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Rocky MountainInternational Newsletter
Volume E4, Issue 1, Summer 2008
Archive
In this issue:
The 2008 International Pow Wow was held in Las Vegas, Nevada at the Las Vegas Convention Center from May 31-June 4, 2008. The event is the premier international marketplace, largest generator of Visit USA travel, and the opportunity to network with thousands of fellow travel industry organizations and people.
RMI marketing managers Kim Birrell and Mathias Jung represented the region at the RMI booth and had a full schedule of appointments. 
It was an exceptional show in every aspect: venue, service, efficiency, attendance and business done. All 44 appointments were filled (some double-booked) resulting in a total of 53 solid leads in three days of 20-minute business appointments. The mood throughout the event was that of excitement and energy with several people overheard saying, “This is the BEST Pow Wow ever!”
Operators were attracted to the region and sought more information, images, maps, and itinerary suggestions. Moreover, several operators were interested in the 2008 RMI Mega Fam and/or the 2009 Roundup, with many confirming that a staff member will participate.
In addition to our booth on the trade show floor, RMI represented the region with a table at the Media Marketplace, where we had the opportunity to meet with media looking for what’s new in U.S. travel. Donnie Sexton of Travel Montana was also present at the RMI table representing the state of Montana. Six leads were generated from journalists throughout the world and who were interested in writing about the Rocky Mountain region.
Nearly 30 international tour operators and over 80 suppliers from the RMI region attended Roundup in Casper, Wyoming, making this the biggest Roundup ever. Held at the Ramada Plaza Riverside, tourism suppliers and operators met for two days of productive and intensive one-on-one meetings on April 10 and 11.
The three-day event began with a fam tour of Casper for tour operators on April 9th, with visits to the National Historic Trails Interpretive Center, Fort Caspar and the Nicolaysen Art Museum. Optional afternoon tours visited Independence Rock, Casper lodging facilities or historic downtown Casper. The day ended with a group dinner with entertainment at the Nordic Trails Lodge on Casper Mountain. 
Marketplaces One and Two were held on the following two days at the Ramada Plaza. Tour operators and suppliers gathered for a reception and dinner on Thursday night at the Ramada Plaza. Tour operators attended Friday night’s Buckle Club Party where they received buckle club gifts and honorary names.
After the Roundup, many tour operators chose to continue on fam tours to Wyoming, South Dakota or Montana. Luckily the weather turned nice just in time for these trips.
We are happy to report that results from our surveys to suppliers and operators who attended indicate that this Roundup was an overwhelming success. Numerous positive comments reveal that the recent format change to scheduled appointments continues to have a positive effect on everyone’s Roundup experience. 100% of operators who responded said the marketplaces were productive, valuable and informative. Both suppliers and operators stated that the Roundup experience is very valuable in helping them learn about the others needs.
RMI sends a big thank you to the many organizations, sponsors and individuals who worked so hard to make Roundup a success. In particular, Casper CVB and Kurt Box, Karin East of Ramada Plaza Riverside, and Wyoming Travel and Tourism.
Next year’s Roundup will be held in Idaho and will take place April 1-3, 2009. RMI is currently soliciting bids from interested communities and the location will be announced soon. If you would like more information please contact Kim Birrell at kbirrell@rmi-realamerica.com.
Curt Nettinga of the Hot Springs Star writes the following:
RMI conference begins to pay dividends; Bus tours from Italian group booked into area attractions, hotels and campgrounds.
HOT SPRINGS – One year after the Rocky Mountain International tourism conference in Hot Springs, the ripple effects of having some of Europe’s top tour planning executives here is beginning to become evident. The Europeans are coming, and coming in busloads.
Wolfgang Sareiter, the organizer of self-drive tours through his company Wolfgang Sareiter’s America Experience in Germany, replied to an e-mail from the Star and said, “We have many different tours in our program this year. Many include Rapid City, the Black Hills and have stops planned in either Hot Springs or Deadwood.” Deadwood co-hosted the RMI conference in 2007 with Hot Springs. Jeremiah Simunek, the manager of the Holiday Inn Express in Hot Springs confirmed that his hotel has seen the effects of the RMI conference already. “Right now we have eight individual tour busses which have reserved rooms for 2008,” Simunek said. “The tours are booked through an Italian group in Florida called Travalco, Inc., and are called ‘The Cowboys and Indians Tour.’” Simunek said that each of the busses of European travelers should have 35-40 people and will begin showing up in about two months. “We are working on others for the future as well,” he said.
Joe Allen of the Allen Ranch Campground also confirmed that he has tours booked at the campground. A tour group organized by Leo Duijvestijn of The Netherlands will be camping along Fall River at the campground on July 9. “I decided for my 2008 to include Hot Springs for making an overnight,” Duijvestijn said in an e-mail. “We will pay a visit to the excavation of the Mammoth, the Wild Horse Sanctuary and will stay for the overnight at the Allen Ranch.” Allen said he is also in discussions with Travalco on some other tours, which “look good right now,” but are not confirmed yet. Duijvestijn said it was beneficial to have RMI in a place like Hot Springs, because most people in Europe think of the United States as being Florida or California, as that is what they are accustomed to seeing. “They really do not know what states like South Dakota, Wyoming and Montana have to offer,” he wrote. “Partly are the authorities in U.S.A. to blame, as they do not provide money to promote the country much better. In Holland, for instance, there is not even a Tourist Bureau. Therefore a meeting like RMI is so helpful to discover this part of the country,” Duijvestijn said. “It helped me to modify my tours to South Dakota. After having seen the surroundings and the meeting for a whole day in Hot Springs I decided to plan the overnight there. I was very much impressed by everything South Dakota has to offer.”
http://www.hotspringsstar.com/articles/2008/03/17/hot_springs/news/news903.txt
The annual Summit Meeting was held in Casper on April 7 & 8, 2008, and was attended by the RMI U.S and overseas staff, Partners, Gateway Cities and Receptive Tour Operators. This meeting gives all attendees the chance to present marketing results from the past fiscal year and to discuss market trends and ideas, and finally to establish the marketing plan for the next fiscal year.
The items approved for the upcoming fiscal year include
Rocky Mountain International is pleased to announce that as of July 1, 2008, it will officially partner with the Cheyenne Area Convention and Visitors Bureau in Cheyenne, Wyoming. They will be joining our marketing collaborator group of Yellowstone National Park Lodges/Xanterra, Rapid City CVB, and Buffalo Bill's Cody/Yellowstone Country.
The Cheyenne Area CVB is led by Darren Rudloff, Executive Director, and has been a strong supporter of the RMI program for many years. We are very excited to have them officially join the program and look forward to working more extensively in the upcoming year.
A few updates on what’s new in Cheyenne:
* New Lodging - 164 new rooms were added in 2007 (Sleep Inn and Springhill Suites) with an additional 145 rooms coming in 2008 (Candlewood Suites (Aug 08) and Microtel), totaling 309 new rooms in Cheyenne.
* Renovation - In the midst of the vast Wyoming prairie, Little America Cheyenne is an 80-acre oasis of luxury and service, surrounded by beautifully groomed grounds, a nine-hole executive golf course and an Olympic size outdoor swimming pool. Major renovations now completed include lobbies, exteriors, dining, and 188 sleeping rooms. Contact www.littleamerica.com/cheyenne.
* New Livery Stable – Cheyenne’s horse drawn carriage rides and mounted police are now operating from a new horse stable west of the restored Union Pacific Depot in the historic downtown area. Visitors can also watch a blacksmith shoeing horses in the stable on Fridays throughout the summer.
* New Cell Phone Audio Tours - Seven Cheyenne museums now offer audio tours visitors can access via their cell phones.
* Contact the Cheyenne Area CVB for more info, darren@cheyenne.org; www.cheyenne.org
To RMI Region Suppliers:
World Travel Market is held in London on November 10 through 13, 2008, and is one of the largest international travel trade shows in the world. RMI has booth space there along with State Tourism Representatives from Idaho, Montana, South Dakota and Wyoming. Suppliers have the opportunity to share booth space with us at this show. If you are interested contact Kim Birrell at kbirrell@rmi-realamerica.com for details or click HERE for more information and registration materials.
Spanning 10 days with extensive touring of two states and many attractions in between, the annual RMI Mega Fam is one of the best ways to showcase the RMI region. The 2008 version will feature the states of Montana and South Dakota, and will take place September 26-October 6, 2008.
With approximately 40 participating tour operators from RMI's target markets in Europe, along with receptive operators and state and RMI staff members, the RMI Mega Fam is an excellent way to promote the region to valuable European tour operator sales staff that bring clients to the area.
This year's itinerary includes recreational activities, interpretive sites and plenty of great destinations in southeastern Montana and covers the entire state of South Dakota from west to east.
Highlights of the fam include ranch activities in Montana, fly-fishing lessons, guided tour of Yellowstone National Park, hiking, Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse Memorial, Native American cultural sites and several interpretive museums.
Pam Gosink, Marketing and Overseas Program Manager at Travel Montana and Maureen Droz, Trade Sales & Marketing Manager for South Dakota Tourism have developed the itinerary and will be hosting the group through their respective states.
Additional Pre and Post-fams will be held in the official RMI Gateway Cities of Denver, CO and Minneapolis/St. Paul/Bloomington, MN.
The city of Denver will be hosting a Pre-Fam September 23-26. Highlights of this tour include the Denver Art Museum and Red Rocks Amphitheatre.
A Post-Fam is scheduled for October 6-8 and will be hosted by the cities of Minneapolis/St. Paul/Bloomington. Highlights include Mall of America, Walker Art Museum and a possible NHL Hockey game.
"The Mega Fam gives us the opportunity to get tour operators into the region to experience first-hand the scenery, wildlife and outdoor recreation that makes this area such a unique place to visit," said RMI Marketing Manager, Mathias Jung.There were four million visits to the USA from the UK in 2008 which equates to roughly one tenth of the UK adult population. Of these, over three quarters were vacations. This was not a flash in the pan; the figures for the last few years have been pretty consistent. That makes the USA our fourth most popular tourism destination after Spain, France and Ireland.
So the UK is a mature market in terms of vacations in the USA. Does that mean little has changed? Are there new opportunities? How does all of this affect the RMI region?
The answer is that the UK travel market has undergone profound change, making the consistency of the USA’s performance within that market all the more remarkable. I think that change offers significant opportunities for tourism to the US and to this region in particular.
A while back the UK travel market was dominated by four large groups that had a stranglehold on the market and offered what made them money but not necessarily what the public (whom they seriously underestimated) wanted. They had no interest in developing new destinations or lifestyle products.
Then we moved into an age where UK tourists had been travelling abroad for several generations. They did not need spoon feeding. Indeed they often knew more than either the front desk travel agent or the in-resort tour operator representative. There was a pent-up demand to “do their own thing” although at first regulations, originally designed to protect the public, prevented this.
Gradually, airlines were de-regulated. Along came the Internet. At last here was a tool that meant information was immediately and freely available. De-regulation and the internet, in turn, facilitated cheap air travel and the dedicated travel search engines. The first port of call when booking a trip became Expedia or Travelocity, not the shopping mall.
We can now reap the benefit of that pent-up demand. The consumer is now very much back in control, becoming more and more discerning and increasingly looking for new destinations and activities. They want to do things that they have never done before (or indulge a pursuit that they are fanatical about) and go to places that they have never been to before. Increasingly, they want information, expertise and to create a dialogue in order to make a considered choice. That is a process that everybody can participate in through their state representative. If you have a message that needs to be heard in the UK or if you need information from us, we are here to facilitate that.
There has been a revival in the fortunes of the independent tour operators in specialist niche sectors like ranching, winter sports and outdoor activities or those who go to destinations off the beaten track, as many in the UK would still consider this region. This type of operator is considered, rightly, to have genuine worthwhile expertise and is valued by the public. This too, is good news, again emphasizing the new personal approach and we work closely with these specialists.
More and more this is what many Brits are demanding. They are now maybe a little too familiar with Florida. The East Coast cities are just a short break destination for many. There is a whole generation that went to Orlando as children but now wants their kids to explore the Real America and not settle for a ride on Thunder Mountain.
The UK press, as well, is currently very interested in this region and if you have a story please pass it along the line. There has never been a better time.
Unfortunately there are some economic clouds around but the UK market has always proved very resilient in the past when it comes to annual vacations and will hopefully be so again. Although fuel surcharges are a cause for concern the current exchange rate situation still works in favour of a US vacation.
I think that the market conditions are right in the UK, the demand is there, the products are available and the necessary tools and travel companies are in place to make it happen. We will work as hard as we can with your state representatives and the RMI office in the US to bring as many Brits as possible to this region. I’m looking forward to what I’m sure will be a very successful year for tourism from the UK.
September 16-19 - Top Resa, France
September 26-October 6 - RMI Mega Fam
November 10-13 - World Travel Market, London UK
November 13-15 - Showcase Italy, Verona Italy
November 17-19 - Benelux Sales Mission
New Golf Courses in Teton Valley
The nation’s first and only reversible course, Teton Reserve (http://www.tetonreserve.com/) in Victor, ID features 18 greens but "hidden tees" that allow each nine to be played backward and forward creating four different routing combinations, which proves challenging to the seasoned golfer but forgiving to the beginner.
The technique has been used in Europe but is new to North America because of the land required and additional construction costs, said Jerry Moore, a salesman at Teton Reserve.
"It was kind of a dream of Hale Irwin's to do a reversible routing," Moore said. "It's almost like playing backward.”
The golf course is beginning to draw a national buzz. Hale Irwin, Three-time U.S. Open champion and 45-time winner on the Champions Tour, has created Teton Reserve in Victor. The course is "progressively private" - meaning it will always have a public element, but restrictions will increase as memberships increase, with plans to open this summer.
Web: www.tetonreserve.com
The semi-private Teton Rim Golf Club at River Rim Ranch, which is 7 miles west of Tetonia and designed by Greg Norman plans to open in June 2010.
Web: www.riverrimranch.com
Idaho now has a second zip line available to visitors. A zip line is a cable traverse that allows participants to safely soar through the air at speeds of up to 40 mph. The new zip line, Zip Idaho, is a combination tour, both zip line (ground to ground) and Canopy Tour. With 6 lines ranging from 200 feet to 1,700 feet in length, this tour is sure to be a popular activity. Located just 30 minutes North of Boise on Highway 55, the zip line overlooks the entire lower valley of Boise. Visitors will be shuttled to the property at about 4,500 feet above sea level and experience a tour of Ponderosa Pines. From a perch you can soak in the spectacular view of the valley below. Deer, elk, bears and turkeys are just a few of the many species of animals that frequent the area. The duration of the tour should be about 3 hours including shuttle time. Free drinks and snacks are provided.
Web: http://www.zipidaho.com/
Gold Fever Still Abounds in South Pass City
LANDER, Wyo -- You can experience the excitement of gold fever-without becoming a miner. The rivers in Wyoming's Wind River Country still contain elusive flakes of gold and with a pan and some perseverance; you may find your fortune. In its heyday, South Pass City in Fremont County had a population of 2000, dozens of mines and hundreds of placer claims along the stream banks to pan for gold. Now, it's one of the best-preserved and most authentic gold mining ghost towns in the West. The Carissa Gold Mine, now owned by the South Pass City State Historic Site, produced as much as 180,000 ounces of gold during its lengthy run. It was once the main economic engine for South Pass City, and operated as a functioning gold mine until the 1940s. These days, with gold prices on the north side of $600 an ounce, it's still a worthy - and fun - pastime for visitors and locals alike.
In 2003, the State of Wyoming purchased the Carissa Mine through funds from the Wyoming State Legislature. With the mine came 9 historic structures, 17 significant mine features and 201 acres. South Pass City State Historic Site will offer public tours of the Carissa Mine each Saturday (except July 12) starting June 14 through August 30 at 10 a.m. Due to safety regulations, tours are limited to 20 people and reservations must be made in advance. The tour will take the visitor through the complex workings of the gold mill and give an overview of the development of the mine from 1870 to the late 1940s. There will be a gold panning demonstration after the tour. The extensive renovation project is due to be complete by the end of 2008.
And for those who would like to feed their gold fever even more, the annual Gold Rush Days is right around the corner. This year's event takes place July 12-13 in South Pass City. This festival celebrates the life and heritage of the Sweetwater Mining District by interpreting many of the activities that have taken place throughout the area historically. Competitions include a vintage baseball tournament, using turn-of-the-century period equipment, uniforms and rules, as well as live music, a shooting gallery, printing press demos and much more. And, of course, gold panning opportunities abound.
For more information about the Carissa Mine Tours and the South Pass City State Historic Site, visit http://www.southpasscity.com. For a free vacation packet and information about Wyoming's Wind River Country, visit http://www.wind-river.org or call 800-645-6233.
New Aerial Tram at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort Coming December 2008 
(Teton Village, WY. March 1, 2008) – The countdown has officially started, larger and faster, “The Big One” is back, December 2008. Until then we will share our excitement through words, images, and video capturing the enormity of this project on tramformation.com. (LINK http://www.tram-formation.com) Content includes the construction project to date documented by award winning film maker Peter Pilafian and will showcase the project continuing, the amazing people behind the machine and the incredible resort that houses the story.
The new aerial tram at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort will be twice the size of the original, carrying 100 passengers, have modern, sleek cabins, a visually inspiring base terminal, plus be faster, more efficient and tougher than its predecessor.
As well as the journey, it is the destination that captures the spirit of the Jackson Hole tram. Soaring 4,139 vertical feet in 9 minutes is unrivaled in the ski industry, cresting the Tetons with an endless choice of mind-blowing ski routes below, not to mention incredible 360-degree views, and only a few fellow disciples to nod at before you choose your line. It is unlike any other experience.
The Cody Goes Green
Low-impact environmental initiatives are plentiful throughout Cody’s newest hotel, and The Cody is working toward a LEED Certification (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) from the U.S. Green Building Council. The Cody’s lobby and corridors utilize reclaimed planking and wood trim from buildings in Yellowstone National Park. The hotel’s 78 rooms feature luxury amenities including feather pillows and comforters, flat-screen TVs, free wireless and DSL, fitness center, indoor pool and sauna. iPod docking stations are also available to guests. Room décor has a decidedly Western flavor with many rooms decorated and named after great figures of the American West such as Annie Oakley, Zane Grey, Sacagawea, the Sundance Kid, Gene Autry and Meriwether Lewis and William Clark. Contact Janet Gideon, jgideon@thecody.com or www.thecody.com
Hot Harley Nights
Mark your calendars now for the 13th annual Hot Harley Nights™, scheduled for July 11-13, 2008! This incredible event supports the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of South Dakota, and has raised over $1.2 million dollars so that children with life threatening diseases can experience a “wish come true.”
Hot Harley Nights™ involves a casino run, motorcycle parade, live music, raffles, bike show, silent auction, great food and an outdoor party at Falls Park West. Last year over 40,000 people turned out to enjoy the festivities, raising nearly $180,000. As always, our goal is to expand the event, draw more people, raise more money, grant more wishes and have more fun. We hope to see you there! http://www.hotharleynights.com/
Western Heritage Festival 
"Top 100 Events in North America, 2008" - American Bus Association (ABA)
September 19-21, 2008
Hill City, South Dakota
The Heart of the Hills welcomes you to the Hill City Western Heritage Festival, September 19-21. A celebration of Black Hills history, music and cultural heritage, the Hill City Western Heritage Festival is a step back in time. Ride the Wine Train into the West or enjoy musical performances, authentic reenactments and costumed characters, ranch horse competitions, parades and much more. Don’t miss the Hill City Western Heritage Festival, September 19-21!
Authentic Old West attire by participants and spectators is welcome. Prizes for best costume will be given away at several events during the Festival.
Visit www.hillcitysd.com for more information.
Custer State Park in the beautiful Black Hills is full of lush forests, quiet and serene meadows and majestic mountains. This 71,000-acre park is also home to one of the world's largest publicly-owned bison herds, 1,500 strong. The ground rumbles and the dust flies as cowboys, cowgirls and park crews saddle up to bring in the thundering herd. The annual roundup, held on Monday, September 29, 2008, is open to the public.
Visit the South Dakota website http://www.travelsd.com/about/events/buffaloroundup.asp and watch the video from the 2003 Buffalo Roundup to experience this authentic western adventure.
More information about the Buffalo Roundup can be found at
Custer State Park Buffalo Roundup. http://www.sdgfp.info/Parks/Regions/Custer/round.htm
One of the country’s largest and most prestigious celebrations of the arts, the National Folk Festival, http://www.nationalfolkfestival.com/ is coming to Butte for a three-year tenure beginning in July 2008. First presented in 1934, it is the oldest multicultural festival in the nation.
The National Council for the Traditional Arts (NCTA), the organization that has produced the National Folk Festival since its creation, recognized Butte’s and Montana’s unique natural resources, cultural assets, and strong community spirit. Dates for 2008 are July 11-13. All details are on the website: www.nationalfolkfestival.com
Montana, in conjunction with National Geographic and the provinces of Alberta and British Columbia just rolled out a new concept in geotourism in the form of a map guide entitled Crown of the Continent. Designed as a tool for longtime residents and newcomers, as well as travelers, the MapGuide and its companion website - www.crownofthecontinent.net - provide an understanding of the diverse natural and cultural heritage of the Crown of the Continent region and how to protect its 10 million acres along with its distinctive rural towns and communities. The Crown of the Continent region refers to the rugged peaks, glacier-carved valleys, native prairie, and sparkling waters of the north-south Rocky Mountain Range joining northwest Montana, southwest Alberta, southeast British Columbia, including two World Heritage Sites: the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park straddling the Montana/Alberta border and Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump near Fort McLeod, AB.
No trip through Montana is complete without a tour of the new Great Plains Dinosaur Museum and Field Station http://www.montanadinosaurdigs.com/ in Malta, an actual dinosaur preparation station on the edge of the western frontier. This new museum is opened in early June. Watch scientists as they work on incredibly well-preserved dinosaurs of northeastern Montana, such as Leonardo, a rare dinosaur mummy listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the best preserved dinosaur ever discovered. The Dinosaur Field Station also offers lectures, educational programs and a unique gift store with a variety of special gifts and souvenirs for all ages. The gift shop offers everything from choice one-of-a-kind items like locally made Montana sapphire jewelry to books, puzzles, puppets and exclusive Leonardo momentos and clothing.
http://www.montanadinosaurdigs.com
The Rainbow Ranch Restaurant recently received the distinguished DiRoNA award. By definition, a DiRoNA award restaurant stands apart from all others, the restaurant is characterized by consistent excellence in all facets of the dining experience—food, beverages, service and environment. It consistently provides exceptional quality, value for the dollar and a memorable experience.
The Rainbow Ranch Lodge in Big Sky had a fire that destroyed the main lodge and restaurant. Fortunately the cabins and other lodging are fine, and they will be open. Read the blog for more details. They do plan to rebuild the lodge, but keep in mind they will be open this season.http://www.bigskymontanavacation.blogspot.com/
Chas Cartwright, a 21-year veteran of the National Park Service (NPS) has been named superintendent of Glacier National Park in Montana, according to Intermountain Regional Director Mike Snyder. Cartwright assumed his new position in late May. He replaces Mick Holm, who served as superintendent for six years before retiring from the NPS.
"To say that my wife Lynda and I are excited about moving to Glacier country is an understatement," said Cartwright. "I am honored to be selected as Superintendent and look forward to getting acquainted with all of the various individuals and groups who care about the park. My focus will be on building relationships. Glacier National Park has an incredibly dedicated staff of permanent and seasonal employees, volunteers, and partners, whom I look forward to working with."
As superintendent of Glacier National Park, Cartwright will be responsible for the management of 1,013,572 acres, a staff of approximately 151, and an annual operating budget of more than $12,030,000. This site was designated Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park World Heritage Site in December 1995.
http://home.nps.gov/glac/
The Mile High City’s home on the World Wide Web, www.Denver.org, was given a sparkling redesign in March, making it a virtual one-stop shop for any and all information on the best the city has to offer. The frequently-updated, easy-to-navigate site features dozens of new features, including suggested itineraries, interviews with local luminaries, travel tips and much more. At Denver.org, you’ll also find all the nuts and bolts info you need, including transportation, accommodations, events and attractions. There are also fun and informative “TENvers,” written by local experts, detailing favorite aspects of their hometown. Check it out for yourself at www.Denver.org.
United Offers Daily Nonstop Flights between Denver International Airport and Heathrow
In March, United Airlines began offering daily nonstop flights between Denver International Airport (DEN) and Heathrow in London. The flight leaves DEN each day at 8:20 p.m. with a flight time of eight hours and 55 minutes. The flight from Heathrow leaves each day at 1:20 p.m. with a flight time of 10 hours and nine minutes. United’s Denver-London service is now possible with the new Open Skies agreement between the U.S. and Europe that removes the regulatory barriers to fly to London Heathrow.
From global warming and renewable energy to environmental cleanup, Denver is emerging as one of the premier places in the nation for a “green” learning vacation. Not only is the city dedicated to sustainable development and ecologically friendly practices, but Denver also offers two national research centers that have tours and exhibits about the Earth’s climate and renewable energy, and a world-class museum of nature and science. The National Center for Atmospheric Research (http://www.eo.ucar.edu/visit/), the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (http://www.nrel.gov/overview/) and the Denver Museum of Nature & Science (http://www.dmns.org/main/en/) all offer fascinating and educational tours and exhibits that highlight the prominent role Mother Nature plays in Denver. Meanwhile, Mayor John Hickenlooper has launched Greenprint Denver (http://www.greenprintdenver.org), a citywide action agenda for sustainable practices that finds a balance between economic and environmental health. The program includes an initiative to plant one million trees throughout the region in the next 20 years and plans to reduce water use and waste. Additionally, Denver has vowed to make the 2008 Democratic National Convention, which will convene in the Mile High City August 24-29, 2008, the greenest convention in the Democratic Party’s history.
While air travelers have been bombarded with recent negative reports from the airline industry, advanced bookings at Rapid City Regional Airport are up 106 percent for travel between May and December, Executive Director Mason Short announced today.
As of March 31, the five airlines serving Rapid City have seen outbound bookings, trips originating in Rapid City, increase 107 percent. Inbound bookings, by visitors to Rapid City and the Black Hills, have increased 104 percent, based on an airport check of airline reservation data.
“With all the talk about higher fuel costs, I think travelers are locking in lower fares rather than canceling their summer travel plans,” Short said. “That’s a positive sign for Rapid City and the Black Hills.”
Overseas travel between Rapid City and points in Asia and Europe is increasing as well, according to Short. Advanced bookings are up 75 percent, compared with the same period in 2007. The number of outbound passengers is up 91 percent, and inbound international bookings are up 62 percent.
Short said the increase in inbound international travel reflects the current strength of the euro and other currencies compared with the U.S. dollar.
“The exchange rate really does make the United States a bargain for foreign travelers, and the Black Hills are very much a world-class destination,” he said.
The news comes on top of an already busy year for Rapid City Regional Airport. March airline traffic increased by more than 32 percent over March 2007. Last month 40,054 passengers flew into and out of Rapid City. Year to date, 83,404 passengers have flown into and out of the airport, a 31 percent increase.
Let's show off Idaho!
Attention Idaho Communities:
RMI's International Roundup will be held in Idaho from April 1 to 3, 2009. Is your community interested in hosting this event? This is a fantastic opportunity to show off your community to international tour operators and often results in substantial followup business opportunities.
If you are interested in bidding, please contact Kim Birrell at kbirrell@rmi-realamerica.com to receive the RFP information. The deadline for receiving bids is July 21st.
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State Tourism Offices |
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Idaho Division of Tourism |
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Montana Department of Commerce - Travel MT |
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South Dakota Department of Tourism |
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Wyoming State Office of Travel and Tourism Diane Shober - Director Rita Greene Bellardo - Manager, Travel Trade Marketing 1520 Etchepare Circle Cheyenne, WY 82007 USA PH: 307-777-2853 • FAX: 307-777-2877 www.wyomingtourism.org • rita.greene-bellardo@visitwyo.gov |
© 2006 Rocky Mountain International |
