International Marketing
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The international target markets for Explore Minnesota Tourism are: Canada,
Japan, the United Kingdom, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Scandinavia.
Explore Minnesota Tourism is an active partner in three multi-state marketing
organizations, formed to promote to specific overseas markets. Resources are
pooled to maximize impact. Mississippi River Country includes the 10 states
along the Mississippi River. The primary target market is Japan.
Great Lakes of North America, including Indiana, Illinois, Michigan,
Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, works to develop international
travel to the Great Lakes region. Primary target markets are Germany and the
United Kingdom.
Rocky Mountain International, including South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana and
Idaho, promotes travel to the region from Europe. Explore Minnesota Tourism is
active in their Gateway Cities program because the Minneapolis/St. Paul
International Airport serves as a convenient access point to the U.S.
Familiarization Tours and Media Relations
What Explore Minnesota Tourism offers: Explore Minnesota Tourism hosts
familiarization tours for international travel agents, tour operators and media
representatives. We also work with consumer and travel trade media in targeted
international markets to generate feature articles and broadcast productions on
Minnesota.
Who could benefit from this service: Minnesota tourism industry
members can co-sponsor familiarization tours by providing complimentary lodging,
meals, attractions and guide services.
Contact:
Cheryl Offerman, 651.296.5016, 800.657.3600, cheryl.offerman@state.mn.us
Canadian Marketing
What Explore Minnesota Tourism offers: With the current strength of
the Canadian dollar, Canadian travel to the U.S. is on the rise, and Minnesota
is working to attract these visitors. Marketing efforts include cooperative
exhibits at the Addison Travel Shows in Winnipeg.
Contact:
Chris Van Meter, 651.297.2121, 800.657.3600, chris.vanmeter@state.mn.us
Notes: Explore Minnesota Tourism is a member of the Ontario Motor
Coach Association and attends the annual fall Marketplace, and will maintain
membership in the Canadian Visit USA Committee.
European Marketing
What Explore Minnesota Tourism offers: Through our multi-state partnerships,
Explore Minnesota Tourism will take advantage of
marketing opportunities provided by the in-country representation firms in
Europe, including familiarization tours, cooperative tour operator marketing
campaigns and regional sales guides. Explore Minnesota Tourism will organize
Minnesota sales missions to European target markets in 2007.
Contact:
Paul Sherburne, 651.296.4863, 800.657.3600, paul.sherburne@state.mn.us
Notes: A Minnesota travel brochure is available for United Kingdom
markets, and a German language brochure on Minnesota is published as a
supplement to a German language consumer travel magazine, America Journal.
Explore Minnesota Tourism will maintain memberships in the United Kingdom and
Norway Visit USA committees.
Asian Marketing
What Explore Minnesota Tourism offers: As the Japanese market
continues to rebound, Explore Minnesota Tourism will focus efforts on enhancing
Minnesota’s market share
Contact:
Paul Sherburne, 651.296.4863, 800.657.3600, paul.sherburne@state.mn.us
Notes: The state is also represented through the Mississippi River
Country partnership in Japan.
International Trade Shows and Events
What Explore Minnesota Tourism offers: Explore Minnesota Tourism
participates in the following international trade shows and events:
INTERNATIONAL MARKETS (more than one country)
Rocky Mountain International Round-Up Casper, Wyoming
April 9-11
travel only
LaCumbre Marketplace
Miami, Florida
September 3-5
$2,500 plus travel
Travel Industry Association (TIA)
International PowWow
Las Vegas, Nevada
May 31-June 4
$1,500 plus travel
CANADA
Winnipeg Sales Mission
Winnipeg
February/March
$250
Discover America Day
Toronto
September TBD
$500
Ontario Motorcoach Assn. Convention
Toronto
October 19-22
$850 plus travel
EUROPE
Reiseliv
Oslo, Norway
January 10-13
$2,500 plus travel
Icelandai Mid-Atlantic Seminar
Reykjavik, Iceland
February 7-10
$930 plus travel
International Tourism Exchange (ITB)
Travel Trade Show
Berlin, Germany
March 5-9
$2,500 plus travel
ASIA
Minnesota Sales Seminars
Tokyo/Osaka, Japan
February 15-19
$2,500 plus travel
Active America Travel Summit
Detroit, Michigan
April 17-19
$1,395
Japan Association of Travel Agents
(JATA) Congress/World Travel Fair
Tokyo, Japan
September 11-14
$2,500 plus travel
Who could benefit from this service: Minnesota tourism organizations
and businesses
Cost: fees, plus travel expenses may apply, unless otherwise indicated
Contact:
Cheryl Offerman, 651.296.5016, 800.657.3600, cheryl.offerman@state.mn.us



