Industry Insider

Certification Program Trains Businesses in COVID-Safe Practices

Visit Albuquerque encourages its Partners to earn certification through the New Mexico Safe Certified program, an initiative that trains business owners and managers in COVID-Safe Practices. The program offers free, on-demand training courses for the following types of hospitality businesses:

• Hotels and lodging
• Restaurants
• Golf courses
• Tour operators
• Retailers
• Spas and salons

Training courses for other types of businesses will be added in the future. The goal of the training program is to make New Mexico the safest state in the Southwest for residents, employees, customers and guests. Each course consists of short video lessons that review the COVID-Safe Practices (CSPs) issued by the State of New Mexico, providing guidance on best practices, compliance and implementation. After completing the course, the viewer takes a brief quiz to ensure understanding. A hospitality business can earn NM Safe Certification when its management team has completed all required courses and passed the quizzes.

Tourism-related businesses that have earned NM Safe Certification are listed in a directory and receive other benefits, including:

• The right to display the NM Safe Certified seal on your website and decal at your location.
• Access to the NM Safe Certified Toolkit, which includes useful samples and templates.
• Admission to the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Procurement Collective.
• A digital advertising credit worth up to $2,000 toward the purchase of a digital media package with New Mexico magazine through Jan. 31, 2021.

To start the certification process, visit NMSafeCertified.org.

Just as the New Mexico Safe Certified program provides a way for businesses to demonstrate a commitment to following CSPs, the New Mexico Safe Promise allows individuals to make a personal pledge to keep themselves and others safe. Individuals who make the New Mexico Safe Promise commit to: 

• Use a face covering while in public. 
• Stay six feet from others while in public.
• Stay home when sick.
• Wash their hands frequently and follow recommended hygiene practices. 
• Participate in any COVID-19 related training made available at their workplace. 

To make the New Mexico Safe Promise, visit NMSafePromise.org.
 

Albuquerque Travel & Tourism Recovery Roadmap

Visit Albuquerque has developed an online Recovery Roadmap to provide the local hospitality industry with guidance. This roadmap is a curated collection of information from trusted industry experts and official government agencies. It will be continually updated as we receive additional information, resources, advisories and regulations. Think of it as your guide for how to navigate the road to recovery.

View the roadmap now.

Visit ABQ Releases FY21 Q1 Marketing Plan

At Visit Albuquerque, we recognize that in order to help our city recover from the impact of COVID-19, our role must expand beyond marketing and sales. In addition to promoting the city’s culture, history, scenic beauty, events and attractions in the upcoming year, we also must instill confidence in travelers, build support among residents to welcome visitors, and collaborate with the local hospitality industry in adopting new practices and protocols designed to ensure safe visitation.

As we prepare for FY21, uncertainty still surrounds travel restrictions and reopening timelines, continued limitations on group gatherings and events, and possible future resurgences of COVID-19. All of these factors will influence our approach to effectively marketing Albuquerque as a destination.

Taking this fluctuating environment into consideration, Visit Albuquerque will develop our marketing strategy on a quarterly basis in FY21 rather than releasing an annual marketing plan. 

See our FY21 Q1 Marketing plan at VisitABQ.org/fy21plan. Contact Janice Pomeroy at pomeroy@visitabq.org for the login information to view. 

Visit ABQ Hosting Virtual Open Houses & Webinars  

During this period of uncertainty, Visit Albuquerque has been hosting a series of Virtual Open Houses and webinars. Because in-person rallies and events that have been hallmarks of both Global Meetings Industry Day and National Travel and Tourism Week in years past were not an option this year, Visit Albuquerque wanted to celebrate with Partners in a way that continued moving the industry forward with early recovery discussions. The team at Visit ABQ hosted two Virtual Open Houses to celebrate both of these industry events. 

If you tuned in, we hope you enjoyed the programs and found your time well spent. If you weren't able to join us, we have included a link to the recording below along with some relevant Partner resources.

You can find links to register and watch all of the pre-recorded webinars, as well as other training and educational opportunities at VisitABQ.org/training. 

Visit Albuquerque Creates Digital Puzzles with User-Generated Content 

With an overwhelmingly positive response to the release of four initial digital jigsaw puzzles, Visit Albuquerque announced the creation of four additional digital puzzles to be created exclusively with crowd-sourced images. A total of 57 images were submitted, and the winning four were selected and announced at the beginning of June. 

The new puzzles can be found and completed here.  

Update on Extension of Partnership Periods and Renewal Invoices 

The hospitality industry in Albuquerque and worldwide has experienced extraordinary challenges this year. Our goal at Visit Albuquerque was to ensure that our Partners did not face these challenges alone. We hope the marketing tips in our free on-demand training videos, the resources in our Recovery Roadmap, and the information in our Virtual Open Houses and email updates have been useful for you and your team during the past few months.

Recognizing the impact of COVID-19 on our Partners’ business operations, Visit Albuquerque decided not to invoice any Partner for dues in April, May or June of 2020, and we also extended every Partner’s membership expiration date by three months. We sincerely hope our adjustments offered much-needed relief at a time when you needed it most. Thanks to these changes, each dues-paying Partner received a 15-month membership period instead of 12 months.
 
In July, we will begin invoicing Partners again. If your Partnership expiration date was extended to September, you will be among those who receive an invoice in July.
 
Partner dues payments are an important source of revenue for Visit Albuquerque, and they help support our mission to bring leisure travelers, meetings, conventions and sporting events to our city. However, we recognize that even with the adjustments we have made, some of you may have additional needs. If that is the case, please contact Novella Trujillo, Partner Services Manager, to discuss your situation. Novella is available at novella@visitabq.org or 505-222-4307.
 
We appreciate the partnership of more than 700 businesses and organizations throughout the Albuquerque area. Our team is working hard every day to make your business successful by bringing visitors to our city and to your door.
 

49th Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta®

By now, you’ve no doubt heard the news that the 49th Albuquerque International BalloonFiesta will be postponed until 2021. All of us at Visit Albuquerque share your disappointment.

On June 22, Visit Albuquerque issued the following statement from President & CEO Tania Armenta regarding the decision to postpone this year’s event:

"The Balloon Fiesta is a world-renowned and world-class event, and we are fortunate that it calls Albuquerque home. The Balloon Fiesta plays a vital role in our community as a significant economic driver and brings remarkable color and joy to our state annually. It’s hard to imagine the fall season in New Mexico without the Balloon Fiesta. We look forward to welcoming visitors back to our city to join residents in celebrating the 49th event in 2021."

Although the Balloon Fiesta cannot happen this year, Visit Albuquerque will continue to promote the year-round ballooning opportunities in our destination as a fun and safe activity for visitors to our city. As the hot air ballooning capital of the world, Albuquerque offers perfect weather for an exhilarating flight almost any time of year. 

Visit Albuquerque is committed to leading our industry through recovery in a responsible way through promotion of safe tourism and visitation. To learn more please visit our Recovery Roadmap and FY21 Marketing Plan.

For more information on the postponement of the 49th Albuquerque International BalloonFiesta, please visit their website and FAQs.

Featured Partners

Mary Bader, Realtor 

Mary Bader expertly handles your entire real estate transaction from contract to close. When you choose us as your Partner, you are not just getting a trusted, respected realtor – you are getting local experts to assist you. Let’s get started with a free consultation to discuss your real estate plans.

Learn more at Mary.AlbuquerqueHomeFinders.com. 

DoABQ

Calling local brewery, entertainment and restaurant businesses to participate in a digital passport program developed to help local businesses with no cost to participate. The Unbelievable Pass will be the premier deals pass for Albuquerque and the perfect cure for cabin fever.

Email support@doabq.com for more information.