Explore Minnesota Tourism prints publications for consumers on a regular basis. Currently, we offer opportunities for print advertising in the Minnesota Explorer Travel Newspaper and the 2010 highway map.

All other print advertising opportunities are closed for the year. Missed this opportunity this year? Ask us about Web advertising to fill the gap until next year’s editions!

We definitely use print travel brochures
to plan our trips.

That was the strong message Explore Minnesota Tourism got from consumers in a series of focus groups. Travelers said they use both print materials and online resources to get information about destinations.

Often, they go online only after getting ideas from travel brochures. Many commented that they found print ads a helpful resource in finding out about places to visit and places to stay.

Minnesota Explorer Travel Newspaper display advertising

The Minnesota Explorer is a travel newspaper published three times a year (spring/summer, fall and winter editions) in partnership with the Minneapolis Star Tribune. Beginning in 2009, the Minnesota Explorer will be inserted in Sunday issues of the Star Tribune – formerly the Explorer was distributed in Wednesday editions. This is a threefold distribution increase!

Explore Minnesota Tourism will also distribute an additional 100,000+ each season as part of seasonal promotions and at travel information centers.

Costs:
$325 per column inch
Black, plus 1-color – $834
4-color – $2,024

Contact: Star Tribune, 612.673.7014 or 800.829.8742 ext. 7014

Notes: Explore Minnesota Tourism produces editorial content for all issues. Send editorial ideas and information several months prior to the publication date to Joan Hummel, 651.757.1850, joan.hummel@state.mn.us.

Minnesota Explorer Calendar of Events criteria

In order for your event to be considered for inclusion in each edition of the Explorer, you must update your information in the Explore Minnesota Tourism database by these due dates:

2009/10 Winter: August 28, 2009

2010 Spring/Summer: November 20, 2009

Minnesota Explorer community listings

Updated contact information for communities (Chambers of commerce and convention and visitors bureaus) across the state are printed in each issue of the Explorer.

Deadlines: Spring/Summer 2010 issue:  November 20, 2009
Fall 2010 issue: Late May, 2010*
Winter 2010-11 issue: Late August, 2010*

Cost: Fall or Winter issue: $100; Spring/Summer issue: $125

Contact: Peggy Lindquist, 651.757.1858, peggy.lindquist@state.mn.us

2010 Explore Minnesota State Highway Map Advertising Partnership Opportunity

Put Your Company on the Map!

Your company’s logo and message will be seen by over 500,000 travelers as the partner for the press run of the 2010 Official Minnesota State Highway Map. The map is a valuable reference for route planning, mileage between cities, state parks and Explore Minnesota travel information. Reach people who are planning their trips. Most keep the map for at least one year –consumers will see your ad many times.

This map is one of our most requested items. Our travel information centers & satellite travel information centers provide the EMT map to travelers (approximately 500,000). Over 100,000 are requests are from exploreminnesota.com and in response to Explore Minnesota advertising.

The premium back panel is exclusive to your business category (i.e. only one restaurant, hotel or retailer). The panel size is 8¾ x 4¼ position on the reverse of the front cover. The press run will be 500,000.

The partner has the first option for the 2011 highway map advertising partnership, however, the price is not guaranteed with a one year commitment. Ad design is subject to review by EMT. Partnership will be awarded on a first-come, first served basis.

Premium map panel sponsorship  – price $15,000/panel

Minnesota Travel Guide Display Advertising

Travelers continue to ask for a printed statewide travel guide, even though they may also visit travel Web sites. In fact, many order the Travel Guide from our Web site. Bottom line: It’s still important to reach consumers through print advertising.

The official Minnesota Travel Guide is a full-color statewide guide promoting Minnesota’s diverse travel destinations and activities, including a comprehensive accommodations grid.

The Travel Guide is the primary response piece distributed by Explore Minnesota Tourism. This guide is promoted through advertising in targeted magazines and newspapers, through our Web site, banner ads on external Web sites, e-mail blasts, radio messages and special promotions.

The Travel Guide can be ordered from exploreminnesota.com, is distributed at 10 official Minnesota Travel Information Centers and at 50 affiliated visitor information centers across the state, and is available at Mall of America and Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.

The State Travel Guide is a cost effective means of generating leads for Minnesota destinations. In 2008, the Ely Chamber of Commerce received 1,461 leads electronically from the inserted response card. This number did not include direct calls to the Chamber or its hits on its Web site.

We find advertising in the State Travel Guide to be effective and really appreciate receiving the leads electronically.

Linda Fryer, Ely Chamber

Specifics:
Approximately 180 pages; 8.5 X 11; glossy, 4-color format
Circulation: 300,000
Publication date: January of each year
Advertising: Ad sales period is mid-May to mid-August previous to publication date

YOUR Minnesota Travel Guide ad:

• Reaches a highly qualified, target audience of travelers interested in Minnesota.
• Puts your community or business in the hands of consumers as they plan their trip.
• Makes you part of the only official statewide travel guide to Minnesota.
• Places you in a travel guide rated highly by consumers.
• Is a very cost-effective way to reach more than 300,000 potential customers.
• Can drive consumers to your Web site.

The travel guide is closed for 2010.

Contacts:
Tim Campbell, 218.723.4692, 888.876.6784, tim.campbell@state.mn.us, or
David Bergman, 218.681.0997, 888.563.7777, david.bergman@state.mn.us

Missed this year’s edition? Ask us about Web advertising.

Minnesota Snowmobiling DESTINATIONS guide

Minnesota Snowmobiling DESTINATIONS is the number one trip planning resource for midwestern snowmobilers since 1989. DESTINATIONS hits the bullseye for the traveling snowmobiler. All the news and information about snowmobile touring and vacations riders need is here, presented in a handy reference atlas format snowmobile enthusiasts use all year long.

Circulated as the primary winter tourism response tool of the Explore Minnesota Tourism Office and as an insert in the October issue of Minnesota Snowmobiling, DESTINATIONS puts your message exactly where it needs to be in 2009-2010.

Ads closed for this year.

Other publications:

2009-2010 Minnesota Fishing guides

The 2009-2010 edition of the Minnesota Fishing guide promotes Minnesota as a fishing destination to travelers. This full-color, 20-page guide describes the wide variety of fishing experiences and destinations in our state. Your business or community can be included in Minnesota Fishing through a low-cost descriptive listing, delivering your message to a targeted audience of travelers.

We printed 90,000 2009-2010 Minnesota Fishing guides, which will be distributed at major sports shows in Minneapolis, St. Paul, Milwaukee and Fargo. This guide is Explore Minnesota Tourism’s key fishing response piece provided to travelers at Travel Information Centers across Minnesota, and is available for order through our Web site, or by phone.
Advertising opportunities in this guide are currently closed.

 All other print advertising opportunities are closed for the year. Missed this opportunity this year? Ask us about Web advertising to fill the gap until next year’s editions!