eFYI for March 2008 South Dakota Office of Tourism

eFYI - Featuring Your Industry - March 2008

Please take a moment to send this message on to other members of the Travel and Tourism Industry. Use the Send to a Friend link below, or email sdinfo@state.sd.us

Display your brochures at the Information Centers
South Dakota visitor industry members may display their brochures at any of the 13 Interstate Information Centers free of charge. There have been some revisions so please take a few minutes to review this year's b rochure guidelines. Your brochures must be approved by the Office of Tourism before May 1, 2008, to be displayed during the 2008 Summer Season.

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

Can Your Business Accommodate Groups?
There is still time to promote your business to the lucrative group tour market via the 2009-2010 Group Tour Planning Guide. By becoming a partner, your business will reach the eyes of more than 4,800 group tour operators and travel agents. Any member of South Dakota’s visitor industry who accommodates groups and offers group rates may purchase space in the guide. The deadline for this program has been extended to March 21, 2008. Learn More and Sign up here!

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

Advertising Opportunity
Canadian Traveller Magazine will be featuring South Dakota editorial in their America Yours to Discover issue, which is distributed to travel agents. They are offering a 50% discount on advertising in the publication to South Dakota partners. For more information, contact Mylesa@canadiantraveller.net or phone (604) 699-9990, ext. 329.

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

Tourism Posters Available
There are still posters available for sale! There are two new images this year which include a Needles area scenic and a summertime Glacial Lake image. They're only $5 per poster. Please contact the Office of Tourism if you're interested in purchasing one. Click here to view them!

Creative
For more information contact
Thad Friedeman
at
Thad.Friedeman@state.sd.us
or
(605) 773-3301

Matching Funds for Spring Training
Organizations that are planning or wish to offer spring hospitality training to tourism industry businesses are encouraged to apply to the Office of Tourism for matching funds to help defray speaker costs. Proposals must be submitted by March 14, 2008, and should include: Name of speaker and topic of presentation; speaker fee; location and capacity of training site and marketing plan to include methods for getting information and invitations out to visitor industry businesses in the area. Proposals can be faxed to (605) 773-5977.

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

Promote Your Peak Season Vacation Packages
As we enter into our 2008 Peak Marketing season, we would like to remind everyone to send us your vacation packages. These packages will be listed online at www.TravelSD.com and may also be included in other marketing efforts during the campaign. You can access the online request form at www.SDvisit.com.

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

Media Blitzes
The media and public relations team will meet with various media outlets to discuss editorial opportunities regarding South Dakota travel. The team traveled to Minneapolis, March 3-8, and will be in Washington D.C. and New York City, April 21-25.

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

South Dakota Office of Tourism

www.TravelSD.com	Consumer Site
www.SDVisit.com	Travel and Tourism Industry Site
www.MediaSD.com	Press and Media Site
www.FilmSD.com	South Dakota Film Office Site
www.TourSDakota.com	Travel Professionals Site