2011 Giant Step
The 2011 Giant Step registration flyers were mailed the week of August 13. The program provides our industry partners the opportunity to have advertising exposure in nationally-recognized women's and family magazines. It is limited to 38 partners on a first-come, first-served basis. The deadline for registration is October 8.

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

Rooster Rush 2010 – Promotional Materials
It's not too late to order your own Rooster Rush shirts, caps or door clings. For specific pricing on shirts and caps, contact the vendor:

Andy Holst
Embroidery & Screen Works, Inc.
2503 Fox Run Parkway
Yankton, SD 57078
Phone: 605-665-5231, Fax: 605-665-4252

For door clings, contact Thad Friedeman.

RMI Roundup in Rapid City in 2011
Are you ready to bring international guests to your business? Rocky Mountain International (RMI) Roundup will be February 13-15, 2011, in Rapid City. This is your opportunity to meet with 35+ international tour operators in an appointment setting. International tour operators send individuals as well as groups. Sign up today.

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

2011 Governor's Conference on Tourism
Conference registration information will be mailed in November. You are encouraged to reserve your hotel room(s) as soon as possible. Check out the list of accommodations in the Pierre/Fort Pierre area.

Please consider a sponsorship of this valuable visitor industry event. Your sponsorships make it possible for the Office of Tourism to provide high-quality speakers each year. Contact Eileen Bertsch for more information at eileen.bertsch@state.sd.us or 605-773-3301.

Travel Professionals Facebook Page
Check out the new Travel Professionals Facebook page. Tour operators, travel agents and meeting planners can go to www.facebook.com/SoDakTravelProfessionals to stay updated on the great attractions South Dakota has to offer. It also lists helpful travel tips for your clients' visits to South Dakota.

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

Press Release Reminder
If you have a press release that includes pertinent visitor information, the Media & Public Relations team would like to post it to our online newsroom, www.MediaSD.com. Feel free to send your releases to Wanda Goodman. In addition, if you are not yet signed up to receive the Office of Tourism’s press releases, let Wanda know and she will add your name to the distribution list.

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

Buffalo Roundup Named Top 100 Event
The Buffalo Roundup and Arts Festival has been named as one of American Bus Association's (ABA) Top 100 Events in North America for the second year in a row. The Top 100 Events Selection Committee selected the Buffalo Roundup and Arts Festival from more than 650 events nominated by ABA members.

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

Move Forward with BHB&L
Summer is pretty much over and for lots of folks, there’s a little sadness in saying goodbye to all the pleasures of vacations, picnics, swimming, fishing, etc. That’s why Black Hills, Badlands & Lakes is happy to remind you that the time to renew is just around the corner! That’s right, the BHB&L 2011 Membership Renewal Contracts and the BHB&L 2011 Media Kit should be in mailboxes soon. This is your chance to put together your advertising/marketing plan and then let sales reps Mike or Leira help you map out the right moves. And you can’t be even a little sad when you are moving forward!

Black Hills, Badlands &
Lakes Association
For more information, contact
Mike Gussiaas
or
Leira Bowman
at
mike@blackhillsbadlands.com
or
leira@blackhillsbadlands.com
or
605-355-3600

Important Reminders
2011 Calendar of Events
We’re accepting submissions for the 2011 events calendar. Find guidelines and an online submission form on www.SDVisit.com. For more information, contact Brad Lemmel at bradley.lemmel@state.sd.us. Deadline is October 1.

Information Center Closings
The information centers will start closing for the season on September 19, 2010. Chamberlain, Valley Springs and Vermillion will remain open through October. For more information, contact Natasha Bothun at natasha.bothun@state.sd.us.

Banquet honoring Bill Honerkamp
The banquet will be held following BHB&L’s Annual Meeting on October 28 at the Best Western Ramkota in Rapid City. If you have questions or would like to be placed on the invite list, contact Ara Baumkratz at ara@blackhillsbadlands.com or 605-355-3600.

2010 Vacation Packages - FREE LISTING
Remember that vacation package listings on www.TravelSD.com are free, so send us your packages as soon as they’re developed. For more information, contact Brad Lemmel at bradley.lemmel@state.sd.us.

What Our Visitors Are Saying...
An email response to Travelsmart:

"My husband, son, daughter-in-law, grand daughter and myself thoroughly enjoyed the time we spent in South Dakota this past July. We stopped at The Corn Palace, Chief Crazy Horse and Mount Rushmore (just to name a few). The K Bar S Lodge was fantastic. We hope to visit again. I'd like to see the buffalo roundup, hopefully, next year. The travel planner was a big help. Thank you."

- Carolyn