April 29, 2009

Registrations Open for World Religious Travel Expo

Registrations are now open for the World Religious Travel Expo 2009.

When is the Expo? Nov 14-16, 2008

Where is the Expo? Reno, Nevada (USA)

What is the official website? www.WRTAexpo.com

How can I register for the Expo? Call 888-255-9782 or 859-219-3529 or email headquarters@WRTAreligioustravel.com

April 13, 2009

WRTA Sets Stage for Bright New Future; Debuts New Logo & Website

WRTA Sets Stage for Bright New Future

April 2, 2009: Last week we promised you that WRTA was “ready to make some noise.” This week, we are fulfilling it. We have three major announcements, all of which set the stage for a very bright and exciting future ahead for WRTA and its members. Here they are…..

The Unveiling of WRTA’s New Logo – A Beacon of Light in the Travel Industry

WRTA is proud to unveil our NEW official logo. If you’ve been following the World Religious Travel Association over the past several years, you know that WRTA has evolved from a new organization into one of the major voices of the travel industry. Or more aptly put, WRTA’s voice has become a beacon of light for tourism and hospitality. It is for this reason and more, that the new WRTA official logo incorporates a globe with sunrays of light. This symbol also reflects the luminosity of new opportunities that faith-based travel brings to the trade and traveler alike. As “The Source and Voice of the Religious Travel Industry,” WRTA is proud and honored to accept its role of serving as a beacon of light in the global economy, the travel marketplace, and within your organization.

Debut of new WRTA website address (and email addresses)
WRTA is very pleased to debut our new official company website address: www.WRTAreligioustravel.com. Our new website sums up exactly who we are and what we promote: “WRTA” and “religious travel.” Possibly best yet, our new website address is not only easier to remember, but also shorter!


Launch of new and redesigned WRTA website
It is with great joy that we release this week our newly re-designed and enhanced website. Along with being more beautiful and engaging, the new WRTA website also provides much easier navigation. Plus, you have much more to look forward to, as we’re still in rolling out new features (including the new “Quick Search” directories). So stay tuned….there is much more to come in the following weeks and months!

WRTA Announces Management Partnership with NTA and IMG Associations

World Religious Travel Association Announces
Management Partnership with NTA and IMG Associations

LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 30, 2009) — The World Religious Travel Association has signed an agreement to be fully managed by the National Tour Association and its management company, IMG Associations. Under the new agreement, NTA and IMG staff will power the back‐of‐thehouse operations of WRTA. IMG Associations currently provides management services for NTA and will be supporting WRTA in its expansion efforts over the next three years.

"As an association that has experienced remarkable growth and visibility in its first two years, we are confident that the travel management expertise along with the knowledgeable staff, proven systems and intimate knowledge of the travel business that NTA and its management partner, IMG Associations, provides will further our development as a world‐class organization and leader in the travel industry," said Kevin J. Wright, WRTA president.

In addition to an ongoing strategic partnership with NTA, WRTA’s 2009 World Religious Travel Expo & Educational Conference will be co‐located Nov. 14‐16 with the NTA Annual Convention in Reno, Nevada, offering members of both associations unprecedented opportunities for business growth, education, and networking.

“The NTA Board recognizes the value to the NTA membership of working with WTRA and
believes in the innovative and forward‐thinking management staff that has helped create the success of NTA,” said Lisa Simon, CTP, president of the National Tour Association. “NTA has a long and rich history and faith‐based travel is an important part of the overall industry. Together, members of both organizations can help strengthen their business as well as the travel community overall.”

In 2008, WRTA and NTA entered a unique agreement, in which the associations began working together to educate their members on the value of the faith tourism industry and bring new business opportunities to the members of both organizations. In fact, last year’s historic World Religious Travel Expo & Educational Conference was managed in part by NTA. Through the agreement, WRTA aligns itself with NTA’s strength and position in the packaged travel industry. NTA, an organization for tour operators, suppliers and destinations, has a highly respected reputation for excellent association management and successful conference execution. NTA will be sharing that expertise with WRTA, to help move the dynamic young association to the next level. Services will include communications, marketing, member services, administrative support, event management and technology services, as well as selling
advertising and corporate partnerships.

In return, NTA members will be gaining access to more diverse tour product with the 600‐plus buyers and sellers (from more than 30 countries) of faith‐based tours and packages expected in Reno. Faith‐based tourism is an $18 billion and 300 million traveler market segment and currently nearly 35 percent of NTA tour operators offer product for the faith‐based traveler.

WRTA Ready to Make Some Noise

March 27, 2009: You may have noticed. WRTA has been a little quiet the past couple of months. But not anymore. Why? We’ve been very busy behind-the-scenes preparing for our most remarkable year yet!

Beginning next week and throughout the month of April and beyond – we’ll be making a number of exciting announcements and launching new initiatives. Who will be the beneficiaries of these significant and ongoing endeavors? You of course!
So buckle your seatbelt and get ready for one very exciting ride over the coming weeks with WRTA. What do you have to look forward to? Here is just a brief insider’s glimpse:

WRTA announces its new management service relationship with the National Tour Association and IMG Associations
WRTA debuts its brand new logo
WRTA debuts its Membership Renewal Promotion
WRTA debuts its brand new website
WRTA debuts its four new official newsletters including….
The Religious Travel Buzz: Our flagship publication featuring WRTA and faith tourism industry news.
Spotlight on Members: Features engaging profiles, stories, and highlights of our members.
Expo 2009: Features up-to-date information and announcements regarding the 2nd Annual World Religious Travel Expo.
On The Cutting Edge: Members’ only publication featuring market trends, sales and marketing intelligence, latest products and services, and other cutting edge religious travel and hospitality insight you can get anywhere else.
WRTA debuts its new 2009 WRTA and Expo brochures
WRTA debuts its new social network groups including Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and more
WRTA debuts the world’s first-ever Religious Travel Buyer’s Guide (60 pages!)
WRTA debuts its inaugural Expo Sponsorship, Exhibitor, and Advertising Guide
WRTA debuts its own set of webinars
WRTA debuts exhibit booth and attendee registrations for World Religious Travel Expo 2009
And WRTA will be debuting much, much more. Stay tuned!.......