Just sit and think about what ABA has reported:

Of the 40,000+ motorcoaches in North America, they are used proportionately in the following manner:
- 96% are used for charters (by pre-formed groups, tour operators who don’t own their own coaches, etc.)
- 59% are used for tours, and…
- 29% are used for sightseeing. 

Next, here are the North American 2007 travel numbers…take some time to let them marinate in your mind…this is quite impressive:
26 million people traveled by AMTRAK,
650 million people traveled by PLANE, and…get this!…
775,000,000 million people traveled by MOTORCOACH in the U.S. & Canada!

Regarding more recent (and still unavailable) numbers as they are influenced by current economic conditions: My guess is that the ration between the 3 categories may be relatively similar…or if they are changing, more people will be traveling by motorcoach!

That’s at least what Arthur Frommer’s blog reported (I am not saying this is good or bad), but according to LinkedIn: Travel, Tourism & Hospitality Group News:

TripAdvisor is now warning you that numerous hotels are submitting phony recommendations for themselves

Turns out that TripAdvisor is now posting the following prominent message alongside some of their hotel reviews:

TripAdvisor has reasonable cause to believe that either this property or individuals associated with the property may have attempted to manipulate our popularity index by interfering with the unbiased nature of our reviews. Please take this into consideration when researching your travel plans.

Beat of Hawaii (www.beatofhawaii.com), a long-time critic of TripAdvisor (which is owned by Expedia.com),quickly scanned a few pages and found 92 such statements.

So does this mean that TripAdvisor is now helpful to use? The exact opposite, says BoH, citing a colleague’s statement: “On the one hand, at least TripAdvisor is addressing this, but on the other hand they’re basically admitting that their site is worthless!”

The harsh critique goes on:

This doesn’t address the likelihood that a huge percentage of all their reviews are [less than impartial]. Perhaps the warning is a start but I question if they would post one if the hotel was one of their advertisers… Finding the truth about others’ hotel experiences… has now become impossible. I consider myself reasonably astute at this, and there is just no way for me to make good use of these reviews any longer.

If I may add my own two cents, based solely on the logic of the situation. Why wouldn’t a hotel submit a flurry of positive comments penned by employees or friends? If you were a hotel owner, wouldn’t you take steps to make sure that TripAdvisor contained numerous favorable write-ups of your property? Who would fail to do this? And because of such inescapable logic, doesn’t TripAdvisor contain within itself the germs of its own undoing?

First…and most importantly, the success of any itinerary is based on:

1. The experience and skill of the tour planner representing the operator, bank club, or independent group.

2. The experience and willingness of the local group sales person to help the planner by suggesting quality venues that will work for that tour planner. Then by working closely with the planner to help create a great customized tour, all the while communicating with the local attractions, hotels, and restaurants which may be part of the tour.

3. The working relationship between these two individuals, especially if the tour planner (#1) is unfamiliar with an area.

4. Just as importantly, the willingness of the participating attractions, hotels and restaurants to provide exceptional experiences to the group during their visit, including storied guides, behind-the-scenes visits, unusual experiences, and great – even unusual – customer service that will create a memorable visit. And a tour which can help the planner fill their motorcoaches. This can mean more visits in the future – with either the same or similar tour, or a new itinerary. 

Remember, for successful tours… always apply the Golden Rule!

ONTO THE ITINERARY TYPES:

1. AREA ITINERARIES
These are the most commonly used, and usually contain specific partners from a CVB area, community, or county. They can be easily created for either longer stays or daytrips. 

2. HUB & SPOKE ITINERARIES
This is usually a longer tour in a larger area (i.e., 3-5 days), and truly a “destination tour”. Here a group will center their tour and stay in a specific CVB area or community that usually has stronger group travel leadership (this will be known as the hub) and then travel in different directions on daytrips (the spokes) during the time of the tour, returning to hub each night. Each of the spokes has its own a mini-itinerary for that day, containing its own unique attractions and dining. 

A hub & spoke tour may require more effort, but will definitely mean longer stays…and more heads in beds.

3. CORRIDOR ITINERARIES
These are usually part of longer tours – even being tours themselves – and can vary in distance and time. They can involve a variety of “corridors”, some even in the same itinerary. A freeway, historic highway, Scenic Byway or river are good corridor examples (i.e. I-90, Laura Ingalls Wilder Historic Highway, or the Great River Road along the Mississippi River – part or all of the way from the headwaters to St Louis…and beyond!)

4. THEMED ITINERARIES AND MYSTERY TOURS
Popular for all kinds of groups, these can give area, hub & spoke, or corridor itineraries an added dimension of adventure, excitement and anticipation. And each will be its own truly unique experience. Here the combined creative flair of a planner and local group professional can shine…with itineraries as unique as the visited area (SPAMtown USA), a dining experience in a cave, a chocolate tour, or a period costume tour – with everyone – guests and hosts – dressing for the occasion! And what if your group doesn’t know what’s in store? Make it fun and they won’t care!  They had fun and that’s all that matters! 

What itineraries can be created that will leave the group members with great memories…?

Have a great itinerary you created that was “over the top”? Let me know…

Have a great trip today!

MOTORCOACHES ARE AMERICA’S TOP COMMERCIAL PEOPLE MOVERS – ABA ANNOUNCES – January 16, 2009 

WASHINGTON – The motorcoach industry is the number one commercial people mover in the United States, accounting for 751 million passenger trips in 2007, up nearly 20 percent from the previous figure of 631 million passenger trips in 2005, according to a newly updated industry census released today by the American Bus Association. The December 2008 study, “The Economic Impacts and Social Benefits of the U.S. Motorcoach Industry: Binding the Nation Together by Providing Diverse and Affordable Services to Everyone,” was produced by research firm Nathan Associates Inc., and updates previous census reports issued in 2005 and 2006. “The motorcoach industry is the number one [commercial] people mover,” the study reports. “In 2007, the industry provided 751 million passenger trips. The industry provided nearly 9% more passenger trips than commercial airlines (excluding foreign-flag air carriers) and 67% more than Amtrak and commuter rail combined.” Scheduled intercity bus service was provided at 3,046 locations in 2006, compared to air service at 604 airports and intercity rail at 525 stations, the study found. The majority (55%) of long-distance passenger trips by bus are taken by females. And buses continue to be the safest and greenest mode of transportation, the researchers found. “The surging bus ridership figures revealed in this updated industry census confirm that motorcoaches are enticing more new customers each day,” said ABA President & CEO Peter J. Pantuso. “We’re moving more people, serving more locations, and offering travelers a customer-service oriented, hassle-free and affordable travel alternative.” Perhaps most compelling in the study’s findings is that independent motorcoach operators offer such comprehensive service with virtually no federal subsidy. Motorcoaches account for a mere 6 cents in federal subsidies per passenger trip, while public transits cost 77 cents per passenger trip, commercial air carriers cost $4.32 per passenger trip, and Amtrak costs $46.06 in taxpayer subsidies per passenger trip. Other key findings of the new report focused on how motorcoach tourism and travel generates visitor spending and supports jobs in destinations across the country, infusing local economies with tourism spending on local hotels, restaurants, attractions and retail goods.

Thanks, ABA, for providing this information…that’s why we belong to ABA.

Mark Peterson
Heather Lahren
Co-Publishers
ITINERARIES MIDWEST

Not everything I put up on this blog will be my opinion…though many times I will be inclined to put in my 2 cents worth!

Recently Peter Pantuso, President of ABA, provided some statistics that generated quite a bit of enthusiasm among the listening group members (representing the group travel industry in MN) who were able to absorb the immensity of the information he was feeding us.

Of the 40,000 (est) motorcoaches in North America, they are used proportionately in the following manner:
- 96% are used for charters,
- 59% are used to tours, and…
- 29% are used for sightseeing. 
I guess I’d like to know, Peter, what those charters were?

Next, here are the whoppingly BIG North American 2007 travel numbers…take time to compare them…
26 million people traveled by AMTRAK,
650 million people traveled by plane, and…get this!…
775,000,000 million people traveled by motorcoach in the U.S. & Canada!

Finally, keeping that in mind, the motorcoach industry is experiencing an annual growth rate of 5-7% per year.

So do you think you are in the right industry? I think we are!

Over the past 2 weeks I have attended both South Dakota and Minnesota Annual Tourism Conferences. It has been quite an interesting and enjoyable time, and I would like to share a few thoughts and ideas I learned that you may appreciate.

1. LIVE YOUR BRAND! 
2. People “heal” when they come here…it feels like home.
3. When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.
4. Use cross-selling: “Do you want fries with that burger?”
5. “Last year there was about $40 BILLION dollars worth of economic impact in the United States as a direct result of group travel.” – Peter Pantuso, President, ABA
6. Ask yourself: “What are we doing right on our website?”  Focus on what is working!
7. Do you want to stir up some talk or find out what people are thinking or saying about your city/area? Go to www.city-data.com and start chatting and listening. (Thanks, Beth Terry)
8. In a recessive economy, you get more bang for your group travel ad bucks by advertising specifics rather than having a focus on branding.

Finally, if you’re going to dwell anywhere, dwell in the POSITIVE. Turn OFF the talking news heads on TV and Radio. Remind yourself that most broadcast and print news “harbingers” are paid to make us worry. If they weren’t, they would be reminding us that there is 94% employment, rather than 7% unemployment. And that, at 58 years old, I have seen 7 recession cycles, some much worse than others. Many of our younger partners have not, and appreciate being reminded that we’re still around.

Be thankful that people are still working, playing…and traveling.

Isn’t this a good thing?

Your partner in tourism,

Mark

What a get-together for the Tourism Industry in South Dakota!

The energy here is not only respectable, it’s impressive! South Dakota deserves success with the way they approach tourism. The fact that EVERY person I met on Day 1 felt like they were an important part of bigger picture is a testament to what they are doing and why they are successfully doing it.

700+ smiling registrants (At a time when some states have cancelled their conferences this year!)
100+ legislators dropping by to visit these important constituents
The Governor, speaking to and mingling with attendees
State Tourism Council members getting input from attendees who are in the battle trenches every day
60+ exhibitors, including a special “Made in South Dakota” section (great chocolate, and wine!)
Recognition of efforts by SD partners, small to large (not just big sponsors)
Engaging speakers who include Bill Geist, Garrison Wynn, and Beth Terry
Plus fundraising that puts a capital “T” on the word Tourism

These people are real, and enjoyable. There’s no problem with tourism self-esteem here! Plus no one feels like they’re alone… there are a lot of industry partners right here and right now who believe that when one boat rises, all boats rise!

I am very impressed that take their “Oath of Hospitality” [my phrase] very seriously – with a big smile and a sincere “welcome”. I like this conference, can you tell?

I am really looking forward to meeting Bill Geist today. I am so impressed that a speaker of his calibre is presenting to SD partners!

Gotta go and meet some new friends today!

Your Partner in Tourism and Group Travel,
Mark

This particular blog post is written specifically for group travel suppliers. But if you are a buyer and want to weigh in, feel free.

Since we started Itineraries, we’ve have quite a few CVB’s and venues who depend on tourism dollars tell us, “No we don’t do the group travel market…we want the corporate meeting and event business…”, or, “we just want the leisure travelers [like families and couples]“. Now the tune has changed, and group travel is looking much more attractive.

Well, things have changed rather quickly, haven’t they?

Consider that the corporate market is only one of the 3 major components of tourism. The other two components are leisure tourism (families, couples and individual travelers), and group travel (tour operators, bank clubs, and specialty groups). Let’s talk briefly about these three in relation to the current U.S. (and even the world) economy.

There was never any doubt in my mind that the corporate segment was worthwhile, or that leisure travel would always be a significant component, but the current economy took my thoughts in a different direction…consider this and see what you think about it:

THE CORPORATE MEETINGS & EVENTS MARKET has significantly reduced in activity. Why the disappearance of the corporate market? Because many businesses don’t NEED to do off-site meetings and events, and this economy calls for downsizing. Hence the corporate market has diminished.

THE LEISURE MARKET is also not bringing in as great a return as CVB’s would like to see. Or need to see. Even with the fluctuations of gas prices and growing environmental concerns, families, couples and individual travelers are not traveling as far, and are taking fewer trips during the year (hopefully these trips will be longer in duration). They don’t NEED to go anywhere for the most part (except for weddings, funerals, visits, etc), and are looking for new ways to feed their travel habit.

THE GROUP TRAVEL BUSINESS (tour operators, bank clubs and group leaders) is going to be the last to diminish (look at Europe’s group travel industry – they’ve been growing for years, and that’s where we are headed). The boomer segment is growing and willing to travel, finances are calling for a change in the way people travel, the travel habit has been established is not going away anytime soon, and tour operators are giving their groups great trips and experiences better than ever.

And think about the tour operator… Have you ever owned your own business? If so, then you can understand tour operators and why this market is not significantly shrinking. Tour operators NEED TO STAY IN BUSINESS and they are going to work to keep it going (as opposed to businesses and leisure travelers).  Most tour operators are small businesses and entreprenuerial (never could spell this word). And they don’t want to go out of business. So this component of tourism is where you can maintain and grow your tourism business. Remember in an earlier post I quoted industry leaders talking about the growth of the group travel industry? This is where those quotes need to be taken to heart and now is the time to develop and grow your group travel component into your over marketing strategy. Because of the BUSINESS of group travel many DMO’s and venues that didn’t want tour groups are now scrambling to get into the radar of the tour operators and group travel planners. 

In summary, and unlike the corporate market and the leisure travel market, the tour operators need to fill their motorcoaches, and you are in a perfect position to help yourself by helping them. This is where you can be a hero for both your venue or dmo members, and the planner who wants to do business with you. 

So congratulations if you have been cultivating group travel business before our current economic state of affairs. Now y0u need to stay in front of them. Or others will take your place in the radar of the group travel planners.

Your strategy for building your group travel business now in this economy? Keep presenting the planners with NEW AND UNIQUE. Remember, you can be a hero by helping them fill their motorcoaches. Many of them will reward you by bringing their groups. Over and over again.

As always, your partner in tourism,

Mark

As we move forward in promoting travel opportunities in the upper Midwest and central Canada, we have gathered a team of professionals to call on for ideas and thoughtful discussions…here are the new members of our Advisory Board, to date:

Iowa
Sharon Dixon, Inbound Iowa
Bob Oliver, Legacy Tour & Travel

Illinois
Susan Yarolem, Celebration River Cruises

Minnesota
Dawn Krosnowski, Sunshine Tour & Travel
Sherry Mullery, Bloomington CVB

Missouri
Stacy Crabtree, 1st National Bank of Missouri

Nebraska
Tricia Beem, Grand Island CVB
Marilyn Whitehead, Allied Tour & Travel

North Dakota
Deanne Felchle, North Dakota Tourism
Carrol Juven, Juven Tour & Travel

South Dakota
Karen Witt, Watertown CVB
Shebby Lee, Shebby Lee Tours

Wisconsin
Peggy Bitzer, Circle Wisconsin
Joyce Ohrmundt, Nationwide Travelers

Central Canada
Rose Ann Kupiak, Embassy Tours Ltd
Jill Lusty, Destination Winnipeg

We want to thank you all in advance for being a resource as we develop ITINERARIES MIDWEST – both the magazine and the show – strategies for developing group travel opportunities in the Midwest.

Until next time…

Mark

Let’s start off 2009 by clarifying one very important thing: Unemployment today is said to be 6.7% in the United States. That means that 93.3% of the millions of American men & women who work…are working…and shopping…and traveling! This should tell us loud and clear that travel is a “feel-good” activity that’s not going to disappear anytime soon. (If you want to take a long-term look at unemployment rate history, go to:  http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0104719.html)

In light of this and more , you and I should be optimistic in 2009:
“Motorcoach travel is expanding at its fastest rate in 40 years and is surging in consumer popularity.” – DePaul University 
“Individual travelers are joining more group tours, especially if other single travelers are on the same trips.” – Tauck World Discovery
“Boomers are getting into motorcoaches at an unprecedented rate… ” – Association of Travel Marketing Executives
“The student and youth travel market is a huge 20 percent segment of all the travelers in the world. Among the fastest-growing segments, it includes not only college students age 25 and under, but increasing numbers of middle- and high-schoolers and even elementary children on group day or overnight school trips for band, choir, church, sports or science, civics and language classes.” – Student and Youth Travel Association 

The American Bus Association – holding it’s annual convention for scads of tour operators and potential tour destinations  in Charlotte, North Carolina even as I write this (1/3/09) - offers many more reasons to look forward to a strong future for U.S. group travel (I will detail these in future posts…)
- Travel savings
- Energy savings
- Smaller carbon footprints
- Good for the economy (better than one would expect), and
- Motorcoaches are among the safest form of ground transportation.

TOUR OPERATORS  GIVE THE “THUMBS UP” FOR 2009 
You already know we speak with tour operators, bank club directors and group leaders on a daily basis, from all over the U.S. and Canada. And here’s what we are hearing: “With our bookings, 2009 is looking to be a very good year”. Here are some of the operators & planners who are saying it:
- Bob Oliver,  Legacy Tour & Travel, Fort Dodge, IA
- Rose Ann Kupiak, Embassy Tours Ltd, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
- Shebby Lee, Shebby Lee Tours, Rapid City, SD
- Joyce Ohrmundt, Nationwide Travelers, Appleton, WI
- Stacy Crabtree, 1st Nat’l Bank of MO, Lee’s Summit, MO
- Dawn Krosnowski, Sunshine Travel, Burnsville, MN
- Sharon Dixon, Inbound Iowa, Des Moines, IA, and 
- Lee Hahn, Progressive Travel, Spencer, WI.
As a supplier, Peggy Bitzer of Circle Wisconsin is amazed (and excited) at the number of bookings her CW members are having. And Fargo-Moorhead CVB is experiencing group travel bookings for 09 that are making them very optimistic about 2009, too! 
I think I can safely assume that you could add many more to this list of optimists…if not yourself!

On the downside, it seems that operators who not so optimistic about 09 could be in the “order-taker” category, or who may be suffering from “old-itinerary-itis”. 

Well, so much for today’s group travel thoughts.

Happy New Year!
Mark 

PS: Here’s a hint as you watch the industry: Keep your eye on Europe to get a hint of future trends in U.S. group and motorcoach travel…remember, they’ve been paying a lot more for gas and many other things than we have for years. And for years their motorcoach industry has been growing and maturing. This can tell us what we should expect here in North America!