RSAA Membership Meeting in New York City, March 29
The next RSAA Membership Meeting will occur at the New York Historical Society (170 Central Park West) from 6pm-8pm on Thursday, March 29. Members will receive an update on RSAA activities and see a brief presentation from Anastasia Xenias of the U.S. Department of Commerce highlighting current tourism trends.
Registration is $25 for Regular members, $50 for Supplier members and $60 for non-members.
RSAA Celebrates Successful 2012 Summit
RSAA celebrated its 21st Annual Summit in New Orleans, Louisiana Feb. 7-8. Nearly 200 participants enjoyed interactive educational sessions, a productive marketplace of one-on-one appointments, and the hospitality of the New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Highlights of the Summit included:
• Participation of buyers from the UK and Germany
• Educational sessions featuring the RSAA/Visit USA-Europe partnership, the U.S. Travel Association, and the Department of Commerce
• More than 700 buyer-seller appointments
In addition, the 2012 Stanley Awards were presented to highlight excellence in the U.S. inbound industry.
Awards were presented to the following companies:
• Excellence is Sales and Marketing, Hotel – The Roosevelt Hotel.
• Excellence in Sales and Marketing, Non-Hotel – ALON Marketing Group
• Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Operations, Hotel – Chicago’s Essex Inn
• Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Operations, Non-Hotel – World Yacht
• Chairman’s Award for Cooperating with RSAA Receptive Tour Operators, Hotel – Blair Hotels
• Chairman’s Award for Cooperating with RSAA Receptive Tour Operators, Non-Hotel – New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau
• Stanley Fisher Award for the Outstanding Travel Professional of the Year – Desiree Blum, Escalante Travel
Sponsors of the 2012 Summit were:
• The New Orleans CVB
• Great Lakes USA
• Best Western International
• Choice Hotels
• Wyndham Worldwide
• TeamAmerica
• NYC & Co.
• The Court of Two Sisters Restaurant
Jonathan Zuk Appointed to Travel and Tourism Advisory Board
The United States Department of Commerce announced today that Jonathan Zuk, CEO and President of New Jersey-based Amadeo Travel Solutions, has been appointed to the Travel and Tourism Advisory Board. Zuk, currently Vice-Chairman of the Receptive Services Association of America (RSAA), becomes RSAA Chairman on March 1.
According to the Travel and Tourism Advisory Board’s Charter, “the Board shall advise the Secretary of Commerce on matters relating to the U.S. travel and tourism industries. The Board shall act as a liaison among the stakeholders represented by the membership and shall provide a forum for those stakeholders on current and emerging issues in the travel and tourism industry, ensuring regular contact between the government and the travel and tourism sector.”
Trifecta Becomes Latest RSAA Preferred Provider
Trifecta is an award-winning design, development, and marketing agency based in Lexington, Ky. Trifecta has partnered with RSAA to provide search engine optimization services to RSAA members at discounted prices. Learn more about Trifecta's SEO services and mention RSAA to get your member discount.
RSAA Participates in Senate Subcommittee Hearing
RSAA Vice-Chairman Jonathan Zuk and other industry leaders participated in a Nov. 17 Senate Commerce subcommittee hearing focused on the value of international tourism to the American economy.
Also participating on the witness panel were Jim Evans, CEO of Brand USA, Inc., John Edman, Director of Explore Minnesota Tourism, and Jonathan Tisch, Chairman and CEO of Loews Hotels.
RSAA and Visit USA Europe form Strategic Partnership
The Receptive Services Association of America (RSAA) is proud to announce that it has formed a strategic partnership with Visit USA Europe. This new partnership will allow the groups to work together to address issues that impact the provision of travel services to international visitors coming to the United States. Read more about the partnership here.