Trade Show Opportunity
On September 8 and 9, 2014, the Destinations Group Travel Show and Educational Seminar is being held at the Saratoga Springs City Center in Saratoga Springs, NY. Mystic Country has reserved a double booth allowing up to five constituent attendees. This group travel show and seminar program enables you to establish contacts with motorcoach/tour operators and international receptive operators and key group leaders. Contact Janice at jputnam@mysticcountry.com if you are interested in partnering for this trade show. Click here for details on this show.
Enter to win a Mystic Country getaway!
Don’t miss this opportunity to win a family getaway to eastern CT and help us spread the word about our Facebook contest. Here’s how you can help…
• Suggested content for a tweet. We will retweet:
“Sign up to win a @MysticCountryCT getaway! http://bit.ly/1qFaW6f #mysticcountry”
• Visit Mystic Country’s Facebook page and share the promo you see at the top of the page. The share button is underneath the promo post.
• OR paste this link (http://bit.ly/1qFaW6f ) into your Facebook page where it says “What’s on your mind?” The content will auto generate.
Click here to see full contest details.
The Way We Worked
A Smithsonian Museum exhibit is coming to eastern Connecticut
Connecticut is having a year-long conversation on work life in the Nutmeg State through the end of 2014. First, get the national story with The Way We Worked, an exhibition created by the Smithsonian Institution that draws on the National Archives’ rich photographic collections to document 130 years of changing work life in America. This FREE exhibit will visit two locations in eastern CT: the Nathan Hale Homestead, (Coventry) from August 9 – September 14, and the Groton Public Library November 8 – December 21, 2014.
Museums, historical associations, libraries, and attractions throughout the eastern district are planning events to enhance The Way We Worked exhibition. To see a listing of major events click here and then click on #5 and #7 for programs near you.
For more information, click here.
USA Today Contest for Best Aquarium in the USA
USA Today announced the nominations for the 10 best Aquariums and Mystic Aquarium made the list. Now is the time to cast votes to assure that Mystic Aquarium becomes a winner and places in the top 10. Click here to vote between now and August 18. You can vote once a day, every day.
Christmas in July
…because Tour Operators are always looking for new places to bring their groups for a charming, unique and fun holiday experience. If you will be decorated for the holidays and are willing to welcome a group for a holiday-focused activity or discount, please let us know. We are putting together weekday holiday itineraries for groups during November and December. Shops, properties of all kinds and merchants groups are encouraged to entice motorcoach and smaller groups with special treats, discounts, holiday-themed lunches or teas, craft activities, etc. Please send your activity or plan to jputnam@mysticcountry.com. The District will promote your destination to group friendly publications and websites.
It’s never too early…
National publications are building their event calendars for 2015 – start sending your events for the New Year to press@mysticcountry.com. Right now it is important to receive events for March and April of 2015. We need – name of event, date, time and location – detail can come later but if you have a sentence or two that gives value added.
Is your business having an anniversary or deserving of special recognition in 2015? Let us know at press@mysticcountry.com so we can submit for the widest distribution possible.
seCTer sponsored webinar for municipal leaders:
Cultivate a Robust Tourism Industry in Your Community
Eastern Regional Tourism District is a member of seCTer and by virtue of being a part of our constituency seCTer has extended an invitation to municipal leaders to attend a webinar on Tuesday, August 12th from 2:00 – 3:30pm at the seCTer offices – 125 Eugene O’Neill Drive, Suite 309, New London. It is said that tourism is the first or second largest “cluster” in Southeastern Connecticut in employment and revenues generated. Click Here for details and speaker credentials. To attend contact – Deborah J. Donovan, Director of Economic Development and Marketing. Phone: 860-437-4650 ext. 202 or ddonovan@secter.org. Hurry, space is limited.
Be heard –
Additional promotional activity includes our weekly Mystic Country Moments segment which airs on WMOS-FM 102.3 The Wolf as well as WELJ 104.7 FM, Q105 105.5 and WLLM 98AM/103.3 FM. If we have your event on our calendar it we will work to feature it in our broadcast. To submit events to our calendar, click here.
Mystic Country also partners with the Windham Region Chamber of Commerce and Windham Arts for their weekly radio program Fun, Festivals and Flair which airs Wednesdays at 5:10 pm on WILI. This program allows guests to go into depth on topics and be a featured guest. Please email press@mysticcountry.com and info@windhamarts.org to learn more.
TIP: BE SOCIAL! It works! Facebook: If we are not following you, visit the Mystic Country Facebook page and send us a message. Tweet, tweet - Are you on Twitter? Mystic Country is. Let us know you are there by saying hi. Type the following into a tweet message: Hi @MysticCountryCT Easy as that and we will follow you back and help promote whatever you are doing. Please note if you want to be sure we see an important tweet add @MysticCountryCT at the end of your message.
The Eastern Regional Tourism District is also on Instagram. Follow us on your mobile device and explore eastern Connecticut one photo at a time. Handle: mysticcountryct. See something beautiful you want to share? If it’s in our region tag it #MysticCountry.
Do you know what is being said
on TripAdvisor and Yelp about your business?
We are well into summer and we at Eastern Regional Tourism District encourage tourism-based businesses – in particular, dining and lodging establishments – to pay close attention to what’s being said about their business on TripAdvisor.com and Yelp.com. More and more travelers are turning to TripAdvisor and Yelp, and similar websites, before booking a room or making a dinner reservation. User reviews, both negative and positive, can have major impact on a traveler’s decision-making process. Business managers are able to log onto the site to respond to reviews in order to help their reputation, and we encourage you to do so.
Tips:
• Check your reviews daily and set up a way to respond to commenters.
• Respond to every review both good and bad.
• Thank your guests for taking the time to write.
• Do not be emotional or defensive in your responses
• Ask a negative reviewer to call or email your office/front desk to discuss over the phone. Do not get into an argument online.
• Tell your happy guests that they can feel free to leave a comment online at TripAdvisor or Yelp.
Call ERTD if you are unsure of how to respond. We are happy to assist.
New London Country Historical Society: Job opening
Position Opening:
Executive Director, New London County Historical Society
11 Blinman Street, New London, CT 06320
www.newlondonhistory.org
(860) 443-1209
The New London County Historical Society is housed at Shaw Mansion in New London.
Position Description:
Regional non-profit historic society based in southeastern Connecticut is looking for a new Executive Director to succeed its retiring Executive Director. The position is multifaceted and provides real opportunity for growth. Society has a collection of artifacts and archives that are housed in its historic facility. Experience with facility management and maintenance, fundraising and finance, grant writing, and exhibits, preservation and/or archiving are helpful but not critical. Primarily looking for applicants with intelligence and ability to multitask; who can locate, utilize, supervise, and delegate to interns, and who has an interest in history, ability to network with community organizations and the press, and the energy, enthusiasm, and willingness to work hard. Salary is commensurate with experience.