Working to boost America's ailing economy, CEO's of two travel industry giants presented stimulus programs to tourism leaders Thursday (16) at AAA Mid-Atlantic's headquarters in Wilmington, Delaware. Chair/CEO Noel Irwin Hentschel of AmericanTours International (ATI) and CEO Don Gagnon of AAA Mid-Atlantic, ATI's LLC partner, jointly expressed their commitment to the rapid economic recovery of America and have joined forces in a powerful movement to "Jump-Start America's Economy."
The briefing introduced two important campaigns that will immediately impact the U.S. economy through the power of tourism. Techniques on how to showcase their destinations to 50 million Americans and one-billion Chinese were conveyed to the participants at the event.
Hentschel introduced CHINAMERICA TOURISM, a unique campaign that is vital to promoting U.S. destinations in China. She also announced that ATI officially opens its Representation Office (RO) for CHINAMERICA TOURISM next month in Beijing creating representation of tourism destinations across America including cities, regions and states. ATI's RO will be the only Chinese government approved training center for product knowledge of the entire United States. Primary focus of the center's program is to educate Chinese tour operators on the diversity of America, a goal seen as key to increasing tourism. "Chinese citizens spend on average $6,000 per stay, more than visitors from any other country," Hentschel revealed. "We cannot afford to miss out on this lucrative market when our economy needs it most."
The "Jump Start USA Economy with AAA" program, a domestic travel strategy designed by ATI and AAA, was introduced by CEO Gagnon, who declared: "We have seen people change the way they travel -- making shorter trips, closer to home and deciding travel plans closer to their departure dates. In our industry, we should be adjusting and giving travelers the array of options they are looking for, especially during uncertain economic times." The AAA executive added that the desire to travel has not changed, "but the nature of travel has shifted here in the "˜good old USA' where AAA stands ready to respond -- and who knows America better than ATI, a company that has developed product for all 50 states, promoting America for 32 years in 70 international markets?"
Hentschel commented that ATI and AAA want to encourage Americans to show their patriotism by "traveling, dining, shopping and enjoying all that our great country has to offer." Her ATI has weathered crises before such as 9/11, Hentschel reminded, and the company has a disaster recovery plan in place working in partnership with U.S. cities' Convention and Visitors' Bureaus (CVB) and other states offices of tourism across America to jumpstart the economy using the resilient tourism engine.
"Our experience over 30 plus years is that people will give up their cafe latte's or a new refrigerator before they give up their travel plans," said the ATI chief. "People will stay closer to home in 2009 traveling within their state and to nearby states where the price of travel is affordable."
Hentschel also pointed out that travel is always an answer to relieve everyday stress and that it's just what Americans and Chinese are looking for right now. The joint campaign of ATI and AAA, she says, is specifically designed to meet those needs. "Since this economy crisis began, AAA has seen a massive increase in new membership and upgrades of the standard AAA card to the "˜Plus' version show that people are looking for security -- and that traveling with AAA offers its members value and trust."
Noel Irwin Hentschel's AmericanTours International is America's largest inbound/outbound, privately held American owned tourism and marketing organization. It serves one-million visitors annually from more than 70 countries and is responsible for bringing $3 billion into the US economy every year. Based in Los Angeles the company has branch offices in New York, San Francisco, Carmel Valley, Washington DC, Orlando, Honolulu, Maui and Beijing, China.
AAA Mid-Atlantic is among the largest clubs in the AAA National Federation. It serves nearly four million members in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia and the District of Columbia, providing automotive, travel, personal insurance and financial services. AAA has represented motorists and travelers for more than 100 years. AAA Mid-Atlantic is a not-for-profit organization. The club's primary purpose has always been to protect motorists' interest, mobility and safety. For more information, please visit www.AAA.com.