NEWS FROM TRAVEL
MICHIGAN VICE PRESIDENT GEORGE ZIMMERMANN
As you are probably aware, we received a funding increase
for FY 2014, which started on October 1st, from $25 million to $29
million, with that increase provided to boost our international marketing
efforts. With this additional funding, there are five primary components
to our international marketing program in 2014. First, we are
adding Toronto as a primary market for spring/summer advertising. We have
advertised in the smaller Canadian markets south of Toronto for a number of
years, but never had the dollars to include Toronto. That changes
starting next spring. In addition, we will be offering our
advertising partners an opportunity to buy into the Toronto market with us.
Second, we are beefing up promotion programs in the UK and Germany. We partner with the other Great Lakes states in those markets – through Great Lakes USA – and starting in 2014, we will be adding Michigan-specific promotions to raise awareness of Michigan as a destination for European travelers to the U.S.
Third, we are entering Asian markets for the first time. In September, Governor Snyder and I announced our entry into the Chinese market at travel and tourism events in Shanghai, Beijing and Chongqing during the Governor’s trade mission.
Fourth, we are increasing the Michigan presence at IPW (formerly Pow Wow) 2014 in Chicago in early April. IPW is the primary international travel and tourism marketplace held in the United States each year, where tour operators and media from around the world meet with U.S. destinations. We will have a significant Pure Michigan branding presence at the event, and we expect the largest delegation of Michigan destinations ever to attend IPW and participate with us. In addition, we have been granted two of the eight official post-IPW FAM tours to host international tour operators and media in Michigan right after IPW.
Finally, we are engaging in many of the activities detailed above in partnership with Brand USA, the public-private partnership created to market the U.S. as a tourism destination globally. Many of the opportunities for buy-in with Brand USA are being managed by Miles Media. These include everything from in-country publications and native-language videos about U.S. destinations to expanded content on the discoveramerica.com web site.
We are holding a tourism industry international information session with John Deleva, a representative from Miles, on Wednesday, December 4th, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m., at the Kellogg Center, 219 S Harrison Rd, East Lansing. During this session, we will review our international program for 2014, including opportunities for tourism industry participation, as well as the complete offerings from Brand USA. There is no charge to attend, but you do need to RSVP to Regina McCloud at McCloudR@michigan.org.
The latest Michigan hotel data from Smith Travel Research shows continued strength in the Michigan tourism industry. Although the state’s hotel occupancy rate slipped from 62.9% in September of 2012 to 62.1% in September, 2013, the average daily rate (ADR) at Michigan hotels jumped 4.3% and the revenue per available hotel room (RevPAR) was up 2.9% over September 2012. Year to date, occupancy, ADR and RevPAR in 2013 are all pacing ahead of 2012.
Safe travels always,
George
For more information,
contact George Zimmermann at
(517) 335-1862.
Tourism News & Trends
Winners: Best Place To Watch A Sunset (Leland)
10 Best USA Today – October 2013
Traverse City Fall
Tourism By The Numbers
The Ticker TC –
October 18, 2013
Sleeping Bear emerges
from shutdown
Traverse City Record
Eagle – October 17, 2013
Michigan's new
tourist attraction? Like them or not, wind turbines
Detroit Free Press –
October 20, 2013
Michigan tourism
workers can afford to live in scenic splendor
Great Lakes Echo –
October 23, 2013
Marketing of Detroit
heats up despite bankruptcy
CT Post – October
21, 2013
More trails, more
water access recommended in public lands report
Macomb Daily –
October 20, 2013
Saginaw Bay in focus: State park beach access, water quality
discussed at DNR-led forum in Bay City
MLive – October 22, 2013
3 Museums fundraiser Thursday
Marquette Mining Journal – October 22, 2013
Iron River blue spruce named Michigan Christmas tree for 2013
MLive – October 18, 2013
Michigan Destinations
10 best places to catch the changing leaves (MI mention)
Shaw Connect – October 2013
Sites in America's
Heartland: Top Midwest Travel Spots (Traverse City, Union Pier)
Flip Key – October
2013
Why You Should Visit Detroit
Expedia – October 20, 2013
The trips of fall:
Ginella's favorite destinations (Stanwood)
Golf Channel –
October 9, 2013
Fall colors are
exploding on golf courses throughout northern Michigan -- and beyond - right
now
Travel Golf –
October 8, 2013
Michigan, A Walk on the art side in Detroit and Ann Arbor
The Philadelphia Sun – October 13, 2013
Michigan, A Walk on the Art Side in Lansing and Grand Rapids
The Philadelphia Sun – October 20, 2013
Top 5 things to do in Lansing: MSU Midnight Madness, 'Boo at
the Zoo,' and more (Oct. 18-20)
MLive – October 17, 2013
Traverse City is a Mountain Biker’s Paradise
Pure Michigan Connect – October 21, 2013
7 Things to Love About The Great Lake To Lake Trail
Pure Michigan Connect – October 22, 2013
Exploring Michigan Wineries in Southeast Michigan
Pure Michigan Connect – October 18, 2013
BEYOND MICHIGAN
Video: From zip lines to corn mazes, small farm tourism
reaps profit
NBC Nightly News – October 22, 2013
'Beautiful China' Tourism Pitch Misfires Amid Smog
Associated Press – October 22, 2013
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