The Texas Explorer
Your Travel & Tourism Industry Update
February 7, 2011
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Texas Travel Industry Association
3345 Bee Caves Road, Ste. 102A
Austin, Texas 78746
512-328-TTIA

Unity Dinner Logo

* COUNTDOWN:  2 WEEKS

* UNITY DINNER IS SOLD OUT!

 

UNITY DINNER SPECIAL GUESTS

Anita Perry
TEXAS FIRST LADY ANITA PERRY FEATURED SPEAKER
State Rep Rob Eissler
STATE REPRESENTATIVE ROB EISSLER SILVER SPUR RECIPIENT

 

 

 

 

 

  

  

  

  

  

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Table Sponsors: Remember, our tables this year seat eight (8).  Avoid the lines at registration by providing the names of those sitting at your table(s) to Jennifer Baker by February 15th.

 

Since Unity Dinner is our opportunity to thank our elected officials for supporting our industry, be sure to invite your legislator to be a guest at your table.  As a constituent, you have tremendous influence in your legislator's decision to attend Unity Dinner. 

 

TRAVEL MATTERS Video Projects: Take this opportunity to show why "Travel Matters" to you, your business and your community.  Provide a short (30 seconds or less) YouTube-type video for inclusion in our presentation at Unity Dinner and on our YouTube Channel.  See the Guidelines for video submissions.  Note: if we are unable to include all videos submitted for Unity Dinner due to time limitations, we will include them on our YouTube Channel, YouTube/TTIAvideos. 

 

SILENT AUCTION ITEMS ARE STILL BEING ACCEPTED!  Items received now will be included in the addendum to the Auction Catalog.  Contact Jennifer Roush  or Carmen Tidwell with your donation.

 

Receipts from the auction help fund TTIA's advocacy efforts so be sure to donate and support TTIA and our industry. 

 



Dear ,

Your Tourism Unity Dinner is just a little over 5 weeks away!  Have you purchased your table yet? Click here to register

.

This year, more than any other time in Unity history, your presence matters. The future of our industry as well as our jobs/careers are being placed in harms way. This is our moment to inform the 82nd Legislative body and your elected officials just how much TRAVEL MATTERS  and to thank those who have shown their support of travel and tourism.   

The success of Unity Dinner depends upon your participation...if you, the constituent,  won't attend and show the legislatures your strength for your industry why should your legislator attend or care about you and your industry?   

 Join us as we applaud this year's Silver Spur Award Award winner.  The Silver Spur will be presented by David Dunham of Texas Monthly to Chairman Robert Isler for his continued support of the Travel and Tourism industry. Previous winners of this prestigious industry award have been:

  

2006 - Governor Rick Perry &

          First Lady Anita Perry

2007 - Speaker Tom Craddick &

          Lt. Governor David Dewhurst

2008 - Representative Lois Kolkhorst

2010 - Comptroller Susan Combs   


 
 

Only your participation can make this year a success for tourism legislatively.

  

Converge on the Capitol follows Unity Dinner the next morning, February 23, 2011. From 9 am to 3 pm we will partner with the Texas Hotel and Lodging Association to conduct the Converge.  This Converge will provide you and your industry associates an opportunity for a one on one visit with your legislator and their staff. Tell them why Travel Matters to you, your business, your community and your state.

  

We will  arrange motor coach transportation to bring many of you to Austin to participate in the Converge, if you are unable to attend the Unity Dinner.  This is how important the 82 Legislative Session is to each of us in the industry! Our goal is to have 1,000 travel industry advocates crowding the halls of the Capitol Building on February 23rd spreading the message that Travel Matters.  Click here to register for the Converge.

  

CONVERGE ON THE CAPITOL UPDATE 

 

Click Here to Sign Up for Converge

Sign Up Deadline:  February 14th

 

TTIA members, you and members of your staff are needed in Austin on February 23rd for Converge on the Capitol, coordinated by the Texas Hotel and Lodging Association, because your legislators need to know that Travel Matters to you. Our goal: one thousand members of the travel industry converging on the Capitol to bring our message to our legislators.

 

If you are attending Unity Dinner, be sure to stay over the night and participate in the Converge on the Capitol the next day. 

 

If you are unable to attend Unity Dinner, TTIA is working with motorcoach companies in Texas to bring travel industry personnel to Austin for the Converge on the Capitol.  Register now to attend the Converge and make sure to check the box that says you will ride the motorcoaches being provided. (Please register every member of your staff that will attend.)

 

We must have at least 40 people on each motorcoach!  Below is updated information on the motorcoaches we have secured, where they will depart from, and the time of departure.  Sign up for motorcoach transportation by February 14th to Jennifer Roush

 

FROM DFW METROPLEX:


6:30 a.m.  Traders Village
                2602 Mayfield Rd, Grand Prairie
                Bus company: Red Carpet Charters

6:30 a.m.  Northpark Center (to be confirmed)
                8687 N. Central Expressway, Dallas
                Bus company: Red Carpet Charters


FROM HOUSTON AREA: 


7:30 a.m.  First Class Tours Terminal
                12703 Eastex Freeway, Houston
                Bus company: First Class Tours

7:30 a.m.  First Class Tours Terminal
                310 FM 1960 E, Houston
                Bus company: First Class Tours

 

FROM CORPUS CHRISTI:

 

6:30 a.m.  American Bank Center

               1901 N. Shoreline Blvd

               Bus company: Daisy Charters & Shuttles 


FROM SAN ANTONIO:
 

 

8:00 a.m.  SeaWorld San Antonio

                10500 SeaWorld Drive

                Bus company: Daisy Charters & Shuttles

 

FROM NEW BRAUNFELS/SAN MARCOS:

 

8:45 a.m.  Greater New Braunfels Chamber  

                390 S. Seguin, New Braunfels 

                Bus company: Daisy Charters & Shuttles

 

 

9:30 a.m.  Embassy Suites Hotel, Spa & Conv Ctr 

                1001 East McCarty Lane, San Marcos 

                Bus company: Daisy Charters & Shuttles


For more information on the motorcoach transportation, please contact
Jennifer Roush.

 

We look forward to seeing you at Unity Dinner & Converge on the Capitol!



  


LEGISLATIVE UPDATE:


Tell your legislators why Travel Matters to you and why Full Funding for Tourism Promotion is so important to our industry. 

Click here for more information and talking points.

February 7, 2011 Bill Tracking

NEW BYLAWS  

IN EFFECT NOW

 

In November 2010, members voted to approve new TTIA Bylaws.

 

Please take a moment to look over the new  Bylaws. There are changes that may affect you, including new member- ship opportunities and new membership guidelines. 

   

Unity Dinner

 2011 Sponsors


American Airlines

Dallas Cowboys Football Club

Austin Convention Center

Seaworld San Antonio

Grapevine CVB

Traders Village

Beaumont CVB  

Marble Falls/Lake LBJ Chamber of Commerce 

Fredericksburg CVB

Abilene CVB

Amarillo CVC

Natural Bridge Caverns

Visit Lubbock 

Odessa CVB

Ron Hinkle, Legislative Consultant

Colour Solutions

First Class Tours 

Freeman Audio Visual Solutions

Plano CVB

Phillips Entertainment

The Project Group  

   

There are still opportunities for your company to sponsor the industry's largest and most important advocacy event. For Unity Dinner sponsorship information, email Jennifer Roush  at the TTIA office.

  

Calendar
 
February 22-23, 2011
Texas Tourism Unity Dinner / Converge on the Capitol
Austin Convention Center in Austin, TX

April 27-28, 2011
Texas Travel Fair
Arlington, TX

May 7-15, 2011
Travel & Tourism Week

June 12-17, 2011

Travel & Tourism College
San Marcos, TX