Targeting Winnipeg: Spring Sales Mission is April 16-18, 2013

Plans are progressing for our annual Spring Sales Mission to Winnipeg. We have 17 of us confirmed to represent Minnesota during our two big events; the list of partners follows. This year’s trek is April 16-18, with accommodations and events at the Delta Winnipeg Hotel. Travel days are April 16 and 18, with our two events on April 17 being  hosting at the Delta Winnipeg.

Forty invitations are out  to Manitoba tour and motorcoach operators and media for the morning trade show and breakfast. And we expect about 50 participants from the three Winnipeg are Canadian Auto Association offices. Our themes for both events pays homage to Target Corporation's imminent expansion. The first two stores are set to open in Winnipeg in early May, with another to open by year's end. The plan is for all Minnesota partners to sport the Target look: red shirts and khakis. There'll be more red than usual on the plates, and we'll have evening activities with the CAA staff that play up on the Target theme.

 We have again engaged a motorcoach for the journey, with stops en route to include as many from around the state as possible. The 54-passenger coach will include Wifi and power ports for productive days on the road. Our driver is again Harlan Brenden.

Cost of participation is $400, including transportation and co-hosting of functions. Hotel and incidentals is additional. A very attractive hotel rate of $115 single/double was negotiated; tax and breakfast is additional. In establishing incidental expenses, recognize that your breakfast and dinner on April 17 is included in the participation fee. Factor in lunch in Fargo/Moorhead each way also. Your participation will also include providing contributions for the CAA evening event, where we establish a number of familiarization trip give-aways.

Be sure to advise me ASAP to secure your spot. All confirmed participants will be invoiced. To reserve, send an email to Chris Van Meter.

Minnesota Partners in this year's sales mission include:

Explore Minnesota Tourism's Guide to Canadian Marketing

Are you interested in learning more about visitors from Canada descending on Minnesota throughout the year? Then you'll find this guide particular helpful. Consider it a primer for snaring more of the Canadian marketplace. Learn about the market potential, differences in culture, events to reach tour operators, travel professionals and media, and reasons why it pays to help support tour operator and media familiarization tour efforts. Get a leg up on the growth potential from actively courting Minnesota's largest international travel market by reviewing the guide, developed by Explore Minnesota Tourism staff, and implementing some of the suggestions within. Guide to Canadian Marketing

------PREVIOUS EVENTS-----

Minnesota Fall Promotions at CAA Manitoba Locations - Winnipeg, MB
September- October 2012

LAST CHANCE: Due to last minute cancellations, three spots remain available - two on Week 2 and one on Week 3!

In conjunction with the Minnesota Shopping Month annual promotion, smaller groups will be heading to Winnipeg for customer promotions at the three Winnipeg area retail locations of  the Canadian Auto Association Manitoba. These will be held for groups of up to six persons September 19, September 26 and October 2, 2012, as a lead up to October’s Minnesota Shopping Month designation.

Each trip encompasses Tuesday-Thursday including travel days to/from Winnipeg. The open houses will be held on Wednesdays, 2:00 - 6:00 pm. The schedule allows for additional sales call activity in the Winnipeg area or en route. Group accommodations will be arranged at a convenient location near the Empress branch.

Cost per participant will be approximately $150 each  for transportation and hosting, plus lodging and meals. If wishing to participate, voice your interest to Chris Van Meter.

TravXchange - throughout Canada
September 24 - October 18, 2012
$900-1000/show plus travel expenses
TravXchange is a revision to the former Addison series,  featuring social media session, trade show and dinner with pre-qualified travel professionals in twelve evenings across Canada. Attendance at each is 150-250, depending on market. Chris Van Meter will represent EMT at the southern Ontario series September 24-27: London, Kitchener, Hamilton and Markham (Toronto metro).

Ontario Motorcoach Association (OMCA) - Buffalo, NY
October 20-24, 2012
$875 plus membership and travel expenses
This event reaches top tour operators in Canada, primarily Ontario and Quebec, though some from further west also. Annual membership cost is US$370. Plan to include three nights hotel, some meals, ground transportation and air travel to/from Buffalo. EMT will not be attending OMCA in 2012.

Travel Media Association Canada (TMAC) – Fredericton, NB
Annual Conference: May 2-5, 2012
TMAC is well-run membership base of professional travel writers, both staff and free-lance, from across Canada. Their coverage of destinations reaches the travel professional and consumer audiences in print and online publications, including all major newspapers and lifestyle magazines. Annual membership is $260 plus a nominal initiation fee. Conference registration is US$850. Travel expenses include three nights hotel, some meals, and air travel to/from Fredericton, NB.

Winnipeg Sales Mission -  Winnipeg, MB
April 17 – 19, 2012
Nearly 20 colleagues interested in expanding Canadian business joined in on our annual Spring sales mission to the Winnipeg area. Major events took place on April 18, 2012, including a breakfast and presentation to area tour operators and media and an evening with staff from the three Winnipeg CAA (Canadian Automobile Association) staff. Our events were again crowd pleasers, with fun, food and beverage, destination and attraction exhibit areas. The CAA event also included destination showcasing in a game show format called Heckuva Deal or No Deal. If you missed out, plan on getting in on the popular spring sales mission in 2013.

Me and My Peeps in Canada
Our 2011 Winnipeg Sales Mission took a unique twist at the annual promo event for staff of the three Winnipeg area Canadian Automobile Association (CAA) offices. The group was divided into nine teams, with MN partners to assist. After researching their theme over dinner, each team had 60 minutes to execute their selected Minnesota attraction into a Peeps diorama with craft supplies provided, plus anything they had on hand. What a fun way to get the word out about MN attractions!

The winner: Nickelodeon Universe, a peepular attraction at Mall of America. Each member of the winning team received a weekend of fun in the Twin Cities. Several more packages were given away in a random drawing. They ate it up...including eating the leftover peeps!

You can see the fruits of everyone's labor below - in yellow, pink and a smattering of green:

• Nickelodeon Universe - the winner
• The BDI - the MN team walked the talk with a preview diorama
• Getting Crafty - Idea>Research>Execution (of Peeps) in 1 hour
• Pretty in Peep - CAA Travel Chief Cherille Price proves life imitates art
• PeepPopper - at least one CAA staffer had to sample
• Aquatennial - even sandcastles
• At the Zoo - watch out for PeepPoop
• Duluth Harbor - that lift bridge concept was a toughie
• Chanhassen Dinner Theatres - Hairspray
• Gangsters on Parade -  at the Hamms kidnapping: "Not a Peep outta ya!"
• Sea Life Minnesota Aquarium - after its transformation
• Vikings Beating the Packers - but it's only the 1st quarter
• Waterparks Everywhere - what's that in the water???