesota Tourism Council, the Executive Committee of the United States Travel Association, Destination Marketing Association International and the Minnesota Association of Convention and Visitor Bureaus.

The Inn on Lake Superior and the Gunflint Green Up Committee received Sustainable Tourism Awards in recognition of their environmentally friendly practices. Additionally, the Paul Bunyan Scenic Byway Association received the "My Favorite Minnesota" Award for its addition to that section of ExploreMinnesota.com, with "Paul and Babe’s Favorite Sites along the Paul Bunyan Scenic Byway."

Marketing Awards are given annually to recognize creative, successful tourism marketing programs by Minnesota communities, including broadcast programs, special promotions and Web site development. This year’s Travel Marketing Awards of Excellence included two awards to the Ely Chamber of Commerce and one award each to the Otter Tail Country Tourism Association and Visit Duluth. Marketing Awards of Merit were presented to the Bloomington Convention and Visitors Bureau and to the St. Cloud Area Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Highlights of the 2009 Explore Minnesota Tourism Conference – "2020 Vision"
By all accounts, the annual tourism conference in Minneapolis was a rousing success. Speakers provided information that gave attendees the foundation necessary to navigate in these challenging times. Peter Yesawich, Chairman and CEO of YPartnership, contributed his extensive knowledge of consumer lifestyle choices and tourism trends. Matt Thornhill, Boomer Project, provided research results that show the travel potential for the over 80 million people in this age group and enlightened participants about how to target marketing to fit the way they make buying decisions

Experts on the Minnesota economy and tourism industry shared news about the current state of business and forecasts for the future. Though reality about the economy is difficult at times, the overall response to the news was upbeat and positive. General session speakers and breakout session presenters were able to offer creative ways to respond to the current situation, showing that Minnesota resilience is alive and well! Finally, those attending had the opportunity to influence the direction of tourism in Minnesota by voting on key questions in the issue areas discussed during fall "2020 Vision" sessions.

Presentations by many of the speakers and results of the voting done at the final session will soon be posted on http://industry.exploreminnesota.com.

A comment from the evaluations sums up the conference well – "Conference was more than I anticipated – (I) have been revitalized / new spirit. Going home and developing new marketing plans and projects."

Winter Partnerships/Budget Reductions
Due to reductions in the current year’s tourism budget, Explore Minnesota Tourism will not be offering a winter organizational partnership grant program for the 2009/2010 winter season. This program reduction was part of a need to address a $300,000 unallotment from Explore Minnesota Tourism’s existing budget. Small reductions were also taken in advertising, fulfillment, research, travel trade promotion and dues. While smaller agencies like Explore Minnesota Tourism were initially spared from the first round of unallotments, the nature of the state budget situation requires us to contribute our share.

2009 Accommodations Surveys Reminder
Are you a lodging business who has not yet updated your listing for the 2009 travel season? In an effort to eliminate sending paper surveys to businesses who have not yet updated their basic free listing through the extranet Web site, we sent a reminder e-mail on January 29, 2009. Won’t you please take a moment to make your updates?

Some of the benefits of updating electronically are:

• It will save time, resources, and money for all of us
• It will eliminate clutter on your desk and in your filing cabinet
• You won’t have to find an envelope and stamp to return a paper survey
• And last, but not least, IT’S FREE!

Can’t find your e-mail? Didn’t get an e-mail? Go to http://extranet.exploreminnesota.com and click on "lost password." We’ll send you your User Id and password within 24 hours.

Can’t wait? Call your regional manager (http://industry.exploreminnesota.com/bottom-nav/contact-us/regional-offices/) or contact Kimberly Clarke at 800-657-3737.

Having problems making your updates or logging in? Call Kim Fitzgerald at 800-657-3737.

Electronic Marketing Tip
Did you know that the first address you enter on the extranet is the location of the event or activity? By putting in a building name, street name, or address you can let people know exactly where your event or activity is located.

The second address you enter is the contact address where future surveys will go. The Explore Minnesota database is the information source for the Journey travel planning service and for exploreminnesota.com. Listings can be entered or updated directly by tourism businesses and organizations online at: www.extranet.exploreminnesota.com. For more information, contact Kim Fitzgerald at kim.fitzgerald@state.mn.us.

Host the ESTC 2010 In Your City
Request for Proposal (RFP) to Host the Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism Conference 2010 (ESTC 2010).

The ESTC 2010 will be the fifth TIES conference focusing on sustainability in travel and tourism in the United States and Canada. In 2005, TIES hosted the first Ecotourism in the U.S. Conference in Bar Harbor, which was followed by the North American Ecotourism.

Hotel Ivy Receives Four Stars

Mobil Travel Guide, originator of the Star ratings program and certifications, has announced that Hotel Ivy in Minneapolis is a recipient of the 2009 Mobil Four-Star Award. Hotel Ivy is the only hotel in Minnesota to receive this 2009 award, and the first ever in Minneapolis.

Hotel Ivy, located at 201 South 11th Street in Minneapolis, is one of only 137 hotels in the United States and Canada to achieve this award this year.

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If you have an article you wish to submit for consideration, please contact: Colleen Tollefson, 651/297-2635, 800/657-3637.