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A Landmark Issue
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This is the 30th issue of Michigan Tourism Business! Remember that you can find all of your favorite past articles and links at the ARCHIVE page.
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EDITORIAL: Collective Wisdom
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In his editorial this month, Don Holecek writes that maybe now is the time to link our individual insights, instincts and problem solving abilities to address the challenges facing Michigan's tourism industry.
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Editorial Archive
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To view a list of past Michigan Tourism Business editorials by Don Holecek, click here. Many of the topics are still relevant today, and if you’re a recent subscriber, you may not have seen them in past issues.
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Ag Tourism Advisory Committee
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The Michigan Legislature recently enacted Public Act 46 of 2005, specifying the creation of a nine-member Agricultural Tourism Advisory Committee within the Michigan Department of Agriculture. To learn more about the appointees to this commission, click here. The first meeting of this committee will be held on October 19, 2005 in Lansing.
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TOURISM MATTERS
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 In every issue of this newsletter, MSU Extension Educator Sally Carpenter writes a column about why tourism matters to Michigan. This month she urges you to mark your calendar and plan to attend the Michigan Festivals and Events Association's annual convention, November 3-6, 2005.
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Boating Career Center
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The Michigan Boating Industries Association has launched a web-based boating career center at www.boatingjobsonline.com. The site will provide a venue specifically tailored to meet the needs of recreational marine businesses, as well as job seekers who are interested in industry opportunities.
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A New SYTR-I Web Site
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 A new Student and Youth Travel Research Institute web site has just gone online at www.sytri.msu.edu. If you’re interested in this tourism industry niche, you may want to visit this site periodically to see what’s new!
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SUPER NORTH WEEKEND
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As you probably know, Detroit will be hosting Super Bowl XL on February 5, 2006. To help our out-of-town guests return home with many fun memories of Michigan, events and activities are being planned across the state during the weekend prior to the game, January 26-31, 2006. These events will be advertised under the banner of SUPER NORTH WEEKEND, and Travel Talk Radio will be broadcasting live all week from a bus as it tours Michigan from event to event. The events will also be promoted at michigan.org. Find out how your community can get involved!
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Circle Michigan's 25th Year
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 Circle Michigan, the original statewide destination marketing organization dedicated to the growth and marketing of packaged travel and tourism in Michigan, is entering its 25th year of operation. Executive Director Rick Hert writes about Circle Michigan and what it can do for your destination or tourism business.
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New Travel & Tourism Standards
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NSF International of Ann Arbor, Michigan has been designated by the American National Standards Institute to act as administrator of the ANSI-accredited U.S. Technical Advisory Group (TAG), a newly formed International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Technical Committee (TC) 228 for Tourism and Related Services. This TAG has been formed to develop international standards for the global travel and tourism industry. In many parts of the world, tourism standards are either loosely enforced or nonexistent. The new standards will address drinking water safety, beach water safety and additional security measures for tourists.
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Mountain Biking at Rouge Park
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The City of Detroit has granted approval for the Michigan Mountain Biking Association to begin construction of the first mountain biking/hiking trail at Rouge Park. A groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled for October 8, 2005 at 10 AM. The event will take place at the temporary trail head, located near the intersection of W. Outer Drive and Tireman (between Warren and Joy Road). Trail work will begin shortly afterwards. The anticipated trail opening is Spring 2006.
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Tourism Industry News
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View tourism news stories on the following topics:
- Agricultural Tourism & Land Use
- Boating & Water Issues
- Business Travel
- Casinos & Gaming
- Cultural & Heritage Tourism
- Economy & Jobs
- Internet Travel Planning & Booking
- Legislative News
- Lodging, Resorts & Spas
- Marketing & Promotion
- Outdoor Recreation & Parks
- Pleasure Travel & Tourism
- Restaurants
- Transportation
- World Tourism
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New Post Labor Day Schools Legislation
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Kathy Barks Hoffman of the Associated Press recently wrote an article about the passage and signing of Michigan's new Post Labor Day Schools legislation. In that article she noted that Governor Jennifer Granholm told reporters, "There is no doubt in this state that tourism is an important part of our economy. I made sure that this would not harm education. ... You can have both a robust economy and a robust education system."
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Michigan Tourism Conference Announcement
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 Can you believe it’s been nearly a year since the last Michigan Tourism Conference? Well, believe it or not, there’s another one coming up on October 16-18, 2005 at the Kalamazoo Radisson Plaza Hotel. Don’t miss this excellent networking opportunity! And be sure to attend the Travel Commission meeting that Sunday afternoon at 3:00 PM. Don Holecek will be presenting information about an initiative to develop a strategic, statewide tourism plan for Michigan.
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New Dot-Travel Domain for Web Sites
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Did you know there’s a new top level domain (.travel) just for the travel industry? This means that businesses, individuals or organizations that primarily carry on business or operations in the travel industry within one or more of the following industry segments may register a .travel domain name: 1) airlines, 2) attractions/theme parks, 3) bed & breakfast houses, 4) bus/taxi/limousine operators, 5) camp facility operators, 6) vehicle rental companies/airport specialty car park companies, 7) computer reservation/travel technology providers, 8) convention & visitor’s bureaus, 9) cruise lines, 10) ferries, 11) hotels/resorts/casinos, 12) national tourism offices, 13) passenger rail lines, 14) restaurants, 15) tour operators, 16) travel agents, 17) travel media, and 18) travel-consumer and market research organizations. You may also keep your old web site name; there’s no need to retire it. The pre-authentication process is already underway, and Encirca began accepting registrations for .travel domain names from eligible applicants on October 1, 2005. Rush to reserve your .travel domain name today, so your business gets listed in the new online global travel directory! Click here for more information.
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Dozen Distinctive Destinations Awards
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Here's an opportunity for your community! The National Trust for Historic Preservation is currently accepting nominations for the 2006 list of America's Dozen Distinctive Destinations. Awards will be presented to twelve destinations from across the country that offer authentic experiences to travelers and bill themselves as striking alternatives to Anyplace, U.S.A. The nomination deadline is November 4, 2005, so be sure to give your favorite destination the recognition it deserves.
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World Tourism Day
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 Since 1980, World Tourism Day has been commemorated on September 27 each year by appropriate events selected by the World Tourism Organization (WTO) General Assembly. The mission of World Tourism Day is “to foster awareness among the international community of the importance of tourism and its social, cultural, political and economic values.” Click here for more information. How is your community or organization planning to celebrate this special day next year?
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Recreation, Tourism and Rural Well-Being
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On August 12, the USDA Economic Research Service released a report, titled Recreation, Tourism and Rural Well-Being. In releasing the report ERS noted that "The promotion of recreation and tourism has been both praised and criticized as a rural development strategy. This study uses regression analysis to assess the effect of recreation and tourism development on socioeconomic conditions in rural recreation counties. The findings imply that recreation and tourism development contributes to rural well-being, increasing local employment, wage levels, and income, reducing poverty, and improving education and health. But recreation and tourism development is not without drawbacks, including higher housing costs. Local effects also vary significantly, depending on the type of recreation area."
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Tourism for Tomorrow Awards
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 WTTC has issued a call for entries for the 2006 Tourism for Tomorrow Awards, which promote and encourage best practices in travel and tourism all over the world. There are four categories for entry, allowing for applications from tourism destinations, businesses and organizations. The deadline for entries is December 12, 2005. Benefits of winning include a free trip to the 6th Global Travel and Tourism Summit and considerable international media attention and promotion.
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Two New Tourism Publications
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Here are links to two new publications that may be downloaded at no cost: 1) Making Tourism More Sustainable: A Guide for Policy Makers and 2) Integrating Sustainability into Business. The first is based on practical experience, illustrated by numerous examples and case studies across the world, and it has been developed with the contribution of many experts from the field. The second one contains two volumes: ‘Implementation for Responsible Tourism Coordinators’ and ‘Management Guide for Responsible Tour Operators.’
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Hurricane Katrina Talking Points
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The Travel Industry Association of American recent published travel industry talking points for Hurricane Katrina, including: 1) economic impact statements for the three affected states, 2) announcement of the launch of a free job bank to benefit Katrina victims, and 3) statements about the impact of gas prices on travel.
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Travel Michigan Wins Mercury Award
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The National Council of State Tourism Directors (NCSTD) recently honored Travel Michigan with a Mercury Award in the radio commercial category at the annual Educational Seminar for Tourism Organizations. Mercury Awards is an awards program created by the NCSTD to recognize its members for excellence and creative accomplishment in state tourism marketing and promotion, and to inspire the continued development of truly imaginative and exciting destination marketing and promotion programs. Congratulations!
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