Sep 29, 2009
Expo newest video for Travel Agents available
Our newest "Smilebox" video for Travel agents interested in possibly attending the upcoming World Religious Travel Expo is now available: http://bit.ly/WRTABuyerSlideshow
Sep 24, 2009
World Religious Travel Expo Provides Opportunity to Increase Revenues Twelve-fold and Profits Four-fold
World Religious Travel Expo Provides an Opportunity
to Increase Revenues Twelve-fold and Profits Four-fold
LEXINGTON, Ky. (September 24, 2009) – Numbers don’t lie. A landmark study finds that for every dollar invested in travel for face-to-face meetings, companies can expect an average twelve-fold increase ($12.50) in revenues and four-fold increase ($3.80) in new profits. The World Religious Travel Expo 2009 is no exception as the tradeshow presents travel providers an opportunity to dramatically increase their revenues and profits in the $18 billion faith-based travel and hospitality industry.
The study commissioned by the U.S. Travel Association and completed by global research firm Oxford Economics, shows measurable negative impacts of cutting business travel and trade show attendance from the budget:
» The average business in the U.S. would forfeit 17% of its profits in the first year by eliminating business travel
» It would take three years to recover those lost profits
“These statistics clearly demonstrate the immense value of attending tradeshows, but even more, confirm once and for all the return on investment provided to conference attendees,” said Kevin J. Wright, WRTA president. “This is all the more important in the burgeoning religious travel industry, where doing business face-to-face is simply expected in this marketplace. The World Religious Travel Expo features the premier venue for buying, selling and discovering new suppliers/product ideas in faith tourism.”
The WRTA Expo is positioned to provide delegates an even higher ROI, especially when taking into account the exceptional rates to attend the Expo, as well as the very affordable overnight hotel rates. Travel agents pay just $35 (for WRTA Members) and $85 (for non-WRTA Members) to attend the World Religious Travel Expo, which includes meal functions, tradeshow floor access, educational seminars, and entertainment events. Hotel rates at the official Expo host hotel (Atlantis Resort and Spa) in Reno, Nevada, begin at just $59 per night.
WRTA is currently taking registrations for the Word Religious Travel Expo & Educational Conference 2009, which will be held November 14-16, 2009, at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center in Reno, Nevada (USA). Serving as the most important meeting and tradeshow in the religious travel and hospitality industry, the event is expected to once again draw hundreds of tourism organizations, travel professionals, agents, and group planners from 30-plus countries.
A new highlight for the Expo includes co-locating with the National Tour Association Convention ‘09, offering members of both associations unprecedented opportunities for business growth, networking and access to new market opportunities.
For more information about attending or exhibiting at the World Religious Travel Expo, contact WRTA at: 888-255-WRTA (9872) or +1-859-219-3529
to Increase Revenues Twelve-fold and Profits Four-fold
LEXINGTON, Ky. (September 24, 2009) – Numbers don’t lie. A landmark study finds that for every dollar invested in travel for face-to-face meetings, companies can expect an average twelve-fold increase ($12.50) in revenues and four-fold increase ($3.80) in new profits. The World Religious Travel Expo 2009 is no exception as the tradeshow presents travel providers an opportunity to dramatically increase their revenues and profits in the $18 billion faith-based travel and hospitality industry.
The study commissioned by the U.S. Travel Association and completed by global research firm Oxford Economics, shows measurable negative impacts of cutting business travel and trade show attendance from the budget:
» The average business in the U.S. would forfeit 17% of its profits in the first year by eliminating business travel
» It would take three years to recover those lost profits
“These statistics clearly demonstrate the immense value of attending tradeshows, but even more, confirm once and for all the return on investment provided to conference attendees,” said Kevin J. Wright, WRTA president. “This is all the more important in the burgeoning religious travel industry, where doing business face-to-face is simply expected in this marketplace. The World Religious Travel Expo features the premier venue for buying, selling and discovering new suppliers/product ideas in faith tourism.”
The WRTA Expo is positioned to provide delegates an even higher ROI, especially when taking into account the exceptional rates to attend the Expo, as well as the very affordable overnight hotel rates. Travel agents pay just $35 (for WRTA Members) and $85 (for non-WRTA Members) to attend the World Religious Travel Expo, which includes meal functions, tradeshow floor access, educational seminars, and entertainment events. Hotel rates at the official Expo host hotel (Atlantis Resort and Spa) in Reno, Nevada, begin at just $59 per night.
WRTA is currently taking registrations for the Word Religious Travel Expo & Educational Conference 2009, which will be held November 14-16, 2009, at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center in Reno, Nevada (USA). Serving as the most important meeting and tradeshow in the religious travel and hospitality industry, the event is expected to once again draw hundreds of tourism organizations, travel professionals, agents, and group planners from 30-plus countries.
A new highlight for the Expo includes co-locating with the National Tour Association Convention ‘09, offering members of both associations unprecedented opportunities for business growth, networking and access to new market opportunities.
For more information about attending or exhibiting at the World Religious Travel Expo, contact WRTA at: 888-255-WRTA (9872) or +1-859-219-3529
Sep 23, 2009
Exhibitors! New Expo 2009 video released for you....
We just released our newest 1-minute video for Expo 2009 Exhibitors (either confirmed or interested).
Just click here to view and enjoy: http://bit.ly/2009ExpoExhibitors
Just click here to view and enjoy: http://bit.ly/2009ExpoExhibitors
Sep 21, 2009
New NTA Convention Panel Announced: Faith-based Marketing Revenue Secrets featuring Greg Stielstra
Faith-based Marketing Revenue Secrets: Featuring Two Industry Experts
Wednesday, Nov. 18, 10:15–11:30 a.m.
Featured Speakers:
Kevin J. Wright, president, World Religious Travel Association
Greg Stielstra, author, Faith-based Marketing and Pyromarketing
An Industry First! Join Kevin J. Wright, president of NTA strategic partner the World Religious Travel Association, and Greg Stielstra, North America’s top faith-based marketing authority, as together they lead a fascinating and remarkable discussion on how to effectively work with the $18 billion faith-based market. From pilgrimages, missions and conventions to adventure trips, leisure vacations and cruises, “religious travel and hospitality” is much broader than most people think. With two industry-leading experts at the helm, Kevin and Greg will change the way you do business forever with this new clientele and revenue opportunity.
For more info about the NTA Convention and above panel, visit http://www.ntaonline.com/Convention09/
Wednesday, Nov. 18, 10:15–11:30 a.m.
Featured Speakers:
Kevin J. Wright, president, World Religious Travel Association
Greg Stielstra, author, Faith-based Marketing and Pyromarketing
An Industry First! Join Kevin J. Wright, president of NTA strategic partner the World Religious Travel Association, and Greg Stielstra, North America’s top faith-based marketing authority, as together they lead a fascinating and remarkable discussion on how to effectively work with the $18 billion faith-based market. From pilgrimages, missions and conventions to adventure trips, leisure vacations and cruises, “religious travel and hospitality” is much broader than most people think. With two industry-leading experts at the helm, Kevin and Greg will change the way you do business forever with this new clientele and revenue opportunity.
For more info about the NTA Convention and above panel, visit http://www.ntaonline.com/Convention09/
Sep 1, 2009
Expo Buzz Newsletter, Sep. 1, 2009
Headlining Keynote Named:
Greg Stielstra
WRTA has named Greg Stielstra, the marketing director behind The Purpose Driven Life, the fastest-selling hardcover book in American history and a faith-based marketing phenomenon, as the headline speaker at this fall's celebrated event. Stielstra is also best known as the author of Faith-based Marketing: The Guide to Reaching 140 Million Christian Customers (HarperCollins, 2005) and PyroMarketing: The Four Step Strategy to Ignite Customer Evangelists and Keep Them For Life (Wiley, 2009).
Stielstra is an innovative thinker, speaker, consultant and author. An expert in word-of-mouth, faith-based, and social network marketing, he speaks regularly at Word of Mouth Marketing Association conference and numerous other events including AdTech New York and the prestigious Forbes CMO Summit. His work has been covered by The Economist, Advertising Age, Point Magazine, Business Week, Forbes, Wireless Age, Knowledge at Wharton, the Wharton Leadership Journal, and the book 9 Minds on Marketing.
We are very excited to welcome Greg to our Expo.
Greg Stielstra
WRTA has named Greg Stielstra, the marketing director behind The Purpose Driven Life, the fastest-selling hardcover book in American history and a faith-based marketing phenomenon, as the headline speaker at this fall's celebrated event. Stielstra is also best known as the author of Faith-based Marketing: The Guide to Reaching 140 Million Christian Customers (HarperCollins, 2005) and PyroMarketing: The Four Step Strategy to Ignite Customer Evangelists and Keep Them For Life (Wiley, 2009).
Stielstra is an innovative thinker, speaker, consultant and author. An expert in word-of-mouth, faith-based, and social network marketing, he speaks regularly at Word of Mouth Marketing Association conference and numerous other events including AdTech New York and the prestigious Forbes CMO Summit. His work has been covered by The Economist, Advertising Age, Point Magazine, Business Week, Forbes, Wireless Age, Knowledge at Wharton, the Wharton Leadership Journal, and the book 9 Minds on Marketing.
We are very excited to welcome Greg to our Expo.
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Can't Join Us in Reno?
Create a presence through advertising. Advertise in the Official Expo Program to ensure your brand is remembered by all expo attendees. The program features:
Expo Schedule
Exhibitor List
Educational Sessions
Attendee directory - making it a year long publication
Expo Map
But hurry...limited space is available - book by Sept. 15 to be included.
For more information about advertising, contact Kami Risk at 888-255-WRTA (9782) or 859-226-4402; or email sales@WRTAstaff.com..
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New Logo Unveiled for Expo Theme "Make 2010 Your Best Year Ever"
WRTA is thrilled to debut its logo for this fall's World Religious Travel Expo. The new logo unveiling follows Expo's recent announcement of its fall theme: Make 2010 Your Best Year Ever. As the official symbol of Expo 2009, you will see this logo in upcoming expo communications, and on the expo tradeshow floor, general sessions, educational seminars, and other event functions. The logo and theme is an ever-constant reminder to "Make 2010 Your Best Year Ever!"
Can't Join Us in Reno?
Create a presence through advertising. Advertise in the Official Expo Program to ensure your brand is remembered by all expo attendees. The program features:
Expo Schedule
Exhibitor List
Educational Sessions
Attendee directory - making it a year long publication
Expo Map
But hurry...limited space is available - book by Sept. 15 to be included.
For more information about advertising, contact Kami Risk at 888-255-WRTA (9782) or 859-226-4402; or email sales@WRTAstaff.com..
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
New Logo Unveiled for Expo Theme "Make 2010 Your Best Year Ever"
WRTA is thrilled to debut its logo for this fall's World Religious Travel Expo. The new logo unveiling follows Expo's recent announcement of its fall theme: Make 2010 Your Best Year Ever. As the official symbol of Expo 2009, you will see this logo in upcoming expo communications, and on the expo tradeshow floor, general sessions, educational seminars, and other event functions. The logo and theme is an ever-constant reminder to "Make 2010 Your Best Year Ever!"
Exhibitors of the Week
In each Expo Buzz, we like to show the quality of exhibitors we will have at the Expo by highlighting different companies each week. We are looking forward to meeting everyone and hope you are too!
The ACA & Tourism/Bethlehem will guide you through your quest. Whether you want to visit a country or prefer a regional tour throughout Israel, the Palestinian Autonomous Territories, Egypt or Jordan we can tailor any trip to your taste and pace. website
At CIE Tours International, quality is our focus. We insist on state-of-the-art luxury coaches; prompt and pleasant customer service; and the best hotels, visits and entertainment. website
The Shrine of Christ's Passion is an interactive half-mile winding pathway that begins with the Last Supper and Garden of Gethsemane. You then journey through the Passion of Christ as depicted in the Stations of the Cross. website
In each Expo Buzz, we like to show the quality of exhibitors we will have at the Expo by highlighting different companies each week. We are looking forward to meeting everyone and hope you are too!
The ACA & Tourism/Bethlehem will guide you through your quest. Whether you want to visit a country or prefer a regional tour throughout Israel, the Palestinian Autonomous Territories, Egypt or Jordan we can tailor any trip to your taste and pace. website
At CIE Tours International, quality is our focus. We insist on state-of-the-art luxury coaches; prompt and pleasant customer service; and the best hotels, visits and entertainment. website
The Shrine of Christ's Passion is an interactive half-mile winding pathway that begins with the Last Supper and Garden of Gethsemane. You then journey through the Passion of Christ as depicted in the Stations of the Cross. website
7TUR Tourism Ltd. is one of Turkey's leading Business Travel and Destination Management Companies with 28 years of experience. We emphasize creativity, cost-efficiency and commitment to our clients, providing only the best in accommodation, transportation, entertainment, seminars, tours, special events and more. website
Annett Bus Lines has become one of the most respected motorcoach companies in North America. Family Tradition is what drives our business, and our fleet of 55 motorcoaches will travel more than 3.3 million miles this year. website
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Expo 2008 Highlights Webcast Released
"Revenue Secrets from Faith Tourism Experts"
You can now experience and relive highlights of Expo 2008 in the newly released webcast entitled "Revenue Secrets from Faith Tourism Experts." In this 55-minute webinar , discover sales, marketing, PR, product, and operational insights from top authorities in the world of religious travel and hospitality.
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Expo Tip of the Week
Get the Biggest Bang for your Buck
As you know, WRTA and NTA are co-locating their conventions this year in Reno, however, did you know WRTA suppliers/wholesalers/destinations and WRTA buyers can access select NTA functions with the NTA add-on options? Build your portfolio by adding-on NTA options!
$220 NTA Add-on: For Travel Wholesalers/Tour Operators who want appointments with Tour Suppliers at NTA. Subject to NTA approval.
$545 NTA Add-on: For Wholesalers/Suppliers/Destinations who want access to NTA Convention Mall and education. Does not include appointments with NTA Tour Operators. Subject to NTA approval.
$825 NTA Add-on: For Wholesalers/Suppliers/Destinations who want to have appointments with NTA Tour Operators. Subject to NTA approval.
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Personal Note from WRTA President
Dear Faith Tourism Friends & Colleagues,
You're in for a big treat this fall at Expo. Never before has the travel industry been addressed by the top faith-based marketing authority in North America- Greg Stielstra. This is a first!
In preparation for the Expo, as well as for the benefit of your own faith-based travel program - I'd suggest purchasing a copy of Greg's newly published book Faith-based Marketing (http://www.faithbasedmarketing.com/). ). It is a tremendous resource and will greatly impact the way you serve the religious market.
Another book of Greg's to check out is Pyromarketing (http://www.pyromarketing.com/). I read this book about a year ago - and it's one of the finest business books I've ever read. It's a must.
Greg is thrilled about addressing our Expo this fall - and he very much looks forward to meeting you in person.
See you in 3 months in Reno!
Best Wishes,
Kevin J. Wright
WRTA President
P.S. If you want to catch Greg in action, watch one of his live performances.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Personal Note from WRTA President
Dear Faith Tourism Friends & Colleagues,
You're in for a big treat this fall at Expo. Never before has the travel industry been addressed by the top faith-based marketing authority in North America- Greg Stielstra. This is a first!
In preparation for the Expo, as well as for the benefit of your own faith-based travel program - I'd suggest purchasing a copy of Greg's newly published book Faith-based Marketing (http://www.faithbasedmarketing.com/). ). It is a tremendous resource and will greatly impact the way you serve the religious market.
Another book of Greg's to check out is Pyromarketing (http://www.pyromarketing.com/). I read this book about a year ago - and it's one of the finest business books I've ever read. It's a must.
Greg is thrilled about addressing our Expo this fall - and he very much looks forward to meeting you in person.
See you in 3 months in Reno!
Best Wishes,
Kevin J. Wright
WRTA President
P.S. If you want to catch Greg in action, watch one of his live performances.
Greg Stielstra, North America's Top Faith-based Marketing Expert to Headline World Religious Travel Expo
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Aug 31, 2009) – One of North America’s top authorities on faith-based marketing and word-of mouth marketing will address the travel industry, for the first time ever, at the World Religious Travel Expo 2009. The World Religious Travel Association (WRTA) just named Greg Stielstra, the marketing director behind The Purpose Driven Life, the fastest-selling hardcover book in American history and a faith-based marketing phenomenon, as the
headline speaker at this fall’s celebrated event. Stielstra is also best known as the author of Faith-based Marketing: The Guide to Reaching 140 Million Christian Customers (HarperCollins, 2005) and PyroMarketing: The Four Step Strategy to Ignite Customer Evangelists and Keep Them For Life (Wiley, 2009).
“We hit the jackpot in landing Greg Stielstra as the Sunday luncheon keynoter,” said WRTA President Kevin J. Wright. “The most frequently asked question by every travel provider and supplier in relation to the religious market is ‘How do we effectively reach pastors and the faith-based consumer?’ Greg will share the fascinating marketing principles behind the mega-success of The Passion of the Christ movie and The Purpose Driven Life book, and how these same
principles can and should be applied by each organization in the travel industry.”
Stielstra is an innovative thinker, speaker, consultant and author. An expert in word-of-mouth, faith-based, and social network marketing, he speaks regularly at Word of Mouth Marketing Association conference and numerous other events including AdTech New York and the prestigious Forbes CMO Summit. His work has been covered by The Economist, Advertising Age, Point Magazine, Business Week, Forbes, Wireless Age, Knowledge at Wharton, the
Wharton Leadership Journal, and the book 9 Minds on Marketing.
“People of faith are the largest, most loyal, and highest spending market segment in the United States with 140 million weekly church-goers who spend $5.1 trillion annually,” said Stielstra. “To be successful, you must first understand the religious consumer power niche—and how to effectively reach them. I will help the travel industry understand who makes up the faith community, what they want, and what it takes to appeal to them. We’ll also discuss common mistakes marketers make in dealing with the faith-based market; how to serve rather than sell to them; and what works and doesn’t work when dealing with pastors and other religious leaders. Above all, I’ll provide practical guidance for creating faith-based marketing plans that work.”
With one in four Americans expressing interest in taking a faith-based trip, and religious tourism expected to double by 2012, many travel providers and destinations have recently significantly expanded their faith-based marketing efforts including Trafalgar Tours, Globus family of brands, Collette Vacations, Faithful Holidays (division of Mayflower Tours), CIE Tours, Homeric Tours, TravelBound, Ed-Ventures Worldwide Tours, Carnival Cruise Lines, Costa Cruises, the Jordan Tourist Board, Switzerland Tourism, as well as many Convention and Visitor Bureaus and other suppliers including Passport Health. WRTA is currently taking registrations for the Word Religious Travel Expo & Educational Conference 2009, which will be held November 14-16, 2009, at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center in Reno, Nevada (USA). Serving as the most
important meeting and tradeshow in the religious travel and hospitality industry, the event is expected to draw tourism organizations, travel professionals, and group planners from 30-plus countries.
A new highlight for the Expo includes co-locating with the National Tour Association Convention ‘09, offering members of both associations unprecedented opportunities for business growth, networking and access to new market opportunities.
For more information about attending or exhibiting at the World Religious Travel Expo, contact the World Religious Travel Association at 888-255-WRTA (9782) or +1-859-219-3529 or by email headquarters@WRTAreligioustravel.com. For more information about WRTA and the Expo, visit www.WRTAreligioustravel.com and http://www.wrtaexpo.com/ respectively.
headline speaker at this fall’s celebrated event. Stielstra is also best known as the author of Faith-based Marketing: The Guide to Reaching 140 Million Christian Customers (HarperCollins, 2005) and PyroMarketing: The Four Step Strategy to Ignite Customer Evangelists and Keep Them For Life (Wiley, 2009).
“We hit the jackpot in landing Greg Stielstra as the Sunday luncheon keynoter,” said WRTA President Kevin J. Wright. “The most frequently asked question by every travel provider and supplier in relation to the religious market is ‘How do we effectively reach pastors and the faith-based consumer?’ Greg will share the fascinating marketing principles behind the mega-success of The Passion of the Christ movie and The Purpose Driven Life book, and how these same
principles can and should be applied by each organization in the travel industry.”
Stielstra is an innovative thinker, speaker, consultant and author. An expert in word-of-mouth, faith-based, and social network marketing, he speaks regularly at Word of Mouth Marketing Association conference and numerous other events including AdTech New York and the prestigious Forbes CMO Summit. His work has been covered by The Economist, Advertising Age, Point Magazine, Business Week, Forbes, Wireless Age, Knowledge at Wharton, the
Wharton Leadership Journal, and the book 9 Minds on Marketing.
“People of faith are the largest, most loyal, and highest spending market segment in the United States with 140 million weekly church-goers who spend $5.1 trillion annually,” said Stielstra. “To be successful, you must first understand the religious consumer power niche—and how to effectively reach them. I will help the travel industry understand who makes up the faith community, what they want, and what it takes to appeal to them. We’ll also discuss common mistakes marketers make in dealing with the faith-based market; how to serve rather than sell to them; and what works and doesn’t work when dealing with pastors and other religious leaders. Above all, I’ll provide practical guidance for creating faith-based marketing plans that work.”
With one in four Americans expressing interest in taking a faith-based trip, and religious tourism expected to double by 2012, many travel providers and destinations have recently significantly expanded their faith-based marketing efforts including Trafalgar Tours, Globus family of brands, Collette Vacations, Faithful Holidays (division of Mayflower Tours), CIE Tours, Homeric Tours, TravelBound, Ed-Ventures Worldwide Tours, Carnival Cruise Lines, Costa Cruises, the Jordan Tourist Board, Switzerland Tourism, as well as many Convention and Visitor Bureaus and other suppliers including Passport Health. WRTA is currently taking registrations for the Word Religious Travel Expo & Educational Conference 2009, which will be held November 14-16, 2009, at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center in Reno, Nevada (USA). Serving as the most
important meeting and tradeshow in the religious travel and hospitality industry, the event is expected to draw tourism organizations, travel professionals, and group planners from 30-plus countries.
A new highlight for the Expo includes co-locating with the National Tour Association Convention ‘09, offering members of both associations unprecedented opportunities for business growth, networking and access to new market opportunities.
For more information about attending or exhibiting at the World Religious Travel Expo, contact the World Religious Travel Association at 888-255-WRTA (9782) or +1-859-219-3529 or by email headquarters@WRTAreligioustravel.com. For more information about WRTA and the Expo, visit www.WRTAreligioustravel.com and http://www.wrtaexpo.com/ respectively.
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