Industry Insider

June 2024

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Things are heating up in Albuquerque as summer gets into full swing. Exciting events are happening throughout the city, and you can keep up with all of them on our ABQ365 events calendar. Don’t forget to submit your own events to be included.

This month, we celebrate Pride Month in Albuquerque. Our city’s diverse and vibrant population makes it one of the most welcoming vacation destinations in the Southwest, which we highlight and share throughout the year.

This issue of Industry Insider includes a call for Board nominations, information about a new digital savings pass, and opportunities for Partners to get more involved in Visit Albuquerque.

Thank you for being a Visit Albuquerque Partner!

News

Visit Albuquerque Board Nominations Are Open

As a partner of Visit Albuquerque, you are encouraged to actively determine the Board leadership of this organization by participating in the annual selection of nominees for our Board of Directors. At our Annual Membership Meeting in September 2024, we will elect a slate of nominees for the fiscal year 2025.

We encourage you to participate in the process by identifying Partners, including yourself, whom you recommend being considered as Board nominees. Only Visit Albuquerque Partners in good standing are eligible to serve on the Board.

There are three open seats for the FY25 Board from the following industry categories:

two seats; Hospitality/Lodging with 15,000 feet of meeting space
one seat; General Business

One of the Hospitality/Lodging seats and the General Business seat are held by incumbents who qualify for a second term.

Qualifications and Expectations for Board Directors:

Business or organization must be a Visit Albuquerque Partner in good standing
Passionate about Albuquerque, the destination
The primary decision maker of their company
Willing to serve on a high-functioning, working Board
Available for committee assignments, as needed
Able to attend Visit Albuquerque events
Available on the fourth Tuesday of every other month for a Board meeting (11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.) and one annual all-day board retreat
Desire to work hard toward best possible leadership in the hospitality industry

Click here for more details of the nominations process, and submit your nominations here.

Submit a Coupon for Balloon Fiesta Visitors

Balloon Fiesta will be here before you know it, and we want to include you in our promotional efforts. Visit Albuquerque is publishing our annual City Guide that includes coupons, a full calendar of events and helpful information about things to do and see in Albuquerque. This special booklet is distributed to more than 25,000 visitors during Balloon Fiesta. Including a coupon in this Balloon Fiesta City Guide is a great way to introduce your business to new visitors and drive increased business.

Click here to submit your coupon! In order to be included in the booklet, please fill out the form below no later than July 19, 2024. There is no charge to include your coupon! If you have any questions, please contact marketing@visitabq.org or 505-222-4314.

Visit Albuquerque Launches Digital Savings Pass

Visit Albuquerque has launched a free digital savings pass with coupons for restaurants, attractions and shopping. Visitors and locals can download the pass and score in-person and online deals throughout the city. To learn more about the pass, click here. If you would like to submit a coupon for the pass, click here.

Sales Team Attends Military Reunion Planners Summit

Senior National Sales Manager Misty Jester attended the Military Reunion Network Summit June 21-24 in Virginia. This summit is a tradeshow for military reunion planners, destination marketing organizations and hotels from across the country to network together, celebrate veterans and discuss the possibility of future reunions in our destinations. Misty met and networked with more than 40 reunion organizations.

Visit Albuquerque Attends Meeting Professionals International Event

Visit Albuquerque Sales Team members Tabitha Stallworth and Laura Kesselman represented Visit Albuquerque at Meeting Professionals International 2024 World Education Congress Conference May 20-22 in Louisville, Kentucky. MPI reported 1,900 in-person attendees, including 700 meeting planners. The team hosted 20 one-on-one appointments including HPN Global, Synergos AMC and BMO Financial Group. They had the opportunity to connect with planners while networking and during educational sessions to share all the new things happening in the city.

Laura and Tabitha sporting Albuquerque Mariachi uniforms at the Louisville Slugger Museum during the opening reception.

Visit Albuquerque Presents at National PRSA Travel & Tourism Conference

Director of Communications & Public Relations Brenna Moore served on a panel to discuss sports tourism at the recent PRSA (Public Relations Society of America) Travel & Tourism Conference, held June 2-5 in Greenville, South Carolina. Titled “Harnessing Sports Tourism as a PR Powerplay,” the panel explored the game-changing strategies of three destination marketing organizations and how sports tourism catapulted their markets into the spotlight. Visit Albuquerque was joined by Tourism Australia and Visit Indy, and spoke to recent and impactful sporting events including the USATF Indoor Championships, USA Cycling, Savannah Bananas, the 2019 National Senior Games and the wealth of youth and amateur sporting events held in the city.

Inaugural Sun Country Flight From Minneapolis Lands in ABQ

Sun Country Airlines is now flying a nonstop flight between the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport and the Albuquerque Sunport. The inaugural flight took place June 19. The twice-weekly nonstop service is seasonal.

Nominate a New Mexico True Hero

If you know someone who has gone above and beyond to serve their community this year, nominate them for a New Mexico True Hero award. To be eligible, the nominee's service must have taken place between July 2023 and June 2024. Nominations are open until June 30. Nominate someone here.

Project SEARCH Annual Meeting Presents Opportunity for Albuquerque

The Project SEARCH Annual Meeting is coming to the Albuquerque Convention Center, July 15-19. Project SEARCH is a school-to-work program that helps students with disabilities transition into the workforce and adulthood. This prestigious event will bring over 800 attendees to our vibrant city, presenting a fantastic opportunity for your business, especially in the Downtown area.

With the influx of visitors Downtown and in surrounding areas during that time, we encourage you to welcome the attendees, and present these visitors with the best of Albuquerque. Post this welcome sign in your window or storefront to greet attendees as they explore Albuquerque during their free time. Let’s warmly welcome Project SEARCH and showcase the best of Albuquerque!

Upcoming Meetings and Sports Events

In July 2024, more than 6,000 people will participate in meetings and sports events booked and supported by Visit Albuquerque. These events will generate an estimated $3.45 million in direct spend, and some of the noteworthy events include:

Dates	Group Name	Est. Attendance	Meeting Location
July 3	Sun Country Golf House 2024 Sandia Junior Event	264	Local Facility
July 9-11	Sun Country Golf House 2024 NM/WT Junior Amateur Championship	248	Local Facility
July 15-19	Project SEARCH Annual Meeting	800	Albuquerque Convention Center
July 17-21	USA Archery JOAD Target Nationals	2,640	Balloon Fiesta Park
July 25-27	New Mexico Activities Association Interscholastic Athletics/Activities State Conference	2,000	Albuquerque Convention Center
July 25-28	T’ai Chi Chih Teachers’ Conference	100	Albuquerque Marriott Pyramid North

Bolded events are citywide events, defined as events that require a minimum of 400 room nights on peak, and will take place across the city in July. Each of these events take place in one part of town, but people who attend them will visit businesses throughout the city for shopping, dining and entertainment.

Let's come together to make their stay memorable, showcasing the best of Albuquerque’s hospitality. Your welcoming spirit can contribute to a positive experience for these visitors and foster a lasting impression of our community.