Welcome to the Western Association of Convention & Visitors Bureaus


	Upcoming Events--Mark Your Calendar
		2008 Calendar of Events
		Advanced Meetings/Conventions Sales Institute Training (SIT II) Program October 7 & 8, 2008 Doubletree Tucson Reid Park, Tucson, AZ See Annual Meeting information below Travel Industry Sales Training (TIST) Program October 7 & 8, 2008 Doubletree Tucson Reid Park, Tucson, AZ See Annual Meeting information below Annual Meeting & Vendor Showcase October 8-11, 2008 Doubletree Tucson Reid Park, Tucson, AZ Best Idea Program Online Project Form. [deadline extended to September 15] Download Registration Brochure [the big screen version 6.2mb] Download Registration Brochure [direct to video 2.3mb] Register online [director's cut] Request exhibitor and sponsor information \| Click here
		WACVB Education & Research Foundation Fundraiser Go North to Alaska for a Spring or Summer Getaway The WACVB Education & Research Foundation will conduct a raffle for an Alaska trip at the 2008 WACVB Annual Meeting & Vendor Showcase in Tucson, Arizona. The raffle ticket drawing will take place on Friday, October 10, 2008. You need not be present to win. Proceeds benefit the WACVB Education & Research Foundation. Donations are tax deductible. More information...[pdf]

		Tourism Tech Summit & Vendor Showcase April 3 & 4, 2008 Disney’s Paradise Pier® Hotel, Anaheim, CA Download Submitted Speaker Presentations \| Click here

	Notice of .travel Policy Changes The Travel Partnership Corporation (TTPC) has approved some very important policy changes to take effect December 21, 2007, that may affect you. Read more..
	WACVB Education & Research Foundation An Invitation to Participate Destination Web Site Evaluation and Return on Investment Research Project The WACVB Education & Research Foundation has partnered with TNS Travel & Leisure to assist DMOs in ensuring more competitive Web sites. Learn how the research determines the impact the Web site has on “persuading” visitation to the destination and the Web site’s return on investment. The components of the research project include Web site traffic analysis, Web site survey with full analysis, conversion study with ROI analysis, and key driver analysis. Find out how your DMO can get involved in this pay-to-participate research project and discover the ROI for your organization’s Web site. The Foundation Board is providing some shared-participant funding to qualifying DMOs. As you evaluate participation in this project, the Foundation Board is aware that interested DMOs may wish to participate in a year or so. Please know the project will be available for future participation. Contact WACVB Foundation staff for an overview of the Destination Web Site Research and Return on Investment Project and for the Project Application regarding participation and shared funding for qualifying bureaus. The Metropolitan Tucson CVB and the Portland Oregon Visitors Association have already signed with TNS as the project’s first participants. Rick Cain from TNS Travel & Leisure invites your questions about the project at rick.cain@tns-global.com. WACVB Foundation staff is also available to discuss the project at info@wacvb.com.

	Past Events
		Meetings/Conventions Sales Institute Training (SIT I) Program April 1 & 2, 2008 Disney’s Paradise Pier® Hotel, Anaheim, CA Business of Bureaus Workshop April 2, 2008 Disney’s Paradise Pier® Hotel, Anaheim, CA
		Advanced Meetings/Conventions Sales Institute Training Program October 9 & 10, 2007 The Hotel Captain Cook, Anchorage Travel Industry Sales Training Program October 9 & 10, 2007 The Hotel Captain Cook, Anchorage Annual Meeting & Vendor Showcase October 10-13, 2007 The Hotel Captain Cook, Anchorage Download Submitted Presentations \| Click here
		Meetings/Conventions Sales Institute Training Program April 10 & 11, 2007 Hotel Albuquerque at Old Town, Albuquerque See Tourism Tech Summit brochure below. Tourism Tech Summit & Vendor Showcase April 12 & 13, 2007 Hotel Albuquerque at Old Town, Albuquerque Download Submitted Presentations \| Click here

		In 2007, WACVB celebrated 25 years of providing industry education and services to destination marketing organizations in the Western United States and Western Canada. The origins of WACVB actually go back more than 70 years when the California State Association of Managers was established in 1936. Its name was later changed to the California Association of Convention & Visitors Bureaus. In 1982, the California Association of CVBs expanded its geographic scope to become the Western Association of Convention & Visitors Bureaus and welcomed members from the Western States to membership. In 1990, WACVB further expanded it geographic scope and invited bureaus in the Western Canadian Provinces to join the Association. As a regional association, membership rests with the individual bureau and all member-bureau staff members are entitled to attend WACVB programs at the member rate. WACVB is currently comprised of more than 140 DMOs in 11 states and two Canadian provinces. The Association represents a variety of destinations—from Wrangell, Alaska, to West Hollywood, Calif., and Lane County, Ore., to Las Vegas, Nev.

		New Web Site Regarding Passport Requirements The travel industry has launched a new Web site, GetAPassportNow.com, to inform travelers about new passport requirements and to help them get passports. The purpose of the Web site is to also educate travelers about pending deadlines contained in the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) recently revised by Congressional action and provide easy access to passport information. WHTI requires all air travelers to the U.S. to have a passport or other secure document by January 23, 2007, including Americans returning from Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. In addition, all travelers by land and sea must meet this requirement by an unspecified deadline not later than June 1, 2009.

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