MAMMOTH LAKES TOURISM INDUSTRY SITE

By

MLT Attended the 2015 ITB in Germany

ITB-2015

Mammoth Lakes Tourism attended the 2015 ITB in Germany. MLT had one of two delegates positions representing the High Sierra Visitor’s Council, the regionally marketing group within California that MLT belongs to. Here is a summary of 2015 ITB provided by Visit California:

Background: ITB Berlin 2015 sets new records
As ITB Berlin, the world’s largest travel trade show, kicks off the 2015 holiday season the conclusion after the show is as follows: boosted by falling energy prices, reduced interest rates, low inflation and positive economic forecasts for the euro zone and North America, the travel industry has high expectations as the 2015 travel season beckons. In Germany in particular consumers are keen to travel. Wage increases and a consistently stable employment market coupled with the falling cost of living have significantly increased spending. More than ever, this is why people are willing to spend their money on holidays. The luxury travel segment in particular stands to benefit.

ITB Berlin 2015 was able to cement its position as the world’s largest travel trade show. From March 4-8, 2015, 10,096 exhibitors from 186 countries, more than two-thirds of whom were from abroad, were represented in 26 bustling halls. Overall, some 115,000 trade visitors (2014: 114,000) travelled to Berlin. The share of trade visitors from abroad increased to 43% (2014: 40%). According to estimates by Messe Berlin the volume of sales at the world’s leading travel trade show increased from around 6.5 billion euros in 2014 to 6.7 billion euros.

Visit California at ITB Berlin 2015
The participation of Visit California at ITB Berlin 2015 featured 14 companies with 20 individual delegates. The Visit California ITB 2015 delegation included: Adventure Travel West, AmericaBound Tours, EagleRider Motorcycle Rental & Tours, Furnace Creek Resort, High Sierra Visitor’s Council, Mammoth Mountain Ski Area, Meritage Collection, San Diego Tourism Authority, San Francisco Travel Association, San Mateo County/Silicon Valley CVB, Santa Monica Convention and Visitors Bureau, Sonoma County Tourism, Universal Studios Hollywood, Visit Santa Barbara.

Visit California’s German, Austrian, and Swiss trade partners, key tour operators and key media discussed news on California in over 200 meetings with delegates and staff. Over 300 invited media and tour operator representatives were also able to sample California’s culinary and wine delights during two wine receptions on ITB Wednesday (March 4th) and ITB Thursday (March 5th). The wine receptions were sponsored by Sonoma County Tourism.

By

MLT Attended the 2015 Visit California Outlook Forum

2015 Visit California Outlook Forum

Mammoth Lakes Tourism attended the 2015 Visit California Outlook Forum this past February. The Outlook Forum is Visit California’s annual strategy session, attended by 500 of the leading DMO, CVB, attractions, and destinations in the State of California. The topics covered were California’s strategic planning for the next 5 years in various international markets, as well as the marketing focus in the other 49 U.S. states. Visit California’s international in-market agencies were in attendance and provided market intelligence on the tending developing in their perspective markets.

By

MLT and MMSA Hosts Black Diamond

skiing with Black Diamond, 2015

MLT and MMSA hosted the ownership of Black Diamond, our agency of record in the UK and Ireland. PR and marketing plans for 2015,2016 were discussed, as well as possible partnerships going forward with key media member in the UK, travel trade opportunities, and programs with Visit California and Brand USA.

As a co-sponsor ( with Yosemite) of the UK’s Adventure Film Festival, MLT was provided an update on the 2015 Festival’s success.

Black Diamond is also the agency of record in the UK and Ireland for both Visit California and Brand USA.

By

MLT Attended Visit California German Sales Day & World Travel Market

MLT booth, 3

Michael attended both the Visit California German Sales Days and World Travel Market on behave of MLT. Partnering with Visit California, MLT was able to further expand its international exposure in both of these key markets.

Download German Sales Day Recap

Download World Travel Market Overview

MLT booth

By

MLT at Top Resa

Top Resa, MLT, California booth

In September, Michael represented MLT at Top Resa, the top industry travel trade exhibition in France / Belgium. 30k travel agents and wholesalers attended the show over 4 days.

Michael’s goal was two-fold: increasing the destination awareness for Mammoth Lakes with the French travel trade industry, and increase the average length of stay of French FIT travelers in Mammoth Lakes from 1 night, to multiple nights.

Michael also conducted 4 print interviews with French publications, and 2 TV interviews with French travel shows while at the exhibition.

160 destinations worldwide were represented at Top Resa. Mammoth Lakes was in the California section of the show. SF, Santa Monica, and the High Sierra were the other destinations within California that had a presence.

After Top Resa, Michael conducted personal sales training with 14 travel agencies (64 agents in total) over 3 days.

By

New Research from Visit California Shows the Economic Impacts of Tourism

VCA-research

A new report commissioned by Visit California explains the economic benefits of tourism in each California Assembly and Senate district. With the upcoming election rapidly approaching, this information can be a valuable communications tool for elected officials and influencers at the regional and local level. Data on visitor spending, tax revenues and employment are included.

The report is available for free. To download, or find other valuable Visit California research, visit the “Economic Impact of Tourism to California” section of Visit California’s Latest Tourism Research page.

By

Facebook Fans Top 30,000

FB-30K

On Wednesday, July 9, 2014, Edina Ingram, the channel manager for VisitMammoth’s Facebook fanpage topped 30K. Since she took over the VisitMammoth fan page in January 2014, Edina has consistently gotten over 100 likes per post and now gets several hundred as well as comments and shares.

This type of engagement is crucial to the health of our fanpage, as Facebook’s algorithm has changed, it has become more difficult to get in front of fans who have liked your page. Facebook assumes that if fans don;t engage on a consistent basis, then you are not producing interesting content. If you are not producing interesting content, Facebook won’t show your posts to your fans.

Edina has gone beyond the “Like” game and sought to consistently inspire and engage the VisitMammoth Facebook fans.

Additional Resources

By

2014-15 ML Visitors Guide Reservations

2014-vgIt’s time to start taking reservations for the 2014/15 MLT Visitors Guide. The 2014/15 edition promises to be the best version yet, with a circulation of 130,000 distributed in over 337 locations by Certified Distribution. Some of these locations include Northern California, Southern California, Reno, Las Vegas, and the entire Westside of the Sierras.

The Visitors Guide is also distributed at 210 locations in Mammoth Lakes and in 50 free standing racks along the 395 corridor.

It is the only piece that Mammoth Lakes Tourism uses for fulfillment both domestically and internationally, and at the numerous Trade Shows MLT attends to promote Mammoth Lakes.

Prices have remained at 2011/12 levels, so the Visitors Guide remains one of the best value for your marketing dollars…..affordable with a massive reach!

 

Space commitments are due 7/9/14!!!!!

Please fill out this Reservation Form and return it to mvanderhurst@visitmammoth.com