By MICHAEL BAGINSKI /- Travel Nevada and its partners showed Canadians how to “Get a Little Out There” with a cross-country road show to Toronto, Montreal and Calgary last week, engaging with travel advisors and trade partners, as well as exhibiting at the Calgary Outdoor Adventure & Travel Show.
Travel Nevada’s partners included: Bramer Tours, Buzzy Brand Vegas Tours, Lake Tahoe Travel, Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Association – Southern Nevada Regional Office, Las Vegas Territory, RenoTahoe Territory, Visit Fallon and Visit RenoTahoe.
In Toronto, Travel Nevada met with the U.S. Consulate’s office, conducted a B2B Marketplace with tour operators and travel trade media, and hosted a travel advisor training event. In Montreal, the team hosted a “meet and greet” for Air Canada Vacations and a travel advisor training event. Finally, in Calgary, a lunch for key trade partners and a travel advisor training event were held.
In each city, Travel Nevada partnered with Air Canada to give away a trip to Nevada with sponsored airfare.
In Toronto, Travel Nevada market manager Elsa Gomez emphasized at a trade luncheon that despite the profile of its signature draw – Las Vegas – that Nevada is “more than gaming” and boasts a rich cultural heritage and outdoor spaces where 85% of the land is “unfenced.”
That includes numerous national and state parks, both desert and mountainous landscapes, dark sky viewing, hot springs – not to mention vibrant arts and culture, history and heritage, sports teams/events, and food and beverage.
From the Vegas Strip and to stagecoach saloons, mining towns, and paranormal/extraterrestrial sites, the state has it all, she said.
“We know Las Vegas is the gateway, but it’s great to get out and explore the rest of the state,” she added.
B’Anka Neder-Mauro, group sales manager for Cirque du Soleil, and representing Las Vegas Territory (the area around Las Vegas), told Travel Industry Today, “We’re marketing to the inbound into Vegas to come in (to the city) and then go out and do a road trip. Stay in Laughlin or Boulder City, the (hotel and parking) rates are less expensive and it’s only an hour and 15 minutes from the Strip and it’s a nice, beautiful short drive along the Colorado River” – not to mention plenty of great outdoor opportunities and activities.
Renting a car to get there and get about is easy and inexpensive from the Las Vegas airport, she added.
“Even though Vegas is such a draw for activities and events, and all of these signature residencies, our draw is just pulling them off The Strip for the day.”
Moreover, she says, outside Vegas particularly appeals to younger travellers, who are looking for outdoor experiences, such as ATVs, skydiving, outdoor shooting ranges, foodie tours, hot air balloons, even food tours, (such as Taste Buzz).
“It’s budget friendly, great for kids, great for couples. There’s something for everybody,” she concluded.
To that end, Travel Nevada has curated 10 themed road trips across the state to encourage travellers to “Get a Little Out There” with themes ranging from neon to nature, national parks, cowboy culture, extraterrestrial activity, and more. The tours are detailed on the Nevada web site and with travel advisor education centres on each of these itineraries.
The Travel Nevada “NVTrailblazer” Specialist Program continues to see registration and completion as Canadian travel advisors build their knowledge of the state, says Travel Nevada, which adds that Canada is a key international market and the travel trade a crucial partner to maintaining long-term travel planning and investment in the market.
“We know the Canadian market at the moment is taking a little pause, but we are here to continue to be present and show are gratitude, and ensure that they know that when their passengers or themselves are ready to come and revisit, we’re ready to support and communicate what’s happening with our partners. We’re here because we value the trade partnerships that we have,” said Gomez.
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