TTRA 2024 International Conference in Burlington, VT 11-13 June

This year's international conference theme is “Global Insights, Local Stories Shaping Tourism Research", with subthemes:

• Sustainability and Stewardship: Environmental responsibility and sustainable practices in the travel industry
• Visitor Experience and Value: Enhancing the visitor experience while maximizing value
• Residents and Community: Engaging with local residents and communities for sustainable tourism growth

Conference agenda will feature, among much else:

• Tuesday 11 June
  • Presentation on Qualitative Research, sponsored by Virginia Tech
  • "Tourism Leadership for a New Era" with WTTC MD Liz Ortiguera
  • Panel on Regenerative Tourism
• Wednesday 12 June:
  • Panel on "Embracing Research and Content Marketing"
  • Panel on "The Future of Travel: The Youth Market"
  • Panel on "Effective Strategies for International Market Research"
  • Panel on "Sustainable Tourism Development"
  • "Shaping the Future of Tourism with Generative AI" with Janette Roush, NYC Tourism
• Thursday 13 June:
  • Panel on "Mother Nature and Data"
  • Panel on "Emotional Solidarity"

Conference passes are:

• $1049 for TTRA members
• $1349 for non-members
• $399 for TTRA Student Members
• $499 for non-member students

Register here: https://ttra.memberclicks.net/2024conference#!/

Conference venue will be the Hilton Burlington Lake Champlain where a block of one king bed rooms is reserved at $239/night plus fees.

This conference is weighted toward the academic, but the price is reasonable and the venue is drivable from New England and New York at least.

The Vermont Department of Tourism & Marketing has announced that after a 4-year absence the state is rejoining New England regional DMO Discover New England.

Pre-pandemic, Discover New England hosted an annual Summit and Marketplace bringing New England tourism suppliers together with international and receptive tour operators, in order to bring overseas visitors to New England.

But because of COVID-19, the DNE Summit was last held in 2019, and has once again been canceled for 2022.

Most recently, DNE has been leaderless since the resignation of Executive Director Chris Jennings in December 2021.

Stay tuned for updates.

At a COVID-19 media briefing yesterday VT Secretary of Commerce Lindsay Kurrle unveiled Gov. Phil Scott's 'Vermont Forward' phased reopening plan that would lift all of the state's COVID-19 restrictions by 4 July 2021.

Although social distancing and mask requirements will remain in place until 4 July, capacity restrictions on all businesses - including restaurants and bars - will be lifted 1 May.

As planned, phased reopening would work like this:

Keeping track of who's vaccinated and who isn't seems to be an important factor in making this plan work. Is that feasible? Stay tuned for updates.

The Vermont Department of Tourism & Marketing this year is spending around $1M on winter advertising, up from its usual $300K.

The money for this is coming from $1.25B the state received from the federal CARES Act.

Ad placements include New York Magazine, the Wall Street Journal, Outside Online, the Boston Globe, Discovery Channel, Travel Channel, Food Network, HGTV and Outside TV. Ads walk a fine line between promoting Vermont's winter activities and attractions and advising prospective visitors about COVID-19 travel restrictions and safety.

In a normal year, tourism is worth nearly $3B to the Vermont economy.

Vermont Gov. Phil Scott announced on Friday an extension of the state's State of Emergency and an addendum to his Executive Order of 13 March 2020 requiring that, effective Saturday 14 November:

• Multi-household gatherings, public and private, indoor and outdoor, including those incidental to ceremonies and holidays, are suspended until further notice.
• Restaurants must close in-person dining at 10 PM every day.
• Bars and social clubs are to close until further notice.
• Youth and adult sports activities not sanctioned by the Vermont Principals Association are suspended until further notice.
• All businesses, non-profits and government agencies shall reinstitute telework policies to the maximum extent possible.

As of 10 November, Vermont suspended its list of exempt visitor source markets and implemented mandatory quarantine - 14 days or 7 days followed by negative test - for anyone traveling or returning to the state.