http://www.religiousmarketconsulting.com/travel_weekly_121106.pdf
TRAVEL WEEKLY
Religious travel guru leaves Globus to start consulting firm (12/11/2006)
By David Cogswell
With the market for religion-focused tour products growing, Globus' religious travel manager has left the company to start his own consulting company.
Kevin Wright, who had been the religious travel manager for Globus and is the author of books on religious pilgrimages, has started his own company, Religious Market Consulting, based Littleton, Colo.
Wright will continue to work with Globus on its religious travel programs but will also consult other companies.
In 2004, Wright persuaded Globus to start a separate division for religious travel, based on the U.S. Office of Travel and Tourism's estimate that 600,000 Americans travel overseas every year for religious purposes, making religious travel a $1 billion market.
The move was so successful, according to Globus, that its religious travel business has tripled every year since the division was launched.
"It's not just a niche market," Wright said. "It's an industry."
Wright intends to expand beyond travel to the broader market of religion-focused products.
Wright also plans to launch the World Religious Travel Association in January, which he claims will be the first trade association for the religious travel market.
Globus held the first national religious travel symposium in 2005, which attracted 125 travel agents and tourism professionals. In 2006, Globus held four religious travel symposia.
Wright will be president of Religious Market Consulting and will employ three consultants: Honnie Korngold, founder and president of Christian Travel Finder; James Wright, former president and CEO of the Space Needle Corp.; and Christine Moore, founder and principal of Epiphany Media.
Globus executives were not surprised that the entrepreneurially minded Wright outgrew his job description at Globus.
"He was not the typical employee," said Globus COO Scott Nisbet. "He's got some book deals he's working on and other big plans in the growing market of religious travel. We have him engaged with us. He's going to be doing some speaking tours for us, helping to develop our products and our new tours."
To contact reporter David Cogswell, send e-mail to dcogswell@travelweekly.com.
December 30, 2006
Links to top 2006 (& 2005) Religious Travel Articles
Here is a sampling of 2006 Religious Travel Market articles by America's largest media outlets:
TIME Magazine
Article Title: Spirit & Adventure
Aug 21, 2006
Website link:
http://www.time.com/time/generations/article/0,9171,1226172,00.html
CBS Early News
Article Title: Rest, Relaxation, & Religion
Feb 10, 2006
Website link:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/02/10/earlyshow/contributors/debbyeturner/main1303854.shtml
USA TODAY
Article Title: On a Wing & a Prayer
Jan 26, 2006
Website link:
http://www.usatoday.com/travel/destinations/2006-01-26-faith-based-travel_x.htm
Los Angeles Times
Article Title: More Agencies are serving the flock: Religious Travel
April 16, 2006
Website link:
http://www.latimes.com/travel/la-tr-insider16apr16,1,856509.column?coll=la-travel-headlines
New York Times
Article Title: Transition at Vatican gives boost to tourism
May 8, 2006
Website link:
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?sec=travel&res=9A06E1DA1F31F93BA35756C0A9639C8B63
Travel Weekly (largest travel trade publication)
Article Title: Where the Spirit Movies
March, 2006
Website link:
http://www.travelweekly.com/articles.aspx?articleid=50566
As one of the fastest growing segments of worldwide tourism, be sure to watch for the launch of the World Religious Travel Association in January 2007.
TIME Magazine
Article Title: Spirit & Adventure
Aug 21, 2006
Website link:
http://www.time.com/time/generations/article/0,9171,1226172,00.html
CBS Early News
Article Title: Rest, Relaxation, & Religion
Feb 10, 2006
Website link:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/02/10/earlyshow/contributors/debbyeturner/main1303854.shtml
USA TODAY
Article Title: On a Wing & a Prayer
Jan 26, 2006
Website link:
http://www.usatoday.com/travel/destinations/2006-01-26-faith-based-travel_x.htm
Los Angeles Times
Article Title: More Agencies are serving the flock: Religious Travel
April 16, 2006
Website link:
http://www.latimes.com/travel/la-tr-insider16apr16,1,856509.column?coll=la-travel-headlines
New York Times
Article Title: Transition at Vatican gives boost to tourism
May 8, 2006
Website link:
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?sec=travel&res=9A06E1DA1F31F93BA35756C0A9639C8B63
Travel Weekly (largest travel trade publication)
Article Title: Where the Spirit Movies
March, 2006
Website link:
http://www.travelweekly.com/articles.aspx?articleid=50566
As one of the fastest growing segments of worldwide tourism, be sure to watch for the launch of the World Religious Travel Association in January 2007.
TIA report: 25% of travelers interested in spiritual vacations
Here's a new Nov. 22 report from the Travel Industry Association of America, regarding today's very high level of interest in religious travel and spiritual vacations (as well as other similar types of vacations):
TIA TRAVEL TIDBITS
WASHINGTON, DC -- Below is a brief snapshot of data from the Voice of the Traveler survey by the Travel Industry Association and Synovate.
SPIRITUAL VACATIONS: One-quarter (25%) of travelers said they were currently interested in taking a spiritual vacation (e.g., religious retreat, pilgrimage). More than one in ten travelers (12%) said they were MORE interested now compared to five years ago in taking a spiritual vacation. The appeal of a spiritual vacation spans the ages, with approximately one-third of each age group (18 – 34 years old, 35 – 54 years old and 55+) expressing current interest in taking such a vacation.
SPA VACATIONS: More than half (54%) of travelers said they were currently interested in going to a spa or a place where they can relax and rejuvenate themselves. Good news for the spa industry…interest appears to be growing. Almost a third (28%) of travelers said they were MORE interested now compared to five years ago in going to a spa or a place where they can relax and rejuvenate themselves. In fact, spa vacations ranked fifth when listing all the things people said they were MORE interested in doing now compared to five years ago. Among those who are interested in spa vacations, the majority (40%) are 35 – 54 years old; however, interest is also strong among 18 – 34 year olds (37%).
VOLUNTEER VACATIONS: One-quarter (24%) of travelers said they were currently interested in taking a volunteer or service-based vacation. More than one in ten travelers (11%) said they were MORE interested now compared to five years ago in taking a volunteer or service-based vacation. Interest was strongest among baby boomers, with the largest share (47%) of those interested in taking a volunteer vacation falling into the 35 – 54 year old age range.
CHILDREN-FRIENDLY DESTINATIONS: More than 35% of travelers said they were currently interested in traveling to places that cater to children. Among those who are interested, the majority (51%) are 18 – 34 years old, presumably young families with young children. Nearly one in five travelers (18%) said they were MORE interested now compared to five years ago in traveling to places that cater to children.
TIA is the national, non-profit organization representing all components of the $703 billion travel industry. TIA's mission is to represent the whole of the U.S. travel industry to promote and facilitate increased travel to and within the United States.
TIA TRAVEL TIDBITS
WASHINGTON, DC -- Below is a brief snapshot of data from the Voice of the Traveler survey by the Travel Industry Association and Synovate.
SPIRITUAL VACATIONS: One-quarter (25%) of travelers said they were currently interested in taking a spiritual vacation (e.g., religious retreat, pilgrimage). More than one in ten travelers (12%) said they were MORE interested now compared to five years ago in taking a spiritual vacation. The appeal of a spiritual vacation spans the ages, with approximately one-third of each age group (18 – 34 years old, 35 – 54 years old and 55+) expressing current interest in taking such a vacation.
SPA VACATIONS: More than half (54%) of travelers said they were currently interested in going to a spa or a place where they can relax and rejuvenate themselves. Good news for the spa industry…interest appears to be growing. Almost a third (28%) of travelers said they were MORE interested now compared to five years ago in going to a spa or a place where they can relax and rejuvenate themselves. In fact, spa vacations ranked fifth when listing all the things people said they were MORE interested in doing now compared to five years ago. Among those who are interested in spa vacations, the majority (40%) are 35 – 54 years old; however, interest is also strong among 18 – 34 year olds (37%).
VOLUNTEER VACATIONS: One-quarter (24%) of travelers said they were currently interested in taking a volunteer or service-based vacation. More than one in ten travelers (11%) said they were MORE interested now compared to five years ago in taking a volunteer or service-based vacation. Interest was strongest among baby boomers, with the largest share (47%) of those interested in taking a volunteer vacation falling into the 35 – 54 year old age range.
CHILDREN-FRIENDLY DESTINATIONS: More than 35% of travelers said they were currently interested in traveling to places that cater to children. Among those who are interested, the majority (51%) are 18 – 34 years old, presumably young families with young children. Nearly one in five travelers (18%) said they were MORE interested now compared to five years ago in traveling to places that cater to children.
TIA is the national, non-profit organization representing all components of the $703 billion travel industry. TIA's mission is to represent the whole of the U.S. travel industry to promote and facilitate increased travel to and within the United States.
December 29, 2006
Press Release - New Religious Market Consulting Group
A new consulting group specializing in the Religious Market (and particularly in religious travel & hospitality), launched in November 2006. As I will serve as president of this company, the name of our firm is the Religious Market Consulting Group. Here is the formal press release....
RELIGIOUS TRAVEL Grows Up: Industry Leaders Form First Consulting Group for $1 Billion Market
Nationally recognized authority Kevin J. Wright launches specialized consulting team for faith-based travel and cruise industry
LITTLETON, Colorado (PRWeb) December 14, 2006 – $1 billion and growing; that is the shorthand description for the burgeoning faith-based travel and cruise industry in America. No longer a niche market, the world of religious travel has come into its own and is today considered one of the fastest growing segments by the World Tourism Organization. With more companies seeking to enter or expand their presence within the marketplace, one of the country’s most recognized faith-based tourism authorities, Kevin J. Wright, has launched the industry’s first religious travel market consulting group (www.religiousmarketconsulting.com).
A fifteen-year veteran of the industry, Wright introduced and led the very successful and high profile Religious Travel Division at Globus, the world’s leading escorted travel company. In 2005, he pioneered the concept of National Religious Travel Symposiums - seminars designed for educating professionals about the lucrative and growing religious travel market (hosted by Globus).
An award-winning author, Wright leads a team of independent consulting professionals who will assist companies in marketing, selling and developing product for the 180 million-strong market segment. Recognized as the pre-eminent authorities in the faith-based travel and cruise industry, the consulting firm’s personnel have been interviewed by TIME Magazine, CBS Early Show, USA TODAY, Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Travel Weekly, Group Tour Magazine, Church Executive, and dozens of other major media outlets. The four major players of the group consist of Kevin J. Wright; Honnie Korngold, founder and president of Christian Travel Finder; James E. Wright, an international marketing consultant and former president and CEO of the Space Needle Corporation in Seattle, WA; and Christine Moore, founder and principal of Epiphany Media.
“Our three-fold goal for clients is simple and clear: Increase revenues. Generate publicity. Establish brand name recognition within the marketplace,” said Wright, president of Religious Market Consulting Group. “Our team will assist companies in developing and executing a vision, strategy and action plan for entering or expanding one’s presence and sales within the Faith-based Market.”
The Religious Market Consulting Group will target and work with every sector of the industry, including tour operators, cruise lines, tourist boards, consortiums, travel agencies, attractions, hotels, and motor coaches. Among their many services, Wright and his team will assist organizations with the following religious market opportunities:
ˇ Deliver business plans
ˇ Develop positioning, branding, & messaging
ˇ Perform market research
ˇ Conduct sales & marketing audits
ˇ Build brochures, videos & collateral material
ˇ Facilitate strategic planning & marketing retreats
ˇ Design products, services, & experiences commensurate with market
ˇ Create advertising & promotional campaigns
ˇ Execute sales campaigns (calling/telemarketing, personal visits, direct mail, email, tradeshows)
ˇ Launch media campaign and generate publicity via niche, travel & news media
ˇ Fashion faith-based market loyalty programs
ˇ Represent companies in marketplace
ˇ Identify, recruit & train company and sales personnel
ˇ Senior level executive search
ˇ Provide industry specific, market-focused seminars and business consultations for senior management (one or multiple days)
In addition to his consulting group, Wright will launch in January 2007 the first-ever association for the $18 billion worldwide religious travel industry. In January 2008, the association will host the first international tradeshow for the faith-based tourism market.
To learn more about the Religious Market Consulting Group visit http://www.religiousmarketconsulting.com/ or contact Kevin J. Wright at kwright@religiousmarketconsulting.com.
About Kevin J. Wright & Religious Market Consulting Group
Kevin J. Wright is one of the country’s most recognized faith-based tourism authorities. A fifteen-year veteran of the industry, Wright launched the very successful and high profile Religious Travel Division at Globus, the world’s leading escorted tour company. An award-winning author, he has traveled to 25-plus countries, visited more than 200 major places of pilgrimage, hosted a faith-based reality show, writes for national publications, and serves as a guest speaker at conferences and on trips around the world. In 2000, he personally presented his guidebooks to Pope John Paul II. He is the author of several forthcoming books including The New Faith-based Economy in America: Targeting the $50 Billion & 180 Million-strong Religious Market. To learn more about the Religious Market Consulting Group visit http://www.religiousmarketconsulting.com/.
Contact: Christine Moore, Epiphany Media
Tel: 469-688-5683
Email: christine@epiphanymedia.info
###
RELIGIOUS TRAVEL Grows Up: Industry Leaders Form First Consulting Group for $1 Billion Market
Nationally recognized authority Kevin J. Wright launches specialized consulting team for faith-based travel and cruise industry
LITTLETON, Colorado (PRWeb) December 14, 2006 – $1 billion and growing; that is the shorthand description for the burgeoning faith-based travel and cruise industry in America. No longer a niche market, the world of religious travel has come into its own and is today considered one of the fastest growing segments by the World Tourism Organization. With more companies seeking to enter or expand their presence within the marketplace, one of the country’s most recognized faith-based tourism authorities, Kevin J. Wright, has launched the industry’s first religious travel market consulting group (www.religiousmarketconsulting.com).
A fifteen-year veteran of the industry, Wright introduced and led the very successful and high profile Religious Travel Division at Globus, the world’s leading escorted travel company. In 2005, he pioneered the concept of National Religious Travel Symposiums - seminars designed for educating professionals about the lucrative and growing religious travel market (hosted by Globus).
An award-winning author, Wright leads a team of independent consulting professionals who will assist companies in marketing, selling and developing product for the 180 million-strong market segment. Recognized as the pre-eminent authorities in the faith-based travel and cruise industry, the consulting firm’s personnel have been interviewed by TIME Magazine, CBS Early Show, USA TODAY, Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Travel Weekly, Group Tour Magazine, Church Executive, and dozens of other major media outlets. The four major players of the group consist of Kevin J. Wright; Honnie Korngold, founder and president of Christian Travel Finder; James E. Wright, an international marketing consultant and former president and CEO of the Space Needle Corporation in Seattle, WA; and Christine Moore, founder and principal of Epiphany Media.
“Our three-fold goal for clients is simple and clear: Increase revenues. Generate publicity. Establish brand name recognition within the marketplace,” said Wright, president of Religious Market Consulting Group. “Our team will assist companies in developing and executing a vision, strategy and action plan for entering or expanding one’s presence and sales within the Faith-based Market.”
The Religious Market Consulting Group will target and work with every sector of the industry, including tour operators, cruise lines, tourist boards, consortiums, travel agencies, attractions, hotels, and motor coaches. Among their many services, Wright and his team will assist organizations with the following religious market opportunities:
ˇ Deliver business plans
ˇ Develop positioning, branding, & messaging
ˇ Perform market research
ˇ Conduct sales & marketing audits
ˇ Build brochures, videos & collateral material
ˇ Facilitate strategic planning & marketing retreats
ˇ Design products, services, & experiences commensurate with market
ˇ Create advertising & promotional campaigns
ˇ Execute sales campaigns (calling/telemarketing, personal visits, direct mail, email, tradeshows)
ˇ Launch media campaign and generate publicity via niche, travel & news media
ˇ Fashion faith-based market loyalty programs
ˇ Represent companies in marketplace
ˇ Identify, recruit & train company and sales personnel
ˇ Senior level executive search
ˇ Provide industry specific, market-focused seminars and business consultations for senior management (one or multiple days)
In addition to his consulting group, Wright will launch in January 2007 the first-ever association for the $18 billion worldwide religious travel industry. In January 2008, the association will host the first international tradeshow for the faith-based tourism market.
To learn more about the Religious Market Consulting Group visit http://www.religiousmarketconsulting.com/ or contact Kevin J. Wright at kwright@religiousmarketconsulting.com.
About Kevin J. Wright & Religious Market Consulting Group
Kevin J. Wright is one of the country’s most recognized faith-based tourism authorities. A fifteen-year veteran of the industry, Wright launched the very successful and high profile Religious Travel Division at Globus, the world’s leading escorted tour company. An award-winning author, he has traveled to 25-plus countries, visited more than 200 major places of pilgrimage, hosted a faith-based reality show, writes for national publications, and serves as a guest speaker at conferences and on trips around the world. In 2000, he personally presented his guidebooks to Pope John Paul II. He is the author of several forthcoming books including The New Faith-based Economy in America: Targeting the $50 Billion & 180 Million-strong Religious Market. To learn more about the Religious Market Consulting Group visit http://www.religiousmarketconsulting.com/.
Contact: Christine Moore, Epiphany Media
Tel: 469-688-5683
Email: christine@epiphanymedia.info
###
Launch of religious travel association coming soon
The new World Religious Travel Association (WRTA) will be launched on January 29, 2007. The first international association of its kind, WRTA's mission and vision will be to bring the religious travel trade and consumer together while leading, enriching, and expanding the industry. For more information or to register on the launch date as an individual, company, or organization - visit www.religioustravelassociation.com on Jan 29.
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