Tourism Conference Online Registration
Online registration is now available for the 2010 Governor’s Conference on Tourism, “Destination 2010 and Beyond.” Visit www.SDVisit.com for more information about conference sessions and to register. Contact Nicole Gall at nicole.gall@state.sd.us or 605-773-3301.
(Print registration flyers are in this week's mail, so watch for them.)

2010 Great Events Announced
Black Hills Fat Tire Festival, Rapid City – May 28-31, 2010
Huron Outdoor Expo, Huron – June 11-12, 2010
Ipswich Trail Days, Ipswich – June 11-13, 2010
River City Racin’, Chamberlain/Oacoma – July 9-10, 2010

Visitor and Industry Relations
For more information, contact
Brad Lemmel
at
Bradley.Lemmel@state.sd.us
or
605-773-3301

Rooster Rush Cacklin` Community Award
If your community participated in the Rooster Rush promotion, don’t forget to apply for the Rooster Rush Cacklin’ Community Award. One community will be chosen as being the most involved and showing the most enthusiasm for the Rooster Rush campaign. The award will be presented during the Thursday night awards banquet during the 2010 Governor’s Conference on Tourism. Download an application form. Applications are due January 4. Contact Nicole Gall at nicole.gall@state.sd.us or 605-773-3301.

Office of Tourism Staff Changes
Many of you knew Joey Hockett as a member of the Visitor & Industry Relations team. Joey has recently switched gears and is now the newest member of the Media & Public Relations team, serving as the Outdoor Media Relations Representative. Joey will manage public relations efforts with outdoors media and promote South Dakota as an outdoors destination. He will also focus on writer hostings and Shoulder Season public relations/marketing.

Send a warm welcome to Brad Lemmel, the newest member of the Office of Tourism’s Visitor & Industry Relations team. Brad joins us fresh out of Black Hills State University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mass Communications with an emphasis in public relations and a minor in marketing. Brad’s duties include the Calendar of Events and online event listings, Million Dollar Challenge partnerships, Agritourism marketing, the Great Events program and the new Digital Revolution program.

We are pleased to announce that Ashley Worth from Gettysburg, SD, has accepted the position of Marketing Research Analyst. Ashley is a recent graduate of SDSU where she majored in Advertising/Journalism with minors in Marketing and Sociology. Ashley's first day was November 9.

Office of Tourism
For more information,
contact
605-773-3301
or
711 E Wells Avenue
Pierre, SD 57501

What's New In Your Area?
The Trade Sales team emailed “South Dakota What's New 2010” to overseas Rocky Mountain International offices for distribution at upcoming trade shows. The online version will be posted to www.TourSDakota.com. If you have a new attraction or business that is visitor-related, please email the description, including email, phone, web address, etc. to Vicky Engelhaupt to have your information added.

Trade Sales and Marketing
For more information, contact
Vicky Engelhaupt
at
Vicky.Engelhaupt@state.sd.us
or
605-773-3301

2009-10 Snowmobile Trails Map
The 2009-10 statewide snowmobile map is now available for distribution. Please contact Robin Rattei at robin.rattei@state.sd.us or 605-773-3301 to request copies of the updated trails information for your visitors this winter.

Hosting
The Media & PR team hosted journalists from the Black Hills Pioneer, Sioux City Journal and Outdoorsman Adventures during the 2009 Governor’s Invitational Pheasant Hunt. The hosting resulted in four published articles that focused on pheasant hunting and economic development in South Dakota.

Media and Public Relations
For more information, contact
Wanda Goodman
at
Wanda.Goodman@state.sd.us
or
605-773-3301

Important Reminders
2010 Great Service Star
Late Great Service Star applications will be accepted through January 2010; however, those businesses will not be considered for the George S. Mickelson Great Service Award. For more information, contact Eileen Bertsch at eileen.bertsch@state.sd.us.

2010 Calendar of Events
You may still submit your 2010 events to be included in the www.TravelSD.com Calendar of Events online; however, they are no longer eligible for inclusion in the 2010-2011 South Dakota Vacation Guide. For more information, contact Brad Lemmel at bradley.lemmel@state.sd.us.

What Our Visitors Are Saying...
A response to the November issue of Travelsmart:

"We visited your State last summer! It was all that we expected it to be and more. The tours were great - Mt. Rushmore, the Badlands, Spirit Mount - Yankton, stops on the Mississippi (Prairie Du Chien), and so much more. We travelled by Westfalia Van - camping was great! - people so friendly and helpful. Road system excellent (side roads - we shy away from the main highway as one missed the flavour of the area).....all very impressive. We have spread the word to all of our friends....South Dakota is a must-stop-State. Thank you so much for showing us such a good time! "

- Regards, Shirley & Gene