Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/61584
sports facilities; regional and county-wide maps and more. Throughout, the Destination Guide points to web con- tent that offers comprehensive databases, customized tours, and research opportunities. "The Destination Guide is designed to offer all content to plan a trip to greater Fayetteville," says Meroski. "Together with www.VisitFayettevilleNC.com, they offer a comprehensive overview of community amenities." The Fayetteville Area Destination Guide is released in both print and electronic format. Find the online guide here: http://fayettevillevisitorguide.com/. DMAI SUBMITS INPUT FOR NATIONAL TRAVEL AND TOURISM STRATEGY The Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI) and industry partners responded to President Obama's call for comments and recommendations on a national travel and tourism strategy In February. "The development of a national strategy is an extremely important step for the United States," said Michael D. Gehrisch, president and CEO of DMAI. "A comprehensive plan, encouraging collaboration between federal agencies, Brand USA, des- tination marketing organizations of all sizes and our national trade associations, will better promote the U.S. travel market, ultimately creating hundreds of thousands of jobs. DMAI applauds the collaborative approach of this process and commends our federal agencies for seeking input." In collaboration with 29 other travel organizations, DMAI contributed to and endorsed a 19-page document that was sub- mitted by the U.S. Travel Association on the industry's behalf. Key recommendations included improving and expanding the Visa Waiver Program; supporting international travel promotion; improving the air travel and entry experience, accelerating travel-related infrastructure projects; boosting visitation at national parks; and improving capabilities to assist economic recovery following disasters. Additionally, DMAI endorsed the implementation of the Travel Regional Investment Partnership Act with a joint indus- try comment from 11 national trade associations. Finally, DMAI submitted a separate letter on behalf of the destination marketing industry providing several recom- mendations, including: the creation of a federal tourism communications strategy, the integration of promoting the U.S. through existing government activities, and collaboration through continued tourism investment at the local level. The Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism has taken the idea of social networking to a new level with their 2012 NEWDOMINICAN REPUBLIC AD CAMPAIGN GOES SOCIAL Dominican Republic Releases Social-based Ads for 2012 Campaign Dominican Republic social media-inspired ad campaign. In a follow-up to the successful 2011 launch of the social media- friendly website, the Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism is introducing a multi-channel campaign featuring print, online and broadcast that generate engagement with consumers wherever they are in the world today, inspiring themto be social and share their unforgettable experience in Dominican Republic. Building on the destination's socially active fan base, the dynamic campaign provides a new perspec- tive on thewide range of attractions,destinations,activ- ities and services available to travelers. The creative approach behind the ads uses social networking as a metaphor to convey themessage"You don't have to go far to be social," prompting the campaign's tagline, "Dominican Republic is CloserThanYouThink." "As Dominican Republic continues to thrive, we're distinguishing our enchanting destination and its vast tourism offerings from the competition," said Magaly Toribio, vice minister of International Promotion, Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism. "We're ensuring that the campaign remains unforgettable, yet continues to capture Dominican Republic's one-of-a-kind offerings as the ads' captivating images trigger a need for expe- rience and travel." "TheTVspots and ads rely on socialmedia terms asmetaphors for socializingwith others about a vacation inDominican Republic. The social interaction suggests the vacation as something worthy of a status update, both literally and in the Facebook sense.As the power of socialmedia is undeniable, the ads blend technology and social interaction to create value, the value of sharing your experiences with others," addedToribio. The ads will be featured inmagazines, broadcast,NewYork'sTimes Square billboards and online.The unique, attention- getting ads have already been broadcast onMEGA, as well as during the Serie del Caribe. MASON JR. Black Meetings & Tourism March/April 2012: www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 9