Atlanta,
GA � March 2006 � With the close of Showcase 2006 in Richmond, VA, comes
the enormous task of analyzing the results. As evaluations come in from
Tour Operators, Suppliers and Media delegates alike, the overall consensus
is that the show was a rousing success. Here are a few vital statistics:
-
There
were 743 registered delegates, an increase over the previous year. Of those,
36% of the registered operators conduct more than 50 tours each year in
the South, and exceed over $3M in annual company revenue.
-
This
year�s meeting had 15% more appointment taking delegates than in 2005 and
due to a more stringent pre-qualification process of tour operators and
a tightening of the ratio of buyers to sellers, the show experienced a
10% increase in scheduled appointment requests.
-
The
direct economic impact to the Richmond Metropolitan area over the four
days of the show is estimated to have been in excess of $615,000.
In
addition to the four day show, 59 buyer and journalist delegates were hosted
on familiarization tours of Virginia prior to the show and 52 also participated
in familiarization tours of West Virginia, Tennessee and North Carolina
after the show.
Journalists
from a variety of North American publications were also in attendance at
Showcase and numerous interviews were conducted which will undoubtedly
serve as the basis for upcoming travel articles in the US and Canada.
Travel
South Showcase isn�t just about marketplace. Showcase provides an excellent
opportunity to tout the diverse tourism offerings of the region and this
year, music took center stage. The opening night reception|�|Virginia:
She Is Music To Your Ears|�|hosted
by Virginia Tourism Corporation, illustrated 400 years of the state�s musical
history. Virginia�s newly installed Governor, Timothy Kaine, made a special
guest appearance and led a gospel choir playing a rousing chorus of �Will
The Circle Be Unbroken� on the harmonica. At Tuesday�s luncheon, sponsored
by the West Virginia Division of Tourism, that state�s First Lady, Gayle
Manchin, narrated a program presented by the Appalachian Children�s Chorus.
Louisiana brought members of the Louis Armstrong Society to entertain and
North Carolina offered up the Heritage Restoration Chorale. On the final
night, The South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism taught
everyone the native beach dance, The Shag, in preparation for hosting the
show in Myrtle Beach, SC next year.
The
dates for next year�s Showcase in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, have been
changed to better showcase the location and to avoid conflict with other
industry marketplace shows. The new dates for Travel South Showcase 2007
are March 10-13, 2007.
This
was the 24th annual Travel South Showcase, where Tour Operators who package
tours to the Southern region meet with Suppliers who represent destinations,
attractions, and accommodations for the purpose of developing new tourism
offerings for consumers throughout the US and Canada.
About
Travel South USA
Travel
South USA is America�s oldest and largest regional travel promotion organization.
The non-profit company promotes travel to and within its member states
and is funded by the tourism offices of the member states of Alabama, Arkansas,
Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South
Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.
For
more information on Travel South USA and Travel South Showcase visit www.travelsouthusa.org.
For
tourism information throughout the TSUSA region, visit www.travelsouthusa.com.
|
Contact:
Fran
Poole
Director
of Marketing & Communications
404-231-1790 |
