Digital Revolution
There is still time for you to be one of the first 500 Digital Revolution partners for a one-time fee of $250. Included is a $150 coupon toward a new membership or a new or expanded advertising co-op with your regional association.

Additional program information and registration details can be found at www.SDVisit.com. Registration forms may be completed online, faxed or mailed. Payments may be submitted online or mailed. Your registration is not considered complete until both the form and payment are received by the Office of Tourism.

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

Spring Hospitality Training
Several communities across South Dakota are hosting a variety of spring hospitality training sessions. Some of the sessions are scheduled for April and June, but most of them take place in May. More information, including an alphabetical listing by community, is available on www.SDVisit.com. The first session is April 21st in Fort Pierre and the last session is June 14th in Keystone.

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

Travel South Dakota Day at the 2010 State Fair
Friday, Sept. 3, is Travel South Dakota Day at the State Fair. The Office of Tourism has partnered with the State Fair to have all-day access to a sponsor tent located across from the Freedom Stage. The day will be promoted through various methods.

South Dakota Tourism would like to offer an opportunity to the visitor industry to set up a booth within this tent on Travel South Dakota Day:

• Partner will have their own space (size is 8x10) to set up a booth or display – the State Fair will provide skirted table and chairs
• Set up by 9 a.m. and tear down at 6 p.m.
• Open to all visitor industry organizations and businesses
• Open to first 25 partners
• $100 per partner

Partners will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis, based on when payment is received – no verbal commitments.
Deadline is July 1.

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

March 2010 Travel Indicators
Recent travel indicators for South Dakota have been updated for March 2010. Visitation at the majority of our national parks is on the rise, as well as all Web traffic indicators. For further information, please visit the Travel Indicators page.

Research and E-Commerce
For more information, contact
Ashley Worth
at
Ashley.Worth@state.sd.us
or
605-773-3301

Media Blitz
The Media & Public Relations (MPR) team traveled to Milwaukee, Wisc., April 13-16, to meet with various media, ranging from freelance writers to newspaper and magazine outlets. The MPR team met with each writer to discuss story ideas and press trip opportunities in South Dakota.

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

Service Dog Reminder
The Office of Tourism received an inquiry in March regarding access to lodging establishments for service dogs in training. The traveler was upset about the way he was treated at a particular hotel, so contacted Tourism. Following is an excerpt copied from the Americans with Disabilities Act site which speaks to service animals along with a link to further information. This is provided simply as an FYI.

"People with disabilities who use service animals cannot be charged extra fees, isolated from other patrons, or treated less favorably than other patrons. However, if a business such as a hotel normally charges guests for damage that they cause, a customer with a disability may be charged for damage caused by his or her service animal." (www.ada.gov/svcanimb.htm)

After speaking with someone at South Dakota Advocacy Services, the thought is that a business shouldn’t treat a service animal in training any different than a service animal.

South Dakota
Advocacy Services
For more information, contact
SDAS
at
221 South Central Ave.
Pierre, SD 57501
or
sdas@sdadvocacy.com
or
605-224-8294

Online Customer Service Training
"Serving Great Faces in Great Places," the online training program created by the Office of Tourism and Black Hills State University, continues to be available on www.SDVisit.com. As you prepare for the peak season, it is a great time to make sure you and your employees have had a chance to complete this free training opportunity.

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

Important Reminders
Peak 2010 Vacation Packages - FREE LISTING
Package listings on www.TravelSD.com are now free of charge, so send us your packages as soon as they’re developed. For more information, contact Brad Lemmel at bradley.lemmel@state.sd.us.

2010 Great Events
Black Hills Fat Tire Festival, Rapid City – May 28-31
Ipswich Trail Days, Ipswich – June 11-13
South Dakota Outdoor Expo, Huron – June 12-13
River City Racin’, Chamberlain/Oacoma – June 19-20

2010 GOED Conference
The 2010 Governor's Office of Economic Development's annual conference is scheduled for April 20-21 at the Best Western Ramkota Hotel in Sioux Falls. For more information, see www.sdreadytopartner.com.

2010 History Conference
This year's South Dakota State Historical Society's annual conference will be held April 30-May 1 at the Ramkota RiverCentre in Pierre. For more information, see www.history.sd.gov.

What Our Visitors Are Saying...
An email sent to the Office of Tourism:

"I just returned from a business trip to South Dakota this week. Finishing the job early gave me a chance to revisit the Blackhills (my wife and I camped there in 1996). I just had to write and express how much I enjoyed my 2 days there. I have never met more friendly and helpful people in my life and I live in KS (a state also known to be friendly). The people were so nice and the trip was so fun and the beauty was so exceptional that I am now trying to convince my wife that maybe we should consider moving there. I can tell you this: if I didn't have kids enrolled in school here it would probably already be a done deal. You should be very proud. I can assure you that we will be visiting soon as a family."

- Dan, Ottawa, Kansas