Read full story at http://colombiareports.com/travel-in-colombia/133-cundinamarca/4875-salt-cathedral-to-have-underground-spa.html
The Zipaquira Salt Cathedral in the Cundinamarca department will soon be worth more than its weight in salt. The 200 meters underground church, 49 kilometers north of Bogota, will add a salt spa to its other attractions, El Colombiano reported Tuesday.
Not content with the 800,000 visitors that the church -- built inside a salt mine -- receives every year, the mayor of Zipaquira, Jorge Enrique Gonzalez decided to expand the church's facilities.
July 26, 2009
July 21, 2009
Tourism in Arab countries steady with 2-6% growth rate despite international slowdown
Source/Read the full story at: http://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidZAWYA20090721072553
As soon as the international economy started to recover from the global financial crisis, another crisis appeared in the form of "Swine Flu", affecting international tourism. The World Tourism Organisation recently (WTO) revealed its estimates of the declining tourism rates, which ranged from 0% to 2-3% lower, while the number of tourists during the last two months has declined by 7.7% compared to the same period in 2008, a value higher than the 2% decline predicted by the WTO for 2009.
But there is a ray of hope for Arab countries, as statistics show that Arab countries are better prepared to overcome the tourism crisis than any other area in the world. The Middle East has had the highest touristic growth rate in the world (an increase of 11% in 2008 compared to 2% in the rest of the world), and the WTO expects tourism in Arab countries to increase by 2-6% this year.
H.E. Saeed Ahmed Mohammed bin Butti, Chairman of Al Dhiafa Holding and Jinan Hotels and Resorts, believes there is a need to enhance tourism in Arab countries, and to enhance tourism services, as tourism is one of the important industries contributing to the Arab World's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). "The tourism industry heavily relies on attracting tourists. This concept, in turn, depends on diversifying tourism services, which are no longer exclusive to visiting museums and historical places, but also include religious tourism, medical tourism, tourism for relaxation purposes, sports tourism, education and art tourism, and touring for festivals and conferences," he explains.
As soon as the international economy started to recover from the global financial crisis, another crisis appeared in the form of "Swine Flu", affecting international tourism. The World Tourism Organisation recently (WTO) revealed its estimates of the declining tourism rates, which ranged from 0% to 2-3% lower, while the number of tourists during the last two months has declined by 7.7% compared to the same period in 2008, a value higher than the 2% decline predicted by the WTO for 2009.
But there is a ray of hope for Arab countries, as statistics show that Arab countries are better prepared to overcome the tourism crisis than any other area in the world. The Middle East has had the highest touristic growth rate in the world (an increase of 11% in 2008 compared to 2% in the rest of the world), and the WTO expects tourism in Arab countries to increase by 2-6% this year.
H.E. Saeed Ahmed Mohammed bin Butti, Chairman of Al Dhiafa Holding and Jinan Hotels and Resorts, believes there is a need to enhance tourism in Arab countries, and to enhance tourism services, as tourism is one of the important industries contributing to the Arab World's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). "The tourism industry heavily relies on attracting tourists. This concept, in turn, depends on diversifying tourism services, which are no longer exclusive to visiting museums and historical places, but also include religious tourism, medical tourism, tourism for relaxation purposes, sports tourism, education and art tourism, and touring for festivals and conferences," he explains.
July 2, 2009
The RCMA Survey Presents: The Religious Meetings Market
Full story/stats at: http://meetingsnet.com/religiousconferencemanager/mag/0601-religious-meetings-market-survey/?smte=wl
The RCMA Survey Presents: The Religious Meetings MarketJun 1, 2009 12:00 PM, RCM Staff Report
The annual RCMA Member Survey provides a snapshot of the religious meetings conducted by RCMA's meeting planners. The 2008 picture shows that RCMA members are a force in the meetings industry, as they build on strong relationships with the people, facilities, and communities that provide services for religious events.
The 2008 survey reveals:
Attendance at meetings conducted by RCMA members stood at 11.3 million.
Downtown sites are the top choice for religious meeting planners and organizations, hosting 17.5 percent of all religious meetings.
Suburban hotels grew in popularity as sites for religious meetings.
The duration of meetings continues to remain stable.
The percentage of meeting planners who said that they use venues throughout the U.S. stands at more than 22 percent.
The NumbersIn 2008, 11,387,533 people attended meetings that were conducted by RCMA members. Conventions and conferences accounted for 9.2 million of the total attendees, followed by 530,416 attendees at committee meetings and seminars. Retreats, with 346,404 attendees, and board meetings (118,890) followed.
Of the 13,981 meetings held in 2008, committee and seminars made up a significant portion; RCMA organizations held 4,697 such meetings in 2008. Conventions and conferences ranked second in the number of meetings in 2008, with 3,460, followed by other types of meetings (2,234), and board meetings (2,165).
Downtown RulesDowntown hotels continue to be the top choice for religious meeting planners: 17.5 percent of the meetings in 2008 were held at downtown hotels. Downtown hotels have led for the past 14 years.
As the second-most-popular option, conference centers continue to be a popular choice for RCMA planners and organizations. In 2008, 16.8 percent of all meetings were held in conference centers.
The third-most-popular meeting facilities, suburban hotels, rose in the percentage of business they received from RCMA planners. Suburban hotels garnered 13.1 percent of the business in 2008, up from 12.8 percent in 2007.
Next, convention/civic centers commanded 11.3 percent of the business.
Camps and retreats continue to be appealing, claiming 11.1 percent of the RCMA business.
In the sixth spot, resort hotels attracted 10.9 percent of the business in 2008.
Airport hotels remained in seventh place, hosting 10.8 percent of the meetings in 2008.
Colleges and universities continue to represent an important alternative for religious meeting planners, with 7.1 percent of the 2008 business. Cruise ships garnered just 1.5 percent of the religious meetings business.
Room BlocksIt was not unusual in 2008 for a religious meeting planner to need 100 to 200 rooms for his or her largest meeting. That category made up 18 percent of the survey, while meetings requiring 10 to 50 rooms came in at 15 percent.
Meetings requiring 50 to 100 rooms were 13 percent of RCMA business. Meetings with 300 to 500 rooms were at 12 percent. Meetings requiring 500 to 1,000 rooms and 200 to 300 rooms also represented 12 percent.
Only 5 percent of meetings needed more than 3,000 sleeping rooms, but those meetings are a significant share of religious-meetings business.
Meeting SizesIf you are a meeting planner whose largest seating capacity in 2008 was 500 to 1,000, then you are not alone in RCMA. Eighteen percent of respondents said that was their largest meeting of the year.
Seventeen percent of respondents said that 1,000 to 2,500 was their largest seating capacity. Meetings in the 100-300 size also represented 17 percent, followed by 300-500 (16 percent).
At the very high end, 2 percent of those surveyed said that their largest meetings in 2008 required seating for more than 25,000 people.
The survey indicates that when it comes to exhibits and trade shows, a significant majority of religious meetings use them. Sixty-nine percent of those surveyed needed exhibit space in 2008, which is a slight increase from 67 percent in 2007.
The member survey for 2008 showed little change in the size of exhibit space needed, with 27 percent of planners needing 3,000 to 4,000 square feet. On the high end, 2 percent of RCMA members said that their largest meeting required 40,000 to 50,000 square feet of exhibit space, and 7 percent needed more than 50,000 square feet.
Help WantedThe popularity of catering services continues to be high among RCMA planners. Just a few years ago, only a quarter of the RCMA members surveyed reported using catering and banquet services. In 2008, however, 80 percent used those services.
Audiovisuals, too, are an integral part of religious meetings. RCMA members used AV supplier services at 81 percent of their meetings.
Efficient ground transportation and tours are important to religious meeting planners as well, according to the survey. In 2008, 54 percent of those surveyed said that they used ground transportation and tour services.
Special air rates and ticketing were used by 49 percent of the RCMA members surveyed, while exhibit and decorating services were used by 46 percent of RCMA members surveyed. Forty-three percent of those surveyed made use of car rentals.
Time Well SpentAgain in 2008, the RCMA survey shows that people are willing to dedicate a significant amount of time to attending religious meetings.
The average length of conventions and conferences was 4.1 days in 2008, a statistic that has held steady for more than 10 years. The survey also seems to indicate that retreats are very important. The length of retreats remains high: 3.4 days in 2008. The length of the average board meeting was 2.3 days in 2008, and the average committee meeting and seminar lasted 2.2 days.
From Sea to Shining SeaThe Midwest continues to be popular for religious meetings, with 19.4 percent of planners reporting that they hold meetings there. The Southeast remains strong in the percentage of planners who chose it, at 15.4 percent in 2008. The Northeast states were used by 13.2 percent of the planners, followed by the Western states at 10.4 percent and South Central at 10.1 percent. The percentage of planners who hold meetings “throughout the USA” was 22.2 percent.
Of those surveyed, 9.3 percent said they hold meetings outside the United States.
Meeting Attendance
Fig. 1 Type of Meeting Total Attendance 2008
Convention/Conference 9,204,732
Board 118,890
Committee/Seminar 530,416
Retreat 346,404
Other 1,187,091
Total 11,387,533
Types of Meeting Facilities Used
Fig. 6 Facility
Downtown Hotel 17.5%
Conference Center 16.8%
Suburban Hotel 13.1%
Convention/Civic Center 11.3%
Camps/Resorts 11.1%
Resort Hotel 10.9%
Airport Hotel 10.8%
College/University 7.1%
Cruise Ship 1.5%
The RCMA Survey Presents: The Religious Meetings MarketJun 1, 2009 12:00 PM, RCM Staff Report
The annual RCMA Member Survey provides a snapshot of the religious meetings conducted by RCMA's meeting planners. The 2008 picture shows that RCMA members are a force in the meetings industry, as they build on strong relationships with the people, facilities, and communities that provide services for religious events.
The 2008 survey reveals:
Attendance at meetings conducted by RCMA members stood at 11.3 million.
Downtown sites are the top choice for religious meeting planners and organizations, hosting 17.5 percent of all religious meetings.
Suburban hotels grew in popularity as sites for religious meetings.
The duration of meetings continues to remain stable.
The percentage of meeting planners who said that they use venues throughout the U.S. stands at more than 22 percent.
The NumbersIn 2008, 11,387,533 people attended meetings that were conducted by RCMA members. Conventions and conferences accounted for 9.2 million of the total attendees, followed by 530,416 attendees at committee meetings and seminars. Retreats, with 346,404 attendees, and board meetings (118,890) followed.
Of the 13,981 meetings held in 2008, committee and seminars made up a significant portion; RCMA organizations held 4,697 such meetings in 2008. Conventions and conferences ranked second in the number of meetings in 2008, with 3,460, followed by other types of meetings (2,234), and board meetings (2,165).
Downtown RulesDowntown hotels continue to be the top choice for religious meeting planners: 17.5 percent of the meetings in 2008 were held at downtown hotels. Downtown hotels have led for the past 14 years.
As the second-most-popular option, conference centers continue to be a popular choice for RCMA planners and organizations. In 2008, 16.8 percent of all meetings were held in conference centers.
The third-most-popular meeting facilities, suburban hotels, rose in the percentage of business they received from RCMA planners. Suburban hotels garnered 13.1 percent of the business in 2008, up from 12.8 percent in 2007.
Next, convention/civic centers commanded 11.3 percent of the business.
Camps and retreats continue to be appealing, claiming 11.1 percent of the RCMA business.
In the sixth spot, resort hotels attracted 10.9 percent of the business in 2008.
Airport hotels remained in seventh place, hosting 10.8 percent of the meetings in 2008.
Colleges and universities continue to represent an important alternative for religious meeting planners, with 7.1 percent of the 2008 business. Cruise ships garnered just 1.5 percent of the religious meetings business.
Room BlocksIt was not unusual in 2008 for a religious meeting planner to need 100 to 200 rooms for his or her largest meeting. That category made up 18 percent of the survey, while meetings requiring 10 to 50 rooms came in at 15 percent.
Meetings requiring 50 to 100 rooms were 13 percent of RCMA business. Meetings with 300 to 500 rooms were at 12 percent. Meetings requiring 500 to 1,000 rooms and 200 to 300 rooms also represented 12 percent.
Only 5 percent of meetings needed more than 3,000 sleeping rooms, but those meetings are a significant share of religious-meetings business.
Meeting SizesIf you are a meeting planner whose largest seating capacity in 2008 was 500 to 1,000, then you are not alone in RCMA. Eighteen percent of respondents said that was their largest meeting of the year.
Seventeen percent of respondents said that 1,000 to 2,500 was their largest seating capacity. Meetings in the 100-300 size also represented 17 percent, followed by 300-500 (16 percent).
At the very high end, 2 percent of those surveyed said that their largest meetings in 2008 required seating for more than 25,000 people.
The survey indicates that when it comes to exhibits and trade shows, a significant majority of religious meetings use them. Sixty-nine percent of those surveyed needed exhibit space in 2008, which is a slight increase from 67 percent in 2007.
The member survey for 2008 showed little change in the size of exhibit space needed, with 27 percent of planners needing 3,000 to 4,000 square feet. On the high end, 2 percent of RCMA members said that their largest meeting required 40,000 to 50,000 square feet of exhibit space, and 7 percent needed more than 50,000 square feet.
Help WantedThe popularity of catering services continues to be high among RCMA planners. Just a few years ago, only a quarter of the RCMA members surveyed reported using catering and banquet services. In 2008, however, 80 percent used those services.
Audiovisuals, too, are an integral part of religious meetings. RCMA members used AV supplier services at 81 percent of their meetings.
Efficient ground transportation and tours are important to religious meeting planners as well, according to the survey. In 2008, 54 percent of those surveyed said that they used ground transportation and tour services.
Special air rates and ticketing were used by 49 percent of the RCMA members surveyed, while exhibit and decorating services were used by 46 percent of RCMA members surveyed. Forty-three percent of those surveyed made use of car rentals.
Time Well SpentAgain in 2008, the RCMA survey shows that people are willing to dedicate a significant amount of time to attending religious meetings.
The average length of conventions and conferences was 4.1 days in 2008, a statistic that has held steady for more than 10 years. The survey also seems to indicate that retreats are very important. The length of retreats remains high: 3.4 days in 2008. The length of the average board meeting was 2.3 days in 2008, and the average committee meeting and seminar lasted 2.2 days.
From Sea to Shining SeaThe Midwest continues to be popular for religious meetings, with 19.4 percent of planners reporting that they hold meetings there. The Southeast remains strong in the percentage of planners who chose it, at 15.4 percent in 2008. The Northeast states were used by 13.2 percent of the planners, followed by the Western states at 10.4 percent and South Central at 10.1 percent. The percentage of planners who hold meetings “throughout the USA” was 22.2 percent.
Of those surveyed, 9.3 percent said they hold meetings outside the United States.
Meeting Attendance
Fig. 1 Type of Meeting Total Attendance 2008
Convention/Conference 9,204,732
Board 118,890
Committee/Seminar 530,416
Retreat 346,404
Other 1,187,091
Total 11,387,533
Types of Meeting Facilities Used
Fig. 6 Facility
Downtown Hotel 17.5%
Conference Center 16.8%
Suburban Hotel 13.1%
Convention/Civic Center 11.3%
Camps/Resorts 11.1%
Resort Hotel 10.9%
Airport Hotel 10.8%
College/University 7.1%
Cruise Ship 1.5%
June 28, 2009
Shroud of Turin to Boost Religious Travel
Read story at http://www.silverlight-travel.com/turin/index.php/2009/06/shroud-of-turin-to-boost-religious-travel/
After 10 years of being locked away, the Shroud of Turin is slated for display in 2010. It is normally rolled up and locked away in a silver box, and kept under close guard in the Chapel of the Holy Shroud, with a replica on display. But Pope Benedict has announced that the real thing will be put on display for the faithful to see next year, and as a result, religious travel promises to be booming.
The Shroud is a linen cloth (measuring approximately 14 1/2 x 4 feet) that is believed to have been the burial cloth of Jesus. Many Christians believe that the cloth has an image of a crucified man, with a beard and long hair, with arms folded across his chest. The cloth appears to have blood, seemingly from wounds in the wrists, feet and side.
After 10 years of being locked away, the Shroud of Turin is slated for display in 2010. It is normally rolled up and locked away in a silver box, and kept under close guard in the Chapel of the Holy Shroud, with a replica on display. But Pope Benedict has announced that the real thing will be put on display for the faithful to see next year, and as a result, religious travel promises to be booming.
The Shroud is a linen cloth (measuring approximately 14 1/2 x 4 feet) that is believed to have been the burial cloth of Jesus. Many Christians believe that the cloth has an image of a crucified man, with a beard and long hair, with arms folded across his chest. The cloth appears to have blood, seemingly from wounds in the wrists, feet and side.
Turkey Introducing ’strategic depth’ to tourism including "faith tourism"
Read the full story at http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/english/opinion/11937017.asp?scr=1
And then yesterday we reported that Bursa is planning to diversify its economy with a tourism campaign that will embrace faith tourism during the month of Ramadan, encouraging visitors to historic mosques and tombs. Planners of this campaign also see potential in sports and nature tourism.
And then yesterday we reported that Bursa is planning to diversify its economy with a tourism campaign that will embrace faith tourism during the month of Ramadan, encouraging visitors to historic mosques and tombs. Planners of this campaign also see potential in sports and nature tourism.
Winston-Salem Targets Religious Groups for Tourism Dollars
By Brent Campbell FOX8 News
June 26, 2009
Read full story at http://www.myfox8.com/news/wghp-winston-salem-religious-tourism-090626,0,3045949.story
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - With nearly 2,000 people in town for five nights, the western North Carolina conference of the AME Zion church is, in many ways, a Godsend to Winston-Salem's struggling tourism industry.
Hotel room sales are down 8 percent in the downtown Twin City Quarter, which includes Embassy Suites and Marriott. So in an effort to reverse that trend, the city's tourism arm has shifted focus from attracting individual and business travelers to youth sporting events, collegiate sports and religious organizations, among others.
"We've had a tough time of it since the fourth quarter last year," said Ron Stephens, of the Twin City Quarter. "Things tanked and tanked quickly, and then the first six months of this year have lagged greatly behind last year."
In a recent study by the Travel Industry Association, one-fourth of travelers said they would be more likely to spend money on a religious trip before an individual vacation.
"In these difficult economic times, it is good to know people of faith do not allow circumstances to determine their actions, particularly as it relates to things of God," said Dr. Seth Lartey, an official in the AME Zion denomination.
And it's that kind of commitment Winston-Salem is banking on.
"I think any sort of faith-based organization is important to everyone, particularly when things are not good," said Stephens.
Once the AME Zion conference concludes, the city will prepare for nearly 8,000 Jehovah's Witnesses, who will arrive over the next four weeks for the group's annual conference.
Copyright © 2009, WGHP-TV
June 26, 2009
Read full story at http://www.myfox8.com/news/wghp-winston-salem-religious-tourism-090626,0,3045949.story
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - With nearly 2,000 people in town for five nights, the western North Carolina conference of the AME Zion church is, in many ways, a Godsend to Winston-Salem's struggling tourism industry.
Hotel room sales are down 8 percent in the downtown Twin City Quarter, which includes Embassy Suites and Marriott. So in an effort to reverse that trend, the city's tourism arm has shifted focus from attracting individual and business travelers to youth sporting events, collegiate sports and religious organizations, among others.
"We've had a tough time of it since the fourth quarter last year," said Ron Stephens, of the Twin City Quarter. "Things tanked and tanked quickly, and then the first six months of this year have lagged greatly behind last year."
In a recent study by the Travel Industry Association, one-fourth of travelers said they would be more likely to spend money on a religious trip before an individual vacation.
"In these difficult economic times, it is good to know people of faith do not allow circumstances to determine their actions, particularly as it relates to things of God," said Dr. Seth Lartey, an official in the AME Zion denomination.
And it's that kind of commitment Winston-Salem is banking on.
"I think any sort of faith-based organization is important to everyone, particularly when things are not good," said Stephens.
Once the AME Zion conference concludes, the city will prepare for nearly 8,000 Jehovah's Witnesses, who will arrive over the next four weeks for the group's annual conference.
Copyright © 2009, WGHP-TV
Turkey becomes growingly popular stop for Muslim pilgrims
Read the full article at http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/detaylar.do?load=detay&link=179255&bolum=101
28 June 2009, Sunday
TODAY'S ZAMAN
ROBERTA DAVENPORT İSTANBUL
Here's secitons of the article...
In addition to the waters of the Bosporus and the intrigue of street markets, the nightlife, historic buildings and landmarks at every turn, İstanbul is home to an Islamic history and Muslim-friendly accommodations that are making it an increasingly popular stopover for travelers on their way back from pilgrimages to Mecca.
On a sunny weekday afternoon in the Sultanahmet district, a group of British men form a line outside the Blue Mosque. They are not at the mosque entrance alongside the groups of tourists from Japan, Spain and the US, who await the end of the afternoon prayer so that they can enter and take pictures, but are instead standing around the fountain in the mosque's courtyard, waiting for their turn to make ablutions so that they can join the prayer. The men are among a growing demographic of tourists visiting İstanbul, Muslims from Europe, the United States, Indonesia and beyond who elect to finish off their religious pilgrimages to Mecca in Saudi Arabia with a trip to İstanbul, the last center of the caliphate and the point from which the Muslim world was administrated for centuries.
Muslim tourism needs attention, development
While Turkish tourism and border authorities keep figures on the number of tourists traveling to Turkey from Muslim countries, there are no figures on how many are coming to the country for religiously related purposes. And while tour operators say there has been a noticeable increase in interest in religious tourism packages for Muslims, more effort is needed to help the tourism niche grow. The Ministry of Culture and Tourism and tourism marketing agencies have taken an increased interest in developing Christian and Jewish faith-based tourist packages in recent years, yet growing numbers of Muslim tourists coming to Turkey from Europe and beyond have gained comparatively little attention from tour operators.
Read the rest of the article at http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/detaylar.do?load=detay&link=179255&bolum=101
28 June 2009, Sunday
TODAY'S ZAMAN
ROBERTA DAVENPORT İSTANBUL
Here's secitons of the article...
In addition to the waters of the Bosporus and the intrigue of street markets, the nightlife, historic buildings and landmarks at every turn, İstanbul is home to an Islamic history and Muslim-friendly accommodations that are making it an increasingly popular stopover for travelers on their way back from pilgrimages to Mecca.
On a sunny weekday afternoon in the Sultanahmet district, a group of British men form a line outside the Blue Mosque. They are not at the mosque entrance alongside the groups of tourists from Japan, Spain and the US, who await the end of the afternoon prayer so that they can enter and take pictures, but are instead standing around the fountain in the mosque's courtyard, waiting for their turn to make ablutions so that they can join the prayer. The men are among a growing demographic of tourists visiting İstanbul, Muslims from Europe, the United States, Indonesia and beyond who elect to finish off their religious pilgrimages to Mecca in Saudi Arabia with a trip to İstanbul, the last center of the caliphate and the point from which the Muslim world was administrated for centuries.
Muslim tourism needs attention, development
While Turkish tourism and border authorities keep figures on the number of tourists traveling to Turkey from Muslim countries, there are no figures on how many are coming to the country for religiously related purposes. And while tour operators say there has been a noticeable increase in interest in religious tourism packages for Muslims, more effort is needed to help the tourism niche grow. The Ministry of Culture and Tourism and tourism marketing agencies have taken an increased interest in developing Christian and Jewish faith-based tourist packages in recent years, yet growing numbers of Muslim tourists coming to Turkey from Europe and beyond have gained comparatively little attention from tour operators.
Read the rest of the article at http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/detaylar.do?load=detay&link=179255&bolum=101
June 27, 2009
World Religious Travel Expo Debuts Theme: Make 2010 Your Best Year Ever
Lexington, Ky. (PRWEB) June 27, 2009 -- The World Religious Travel Association (WRTA) has announced "Make 2010 Your Best Year Ever" as its official theme for this fall's World Religious Travel Expo. The newly chosen motto will serve as the guiding principle and overall purpose of the three-day event.
"Our theme serves as an invitation to tap into the flourishing religious travel and hospitality industry," said WRTA president, Kevin J. Wright. "We all know this is a very trying time for many companies. However, as faith tourism provides new market and revenue possibilities, the World Religious Travel Expo provides organizations with a renewed opportunity to experience their best year yet."
Faith-based travel and hospitality has become an important new market segment for many tour operators, travel agents, destinations and suppliers in the industry. In the past year alone, the religious market has taken on even greater significance, due to its recession-proof and groups-dominated attributes. An estimated 75% of faith-based travelers prefer to travel in group settings while 80% would like to repeat their religious travel experience. Challenging times only serve to bring people of faith together in greater numbers for travel or convention purposes; providing a much needed "stimulus" to the industry.
WRTA recently opened 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 and travel professionals from 30-plus countries.
A new highlight for the Expo includes co-locating with the National Tour Association Annual Convention, 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 www.WRTAexpo.com respectively.
World Religious Travel Association (WRTA):
WRTA is the leading global network for the $18 billion faith tourism industry. WRTA's primary purpose is to guide, enrich, and expand religious travel and hospitality around the globe via the trade, consumer, and media. Its membership is comprised of accommodations, attractions, tour operators, travel agents, tourism offices, transportation services, media and other key players in the tourism industry.
# # #
"Our theme serves as an invitation to tap into the flourishing religious travel and hospitality industry," said WRTA president, Kevin J. Wright. "We all know this is a very trying time for many companies. However, as faith tourism provides new market and revenue possibilities, the World Religious Travel Expo provides organizations with a renewed opportunity to experience their best year yet."
Faith-based travel and hospitality has become an important new market segment for many tour operators, travel agents, destinations and suppliers in the industry. In the past year alone, the religious market has taken on even greater significance, due to its recession-proof and groups-dominated attributes. An estimated 75% of faith-based travelers prefer to travel in group settings while 80% would like to repeat their religious travel experience. Challenging times only serve to bring people of faith together in greater numbers for travel or convention purposes; providing a much needed "stimulus" to the industry.
WRTA recently opened 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 and travel professionals from 30-plus countries.
A new highlight for the Expo includes co-locating with the National Tour Association Annual Convention, 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 www.WRTAexpo.com respectively.
World Religious Travel Association (WRTA):
WRTA is the leading global network for the $18 billion faith tourism industry. WRTA's primary purpose is to guide, enrich, and expand religious travel and hospitality around the globe via the trade, consumer, and media. Its membership is comprised of accommodations, attractions, tour operators, travel agents, tourism offices, transportation services, media and other key players in the tourism industry.
# # #
June 26, 2009
2010 to be "banner year" for pilgrimage celebrations
(GERMANY) The every-decade Passion Play takes place in 2010 in Oberammergau, Germany.
(SPAIN) Santiago de Compostela to celebrate its Holy Year in 2010. An estimated 10 million pilgrims and visitors are expected.
(ITALY)The Shroud of Turin, believed by many to be the burial cloth of Christ, is scheduled for the first time in 10 years to be displayed for the public in 2010.
If you are a travel provider for people of faith, be sure to integrate these itineraries into your portfolio. If you're a traveler, you might consider traveling to the Passion Play, Sanitago de Compostela, or to Italy to see the Shroud of Turin.
(SPAIN) Santiago de Compostela to celebrate its Holy Year in 2010. An estimated 10 million pilgrims and visitors are expected.
(ITALY)The Shroud of Turin, believed by many to be the burial cloth of Christ, is scheduled for the first time in 10 years to be displayed for the public in 2010.
If you are a travel provider for people of faith, be sure to integrate these itineraries into your portfolio. If you're a traveler, you might consider traveling to the Passion Play, Sanitago de Compostela, or to Italy to see the Shroud of Turin.
June 21, 2009
Thank God for religious conventions
Full story at: http://www.coloradoan.com/article/20090609/COLUMNISTS50/906090315/1046/BUSINESS/Thank+God+for+religious+conventions+in+city
Thank God for religious conventions. In an average year, the tourism forecast for Fort Collins would be rather bleak under these economic conditions.
We foresaw some of these changes and focused efforts and resources on securing convention business for this summer, primarily in the religious market. Being an odd-numbered year, we will see the return of Campus Crusade for Christ International, which will hold its summer training conference in Fort Collins, having met here for more than 40 years.
Even this longstanding event was in question recently, and a coordinated effort by Colorado State University, city, community and CVB interests worked to keep Campus Crusade coming back. This long-standing event is one of the major drivers of restaurant and retail spending, with participants staying here for two months and peaking at 7,000 attendees.
This summer also will mark the return of the Christian Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses to Fort Collins and the Budweiser Events Center. We will host three weekends this year, and four in 2010, business that has been away from the city for a couple of years. Although the meeting is held at the Budweiser Event Center, organizers are loyal to their host, sending their hotel bookings to Fort Collins first.
It won't be a record year for tourism in this economic climate. But we feel the group business coming this summer will help close the gap.
Thank God for religious conventions.
Jim Clark is executive director of the Fort Collins Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Thank God for religious conventions. In an average year, the tourism forecast for Fort Collins would be rather bleak under these economic conditions.
We foresaw some of these changes and focused efforts and resources on securing convention business for this summer, primarily in the religious market. Being an odd-numbered year, we will see the return of Campus Crusade for Christ International, which will hold its summer training conference in Fort Collins, having met here for more than 40 years.
Even this longstanding event was in question recently, and a coordinated effort by Colorado State University, city, community and CVB interests worked to keep Campus Crusade coming back. This long-standing event is one of the major drivers of restaurant and retail spending, with participants staying here for two months and peaking at 7,000 attendees.
This summer also will mark the return of the Christian Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses to Fort Collins and the Budweiser Events Center. We will host three weekends this year, and four in 2010, business that has been away from the city for a couple of years. Although the meeting is held at the Budweiser Event Center, organizers are loyal to their host, sending their hotel bookings to Fort Collins first.
It won't be a record year for tourism in this economic climate. But we feel the group business coming this summer will help close the gap.
Thank God for religious conventions.
Jim Clark is executive director of the Fort Collins Convention & Visitors Bureau.
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