Statewide preparations underway for Discover New England's International Tourism Summit April 14 to 16 in New Haven

COMMISSION ON CULTURE & TOURISM AND FIVE TOURISM REGIONS TO HOST FREE INTERNATIONAL MARKETING WORKSHOPS JANUARY 8 to 10
Workshops to Reveal Secrets to Attracting Overseas Travelers

HARTFORD, Conn. (December 11, 2007) – With the British Pound and Euro stronger than the U.S. dollar, Europeans are increasing their travel to New England for its historic charm, rich arts and cultural scene, attractions and scenic beauty.

According to the Office of Travel and Tourism Industries, international travel to the United States was up 5.4 percent among U.K. travelers, 29.3 percent among French travelers and 8 percent among German travelers year-to-date through August 2007. Airports in New York City and Boston were among the top 15 travel ports for international visitors, posting a 15 percent and 5 percent year-to-date increase through August, respectively. In July, Northwest Airlines began offering direct flights between Bradley International Airport and Amsterdam, creating another travel option for overseas visitors.

To capitalize on this trend and draw international visitors to Connecticut, the Commission on Culture & Tourism (CCT), in collaboration with the five tourism regions, will help members of the state’s tourism industry tap into this market with free International Marketing 101 workshops from January 8 and 10. The workshops will be held at five locations throughout the state.

Sue Norrington-Davies, the new managing director of Discover New England (DNE), will lead the workshops on attracting international travelers to attractions, lodging properties, transportation services and Chambers of Commerce. Discover New England is the official regional marketing alliance led by the six New England state tourism office directors.

Norrington-Davies will reveal why travelers from the United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany and France tend to stay longer and spend 10 times more money than the average domestic visitor.

Attendees will also learn about the upcoming opportunity to meet and do business with international tour operators during Discover New England’s 13th Annual Tourism Summit & International Marketplace, co-hosted by the Greater New Haven Convention and Visitors Bureau and Commission on Culture & Tourism. The summit will take place at the Omni New Haven Hotel at Yale from April 14 to 16.

More than 250 tourism industry members from New England will attend the three-day event, which includes one-on-one business meetings with tourism operators; seminars on current travel trends in the British, Irish and German markets; a workshop on working with the international market; and opportunities for networking with more than 50 VIP tour operators from Europe, industry colleagues and state tourism staff and directors.

The free International Marketing 101 workshops will be hosted by each tourism region:

Tuesday, January 8

Mystic Country
9:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Holiday Inn Norwich
10 Laura Blvd.
Norwich, CT 06360
Call the Eastern Regional Tourism District at (860) 444-2206 to register.

River Valley
1:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Holiday Inn East Hartford
363 Roberts St.
East Hartford, CT 06108
Call the Central Regional Tourism District at (860) 244-8181 to register.

Wednesday, January 9

Greater New Haven
9:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Courtyard by Marriott – Orange
136 Marsh Hill Rd.
Orange, CT 06477
Call the Greater New Haven Convention & Visitors Bureau at (203) 777-8550 to register.

Fairfield County
1:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Stepping Stones Museum for Children
Mathews Park, 303 West Avenue
Norwalk, CT 06850
Call the Fairfield County Convention & Visitors Bureau at (203) 853-7770 to register.

Thursday, January 10

Litchfield Hills
10 a.m. to noon
Timexpo Museum
175 Union St.
Waterbury, CT 06706
Call the Northwest Convention & Visitors Bureau at (860) 567-4506 to register.

For more information on these workshops, please contact Richard Emonds at (860) 256-2746. Please visit http://www.discovernewengland.org/summit.html for additional details on Discover New England’s 13th Annual Tourism Summit & International Marketplace and event registration.

About the Connecticut Commission on Culture & Tourism
The Connecticut Commission on Culture & Tourism brings together tourism, film, history and the arts. Its mission is to preserve and promote Connecticut’s cultural and tourism assets in order to enhance the quality of life and economic vitality of the state. The Connecticut Commission on Culture & Tourism is located at One Financial Plaza, 755 Main Street, Hartford, Connecticut. For more information, log on to www.cultureandtourism.org.

About Discover New England Discover
New England is the official regional marketing alliance led by the Directors of Tourism of the six New England state tourism offices with the mission to increase domestic and international travel and tourism, thereby strengthening the economic vitality of New England.

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