Industry Insider

May 2024

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We are wrapping up a successful spring season. With school out for the summer, we look forward to more exciting events throughout the city and welcoming more visitors this summer.

Each May, we celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Our city is home to many great ways to explore and learn about the impact Asian American and Pacific Islander culture has had on our city.

This issue of Industry Insider includes details on recent tradeshows and conferences, along with an exciting update on Historic Old Town.

Thank you for being a Visit Albuquerque Partner!

News

Visit Albuquerque Meets with a Global Audience at IPW

Visit Albuquerque attended IPW, the premier inbound travel trade show in the United States that connects travel destinations with tour operators, travel agents, inbound buyers and media, in Los Angeles from May 5-8. Our Visit Albuquerque delegation, alongside members of the New Mexico Tourism Department, Visit Las Cruces, the Sandia Peak Aerial Tramway and Visit Gallup, engaged in productive meetings and networking opportunities, showcasing our unique attractions and hospitality. The event was an important platform for promoting our city to a global audience, strengthening existing partnerships and creating new connections within the travel industry. We are excited about the positive response and look forward to the opportunities that arise from our participation.

Sports Commission Attends Sports ETA Symposium, Wins Award

Members of the Albuquerque Sports Commission, a division of Visit Albuquerque, attended the Sports Events and Tourism Association Symposium April 21-25 in Portland, Oregon. The Sports Commission and USA Cycling were honored by Sports ETA with the Event Partnership of the Year award, in the category for cities with populations above 500,000. They were one of 10 awardees honored among 800 Sports ETA member organizations. The award recognized the partnership between the Albuquerque Sports Commission and USA Cycling for their innovative collaboration with the City of Albuquerque and Bernalillo County to hold the 2023 USA Cycling Collegiate Road National Championships Criterium event in conjunction with the Rio Grande Valley Celtic Festival. As the championship’s culminating event, the Criterium was open to spectators and featured live national championship racing and awards ceremonies alongside a celebration of Celtic culture and traditions that featured live music, food vendors and heavy athletics competitions.

Posing with the Sports ETA Award for Event Partnership of the Year are, L to R, Visit ABQ Director of Sales, Services & Sports Angie Jepsen; Visit ABQ Senior Sports Development Manager Angela Gandy; and Team Travel Source Director of Customer Service Beth Matran.

Visit Albuquerque Attends HelmsBriscoe Conference

Misty Jester, Visit Albuquerque Senior National Sales Manager, attended the HelmsBriscoe Annual Business Conference & Partner Fair from May 15-17. This conference is designed to bring together top industry talent to network, learn and collaborate. It provided an excellent opportunity to engage with hundreds of HelmsBriscoe representatives from across the country, strengthening existing relationships and discussing both current and future business opportunities. The event was a valuable platform for showcasing Albuquerque's offerings and ensuring our city's continued prominence in the minds of key industry players. We are enthusiastic about the connections made and the future business that will benefit our community and our industry.

Visit Albuquerque Launches New Virtual Tour

Visit Albuquerque has launched a new virtual tour that allows people to explore panoramic aerial and street-level views of key neighborhoods and points of interest. Visit Albuquerque partnered with the virtual tour company SKYNAV to create the tour. The stunning high-resolution 360° images, combined with videos, informational text boxes and interactive walk-throughs, allow website visitors to explore the city from the sky and the ground before ever setting foot in Albuquerque. The interactive tour was created as an inspirational tool for visitors interested in Albuquerque to begin planning their trip. Explore the tour at VisitABQ.org/virtualtour.

NMHA Governor’s Conference on Hospitality and Tourism

Hospitality and tourism professionals gathered at the Albuquerque Convention Center earlier this month for the Governor’s Conference on Hospitality and Tourism presented by New Mexico True. Hosted by the New Mexico Hospitality Association, attendees had the chance to network with exhibitors and attend breakout sessions on everything from digital branding to meeting planning.

During the conference, Visit Albuquerque team members served on two panels. Social Media Manager Lara Brockway and Director of Communications and Public Relations Brenna Moore spoke about working with social media influencers. Brenna was joined by Director of Marketing Rachel Howard and Vice President of Marketing and Communications Ceela McElveny for a presentation on how stories and storytellers help enhance a brand and connect with audiences.

Visit Albuquerque President and CEO Inducted into Tourism Hall of Fame

Five legends of the New Mexico hospitality industry were inducted into the New Mexico Tourism Hall of Fame on May 14 during the Governor’s Conference on Hospitality and Tourism. The Tourism Hall of Fame is the highest level of recognition for the state’s most distinguished tourism industry leaders. Among this year’s inductees was Tania Armenta, who has worked for Visit Albuquerque for 26 years and has served as the organization’s President and CEO since 2016. The other prestigious inductees included Carol Wight, CEO of the New Mexico Restaurant Association; Johnny Riley, formerly with Bowlin Travel Centers; former state Tourism Secretary Monique Jacobsen of Monique & Associates; and Paul Margetson from Hotel Santa Fe. Congratulations to these dedicated professionals!

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.

Historic Old Town Joins New Mexico MainStreet Network

Historic Old Town Albuquerque has joined the New Mexico MainStreet Network as part of the Urban Neighborhood Commercial Corridor Initiative. UNCC is one of NMMS’s project-based initiatives that provides professional technical assistance to community projects that produce direct economic development outcomes. Old Town Albuquerque’s district image development and branding project aims to rejuvenate the area’s commercial and cultural appeal through a strategic rebranding initiative. The new branding will guide the visual aesthetics, marketing strategies, and overall narrative of the district, enhancing its profile as a premier destination for locals and tourists.

Upcoming Meetings and Sports Events

In June 2024, more than 10,700 people will participate in meetings and sports events booked and supported by Visit Albuquerque. These events will generate an estimated $4.5 million in direct spend, and some of the noteworthy events include:

Dates	Group Name	Est. Attendance	Meeting Location
June 2-7	Basis International TechCon	100	Sheraton Albuquerque Uptown
June 6-8	2024 Great Southwest Track & Field Championships	1,650	UNM Campus
June 7-9	United States Specialty Sports Association State Baseball Championships	4,356	Jennifer Riordan Spark Kindness Sports Complex
June 11-20	Triple Crown Sports Pathway Games Albuquerque	3,268	Jennifer Riordan Spark Kindness Sports Complex
June 17-26	New Mexico Association of Student Councils Vision Conference	974	Local High Schools
June 27-30	Foundation for Ichthyosis & Related Skin Types National Conference	400	Hotel Albuquerque

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 June. 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.