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

• February Inquiries
• ExploreMinnesota.com Web Statistics for February 2009
• Meet In Minnesota
• Tourism Awareness Materials
• The Explorer Is Coming To Your Sunday Paper!
• Winnipeg Sales Mission: May 5-7, 2009
• Notice of Availability of Contract for Tourism Database/Website Project
• Explore Minnesota Fishing Report Opportunity
• Looking for Summer Festivals
• North American Snowsports Journalist Association
• Want a Great Return on Investment?
• Sustainable Tourism Planning and Development Laboratory Inaugurates New Cash Prize for Sustainable Tourism Efforts
• Pipestone National Monument Needs Summer Help

February Inquiries

ExploreMinnesota.com Web Statistics for February 2009

Meet In Minnesota

Explore Minnesota Tourism (EMT) is working with chambers, convention and visitors bureaus, and tourism businesses across the state to increase awareness of the importance of keeping corporate meetings within the state. See meetinminnesota.com.

To kick-off this effort, Governor Tim Pawlenty joined the tourism industry and business leaders at a joint press conference to unveil the Meet in Minnesota campaign. This joint state and industry effort will use public relations and other tactics to increase awareness of the important economic impact the meetings business has to the state’s bottom line.

Our March 4, 2009, press conference was a success. Media coverage of this effort to date.

Through this campaign, EMT has created a unique brand identity that all Minnesota tourism organizations and businesses can use to help promote the campaign. To find out more about the campaign, and how you can join, go to http://industry.exploreminnesota.com/promotions/meetings-and-conventions/.

Tourism Awareness Materials
Tourism awareness suitcases and "Tourism and the Economy" brochures are available for your use in sharing information on the importance of tourism to your area as well as to the State.

The materials include county-by-county gross sales and employment information for the leisure and hospitality sector for 2007. The suitcases are for you to share with elected public officials and the media. The "Tourism and the Economy" brochures are available to be used with larger audiences, including chamber membership, Rotary, Kiwanas, etc. To receive copies, please contact Tina Freitag at Tina.Freitag@state.mn.us.

The Explorer Is Coming To Your Sunday Paper!
For the first time, the Minnesota Explorer newspaper will be distributed through the Sunday issue of the Star Tribune throughout the Twin Cities area. This gives the Explorer double the exposure of previous in-paper distribution. Explore Minnesota Tourism will continue to receive additional copies of the Explorer, which we will use for distribution at our Travel Information Centers, through our Web site and Travel Counselors, and other distribution points. Watch for the Explorer in the March 22, 2009, Star Tribune!

For advertising information, see http://industry.exploreminnesota.com/advertising/193/#explorer.

Winnipeg Sales Mission: May 5-7, 2009
It’s time to gear up for that annual rite of spring, Explore Minnesota Tourism’s Winnipeg Sales Mission. Current airfares allow us to plan on flying there and maximizing our time with the following events:

• Dinner and appreciation event for Canadian Automobile (CAA) agents
• Breakfast reception held jointly for tour operators and media
• Additional sales call activity
• Attend the Manitoba chapter of Meeting Planners International (MPI)

To benefit from the full scope of the mission, plan on devoting May 5-7, 2009, to the trip. If you choose to drive, allow for additional days on the road. But, if time is crucial, we have tailored the schedule for your participation in the two key receptions with just one overnight on May 6, 2009.

Though the exchange rate is not as favorable as last year, Minnesota remains a key destination of Manitobans. Here is your chance to influence those who bring them here. Cost of participation in the Winnipeg Sales mission is $400, which includes function sponsorships and event costs, ground transportation in Winnipeg and other hosting expenses. Air, hotel and other travel expenses are additional. Space is limited, so contact Chris Van Meter quickly at: chris.vanmeter@state.mn.us or 651-297-2121. More details can also be found at http://industry.exploreminnesota.com/trade-marketing/sales-missions/.

Notice of Availability of Contract for Tourism Database/Website Project
Explore Minnesota Tourism (a state of Minnesota agency) is requesting proposals for the purpose of database analysis and development and launch of related Web applications and a consumer Web site.

Work is proposed to start after May 15, 2009.

A Request for Proposals will be mailed upon request through April 3, 2009, or made available electronically through April 6, 2009.

The Request for Proposals can be obtained by contacting us in writing, by e-mail, or fax:

Jan Edstrom
Explore Minnesota Tourism
121 7th Place East, Suite 100
St. Paul, MN 55101
Email: tourism@state.mn.us
Fax: 651-296-7095

Explore Minnesota Fishing Report Opportunity
Explore Minnesota Tourism is transitioning to a new and improved fishing report. The weekly Explore Minnesota Tourism (EMT) Fishing Report is sent via e-mail and RSS feed, posted on our Web site, and used to record a weekly audio message on our consumer call-in system. Thousands of consumers and media read and hear this report on a regular basis.

As a pilot project, EMT will accept fishing reports from Chambers of Commerce, CVB’s, resort associations and other community organizations to be included in the EMT Fishing Report. If you would like to participate, please send your report to fishing@emt.travel by Tuesday morning of each week.

Read full article

Looking for Summer Festivals
Phil Marty is doing a story for the Chicago Tribune that will list up to half a dozen festivals from each of the Midwest states. Send press releases ASAP for festivals that will be running from roughly Memorial Day through September to calendar@pmphotography.net. They are able to list only a limited number of festivals, so there’s no assurance that sending in a press release will result in the festival being included, but it could be useful for future stories, too.

North American Snowsports Journalist Association
The annual meeting of the North American Snowsports Journalist Association (NASJA) will bring over 125 writers, photographers, broadcasters and snowsports industry professionals to Minnesota to experience the splendor of Lake Superior’s North Shore.

At the center of all the activity will be Lutsen Resort, where NASJA members will lodge and hold meetings from March 18 to 22, 2009. It’s the first time in NASJA’s 45-year history that its annual meeting will be held in the Midwest.

Want a Great Return on Investment?
Tourism and hospitality are all about the experience, and customer service training is one way to raise production and profitability with a minimal investment.

The At Your Service program helps build the knowledge and skills of your staff to effectively serve today’s customers. Attend the Instructor training on April 17, 2009, and get complete materials to deliver an effective ½ day training that boosts staff skills to serve your customers. Curriculum can be used for multiple trainings. Register online at www.tourism.umn.edu.

Sustainable Tourism Planning and Development Laboratory Inaugurates New Cash Prize for Sustainable Tourism Efforts
The Sustainable Tourism Planning and Development Laboratory presents the ARISTA, for notable achievement in Sustainable Tourism.

The ARISTA is a new recognition to be presented to one organization in each of three geographic areas: Rhode Island, New England and USA. This prize will be awarded in September 2009 to an agency, non-governmental organization or business for its project or program demonstrating the implementation of sustainable tourism practices.

Read the full article.

Pipestone National Monument Needs Summer Help
Pipestone National Monument is looking for two summer college students interested in public service. Must be able to handle sales and interpretation. Contact Glen Livermont at 507-825-3734 or email glen_livermont@nps.gov.

If you’ve received this newsletter from a friend and wish to subscribe yourself please subscribe at EMT Express Subscriptions.

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