November 2021 Industry Insider

HELLO, VISIT ALBUQUERQUE PARTNERS,

As the last leaves fall in the Bosque and the temperature continues to drop, we’re ready to wrap up 2021 and welcome 2022.

Be sure to mark your calendars for our Holiday Party, Tuesday, Dec. 14, at 5 p.m., and register below. We’re looking forward to seeing you all there to celebrate the season, the new year ahead and each other!

We are eager to start 2022 strong, and remind and invite all of you, our Partners, to get involved and take advantage of all that we have to offer. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us with any questions or needs.

In this edition of Industry Insider, you’ll find the latest information about our 2021 Small Business Gift Guide, a call for 2022 coupon submissions and more.

As always, thank you for your continued partnership.

Tania Armenta
President & CEO
Visit Albuquerque

Events

RSVP for Visit Albuquerque’s Holiday Party

Tuesday, Dec. 14 | 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Indian Pueblo Cultural Center | Chaco Ballroom
2401 12th St. NW, Albuquerque

You are invited to join the Visit Albuquerque Board of Directors, staff members, industry VIPs and our Partners in the hospitality community for a casual holiday get-together featuring hors d’oeuvres, drinks and door prizes.

In the spirit of giving this holiday season, we will collect donations during our holiday event to assist our neighbors in need. Please bring nonperishable food items or warm clothing such as socks, gloves or scarves to contribute to our collection. Thank you for your generosity!

There is no charge to attend, but please register by Dec. 8.

RSVP HERE

News

Visit Albuquerque Works to Promote Albuquerque’s Small Businesses

In an effort to support local small businesses throughout the holidays, Visit Albuquerque created a 2021 Holiday Gift Guide highlighting local gift ideas, including eight categories and 19 subcategories. In addition to the guide, we’ve already begun weekly social media promotions on our @VisitABQ and @ABQ365 social platforms that began at the beginning of November and will lead up to Small Business Saturday. Click here to see the gift guide.

Visit Albuquerque Wraps Up Ad Campaign Launched to Support Tourism Recovery

In late March, the City of Albuquerque announced that it would invest $1.5 million to help boost the recovery of the local tourism industry. Visit Albuquerque worked closely with the City and the Lodgers’ Tax Advisory Board to manage $1 million of the investment to promote Albuquerque as a top destination for travelers and to promote tourism recovery.

The City-funded advertising campaign launched on June 1 with messages that focus on outdoor recreation; arts and culture; and distinctive Albuquerque experiences, events and attractions. The ads generated more than 205 million impressions through the end of the campaign in mid-October.

Submit Your Coupons for 2022

2022 is right around the corner, and we want to include you in our promotional efforts throughout the new year. Every year, Visit Albuquerque publishes a printed coupon booklet that is distributed throughout the year at a wide variety of events, conventions and conferences.

With this submission, your coupon will also be included on your VisitABQ.org business listing and on our highly visited coupons and deals webpage.

Including a coupon on our website and in our printed booklet is a great way to introduce your business to new visitors and drive increased business throughout 2022. There is no charge for our Partners to include a coupon.

Click here to submit your coupon! Please fill out the form below no later than Dec. 22, 2021. There is no charge to include your coupon! If you have any questions, please contact Janice Pomeroy at Pomeroy@visitabq.org or 505-222-4301.

Submit your coupon.

New Mexico Business Recovery Grant Program

The State of New Mexico is awarding $200 million in grant funding that can be used to cover businesses’ rent, lease, or mortgage payments and to help businesses rehire and rebuild their workforce. The program is administered by the New Mexico Finance Authority (NMFA) and the average grant has been $50,000. The deadline to apply is Dec. 7. Learn more here.

Visit Albuquerque Sales Team Attends the 2021 IMEX Tradeshow

From Nov. 9-11, Senior National Sales Manager Misty Jester and VP of Sales, Services & Sports Kristin McGrath represented Visit Albuquerque at the 2021 IMEX Tradeshow in Las Vegas, Nev. They had the opportunity to network and meet with many global meeting planners from their Visit Albuquerque booth. Misty and Kristin also had 27 scheduled one-on-one appointments with current and potential clients and the opportunity to talk about Albuquerque with people as they walked the tradeshow floor.

Albuquerque Sports Commission Attends Sports ETA Symposium

The Albuquerque Sports Commission, a division of Visit Albuquerque, attended the Sports Events & Tourism Association (SportsETA) Symposium Oct. 24-29 in Birmingham, Ala. They had 34 one-on-one appointments with event organizers and National Governing Bodies of Sports. They also had the opportunity to participate in the SportsETA Women’s Summit and Educational Sessions.

Holiday and Seasonal Media Opportunities

In an effort to provide opportunities for support during these trying times, the Visit Albuquerque media relations team is continuously working to proactively pitch our Partners for inclusion in national media coverage. With the holidays approaching, the media team is seeing an uptick in media interest regarding the following topics:

Holiday traditions and/or recipes
Information on skiing and ski resorts
New initiatives and announcements for 2022

If you have a service or offering that may be a fit for one of the above media opportunities, please email Media@VisitABQ.org.

New Mexico Bowl Will Showcase Albuquerque to Travelers

Visit Albuquerque has sponsored the New Mexico Bowl every year since it was formed in 2006, taking advantage of the national media exposure to shine a spotlight on the city as a top tourism destination. Millions of people tune in to the game live each year on ESPN-TV and ESPN Radio. Visit Albuquerque will continue its sponsorship in 2021 for the 16th annual New Mexico Bowl. The sponsorship package includes many promotional opportunities including commercials to be broadcast during the game to ESPN’s national audience and commercials on ESPN Radio. In addition, signage for Albuquerque will be visible on the field and in the stands throughout the game, and footage of Albuquerque will air during game breaks, when the game announcers will highlight the city’s beauty and attractions. Traditionally one of the first bowl games in the college football season, the 2021 New Mexico Bowl will take place on Dec. 18 at 12 p.m. MST at University Stadium. The teams invited to play in the bowl game will be announced the week of Dec. 6, and tickets are available at newmexicobowl.com/get-tickets.

Marketing Tips & Tricks

Ways to Engage With Winter Visitors, Owning Your Digital Presence and More

Holiday and winter trip planning is in full swing, and travelers are looking for creative new ideas to add to their trip itineraries. They also happen to be thinking about holiday shopping — a perfect opportunity to highlight your unique products and destination experiences that will help to create repeat customers and brand advocates. Learn how to engage with and welcome winter travelers. See the content links below for details.

Well-managed web content, social media posts and customer reviews contribute significantly to moving your customer to take the next step. Check out these five tips to manage your online content and convert this winter’s visitors.
How does your experience promise translate into something that can be gifted? Packaging your experience for holiday gifting will create long-term, repeat customers and advocates.
These days, tourism businesses have plenty of opportunities to create lasting relationships with new and return customers well before the visitor is in-market. Check out these five tips to convert visitors before they even visit the destination.

Partner Opportunities

Submit Your Events to the ABQ365 Events Calendar

Visit Albuquerque’s ABQ365 Events Calendar offers a great opportunity to promote your events! The one-stop, all-ABQ encompassing calendar features primarily arts, entertainment and culture-focused events, appealing to both locals and visitors.

Event listings offer a great opportunity for additional exposure and promotion, and can help keep your business top-of-mind – for free!

Click here to get started.

Tell Us What’s New

We want to help you share your new initiatives. If you are offering a new type of service or concept, a new product, or have anything else exciting or new going on, we want to hear about it! Send anything and everything to Media@VisitABQ.org.

Promote & Share

ABQ in the News

Local

ABQ365 Highlights Ways to Have a Ghostly Good Time This Halloween - KRQE

National

7 Fun Things To Do in Albuquerque, New Mexico - Go Eat Give
The Spookiest Attraction in Every State - Livability
How to Celebrate Native American Heritage Month in Albuquerque - Multicultural Travel News
Local Color in New Mexico - Orange County Register
Travel: New Mexico Enchants With Balloons, Chiles and a ‘Breaking Bad’ Tour - Orange County Register
5 Charming Towns In New Mexico That Could Be The Star Of A Hallmark Christmas Movie - Travel Awaits

Partner Kudos

River of Lights Nominated in USA Today’s 10Best Readers' Choice Awards for Best Botanical Garden Holiday Lights

USA Today recently launched the 10Best Readers' Choice awards, and the River of Lights is a finalist for Best Botanical Garden Holiday Lights. As 10Best states. Help to keep these Albuquerque gems top-of-mind with future travelers by voting daily until polls close on Monday, Dec. 6. We encourage you to spread the word by sharing these contests with your social networks, colleagues and friends! Vote now.

American Airlines Announces New Daily Non-Stop Service from Albuquerque International Sunport to Austin

On Nov. 16, American Airlines announced the launch of new daily, non-stop service between the Albuquerque International Sunport and Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. This is the second daily service and third airline offering direct service between the two cities and an exciting signal of Albuquerque and New Mexico’s continued recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Service will begin on Jan. 4, 2022.

Visit Albuquerque Partners Nominated for NMRA 2021 Manager of the Year

Congratulations to Kevin C. from D.H. Lescombes Winery & Bistro, Maggie S. from Chello Grill, Ronnie P. from El Pinto Restaurant and Ryan W. from Laguna Burger for being nominated in the New Mexico Restaurant Association’s 2021 Manager of the Year awards program. This award recognizes managers who excelled at keeping daily tasks in check while also navigating through changes in rules and regulations, staffing shortages and fundamental changes in how restaurants do business.

Visit Albuquerque Partners Nominated for NMRA 2021 Restaurant Neighbor Superhero Awards

Congratulations to El Pinto Restaurant and D.H. Lescombes Winery & Bistro for being nominated in the New Mexico Restaurant Association’s Restaurant Neighbor Superheroes Awards. This award recognizes restaurants that are active supporters of their communities and make a positive contribution to the places where they live and work.

Visit Albuquerque Partner Chefs Named NMRA 2021 Chef of the Year Nominees

Congratulations to Christian M. from Heritage Hotels & Resorts, Jason B. from Steel Bender Brewyard, Marc Q. from Hotel Andaluz, Mike P. from Route 66 Casino Hotel and Tristin R. from Hollow Spirits Distillery for being nominated in the New Mexico Restaurant Association’s (NMRA) 2021 Chef of the Year Awards. These New Mexico chefs were nominated by their peers for their superpowers of creativity, leadership, and love of food.

Canteen Brewhouse and Red Door Brewing Named 2021 IPA Challenge Finalists

Congratulations to Canteen Brewhouse and Red Door Brewing for being chosen as finalists in the New Mexico Brewers Guild’s 2021 IPA Challenge!

Visit Albuquerque Partners Named NMRA 2021 Restaurateur of the Year Nominees

Congratulations to Joaquin G. from JC’s New York Pizza Department, Marie C. from Church Street Café, Michael C. from The Library – Sports Bar & Grill, Nick F. from Pizza 9 and Paul and Rita B. from Casa de Benavidez for being nominated in the New Mexico Restaurant Association’s (NMRA) 2021 Restaurateur of the Year Awards. These New Mexico restaurateurs were nominated for excellence in customer service, employee relations, innovation, and for their passion for the restaurant industry.

Featured Partners

Discovery Map of Albuquerque

Partnering with Visit Albuquerque to provide the Official Map of Albuquerque since 2016
Put your business on the map!

Visit Albuquerque Partners get 10% off!
Monthly payment option available.
300,000 printed maps distributed at over 350 locations year-round, including Visit Albuquerque offices, welcome centers, Albuquerque International Sunport, car rental offices, hotels, motels, and RV parks.
25,000+ digital viewers driving traffic to your website.
Full-color ad design free of charge.

Reserve your space now! Call 505-750-0076 or email jeffstevens@discoverymap.com

Unbelievable Pass

Calling local breweries, 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@unbelievablepass.com for more information.

New & Renewing Partners

Thanks To Our New And Renewing Partners

Visit Albuquerque’s Partners help support our mission to market the city as a top-choice destination for leisure travel, meetings and sporting events. Our thanks to the following Partners that recently joined or renewed their partnership with Visit Albuquerque. We appreciate your commitment to making Albuquerque a great place to live and to visit!
New Partners

Hilton Garden Inn and Homewood Suites Albuquerque Downtown
Garden Grille Restaurant & Bar
All Seasons Roofing Albuquerque
Lapis Room
Yogihiker, LLC
Revel Burger
Santa Fe Valet

Renewing Partners

Industry Insider

November 2021