Spa Travel Stays Strong, Even in Down Times (by Nick Verrastro)

Another example of a Growth Market is Spa Travel, as Nick Verrastro wrote for Travel Market Report on May 17.

Here are a few select insights and statements from the article. Click on the link at the bottom to read the full article at Travel Market Report:


Consumers are increasingly interested in spa travel for its health and wellness benefits, rather than mere pampering, and suppliers are responding with attractive pricing and product to satisfy the demand.

These developments account for the resiliency of the spa travel segment during the recent economic downturn, according to Susie Ellis, president, SpaFinder, Inc.

“Spas’ greatly expanded focus on health, wellness and prevention, rather than mere pampering – combined with their ongoing attractive pricing – have been the two keys to this travel category’s resiliency over these last tough years,” said Ellis.

Increased customer interest in spa travel specifically for its health and wellness benefits was the number one emerging trend in spa travel identified by travel agents in the SpaFinder survey.

Pampering and pleasure have become less important as motivating factors in consumer desire for spa travel, agents indicated.

Health is very important to people traveling today, whether for business or for leisure, Ellis told Travel Market Report. Understanding that is key to agents developing this niche market successfully.

The growth of wellness tourism shows that “a new vacation concept is gaining traction,” Ellis said.

Read full article at: http://www.travelmarketreport.com/medical?articleID=7234&LP=1

Airfare Transparency Group Says Airline Fees Hit Families Hard

Travel Pulse > Travel News > Airfare Transparency Group Says Airline Fees Hit Families Hard

By James Shillinglaw
May 24, 2012 10:35 PM

Open Allies for Airfare Transparency, a group that is seeking full disclosure of airline fees, said that as millions of Americans take to the skies for the opening weekend of summer, families are encountering “unprecedented” hurdles to air travel that could be eased if airlines truly focused on customer needs and kept fees for seating, boarding and the like transparent through and purchasable from travel agents. Since most airlines fail to do so, the group said, whether it's fees for seating that make it hard for parents to sit with their children, or barring pre-boarding for families with small children, families are particularly susceptible.

“What makes the behavior of the airlines even more exasperating for families is the failure to provide airfares on an all-in (fares, taxes and fees) basis upfront," said Art Sackler, executive director of Open Allies for Airfare Transparency.  "Because many airlines withhold that information, families can't figure out how much more it will cost them to sit together until after they purchase their basic tickets -- and that could be hundreds of dollars round trip.” Sackler also said it was very difficult for families to compare prices among airlines that have fees for seats or other add-ons.

Read full story at:
http://www.travelpulse.com/airfare-transparency-group-says-airline-fees-hit-families-hard.html?fb_ref=top&fb_source=home_multiline

Medical Tourism - Current News Stories

Medical Tourism gives resident something to smile about (Marcos Island Sun Times)

Medical Tourism worth a careful look (Coloradoan.com)

Israel's medical tourism industry (Ynetnews.com)

Medical tourism sets pulses racing (Malaysian Insider)

3rd Ministerial Summit on Medical Tourism (Press Release - The Medical Tourism Association)

Quick Sand for Travel Agents: The Dangers of Medical Tourism (Press Release)

Developing Growth Markets = Entrepreneurial Thinking = Intrapreneurship

For most organizations in tourism, tapping and/or developing growth markets requires an entrepreneurial mindset and thinking. Why is this?

Growth markets represent a new segment of, and a new way of doing, business.

As such, the innovative process by which companies enter or expand their presence in the growth markets is entrepreneurial in nature.

But interestingly enough, when "entrepreneurial activities/efforts" take place within an established company, the actual concept and terminology to describe this is "intrapreneurship".

To learn more about Intrapreneurship (and Entrepreneurship), you can visit my other blog on this topic by clicking here on this link: http://intrapreneur-vs-entrepreneur.blogspot.com/

NTA, Tourism, Canada, and Growth Markets

Last fall our NTA President, Lisa Simon, spoke in Canada about the Growth Markets as a key strategy and plan for rebuilding U.S. tourism to Canada.  Listed below is the news release reprinted in its entirety along with the original webpage link.

See original press release here:
http://www.ntaonline.com/articles/index.cfm?action=view&articleID=2360&menuID=391


LEXINGTON, Ky., USA—NTA President Lisa Simon, CTP, addressed members of the Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership today at the North American Trade Symposium in Toronto. Simon's message: The path to rebuilding U.S. tourism to Canada lies in tapping growth markets.

"Looking at today's operator marketplace, NTA sees many opportunities involving new business, burgeoning markets and a fresh way of looking at the tried and true," Simon said.

Simon cited a dramatic rise in the number of tour operators and suppliers creating new programs, products and services that cater to the interests of upward-trending markets: intergenerational families, faith-based groups, adventure seekers, students and baby boomers, as well as independent travelers. She advised the audience, comprised mostly of suppliers, to find tour operators who can help them develop new product, as each market has its own nuances.

Along with Simon, presenters at the symposium included American Bus Association President Pete Pantuso; Judy Rogers, president of Research Resolutions and Consulting; Norman Howe, president of Butterfield & Robinson; Victoria Pearson, president of Routes to Learning Canada; and Ann Fairley, vice-president of the Ontario Motor Coach Association.

The number of U.S. travelers to Canada has decreased in recent years, due to factors such as the new passport requirement, a reduction in Canadian marketing promotions in the U.S., and a rising Canadian dollar. Simon reassured symposium attendees that Canada remains the number-one international destination for NTA operators, with more than 300 member companies packaging travel to Canada.

"When looking for ways to increase travel here from the United States, we do have challenges, but with the combination of incredible culture, international flavor and outdoor activities, Ontario has so much to offer any traveler," said Simon. "I applaud Sandra Rice, with Ontario Tourism, for bringing the industry together to discuss these tough issues. The Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership has such vision and continues to be a real leader in Canada."

About NTA: Now celebrating its 60th year, NTA is the leading association for professionals serving travelers to, from and within North America.  Our members are tour operators, suppliers and destination marketing organizations from more than 40 countries. For general information, visit http://www.ntaonline.com/ For details about our upcoming Convention, visit the Convention Web page.

About OTMP: The Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership Corporation collaborates with tourism partners locally and internationally to showcase our province as a premier all-season travel destination. Since launching in 1999, the OTMPC has developed and delivered exciting, integrated marketing programs at home and abroad.

This blog being read around the world

I just wanted to take a moment and thank everyone for visiting and reading my blog posts.

It's exciting to see people from around the world who are excited to learn more about and getting further engaged in the Growth Markets of Tourism.

 Some of the countries represented who have visited my blog include the U.S., France, China, UK, Canada and Thailand. Thank you again everyone!

Festivals and Events - Resources and News

Festivals and Events are definitely a part of tourism's Growth Markets - and will always remain a staple of the industry. As such, the Internet is full of great resources on the subject. Below is just a sampling of what's out there:

Here are a couple of resources on the topic:
http://www.festivals.com/
http://festivalsandevents.com/about-festivals.php

And it's helpful to know there are many state-based festival associations; here's a sampling:
Kentucky http://www.kentuckytourism.com/events/events.aspx
Washington http://www.wfea.org/
Florida http://www.ffea.com/
Michigan http://www.mfea.org/
North Carolina http://www.ncfestivals.com/
Minnesota http://www.exploreminnesota.com/events/festivals-events/index.aspx
.....and many more!

And there are international festival groups, associations and resources:
China http://www.travelchinaguide.com/intro/festival/tourism.htm
Tahiti http://www.tahiti-tourisme.com/discover/events.asp
Malaysia http://www.tourism.gov.my/events/
Romania http://www.romaniatourism.com/festivals-events.html
Kenya http://www.cdd-ghana.com/2010/09/22/kenya-festivals-the-events-that-bring-in-tourists-from-all-over/