RMI News - Spring 2015




RMI and the Real America Region have been busy throughout the first quarter of 2015. Having exhibited and showcased the region's highlights in six countries throughout February and March, then hosting the Roundup locally in South Dakota in April and with plans to attend yet another major international tourism show in May, 2015 has been eventful to say the least.

We're excited to share with you our exploits promoting the Real America around the globe and what is new for the summer travel season across Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming. Enjoy!

Sioux Falls, SD Hosts 2015 RMI Roundup  
Cody, WY Announced for 2016 

Over the course of four days in mid-April, 30 targeted international tour operators and US-based receptive operators and over 80 regional, state and local tourism professionals converged in Sioux Falls, South Dakota to do business at the RMI Roundup.

"We at RMI were eager to showcase this part of the Real America to a global audience and certainly feel Sioux Falls left a lasting impression on everyone," RMI Executive Director Mathias Jung said. 

The Roundup is an efficient and practical way for local destinations, attractions and accommodations to feature their products to an international tourism audience and unlike most conventions and conferences, hosting the Roundup may result in substantial follow up business opportunities and can impact the community for years to come.

"Deciding whether or not to send bus tours here, families here--in the end this is a huge--millions of dollars of potential business - of new business - for South Dakota and of course we are especially interested in for Sioux Falls," Teri Schmidt Executive Director of the Sioux Falls Convention & Visitors Bureau said. Read more.

The Real America Showcases 'Down Under'
RMI Region States Attend Australian Travel Expos

The 2015 Australia Expos were a five-day event that took place across Australia from February 16-20. In total over 1,000 travel agents attended the evening events in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney. The Real America showcased our 5-minute video and received numerous compliments about the quality of footage. Read more.

RMI States Brings Authentic American West to the Nordic Region
State Focus on Denmark and Sweden for Sales Mission

The Real America delegation traveled to Denmark and Sweden on a sales mission in late February. During the mission the group attended Swanson's Travel Day, one of Scandinavia's largest meeting places for aspiring travelers, travel companies, and tourist authorities, in Osby, Sweden where over 1,600 consumers were present. Throughout the day, we met countless visitors who had plans to visit the region this summer. Many were looking for routing and overnight suggestions, recommendations on time of year to travel, and sights to see. We had discussions with those who were interested in everything ranging from motorcycling and traveling by RV and rental car, to national parks, Native American culture, and western history. Read more.  

 

Italian Show Proves Successful
The Real America Attends 18th Annual VUSA Showcase

The 18th Annual VUSA Showcase took place prior to ITB-Berlin in at the Abitalia Tower Plaza in Pisa from March 1-3. 38 U.S. destinations attended the event and met with a variety of trade and media. 30 Italian tour operators along with 80 travel agents attended the event, as well as 25 journalists. Read more. 

 

ITB Berlin Recap
World's Largest Trade Show Key for Region

Every year in March, over 115,000 travel trade professionals converge in Berlin for ITB, the world's largest travel trade show.

 

The region went into the week with 44 pre-scheduled appointments and walked away with nearly 70 leads resulting from one-on-one meetings with highly targeted travel trade professionals, media conglomerates, journalists and marketing agencies. Read more.


RMI Region Convenes for Summit Meetings
Fiscal Year 2016 Planning Underway

Every year coinciding with the Roundup, the RMI Region comes together to brainstorm, reinforce relationships, learn new trends and formalize a marketing plan for the upcoming July 1st start of a new year.  

 

In addition to RMI headquarters and international staff and state representatives from Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming, marketing partners from the RMHTours, Rapid City CVB, Bismarck-Mandan CVB, Fargo-Moorhead CVB, Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce, Buffalo Bill's Cody/Yellowstone Country and Western Montana's Glacier Country were in attendance.  

 

The FY2016 RMI Marketing Plan will be released end of June 2015. Read more.      

 

IPW Orlando up Next!
RMI and Region to Attend USA's Premier International Tourism Show

U.S. Travel Association's IPW is the travel industry's premier international marketplace and the largest generator of travel to the U.S. - it is NOT a typical trade show. In just three days of intensive pre-scheduled business appointments, more than 1,000 U.S. travel organizations from every region of the USA (representing all industry category components), and more than 1,300 international and domestic buyers from more than 70 countries conduct business negotiations that result in the generation of more than $4.7 billion in future Visit USA travel. At IPW, buyers and sellers are able to conduct business that would otherwise be generated only through an exhaustive number of around-the-world trips. Read more.


REGION TIDBITS  


NORTH DAKOTA
Calling all Motorcycle Enthusiasts!

Come Ride in North Dakota and with a few pictures, we'll send you a patch for your leathers! North Dakota has more than 39,000 registered motorcycles, most ridden by people looking for fun and relaxing places to visit along the state's highways and byways. Many collect a patch that adorns their vests or jackets and that's the incentive behind North Dakota Tourism's expansion of its Scenic ByRider Program. Read more North Dakota news...


SOUTH DAKOTA
Condé Nast Traveler Names Badlands National Park Top Road Trip

By Valerie Conners
Nothing gets us more excited for summer than the prospect of an epic road trip: wind whipping through open car windows, highways flanked by stunning landscapes. Luckily, this is an easy reality in the U.S., thanks to an abundance of amazing national parks. Here is the top most road trip-worthy.

1. Badlands National Park, South Dakota

Tucked into South Dakota's southwest corner, Badlands National Park ... Read more.

WYOMING
Celebrating 125 Years of Statehood

The Wyoming Office of Tourism Launches its "125 Iconic Wyoming Experiences" Summer Campaign 

The Wyoming Office of Tourism (WOT) is excited to announce their summer travel program for both out of state visitors and in state residents to celebrate Wyoming's 125th anniversary of statehood. The program focuses on 125 uniquely Wyoming experiences that everyone should partake in across the entire state. The campaign was launched today at a proclamation signing by Governor Matt Mead for National Travel and Tourism Week and will run 125 consecutive days ending Labor Day weekend. Read more Wyoming news... 

 

MONTANA
New Website, New Hotel Properties and Updated Event Calendar

New visitmt.com Website Recently Launched

The result of a year's worth of planning and production, the new website brings a fresh design with bold, inspiring photography and a host of new features, including a responsive design for smartphones and tablets. In conjunction with Montana's recently launched new marketing campaign which seeks to inspire travel to Montana and follows up with a simple but powerful call to action: "It's Time," this new website is full of inspiration and useful information. See how www.visitmt.com will show you how to make the most of your visit to Montana! Read more Montana news...  

 

 

GATEWAY CITY BULLETIN


MINNEAPOLIS, ST. PAUL, BLOOMINGTON, MN
JW Marriott Scheduled for November Opening

JW Marriott's first property in the state of Minnesota, the JW Marriott Minneapolis Mall of America®, is scheduled to open November 21, 2015 at 2141 Lindau Lane in Bloomington, Minnesota. With direct access to the Mall of America and as part of the $325 million expansion project, it is a ground-up, 14-story, 342 room hotel, reflecting the highest level of luxury accommodations in the state bringing with it the unique style luxury service and refined design that have become synonymous with the JW Marriott brand worldwide.


DENVER, CO
New Tourist Information Center, Art Exhibits and Event Calendar

New Tourist Information Center:  The brand new state-of-the-art, 21st Century Tourist Information Center is now open in the heart of downtown Denver at 1575 California Street.  New interactive touch screens, videos and personal assistance.  Inquiries about tours, attractions, dining and shopping are welcomed by a knowledgeable staff that can help you discover Denver by foot, car, tour or public transportation. In addition to offering brochures, the TIC features interactive screens to guide you in everything to see and do in Denver, as well as carrying ... Read more.
 


PARTNER SHOUTOUTS


BISMARCK-MANDAN, NORTH DAKOTA
Did you know that North Dakota has a Beer and Wine Trail?

Indeed we do, and Bismarck-Mandan has a nice corner on that market. Of the 24 wine producers and eight breweries, we are home to six of them. Many of the wineries and breweries incorporate North Dakota agricultural products such as wheat, honey and fruit, along with other unique local ingredients into their beverages. In fact as far as unique tastes go, if you are looking for that extra special brew, Men's Journal just named Laughing Sun Brewing Company's "Sinister Pear" one of the top 101 Best Beers in America. Let us help you along the trail the next time you or your group are in Bismarck-Mandan! More information...

WESTERN MONTANA'S GLACIER COUNTRY
New Lodging Options Throughout Glacier Country

Just in time for the busy travel season, Western Montana's Glacier Country has new lodging options to offer travelers in Big Sky Country. Missoula-Montana's second largest city-has two new extended stay properties: TownePlace Suites Marriott and My Place Economy Extended Stay. TownePlace Suites offers fully equipped kitchens with studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom suites, as well as a fitness center, business center and ... Read more.

CODY, WYOMING
Cody to Resume United Express Flights to Chicago in Summer 2015

February 19, 2015 - Yellowstone Regional Airport located in Cody, Wyoming, today announced that United Airlines will expand service to the area for the upcoming summer season. The airline will once again offer nonstop United Express service this summer between Cody and Chicago O'Hare and add one additional flight to Denver. United Express currently offers daily year-round nonstop flights ... Read more. 

CHEYENNE, WYOMING
Upcoming Events

May-Sept 30, 2015. Historic Trolley Rides.  Fully-narrated Historic Tours on the enclosed Cheyenne Street Railway Trolley. Weekdays: 1 1/2 hour tours leaving at 10a, 11:30a, 1p. 2:30p, 4p, with pauses at the Depot Museum, Nelson Museum of the West, Wyoming State Museum, Wyoming State Capitol Building, Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum, and the Historic Governors' Mansion. Sat- 10a, 12p, 2p. Sun- 12p, 2p. $10/adults, $5/children. $17 Trolley Plus Adult Pass, which includes admittance to the museums that charge: Old West Museum, Nelson Museum, and Depot Museum. 307-778-3133. Click here for upcoming events in Cheyenne.

RAPID CITY, SOUTH DAKOTA
New Attractions, Restaurants and Lodging

New Learning Center at Mammoth Site

Mammoth Site of Hot Springs has constructed a new 5,800 square foot Learning Center featuring two 53-seat theaters, a new 10-minute HD introductory video, new entryway and new gathering/ticket/exhibit area. In addition, new universally accessible walkways in the bonebed area (open March 21st), opened up additional areas of the sinkhole for future excavation, acquired wireless digital TourGuide headsets for greater access throughout the sinkhole and new exhibits featuring "Dima" a replica of the baby woolly mammoth discovered in Siberia. The Mammoth Site now has replicas of both Dima and Lyuba, two of the most famous woolly ... Read more.