The Cultural Traveler Guidebook

(SANEPR.com) June 5, 2009 -- Denver, CO June 05 2009 -- The Museum Store Association (MSA) and U.S. Cultural & Heritage Tourism Marketing Council (USCHT) have announced plans to publish The Cultural Traveler 2010 guidebook. Building on the successful launch of The Cultural Traveler 2009 guidebook, the 2010 edition will feature enhanced online marketing and an expanded print edition of the attractive, full-color guide to cultural and heritage travel and museum store shopping. In addition, the guidebook will contain sections with a regional focus and it will spotlight trends such as fine dining in museums and special interests.

Produced in collaboration with the American Association of Museums (AAM), Shop America Alliance and complimented by the www.museum-store.travel and www.TheCulturalTraveler.com Web sites, the 2009 edition of The Cultural Traveler has been distributed globally through travel trade events, Gray Line Worldwide and participating cultural institutions.

The Cultural Traveler represents an excellent, value-packed opportunity for museums, museum stores and restaurants, cultural and heritage destinations and travel partners to reach the growing cultural travel market.

With a print circulation of 40,000 enhanced with online exposure, the total estimated readership of the publication is estimated at 200,000. While the distribution and online impact of The Cultural Traveler is growing, the price for participation will remain the same as last year: $1,995 per page for an advertorial format with all production included or for a full-page display ad.

The Cultural Traveler has announced a new publishing partnership with Skies America Publishing in Oregon, which publishes MSA’s Museum Store magazine, for production and printing services. USCHT Advertising Account Executives Michelle Trieschmann in Missouri will handle participants west of the Mississippi, including the special California section, and Dianne Giliforte in New York will handle participants east of the Mississippi and in Canada.

Response to the 2009 edition of The Cultural Traveler guidebook has been very positive at major travel events both in the United States — including Shop America’s Global Shop Summit, Go West Summit, the AAA Conference and International Pow Wow — and globally at Expo Vacaciones in Mexico and ITB in Germany.

In addition, the guidebook was showcased and distributed through the 2,500-square-foot The Cultural Traveler Pavilion produced by USCHT in partnership with MSA at the recent American Association of Museums Conference in Philadelphia and also at the Museum Store Association Conference in Phoenix.

Gray Line Worldwide is distributing the print guidebook to its passengers in major cities including Washington DC, Denver, Chicago and New York. Participating museum stores and cultural destinations also are distribution points for The Cultural Traveler guidebook.

“Consumers and travel professionals tell us that they are reading and keeping their The Cultural Traveler guidebook on hand as a reference for their future travel planning and they are also going to the Web sites for more info, which is very valuable for all involved,” notes Rosemary McCormick, president of Shop America Alliance.

“It’s a great publication. We sent a copy to each one of our 60 board members. It really validates your business with your board members and shows them how you compete on a national level,” says Robert Tate of The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis.

“We were so pleased to participate in the inaugural edition of The Cultural Traveler. It’s a fantastic opportunity for California culture and heritage partners to come together and market our diverse assets. The Cultural Traveler provides a critical voice of an often overlooked segment of the travel and tourism industry, and we are very happy with the response received,” says Jonelle Tannahill of the California Travel & Tourism Commission.

Beverly Barsook, Museum Store Association executive director comments, “MSA is proud to be involved in The Cultural Traveler. This forward thinking creative initiative proactively promotes our unique cultural heritage organizations to the travel industry.”

For Space Reservations:
Michelle Trieschmann, CulturalMichelle@gmail.com (314) 401-9004
Dianne Giliforte, CulturalDianne@gmail.com, (905) 871-3992

Participation Deadline: September 4, 2009

For More Information:
Sheila Armstrong, CulturalTraveler@aol.com (843) 341-6392
Rosemary McCormick, ShopAmericaTours@aol.com (707) 224-3795
PressRelease Distribution By PressReleasePoint

Contact:
Tina Eichner
Museum Store Association
4100 E. Mississippi Ave., Ste. 800
Denver, CO 80246
T: (303) 504-9223 x14
teichner@museumstoreassociation.org
http://www.museumstoreassociation.org/