Courier August 2009 : Page 1
FEATURES 25 All the World’s a Stage From New York to L.A. and Blue Man to Cirque, theater provides connections. AUGUST 2009 22 Spas Offer a Balance of Recreation and R&R Integrating natural surroundings, creative ingredients maximize the spa experience. “The Color Purple,” a musical based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Alice Walker, is playing live this month at Houston’s Hobby Center for the Performing Arts and Charlotte’s Belk Theater. 4 From the Editor 6 Voices of Leadership Michele Michalewicz, CTP, Chairman and CEO Wayne Chandler, CTP, Tour Supplier Director BUSINESS 10 Industry Update NTA to Host American Pavilion at 2010 China Outbound Travel and Tourism Market | Americans Showing Desire to Travel Internationally | Tour Operators Have More Time to Pay for Oberammergau Packages Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria and Certification Brian Mullis introduces a new set of globally relevant, sustainable tourism criteria for the industry. 11 Got Links? Sign Up for Convention Fams and Sightseeing Tours | A Lesson in Legislation | Recognizing Our Deserving Colleagues 12 Pioneer Award Recipients NTA honors the late Gordon Bell and U.S. Congressman Sam Farr with the 2009 Pioneer Award. 13 Convention ’09 Got questions about this year’s Annual Convention? Courier provides a snapshot of what you need to know for Reno. 15 To Monterey by Way of Waterloo, Iowa Chris Shepler recounts his unexpected adventure on the way to an NTA Identity Task Force meeting in Monterey, California. 16 NTA’s Think Tank Formerly known as Tour20 Group, NTA’s Think Tank provides the participants a venue in which they can evaluate and improve the efficiency and success of their operations. 18 Tour Operator Spring Meet Caria Tomczykowska shares the high points from NTA’s Monterey, California- based networking event. 20 Tour Scene Wild About the Wilderness | Don’t Get the Wrong Impression | A Crowning Achievement | Icelandic Illumination | Greece is the Word | New Mexico, New Museum COMPASS 34 Greece & Turkey Layers of Cultures 37 Pacific Northwest Trails and Tales 46 Québec Old-world Style, Festivals and Farmers’ Markets 49 Illinois On the Trail of Presidents, Chocolate and Culture 55 Indiana Green Sprees, Wine Trails, Quilt Gardens and Limestone 59 Michigan Autumn Splendor 62 Minnesota New Options Entice Repeat Visitors 65 Ontario Emerging from a Perfect Storm of Challenges 70 Wisconsin Wooing Travelers with Originality COMMUNITY 76 Meet the Members 78 New Members 79 Ad Index 80 AfterWords AAA Sojourns partners with the World Heritage Alliance for Sustainable Tourism for eco-friendly vacations. www.NTAonline.com 1 PAUL KOLNIK
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