Welcoming travelers from international markets frequently involves building strong relationships within the travel trade network. A casual approach to attracting this business can quickly lead to frustration and failure.
Use the following checklist and select all that apply to see how ready you are to welcome international business!
Legal and Operations
- My business understands and follows international consumer protection laws.
- My business has and communicates alternate plans for variations in schedule, such as tribal closures, weather disruptions, global crises, and/ or loss of a guide or key cultural work, etc.
- Our contracts are reviewed by legal counsel with expertise in contracts and our tribal jurisdiction.
- My tribal tourism business holds required and valid operating licenses, permits and insurance.
- We understand that the insurance needs of our international trade partners may vary and are able to accommodate their individual requests.
Business Operations
- My tribal tourism business has been in operation for two or more years.
- My business has an updated business plan.
- My business can guarantee price and capacity up to 18 months ahead of visitor arrival.
- My business has sufficient operating capital to cover the 18-month to five-year period before we receive payments from contracted travel trade business.
Rates
- Our general rates and/or admission fees are printed and publicly available.
- We offer rack rates (generally the advertised rate of a room or package, but the price factors in/allows for discounting by the travel trade.)
- We can accommodate net rates and commission payments in our posted rates.
- We offer travel agency (net) rates, commissions or fees.
Visitor Infrastructure
- We have directional signage for visitors to locations and events.
- We have adequate parking for visitors and access for motor coaches.
- We have handicap-accessible facilities that meet Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards (i.e. exhibit aisles wide enough for wheelchair access, grab bars in restrooms, in/out ramps, roll-in showers, etc.).
- We have restroom facilities available and accessible for use by visitors.
- Our restroom facilities are regularly attended with assigned staff and schedules.
- Our business/event has emergency supplies and/or access to medical care.
Travel Trade Marketing & Materials
- We have a marketing plan for targeted international markets.
- We work with receptive/inbound operator(s) and international wholesalers.
- We attend international trade shows.
- We have the capacity to host group tours (60 or more per tour).
- We have professional marketing staff and/or consultants to identify key markets and conduct outreach in these markets.
- This staff is authorized to sign contracts and negotiate rates with industry representatives and receptive/inbound operators.
- We work with the Department of Commerce, U.S. Commercial Service offices, and/or federal trade representatives in our region.
- We can accommodate/host familiarization tours to promote our tribal tourism product during peak seasons.
- We can accommodate/host familiarization tours to promote our tribal tourism product during the off- season.
Multilingual Marketing Materials
- We offer marketing materials translated for our targeted international markets.
- Multilingual brochures and guides.
- Multilingual website and social media information.
- Multilingual proofreaders and editors to check the above materials.
- Multilingual guides and docents.
- Multilingual marketing staff to handle outreach to these markets.
To learn more about AIANTA, The American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association’s Cultural Heritage Planner, visit https://www.aianta.org/ .
