INDUSTRY INSIDER

January 2019

Partner Events
News
Partner Opportunities
Promote & Share
Partner Kudos
Featured Partners
Resources

HELLO, VISIT ALBUQUERQUE PARTNERS

It’s so hard to believe how quickly these first few weeks of 2019 have flown by. As we said farewell to 2018 with many successes and rich growth, we know we have a solid foundation with which to jump into the new year. It is refreshing to reflect on what can be achieved through collaboration, thanks to partners like you.

This ever-growing industry provides us all with abundant opportunity, and we at Visit ABQ are eager to continue to accelerate and adapt to new technology, competition and consumer behavior.

The new year welcomed a new administration in Santa Fe, and we are thrilled to welcome back our friend and strong industry leader, Jen Schroer as the Cabinet Secretary-Designate of the New Mexico Tourism Department. We look forward to working with her and her team to build on the success of the recent past and partner on new cooperative opportunities to continue growing the industry in NM.

We were also thrilled to kick off 2019 with Albuquerque included on AFAR’s list of Where to Go in 2019 along with a Jan. 14 feature article by the Albuquerque Journal recognizing the industry for its role as a continuing bright spot. If you missed the article, you’ll find it here.

We’re jumping in to the first few months of the year without hesitation, as you’ll read in this issue of Industry Insider. And we look forward to working with you to ensure a very successful 2019!

Tania Armenta
President & CEO
Visit Albuquerque

Partner Events

ACE

New to Albuquerque or the hospitality industry? Maybe you are simply looking to enhance your customer service skills. If so, join our ACE class! ACE is a three-and-a-half-hour course that explores things to do and see in the Albuquerque area as well as dos and don'ts of customer service. Cost is $25 per student. Contact 505-222-4338 or email PartnerEvents@VisitABQ.org to register. The next ACE opportunities are:

Monday, January 28, 2019
Holiday Inn & Suites Albuquerque Airport
1501 Sunport Pl. SE
Registration Begins: 11:45 am/Class Begins: 12:00 pm

Monday, February 11, 2019
Spur Line Supply Co.
800 20th Street
Registration Begins: 11:45 am/Class Begins: 12:00 pm

Note: Lunch is not provided

Partner Orientation

We encourage you to attend our upcoming Partner Orientation where the staff of the Visit ABQ Development Department will guide you through our website and provide you with valuable information on how you can take advantage of the many benefits you receive with your partnership. Orientation is a valuable tool for new partners and a great refresher for long-time partners. Although complimentary, you must register in advance as space is limited. Please call 505-222-4307 or email PartnerEvents@VisitABQ.org.

Orientations are held the 3rd Wednesday of the month. The next Partner Orientation is:

Wednesday, February 20, 2019
Visit Albuquerque Office
20 First Plaza Galeria - Ste. 601
9:30 am - 11:00 am

News

Welcome, Cabinet Secretary Jen Schroer

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham has appointed Jen Schroer, a former president and chief executive of the New Mexico Hospitality Association, to serve as New Mexico’s tourism secretary under the new administration. Jen Schroer is an experienced tourism industry professional and marketing and public relations strategist, who understands the importance of strategic partnerships with executive leaders to advance professional brands. With over a decade of experience working in tourism and economic development, Jen knows how to build brand credibility and create meaningful connections with people to best achieve organizational goals and grow regional economies. Learn more about Cabinet Secretary Schroer at NewMexico.org.

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham and Cabinet Secretary Schroer have indicated their intent to expand marketing of New Mexico as evidenced by the proposed $6 million increase in the Governor's FY20 budget.

We are working as an active member of the New Mexico Hospitality Association to advocate for the increase at the legislature, and we invite you to make your voice heard as well.

Thanks to Rebecca Latham for Her Service as Cabinet Secretary of the Tourism Department

As we welcome a new Cabinet Secretary to the State Tourism Department, we also say farewell to Rebecca Latham after her four years of successful service in the role. In January 2015 Governor Susana Martinez appointed Rebecca as the Cabinet Secretary of the Tourism Department, and under her leadership the department achieved success in continuing to expand the New Mexico True brand and thereby increasing visitation throughout New Mexico.

Rebecca was named the 2017 National Mother of the Year by American Mothers, Inc., and has now been named CEO of the Washington, D.C. nonprofit. Her new title and position with American Mothers went into effect January 1.

We thank Rebecca for her dedication to the tourism industry in New Mexico and wish her great success in her new role.

Thank You for Your Contributions to the Albuquerque Heading Home Program

At our recent Quarterly Meeting & Holiday Party at the Marriott Pyramid North, we collected donations for the Albuquerque Heading Home initiative, a collaboration of public, private and non-profit organizations who united in 2011 to end homelessness for individuals who have been chronically homeless and are medically vulnerable.

Thanks to your generous support, we were able to donate six 55-gallon sized bags full of winter hats, gloves, socks, scarves and warm clothes, multiple boxes of food, and many cleaning supplies and toiletries to the cause.

Fraternal Executives FAM Trip in Albuquerque

This month, we hosted a familiarization trip (FAM) for 10 executive directors of national fraternal organizations. All the participants were members of the Professional Fraternal Executives Association. This highly qualified group of decision makers had the opportunity to experience a few of Albuquerque’s signature attractions, including the ABQ BioPark, Anderson-Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum and a hot air balloon ride with World Balloon.

ABQ Sports Commission Attends 75th American Baseball Coaches Association Annual Meeting

The Albuquerque Sports Commission, a division of Visit Albuquerque, has kicked off 2019 by attending the 75th American Baseball Coaches Association Annual Meeting in Dallas, TX, January 3-6. This was the first time the Sports Commission attended this event and we are eager to continue to network and develop leads for regional and national business that can utilize the new Albuquerque Regional Sports Complex.

Visit ABQ Partners with Other Cities to Host Second Annual Client Event During PCMA’s Convening Leaders in Pittsburgh

Visit Albuquerque partnered with Visit Madison and the Providence CVB to host a second annual client event during PCMA’s Convening Leaders in Pittsburgh, PA. Twenty potential clients joined us for breakfast to learn why Albuquerque is the ideal Southwestern destination for meetings and conferences.

Make-A-Wish New Mexico Seeks Getaway Packages

Make-A-Wish New Mexico is asking for the tourism industry’s support for their 2019 charity event, which helps the organization provide life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses across the state. This year, Wine & Wishes will be held at 6:00 pm on Friday, April 12 at the Golf & Event Center at Balloon Fiesta Park in Albuquerque.

For more details and to make a donation, visit NewMexico.org.

Mark Your Calendar for This Upcoming One Albuquerque Event

Mark your calendar for Thrive in Albuquerque: How to Start & Sustain Your Business, to be held on January 30 at 5:00 pm at Glorieta Station, with a cocktail hour immediately following at Hotel Andaluz. Learn more and RSVP at www.oneabqjan30event.com/.

Submit Your Zia for Inclusion in the IPCC’s New Exhibit

Do you have a Zia tattoo, logo, or item that you hold dear? The Indian Pueblo Cultural Center is calling for New Mexicans to submit their Zias to be included in its new exhibit, Ours: The Zia Sun. Submit your entry at IndianPueblo.org/OurZia or by using #OurZia when posting to a public Instagram or Facebook page.

Mark Your Calendar for this Series of Small Business Workshops and Events

Mark your calendar for a series of interactive small business events, presented by Square with Visa, the City of Albuquerque, Accion, the American Indian Chamber of Commerce, the Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce, Three Sisters Kitchen, African American Performing Arts Center, the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center and the Rail Yards Market of Albuquerque. Learn more about the events and the schedule at the Growth and Business in ABQ website.

Share Your Priorities and Needs with the New Mexico Tourism Department

Today is your last chance to submit! The New Mexico Tourism Department is working to increase communication with members of New Mexico’s tourism industry, and better understand tourism businesses’ visions, priorities and needs. Take the survey here to share what is important to you.

Partner Opportunities

Featured Partner Benefit: Albuquerque Concierge Excellence (ACE) Hospitality Training Class

When we treat our customers and visitors the way we should, they will leave our community with a sense of welcome, and hopefully spread the word on what a wonderful city Albuquerque is.

This monthly, three-hour class:

Explores things to do and see in and around Albuquerque,
Teaches the do’s and don’ts in customer service, and
Reviews how to handle dissatisfied customers.

At the end of each class, graduates will be equipped with tools necessary to provide the best possible service to your guests.

This interactive class is helpful for all positions to learn how you can better each client and visitor experience.

To view a brief video, click here.

The next classes are:

Monday, January 28, 2019
Holiday Inn & Suites Albuquerque Airport
1501 Sunport Pl. SE
Registration Begins: 11:45 am/Class Begins: 12:00 pm

Monday, February 11, 2019
Spur Line Supply Co.
800 20th Street

Registration Begins: 11:45 am/Class Begins: 12:00 pm. Lunch is not provided.

The cost is $25.00 per student and includes an Albuquerque Experience Pass for free admission to 17 local attractions. View the list of attractions.

Pre-registration and payment are required. To register, or if you have questions, please contact Jessica Turpin at PartnerEvents@VisitABQ.org or 505-222-4338.

If you are an attraction partner and would like to host an ACE class, let Jessica know.

Send us Your Valentine’s Day Packages and Deals

We want to include you in our upcoming Valentine’s Day promotional efforts. If you are offering a Valentine’s Day or special romance package or deal, we want to know about it and share it! Packages and deals created around a holiday or a season are a great way to encourage visitors to your business. Valentine’s Day creates a unique opportunity to do just that.

Submit a package or a coupon to have your offer promoted on our webpage, which is highly ranked on search engines and receives an average of 140,000 unique visitors per month.

Tell Us What’s New

Here at Visit Albuquerque, we’re always developing new marketing initiatives. We want to talk about you! As we jump into the New Year, we’re collecting as much information as possible, so we can share what’s new in ABQ in 2019.

Do you have an upcoming anniversary? Did you just remodel? New name? New tour? New feature? New photos or videos? New concept? New specialty dish? Have you moved, or are about to? Grand opening? Send anything and everything to Media@VisitABQ.org.

Are You Offering Deals or Discounts for Furloughed Employees?

Thousands of furloughed federal employees throughout Albuquerque are being affected by the government shutdown. Some establishments, such as the ABQ BioPark, the Albuquerque Museum and the Anderson-Abruzzo International Balloon Museum are offering free admission to for furloughed employees during this time.

Are you offering a deal or discount for furloughed employees? Let us know, so we can help spread the word and help out our fellow community members. Send information about your federal employee offerings and deals to Media@VisitABQ.org.

Promote & Share

ABQ in the News

Check out VisitABQ.org/GoodNews for this season's biggest stories about ABQ.

Local Media

» Albuquerque Journal - Tourism Still a Bright Spot

National Media

» (ICYMI) AFAR - Where to Go in 2019

» Outside - 5 Road Trips You Need to Take This Winter

» Food Network - 50 States of Dog-Friendly Restaurants

» Reader’s Digest - The Ultimate Guide to the Right Hostess Gifts for Every Occasion

» AARP - Affordable U.S. Destinations for 2019

Partner Kudos

River of Lights Voted One of the 10 Best Botanical Garden Holiday Light Displays in the Country

Congratulations to the ABQ BioPark Botanic Garden on their recent ranking of one of the country’s 10 best Botanical Garden Holiday Light Displays in USA Today’s 10Best. Our very own River of Lights was voted No. 8 on the list. See the full article here.

Ten Thousand Waves Named One of the Best Hotels in the U.S.

Congratulations to Ten Thousand Waves, the Santa Fe destination named one of the best hotels in the country in Fodor Travel’s Best Hotels in the USA list for 2019. See the full article here.

Featured Partner

5^th Annual People’s Choice Best Local Brand Award Contest! Enter BEFORE March 15, 2019

If you have a great local brand, then you should enter. No Cost to Enter. Deadline for entries is March 15, 2019. Grand prizes valued at $6,825.00 will be awarded to one commercial business and one nonprofit organization at the B2B Expo Award Ceremony on April 23, 2019. Sign up Now and Share YOUR Brand.

Learn More