|
||||||
|
ATB Attends Judicial Conference in California Marketing Officer with the Anguilla Tourist Board, Ms Ernie Hodge was Anguilla’s representative at the 77th Annual National Bar Association Convention and Exhibits held in California from July 27th to August 1st, 2002. The annual Event brings together over 2, 500 African-American lawyers, judges, law-professors, administrators, law students, their spouses and guests for a week of networking, seminars, conferences, elections and social activities, culminating in the Grand Ball on August 1, 2002. In addition, delegates were also given the opportunity to purchase office equipment, technical services, personal products, luxury items, travel, and investments opportunities over the course of the week-long event. According to Ms. Hodge, Anguilla’s participation is in keeping with the Anguilla Tourist Board’s marketing strategies to access the Afro- American niche market. Last year, Anguilla benefited highly from being the only island destination represented, and was able to secure the highly successful “Day on Anguilla.” which took place on February 1st, 2002.” This year the main focus for Anguilla was on providing information and updates on new Tourism developments within the destination, and continuing to foster links and pursue relationships with this very promising niche market. Once again Anguilla benefited from being the only island destination present, and due to its strategic location within the tradeshow, was able to distribute information on the island to over 2,000 delegates during the week-long proceedings. The Anguilla Tourist Board wishes to recognize the assistance with promotional airfare provided by American Eagle/ American Airlines, and the contribution of complimentary bottles of Guavaberry Anguilla for distribution on Anguilla’s booth by BARTLETTS Collection in South Hill.
On the Rep Site USA - From the Desk of Kas Vaughn, KV Tourism Marketing & Communications: The region’s Summer season for islands ranging from St Kitts to Jamaica has been disappointing. For Anguilla’s market, value add-ons combined with reasonable “summer rate” reductions carry more persuasive impact than drastically reduced rates. Anguilla has to come to terms with the fact that it must advertise itself in print and on the web to a much greater extent than in the past. We must reach the consumer to bring them to Anguilla, either via their own means of booking or to the travel agent for booking. We can’t keep depending on the trade to get the word out about Anguilla to U.S. consumers. UNITED KINGDOM - From the desk of Carolyn Brown, River Communications: As reported last month the U.K Tour Operators who specialize in the Caribbean are investing heavily in the region. Lead time to booking is approximately 3-5 weeks. In actual fact most have reported there is no set pattern to bookings as in previous years. Christmas is strong and promises very good early bookings. The one concern from the Tour Operators is the lack of airlift into the region. The visitor numbers from the UK may seem small but are very lucrative: the profile of British visitors to Anguilla tends towards staying on average 10-14 days with high spending during their stay. With the downturn in visitor numbers at 22% from the UK, it is imperative that all entities work together a s a team to secure this market for the future. GERMANY - From the desk of Rita Morozow of Sergat Deutschland: Summer business for all tour operators is down, due largely to the slowdown in the economy as a result of the introduction of the Euro. Everything is perceived as more expensive, and therefore people are spending less. The unemployment rate is also increasing, and the travel market is not satisfactory. A positive development however is the strength of the Euro versus the US dollar, which will help in the future, once the two currencies are equal. The travel industry is expecting an upswing for 2003. ITALY - From the desk of Stefano de Paoli, DePaoli & Associates: ATB Italy has had to curtail the majority of its marketing efforts due to budget reductions. However, because it is very important to maintain a presence in the market, a number of PR activities were undertaken on behalf of the Board, including the issue of press releases and assistance with a press visit. Four articles with a total coverage of 29 pages were also generated, and responses were sent out to over 275 enquiries from travel agents, press and consumers.
Spotlight
On… The Anguilla Tourist Board’s annual Summer Festival Press trip took place from August 7th to 11th, 2002. Six (6) Travel Writers from around the USA arrived on the island on Wednesday August 7th , where they were guests of the Frangipani Beach Club and Rendezvous Bay Hotel. Mr. Ron Bernthal of New York was on assignment for WJFF/NPR Radio, a public station, and will also freelance information on the general destination piece and the Summer Festival special to a number of newspapers and magazines to which he is affiliated. Ms Kathy Mangan writes out of Maryland, and is a regular contributor to Islands Magazine with a circulation of 23,000 people, and Caribbean Travel & Life (circulation: 150,000) and Caribbean Travel Planner . Her article will feature the island as a whole with special focus on Boat racing. Ms Karen Robertson will be writing a general Destination piece for the Entrée newsletter, which has a circulation of about 8, 100 readers. She is also a contributor to a weekly syndicated newspaper column that reaches a wide audience throughout the country. Three other key niche markets for Anguilla, Family Travel, Spa Tourism and Cuisine also received exposure as part of this year’s Summer Festival press trip. Ms Bernice Kopelman of Philadelphia is the travel Editor for Parents Guide (circulation: 115,000) and Philly Health and Fitness, with a circulation of 50,000. Judie Fein of Santa Fe, New Mexico is a columnist for the Savy Traveller which airs on PBS, and is also a frequent contributor to Denver Post, LA Times, Tribune Newspapers, Boston Globe and Philadelphia magazine. She was on assignment for Spirituality and Health Magazine (circulation 100,000) and Fiery Food and Barbecue. She was accompanied by photographer, Paul Ross. Arrangements for the Summer Festival press trip were coordinated by Ms Mary Henn of Keating & Associates, Anguilla’s Public Relations company in the USA, who also escorted the group. Assistance for the trip was provided by American Airlines/ American Eagle and members of the Anguilla Hotel & Tourism Association.
|
||||||
|
||||||
|
Calendar of Events SEPTEMBER OCTOBER |
||||||
|
Stat Facts SUMMARY:June 2002 In June 2002, there were 6,335 visitor arrivals to Anguilla, an increase of 1.5% from the 6,244 visitors in June 2001. For the 2nd quarter of 2002 arrivals fell slightly by 1.6% compared to the 2nd quarter 2001. The total number of visitors to date is 48,154 a 2.1% decline in relation to the corresponding period 2001 which had 49,163 arrivals for the first six months. For the second month in a row, excursionists recorded an increase. Arrivals for June were up 22.5% to reach 3,363 from the 2,746 excursionist arrivals in June 2001. For the 2nd quarter arrivals for this sector increased by 20% compared to the 2nd quarter 2001. It can be noted that the 2nd quarter performed better than the first three months of 2002. For the first six months of the year, excursionist arrivals were up 13.5% when compared to the same period in 2001. So far 22,706 excursionists have graced the shores of Anguilla. This total is the highest recorded figure since 1999 when 33,527 excursionists were recorded. Excursionists to Anguilla through Blowing Point for the 2nd quarter 2002 were 10,891 up 21% from the same period in 2001. Tourist arrivals are still continuing to perform below last year. Arrivals for June were 2,972 and showed a 15% decline compared to June 2001. This figure is the lowest recorded since 1998 when 2,825 tourists came to Anguilla. Tourist arrivals for the 2nd quarter 2002 were down 17%. This performance shows a greater decline than the overall decline of 12% recorded for the first six months of the year. For the first six months of the year there were 25,448 tourists which were less than the first half of 2001, but more than 2000. Tourist arrivals through the Airport for the 2nd quarter 2002 were 7,479, down 14% from 2001. For the 2nd quarter arrivals from the United States of America fell 12% in relation to 2001. Arrivals from Canada and the United Kingdom also fell 7% and 13% respectively. These two regions accounted for 2% and 5% respectively of the market share for the reporting period. The Caribbean represented 14% of the market share for the 2nd quarter 2002. (Courtesy: the Statistical Unit of the Government of Anguilla) |
||||||
Congratulations! The Anguilla Tourist Board, the Department of Education and the Anguilla Hotel and Tourism association offer heartiest congratulations to: Burnell
L. Hodge On
their success in The first Lodging Management Program Year 1
of the Educational institute of the American Hotel & Lodging
Association |