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eFYI - Featuring Your Industry - January 2012
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SECRETARY'S MESSAGE
Hello, Tourism Partners!
As I write this note to you on January 5, it is a balmy 65 degrees in Pierre! I walked from the Capitol to the Department of Transportation building this afternoon with my sleeves rolled up and not a jacket in sight! Think back to one year ago as we were gearing up for the Tourism Conference with the snow and cold! Let’s enjoy these unusual temperatures while they last, but, truth be told, I am ready for a little white stuff so I can enjoy some skiing at Great Bear in Sioux Falls and Terry Peak and Deer Mountain in the Hills (as well as a little snowmobiling).
I hope your holidays were filled with friends and family, as mine were. Now I'm ready for the New Year and am very optimistic about 2012 and what it holds for our industry.
With the Governor’s Conference on Tourism in just a few days, I look forward to seeing you. I have visited with a good number of partners in the past weeks and it sounds like our attendance will be fantastic. We have an impressive line-up of speakers, and I know you’ll enjoy hearing from each of them. Don’t forget to bring your outfit for the Wednesday night reception, hosted by Glacial Lakes & Prairies Tourism. It is going to be fun! Oh, and this is a blatant tease, the Governor will have some special news at the end of his speech on Thursday night. Stay tuned!
As you know, the legislative session has begun. At this point, our department does not have any bills we will be working on, but we’ll watch for anything that may affect all of us and will keep you informed. Safe travels to Pierre. We’ll see you soon!
All the best,
Jim Hagen |
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2012 Governor's Conference on Tourism
Last call... Monday, January 16, is the last day to register online for the Governor's Conference on Tourism. After Monday, you will be able to register in-person at the Ramkota at the on-site rate.
The conference is generously supported, in part, by vendors, and attendees will want to make time to visit their booths. A list of this year's exhibitors, including 13 Made in South Dakota vendors, has been posted to www.SDVisit.com.
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Group Tour Planning Guide
There is still time for your business listing to be included in the 2013-2014 Group Tour Planning Guide. If you want to attract tour groups to your business, you don't want to miss participating in this guide. The registration deadline is Friday, January 13. If you have any questions about the guide or the registration process, please contact Vicky Engelhaupt. Register today!
| International & Domestic
Trade Sales
For more information, contact
Vicky Engelhaupt
at
Vicky.Engelhaupt@travelsd.com
or
605-773-3301
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Visitor Research Panels
Do you have a specific question you'd like to ask our visitors regarding travel behaviors, vacation interests, etc.? The information we gather from our visitor surveys will be extremely valuable in future marketing efforts for our state and for your individual communities. We will collect industry feedback and questions through January 31. In February, we will send a survey to our visitor panelists in Minneapolis, Wisconsin, Kansas City, Illinois/Quad Cities and Colorado. Please complete our brief survey and share your thoughts with us. |
Research & Visitor Services
For more information, contact
Mandy Brumfield
at
Mandy.Brumfield@travelsd.com
or
605-773-3301
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Information Center Job Applications
The application form for seasonal employment at the Interstate Information Centers is available online at www.SDVisit.com through February 3. If you or someone you know is interested in applying for a job at any of our 10 centers, please go to www.SDVisit.com for more information.
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Research & Visitor Services
For more information, contact
Mandy Brumfield
at
Mandy.Brumfield@travelsd.com
or
605-773-3301
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RMI Roundup Video
In 2011, the annual Rocky Mountain International (RMI) Roundup was held in Rapid City. A video has been compiled to show new suppliers what they can expect when they attend RMI Roundup. Watch the video to see reports from suppliers, hosts and tour operators whom attended last year's event. The 2012 Roundup will be April 29-May 1 in Buffalo, Wyoming. The final registration deadline is March 29; to receive a $55 discount, you must register (PDF) by February 28.
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International & Domestic
Trade Sales
For more information, contact
Maureen Droz
at
Maureen.Droz@travelsd.com
or
605-773-3301
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Hit Show Features South Dakota
With an average audience of more than 4.2 million people each week, "American Pickers" is routinely a Top 10 show on cable television. On Tuesday, January 10, South Dakota was featured on the show with stops in eastern South Dakota, the 1880 Town, Pioneer Auto, and the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. The show is expected to be part of the History Channel's programming schedule for the next six months. Check www.history.com for a complete program schedule. |
Media & Industry Relations
For more information, contact
Wanda Goodman
at
Wanda.Goodman@travelsd.com
or
605-773-3301
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Tour Operators Rank South Dakota
Byways magazine has just released its annual nationwide survey of tour operators and where they think their groups will be going this year. South Dakota made it into three of the five categories: Top 30 States (ranked number 14), the Black Hills took the fourth spot in the Top 5 Natural Attractions, and Mount Rushmore National Memorial came in at number five of the Top 15 Man-Made Attractions. For the complete lists, see the latest issue of Byways (Volume 28, Issue No. 6, 2011).
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International & Domestic
Trade Sales
For more information, contact
Vicky Engelhaupt
at
Vicky.Engelhaupt@travelsd.com
or
605-773-3301
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Spring Hospitality Training Co-op
Information about the 2012 Spring Hospitality Training Co-op will be mailed in February to regional tourism associations, Convention and Visitors Bureaus, Chambers of Commerce, tribal tourism associations, and economic development corporations. Organizations will have the opportunity to apply for up to $1,000 in matching dollars to put toward paying speaker fees. The deadline will be late March. |
Media & Industry Relations
For more information, contact
Eileen Bertsch
at
Eileen.Bertsch@travelsd.com
or
605-773-3301
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Travel Professionals E-Newsletter
South Dakota Tourism's Travel Professionals E-Newsletter has had a dramatic increase in subscribers. Prior to adding new contacts, the newsletter was sent to 311 clients. The newsletter is now sent to nearly 5,000 journalists, travel agents and tour operators. This number will continue to grow as Department of Tourism staff attend trade shows. |
International & Domestic
Trade Sales
For more information, contact
Stephen Nelson
at
Stephen.Nelson@travelsd.com
or
605-773-3301
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Important Reminders
Info Center Publication Program
The online application for the 2012 Interstate Information Center Publication Program is available at www.SDVisit.com. There is no brochure approval process this year; however, publications that do not meet the guidelines (PDF) will not be displayed. The deadline is April 1, 2012. For more information, contact Heather Davidson at heather.davidson@state.sd.us.
2012 Great Service Star Designation
Applications for the GSS designation for 2012 are accepted through January 31, 2012. Remember, you need to renew annually. If you haven't already done so, please submit your application. Plaques and 2012 tabs will be mailed the first week of February. For more information, contact Eileen Bertsch at eileen.bertsch@travelsd.com.
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U.S. Travel Association Updates
 The U.S. Travel Association (USTA) is a great resource for news, information, forecasts and initiatives related to the tourism industry in the United States. Starting with this issue of the eFYI, we will be including links to USTA information we think you will find beneficial:
U.S. Travel Outlook, January 2012
U.S. Travel News Briefs – Jan. 4, 2012
U.S. Travel Issues Get Media Attention Over Holidays |
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South Dakota Department of Tourism
Monthly Progress Report
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