Just confirmed and announced. I will be joining Greg Stielstra, North America's #1 faith-based marketing expert, on a seminar panel at the upcoming NTA Convention. Here is the info/description provided by the National Tour Association title:
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.
September 21, 2009
September 6, 2009
Lebanon Premier-designate to make promotion of religious tourism a cabinet priority
Article link: http://www.naharnet.com/domino/tn/NewsDesk.nsf/0/9ABF77024C46309DC225761F001F2DD1?OpenDocument
Premier-designate Saad Hariri held on to equal shares of power and stressed that Christian-Muslim coexistence was Lebanon's true message."We want Lebanon to remain a place for inter-religious union and dialogue and we want Christians and Muslims in this country to maintain equal shares regardless of numbers of demographics," Hariri said during an Iftar in Qoreitem on Wednesday.
Hariri said he was working on forming a national unity government that would include all political parties "so as to counter Israeli threats and tackle economic and social challenges."
The PM-designate told religious figures during the Iftar that promoting the tourism sector would be one of his cabinet's top priorities.
"I also wish to promote religious tourism, especially pilgrimage to Christian vestiges such as the Notre Dame Cathedral in Harissa and the southern town of Qana," he said.
Syria promoting itself as popular destination for religious tourism
Read full story at http://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidZAWYA20090902053709
In recent years, Syria has been making inroads in promoting itself as a popular destination for cultural and religious tourism and attracting visitors from across the globe. Furthermore, new investment opportunities and tourism initiatives backed by the government have earned the interest of international players to the market.
In recent years, Syria has been making inroads in promoting itself as a popular destination for cultural and religious tourism and attracting visitors from across the globe. Furthermore, new investment opportunities and tourism initiatives backed by the government have earned the interest of international players to the market.
September 1, 2009
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.
August 26, 2009
Pope names Orlando tourist ministry a basilica
Read full story from Associated Press at http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5h75RW6HFyxBrK12CzAWvncopejXAD9A6PPF00
ORLANDO, Fla. — A 2,000-seat Catholic shrine in Orlando is getting ready to celebrate its new status as one of just 63 basilicas in the U.S.
ORLANDO, Fla. — A 2,000-seat Catholic shrine in Orlando is getting ready to celebrate its new status as one of just 63 basilicas in the U.S.
August 23, 2009
Eureka Springs and Religious Tourism
Read full story at:
http://insite.religioustraveldirectory.com/destinations-of-faith/eureka-springs/
Eureka Springs, Arkansas is a wonderful religious destination. The town offers many religious sites and activities. Located in the gorgeous Ozark Mountains, Eureka Springs is both a beautiful and spritual vacation. Visitors can see The Great Passion Play in an outdoor setting. There is also the Bible Museum, Sacred Arts Center and the Christ of the Ozarks statue. They offer s tours as well, such as the New Holy Land Tour and Tabernacle Teaching Tour.
http://insite.religioustraveldirectory.com/destinations-of-faith/eureka-springs/
Eureka Springs, Arkansas is a wonderful religious destination. The town offers many religious sites and activities. Located in the gorgeous Ozark Mountains, Eureka Springs is both a beautiful and spritual vacation. Visitors can see The Great Passion Play in an outdoor setting. There is also the Bible Museum, Sacred Arts Center and the Christ of the Ozarks statue. They offer s tours as well, such as the New Holy Land Tour and Tabernacle Teaching Tour.
Religious tourism lifts private jet charters
Read full story at http://www.business24-7.ae/Articles/2009/8/Pages/23082009/08242009_9914f8718d054fc7972f3e171bcb4333.aspx
International Air Charter (IAC), a private jet charter broker, expects a 50 per cent increase in demand for charters to Saudi Arabia during Ramadan over the previous year, the company said yesterday.IAC added that the forecast is in line with the growth of religious tourism in Saudi Arabia, which is expected to generate up to $7 billion (Dh25.71bn) in annual revenues."
He said IAC has allocated substantial resources and has put priority on religious tourism
International Air Charter (IAC), a private jet charter broker, expects a 50 per cent increase in demand for charters to Saudi Arabia during Ramadan over the previous year, the company said yesterday.IAC added that the forecast is in line with the growth of religious tourism in Saudi Arabia, which is expected to generate up to $7 billion (Dh25.71bn) in annual revenues."
He said IAC has allocated substantial resources and has put priority on religious tourism
August 17, 2009
PASTORS REPRESENTING 10 NATIONS EXPERIENCE FAITH AND FELLOWSHIP IN BAHAMAS
RELIGIOUS MARKET GLOBAL OUTREACH – The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism and Aviation’s Religious Market, recently took advantage of an opportunity to pitch the country’s outstanding conference and meetings facilities to a group of Pastors visiting Nassau from the United States, Cuba and even places as far flung as China, Africa, Italy and Great Britain.
The group of spiritual leaders were in attendance at a "Kingdom Leadership Conference" being held at the Diplomat Center, Carmichael Road, under the direction of renowned Bahamian spiritual leader, Pastor Miles Munroe, President and Senior Pastor of Bahamas Faith Ministries International, Nassau, Bahamas. The group of pastors representing 10 nations, were a part of a delegation of about 185 persons in attendance at the Conference.
During their visit to The Bahamas, the church leaders were given a tour of some of the Island's finest hotels and resorts, and then feted to a reception at their host hotel, The Wyndham Nassau Resort, Cable Beach. Pictured above, front center, Mr. Linville Johnson, MOT Director of Religious Market, and Dr. Myles Munroe are flanked by the Pastors.The Religious market is an $18 Billion Global Market, and the Bahamas, boasting the largest assortment of vacation spots of any tropical destination in the world, is poised to take advantage of a larger share of this growing market. No longer simply a fun vacation, the Bahamas can also offer its visitors faith and fellowship."The Bahamas...where God lives."
Linville Johnson, is available to answer questions on group needs for religious conferences, conventions, retreats etc., at ljohnson@bahamas.com. For more information on the Islands of The Bahamas, visit www.bahamas.com, or you can reach us at 1-800 Bahamas.
August 15, 2009
Jamaica Tourist Board Wooing Church Groups from the UK
JTB Wooing Church Groups in the UK
Read full story at http://www.jis.gov.jm/indus_tourism/html/20090815T100000-0500_20792_JIS_JTB_WOOING_CHURCH_GROUPS_IN_THE_UK.asp
The Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) is wooing church groups in the United Kingdom (UK) as it seeks to bring more visitors into the island.
More than 30 Diaspora and mainstream church leaders from various denominations were invited to a special brunch at the Jamaican High Commission in London on Tuesday (Aug. 11), where they were urged to consider Jamaica as a venue for faith-based group travel.
The group, which comprised decision makers for overseas conferences, retreats or other events organised by churches, were invited by the JTB to be part of a destination familiarisation visit to Jamaica.
The JTB made the point that Jamaica can offer a diverse range of events and activities and is already the venue for faith-related activities such as the annual 'Fun in the Son' gospel festival, which is now a regular calendar event
Read full story at http://www.jis.gov.jm/indus_tourism/html/20090815T100000-0500_20792_JIS_JTB_WOOING_CHURCH_GROUPS_IN_THE_UK.asp
The Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) is wooing church groups in the United Kingdom (UK) as it seeks to bring more visitors into the island.
More than 30 Diaspora and mainstream church leaders from various denominations were invited to a special brunch at the Jamaican High Commission in London on Tuesday (Aug. 11), where they were urged to consider Jamaica as a venue for faith-based group travel.
The group, which comprised decision makers for overseas conferences, retreats or other events organised by churches, were invited by the JTB to be part of a destination familiarisation visit to Jamaica.
The JTB made the point that Jamaica can offer a diverse range of events and activities and is already the venue for faith-related activities such as the annual 'Fun in the Son' gospel festival, which is now a regular calendar event
August 4, 2009
Cardinal Foley encourages pilgrimages
Read the full article at: http://www.h2onews.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=19692&Itemid=14
Cardinal Foley recommends the great experience of visiting the Holy Land -- a trip, he said, thta “is unforgettable.”
“I would really recommend for everybody a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. People make pilgrimages to Lourdes, to Fatima, to Santiago de Compostela, and all of these were important and good. But I think the trip to Holy land is unforgettable. You see the Sea of Galilee where Jesus walked around the sea and on the sea; you see the Mount of the Beatitudes; you see Bethlehem where He was born; you see Nazareth were He grew up; and you see Jerusalem, of course, where He talked, and suffered and died and rose.”
Cardinal Foley recommends the great experience of visiting the Holy Land -- a trip, he said, thta “is unforgettable.”
“I would really recommend for everybody a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. People make pilgrimages to Lourdes, to Fatima, to Santiago de Compostela, and all of these were important and good. But I think the trip to Holy land is unforgettable. You see the Sea of Galilee where Jesus walked around the sea and on the sea; you see the Mount of the Beatitudes; you see Bethlehem where He was born; you see Nazareth were He grew up; and you see Jerusalem, of course, where He talked, and suffered and died and rose.”
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