 December 2005
» Bureau Receives Award for ARTS TIX North Program» Member Events » Sales Update » Marketing Update » Put the San Diego North CVB to work for you » Industry News & Member Spotlight » Stories from the Watercooler » Welcome Aboard! » Fast Facts - Travel Industry Tidbits » Job Opportunity Announcement » Bureau Contacts Bureau Receives Award for ARTS TIX North Program The San Diego North CVB was one of six convention and visitors bureaus to receive a prestigious award from the Western Association of Convention & Visitors Bureaus. The association's Best Idea Program showcases innovative projects and creative marketing strategies submitted by WACVB members. The Bureau received the Best Idea Program award for establishing ARTS TIX North in partnership with the San Diego Performing Arts League. As the exclusive ARTS TIX North location, the Bureau is the only discount theatre ticket outlet in the San Diego North region, offering up to 50% off ticket prices for same-day arts performances throughout San Diego County. The strategic partnership helped generate local press coverage, resulting in increased traffic to the Bureau's Visitor Center and website. This year's Best Idea Program awards were presented during the 2005 WACVB Annual Meeting, October 13-16, in Oakland, CA. A Board-appointed task force reviewed submissions for the competition and selected several entries for presentation at the conference. « back to top Member Events Fall Membership Mixer at Wild Animal Park 
The Bureau held its fall mixer on Oct. 6 at the San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park. Cami Mattson, the Bureau's president and CEO, along with Bob McClure, the Park's director, offered welcoming remarks.
 Many thanks to the Wild Animal Park for hosting the event location, food and beverages. The Bureau also expresses its appreciation to all tabletop exhibitors, door prize sponsors and event attendees. To find out more about future mixer opportunities, please contact Debbie Mirageas, office manager at dmirageas@sandiegonorth.com. Membership Orientation Meeting The Bureau's Membership Orientation meeting took place on Nov. 9 and provided members with an overview of membership benefits available to them. Designed for both new and existing members, the session covered how to use these tools to maximize exposure and promote business to their own organizations. Thank you to those who attended and to the San Diego Marriott Del Mar, for sponsoring the event location and breakfast. For an outline of the meeting's content, click here. The next Orientation meeting is planned for early summer 2006. More details will be available in the upcoming issues of the eBulletin. Save the Date - The Gold Key Awards - February 9, 2006 The 2005 HMA & HSMAI Gold Key Awards will be held on Thursday, February 9, 2006 at the Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina. The Gold Key Awards is an opportunity for the HMA, HSMAI and its members to recognize outstanding colleagues and employees in the hospitality industry. For more information on award nominations and attendance, contact Namara Mercer, executive director, San Diego County HMA at nmercer@sdhma.com,or call 619-224-2811. «back to top Sales Update Sales Report : October - November 2005
Bureau Hosts 2005 Fall Showcase/FAM Trip 
Eleven meeting planners from around the country and San Diego attended the San Diego North CVB 2005 Fall Showcase tour in mid-October. The three-day tour which began on October 12 has so far generated five leads. The event highlighted several of the most luxurious resorts and renowned attractions in La Jolla, Carlsbad, Del Mar, Escondido, Rancho Bernardo and Rancho Santa Fe. For more information on how to participate in future tours, please contact our sales department by calling 760-603-1690, or email sales@sandiegonorth.com.
Sports Expo allows Bureau to Team with SD Convis and Sports Council The Bureau attended the TEAMS USA 2005 Conference and Expo in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Held on November 2-5, this event is the world's largest gathering of sporting event organizers. Stephanie Colby-Aburto, the Bureau's director of sales, along with representatives from the San Diego Convention & Visitors Bureau and the San Diego International Sports Council attended the event in a cooperative effort and conducted 35 prescheduled appointments. Over ten sporting event opportunities for the San Diego North region will be pursued as a result of attending this session. Bureau Attends Tour Operators Convention in Detroit The Bureau generated eight leads at the National Tour Association's Annual Convention held in Detroit, MI, on Nov. 4-8. Michelle Carlen, the Bureau's sales manager, represented the Bureau and met with over 35 tour operators to discuss itinerary planning for potential and actual tours visiting the San Diego North region. In addition to the immediate leads, several tour operators requested specific information and follow up for future contact. The NTA show drew approximately 2,500 attendees from across North America, including U.S. and Canadian tour operators. Bureau Sales Calls Focus on San Diego and Orange County Territories During the second quarter of the fiscal year, the Bureau's national sales manager, Anna Carnot, conducted sales calls in San Diego and Orange County. During the month of October, technology and biotech firms from La Jolla to Carlsbad were targeted. Carnot visited with ten companies and 15 meeting planners, allowing her to obtain in-depth information on planning cycles for potential meetings in San Diego North. In November, Carnot targeted influential third-party planners in Orange County who book incentive and corporate meetings. «back to top Marketing Update Consumer eNewsletter Receives 29.8% Read Rate The Bureau's fourth issue of its consumer eNewsletter, distributed in mid-October, received a 29.8% open rate among its opt-in subscribers. The eNewsletter, Getaway Highlights, is distributed strictly to opt-in subscribers on a quarterly basis. It features updates on area events, the latest specials for accommodations and attraction tickets, as well as links to the San Diego North web site and online reservations through ARES. To view a copy of the latest issue, click here. «back to top Put the San Diego North CVB to Work For You Public Relations Opportunities During the next two months, the public relations department will be gathering information for inclusion in the following winter press releases. An eBlast will be sent with specific information on each release. If you have information that would fit one of the following themed topics, please submit your information to Hilary Townsend, public relations manager, at htownsend@sandiegonorth.com. Upcoming Press Releases - Submission Deadlines: What's New: Spas - Submission deadline: January 9, 2006 What's New: Spring/Summer - Submission deadline: January 16, 2006 Consumer eNewsletter - Promotion Opportunities for ARES Members Members who are contracted through ARES will receive extended exposure to their Hot Deals listing on the ARES website through a link in the winter issue of the Bureau's opt-in consumer newsletter, Getaway Highlights, due out in January. In addition, your Hot Deals listing will link from the San Diego North CVB website, which generated traffic of 140,000 unique users last fiscal year. Post your Hot Deals on ARES now and take advantage of additional exposure by contacting your ARES representative directly. For information on ARES services click here, or call 1-800-828-0868. The 05-06 Co-op Trade Show Opportunities Are Still Available Co-op trade shows with the SD North CVB are a great opportunity for you to create additional exposure for your business in a cost-effective, productive, and highly visible manner! For more information, contact Jennifer Reginelli, sales coordinator, or any member of the San Diego North CVB sales team at 760-603-1690, or email sales@sandiegonorth.com. The trade show profiles are available by clicking here. For a listing of the 05-06 co-op trade shows and sign up form, click here. Keep It North and Reap the Benefits The Bureau offers assistance to area hotels and its displaced groups by providing alternative accommodations/meetings space through the Keep It North referral program. Keep It North is designed to keep business within the area and among members. To participate, members simply submit a referral to the sales team and also become eligible for a chance to win a trip to Las Vegas, Utah, Phoenix, Cabo San Lucas or other rewards. For information about the program and to download submission forms, click here. «back to top Industry News & Member Spotlight Industry News Rancho Bernardo Inn's fine dining restaurant, El Bizcocho, has received the AAA Four Diamond award for the 16th consecutive year. Criteria for the prestigious award focuses on the restaurant's first class menu, service, staff, décor and ambiance for guests seeking a distinctive fine dining experience. The Rancho Bernardo Inn Resort also received the Four Diamond Award for the 29th consecutive year. The Marine Room was honored as the best restaurant in San Diego 2005 in the Oct. 2005 issue of Travel + Leisure en Español. Nominees were selected and voted on by an independent panel of judges. Conde Nast Johansens, the international luxury hotel guide publisher, has selected The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe as a "recommended property" in Recommended Hotels, Inns, Resorts & Spas - the Americas, Atlantic, Caribbean, Pacific 2006. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has presented the Zoological Society of San Diego with the Department of the Interior's Conservation Service Award. The prestigious award is considered the highest honor that can be bestowed on a private group or individual by the Secretary and is granted for outstanding and direct service to the Department of the Interior. Tim Kolanko has assumed the role of Chef de Cuisine at A. R. Valentien, the signature restaurant at the Lodge at Torrey Pines. Kolanko, who has served as Sous Chef at the restaurant since October of 2003, steps into the position being vacated by departing Chef de Cuisine Timothy Au. Evans Hotels President and chief executive officer, Grace Evans Cherashore, has been honored as one of the "Women Who Mean Business in San Diego in 2005." The prestigious local award program, now in its twelfth year, recognizes the accomplishments and contribution of women business leaders and role models in San Diego County. Oliver Ryder, Ph.D, geneticist for the Zoological Society of San Diego's Department for Conservation and Research of Endangered Species, has received the Duane Ullrey award for 2005. The prestigious award is presented by the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians. Recipients of the award are non-veterinarians and non-clinical researchers who have used sound scientific principles to achieve significant benefits to wildlife. Member Spotlight 
The lights on the world's largest LEGO® Christmas tree were illuminated at LEGOLAND® California with the help of Emmy Award winning actor Wayne Brady. Best known for his improvisational skills on the TV show, Who's Line is it Anyway? Brady helped Santa and an honored Habitat for Humanity family pull the switch that made the 30-foot tall tree sparkle.
Podcasting makes meandering along the tree-lined walkways at the San Diego Zoo a new experience as the Zoo became the first major United States attraction to provide its guests with an official self-guided tour through MP3 technology. Birch Aquarium's newest exhibit, "Sea of Genes", will take visitors inside the labs of the Scripps Genome Center where important ocean issues, as well as those related to human health, the environment and other areas are addressed. Scripps scientists are involved in mapping the genes of a variety of marine organisms and will use this information to understand how the organisms survive and interact with the environment.  Inn Room Visitors Magazine has merged with OC the Place. Three geographical editions, OC The Place, LA The Place, and SD The Place, will continue to be distributed in the rooms of hotels/motels in Southern California and feature local information on attractions, shopping, dining and entertainment.
SeaWorld®, San Diego announced plans to develop a new killer whale show. Slated to debut in spring 2006, the new Shamu show will blend new killer whale behaviors with elaborate set pieces, music, choreography and state-of-the-art multimedia. A bird's-eye view of wildlife at the San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park can now be seen from a Balloon Safari, a new tethered helium balloon ride that takes passengers 400 feet in the air for panoramic views of the 1,800-acre park. «back to top Stories from the Watercooler Hotels Work Hard to Make Business Travelers' Stay More Personal For those in the hospitality industry, it's becoming more apparent: personal attention is key in gaining repeat customers. Hotels are more attuned to their customers' personal preferences, but in addition they are using sophisticated software to keep track of guest preferences and provide the information to hotel staff across its chain. High-end chains such as Ritz-Carlton and Four Seasons led the trend in offering personalized service to their repeat customers more than a decade ago, consumer travel expert Rudy Maxa says. The trend has eventually trickled down to less-expensive accommodations. More and more hotels are offering personalized basics, such as pillow types, as well as Select Comfort Sleep Number and other specialized beds. With discount websites, "Hotel rooms are in danger of becoming a commodity like airline seats" says Maxa. Hoteliers are trying to build loyalty by customizing their guests' experience. Hotels are trying to create a bond with guests, he says. For more information click here. «back to top Welcome Aboard! We are proud to announce the following organization which has recently joined as a new member of the San Diego North CVB: Holiday Inn Express Oceanside 3170 Vista Way Oceanside, CA 92056 Phone: 760-757-2200 / Fax: 760-757-2389 / Toll Free: 800-458-6064 www.hiexpress.com Holiday Inn Express complimentary amenities include: Express Start® breakfast bar; High-speed Internet access; Simply Smart(tm) guest bathroom experience; unlimited local and 800 calls; plus many others. «back to top Fast Facts - Travel Industry Tidbits Real Value of Word-of-Mouth in Travel and Hospitality Findings from a recent survey by Chadwick Martin Bailey (CMB) reveal that at the current rate of occurance, advocacy will directly influence more than $30 billion in travel and hospitality sales, and indirectly influence more than $250 billion over the next year by attracting new customers and influencing where dollars are spent. Other key findings of the survey include: - Restaurant Advocacy - Twenty-seven percent of the U.S. population had gone to restaurants in the past year based solely upon recommendations from advocates. With an average spend of $50 per visit, this translates to more than $3.3 billion worth of annual advocacy-driven purchases at restaurants. - Exponential Advocacy - Seven in ten gave recommendations over the past two years for a hotel, restaurant, cruise, theme park, or airline. These advocates are making recommendations to at least four people. - Best Advocates - Generation Y (those born in 1979 or later), with their wide circle of contacts, were the most prolific brand advocates in the travel and hospitality segment among all other generations. However, it was Baby Boomers (born 1946-1964) with their remarkable purchasing power that accounted for more than half (59%) of direct advocacy-related purchases, totaling nearly $18 billion last year. For more information, click here. Business Travelers Increasingly Choose Technology Over Live Agents Technology is a major part of the business travelers' experience. According to results of a recent Accenture Survey: - Almost three quarters (74%) of the more than 500 U.S. business travelers surveyed said they book trips online, up from 61 percent in the 2004 survey and 57 percent in the 2003 survey. - Perhaps with an eye on costs, more business travelers are booking ahead, with 50 percent of respondents stating they make arrangements more than 14 days in advance, up from 46 percent in the previous survey. - In terms of business travelers experience in hotels, 30 percent report that their preferred hotel does not recognize them as a frequent customer; 15 percent recognizes them but does not offer special services and 37 percent said their preferred hotel recognizes them and some of their basic preferences. - Mid-range hotels are still popular among business travelers, as 84 percent of respondents reported staying at mid-range chains, up from 72 percent last year. - In a change from last year's survey, respondents named price - not location - as the top influencer in their choice of hotels, followed by proximity to business activity, service from staff, and brand or reputation of the hotel. For more on this survey, click here. Return Visits Play Greater Role Than Price Premiums In Boosting RevPAR A recent research study addresses the hotel industry's long-standing question of how to measure guest satisfaction by demonstrating the financial effects of two customer satisfaction measurements - intent to return and number of complaints. The study, published in the November 2005 Cornell Hotel and Restaurant Administration Quarterly, confirms the connection between non-financial measurements and revenue per available room and gross operating profit at one large, full-service hotel chain in the United States. "We found a six-month lag in the measures," says Gordon Potter, co-writer of the study and an associate professor at the Cornell University School of Hotel Administration. "For this chain, an increase in likelihood to return and a decline in complaints translated to a RevPAR increase six months later." The study data indicated that the main driver increasing RevPAR was more-frequent return visits, rather than any price premiums paid by returning guests. For more information, click here. «back to top Job Opportunity Announcement A Banquet Manager position is available at the California Center for the Arts, Escondido. Requires 3-5 years of formal experience in a conference center, banquets facility, food and beverage or full service hotel operations, and 2 years of food and beverage management experience. Individual must have excellent PC and AV skills, as well as strong communication, guest relations, and problem-solving skills. Interested candidates can forward their resumes via email to Nardebi@ci.escondido.ca.us, or by mail to: Nadia Ardebili-Soerries, Human Resources Director, CA Center of the Arts, Escondido, 340 North Escondido Boulevard, Escondido, CA 92025. «back to top Bureau Contacts Cami Mattson, president and CEO Barbara Bovee, director of marketing and operations Stephanie Colby-Aburto, director of sales Debbie Mirageas, office manager Hilary Townsend, public relations manager «back to top If you feel you've received this message in error, or if you no longer wish to receive news and special offers please Click Here to be removed from this list. |