04.27.2010
Discovering New England became a challenge for European travel professionals
For Immediate Release
Contact: Jayne O'Connor
White Mountains Attractions Assoc.
603-745-8720
jayne@visitwhitemountains.com
WOODSTOCK, NH - When the volcano in Iceland erupted in mid-April and
disrupted travel on an entire continent, New Hampshire travel professionals
felt a bit of a domino effect an ocean away.
The timing of the eruption of the Eyjafjallajokull volcano fell as dozens of
British and European tour operators were about to attend the 15th annual
Discover New England Summit in Newport, RI, which opened April 19.
"This is a very important sales conference for all of us in the six New
England states," said Jayne O'Connor, president of White Mountains
Attractions. "Tour operators are a very significant, and important, part of
the travel market not only in the United States, but for us here in New
England. About 76 percent of all Europeans still book long-haul vacations
through travel agents and tour operators because of the travel guarantees
they provide."
About 70 tour operators from Europe and Great Britain were scheduled to meet
with about 300 representatives of attractions, hotels, resorts and state
tourism directors during the summit.
"In spite of the conditions from the ash clouds, about two-thirds of the
tour operators made it to the Discover New England Summit," O'Connor said.
"Many of them remained in their country to help their clients and customers;
while those who could get away went out of their way to get here."
One tour operator dispatched representatives who were already in Seattle to
the Discover New England summit. Others came by way of Canada, O'Connor
said.
"We really felt for what they were going through - it was really an
unprecedented situation," she said.
For the tour operators who were unable to attend the Discover New England
conference, O'Connor said there will be an opportunity to meet with them in
May, during the International Pow Wow, a huge trade show hosted by the U.S.
Travel Association.
"We will see them there, but we will also be competing with other states and
regions, a situation we don't have at the Discover New England Summit," she
said.
New Hampshire and New England is an attractive destination for Europeans
because of the relatively short travel time to get here, O'Connor said.
In New England, international visitors represent a solid slice of the
tourism market, O'Connor said. According to Discover New England, 1.6
million people from Europe came to the region in 2008, which is the latest
figures available.
"That was a 9 percent increase from the previous year," O'Connor said.
The next Discover New England Summit, in 2011, will be held in the White
Mountains at the Omni Mount Washington Hotel. White Mountains Attractions,
founded in 1958, is the official marketing association for the White
Mountains.
For information about the White Mountains, the visitors' center is located
off exit 32 on Interstate 93 in North Woodstock; visit
www.visitwhitemountains.com or call 800-FIND-MTS.
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