Who Are We?

The U.S. Cultural & Heritage Tourism Marketing Council (USCHT) is an exciting and innovative initiative designed to drive cultural and heritage tourism to and within the USA by developing cultural and heritage tour packages and itineraries that offer unique and innovative cultural and heritage experiences to visitors.

Why Was the U.S. Cultural & Heritage Tourism Marketing Council Formed?

The U.S. Cultural & Heritage Tourism Marketing Council is a direct outcome of the U.S. Cultural & Heritage Tourism Summit held October 2005 in Washington, DC in partnership with the U.S. Department of Commerce, The President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities, Partners in Tourism and American Express. The Summit was developed and produced by Shop America Alliance.  The Summit was successful in bringing together over 400 delegates and distinguished leaders in cultural and heritage tourism from all 50 U.S. States, the District of Columbia and U.S. Virgin Islands. This event served to catalyze enhanced interest in U.S. Cultural & Heritage Tourism, one of our nation's most valuable assets. It also resulted in the realization that the U.S. did not have a national organization promoting and marketing cultural and heritage tourism both nationally and internationally. Hence, the USCHT was formed to provide that platform.

What Do We Do?

The primary purpose of the USCHT is to market and promote U.S. Cultural and Heritage Tourism Experiences on behalf of its partners, the leading U.S. tourism destinations, attractions and travel partners. The Council is dedicated to marketing U.S. cultural and heritage tourism destinations to and within the USA. The Cultural Traveler Tours Feature Museums, Gardens, Aquariums, Historic Homes, Epicurean Experiences, Art Galleries, Performing Arts Venues, Shopping, Dining.... and more! Visit TheCulturalTraveler.com

How Do We Do It?

• PARTNER with leading U.S. Tourism Destinations, Cultural and Heritage Attractions and Travel Partners
• PROMOTE Cultural & Heritage Tourism both nationally and internationally
• PACKAGE Cultural & Heritage Itineraries to generate visits, exposure and revenue
• POSITION U.S. Culture & Heritage Tourism Marketing Council as a leader in the tourism industry.

How We Further Support the Marketing of U.S. Cultural & Heritage Tourism

• Host TheCulturalTraveler.com, to market and promote our partners' cultural and heritage assets and other initiatives
• Co-Publish The Cultural Traveler, an annual guide showcasing US culture and heritage travel experiences. The guide is distributed to all IPW delegates and at other travel trade and media events, at America's Byways Visitor Centers, Select Registry B&B's and Inns and via AAA. It is also available on line at TheCulturalTraveler.com and ShopAmericaTours.com.
• Co-Present the annual ONE Travel Conference with Shop America Alliance to bring together thought leaders in the shopping, dining and cultural tourism industry to exchange ideas and develop partnerships
• Co-Produced the book, Marketing Cultural & Heritage Tourism, authored by the co-founder of USCHT, Rosemary McCormick, to inform and educate on how to market cultural heritage tourism
• Publish The Cultural Traveler E-News to provide a forum to update all interested in cultural and heritage tourism about cultural and heritage trends and activities.
• Commission Market Research to provide current and insightful data on the cultural and heritage visitor and how best to market to them
• Offer seminars and webinars on the marketing of cultural and heritage to visitors
• Represent the cultural and heritage tourism segment on national tourism boards.
• Represent our partners as travel trade shows and media events including the annual IPW (International Pow Wow) Travel Trade Show and Media Day.

10 Top Benefits of Partnering with the USCHT Marketing Council

1. Packaging

We help our partners develop effective cultural and heritage tourism itineraries and packages. We negotiate rates and contracts, write sales copy, edit photographs and design the packages for the websites and marketing collateral

2. Online Marketing Services

Our partners' packages are showcased and sold on the web at TheCulturalTraveler.com, ShopAmericaTours.com, other major online tour operators' sites.

3. Travel Trade Exposure

We provide representation and marketing of our partners at major travel trade events and sales missions.

4. Public Relations

We promote our partners' packages and itineraries to domestic and international travel trade media.

5. Information and Ideas

The Cultural Traveler E-News promotes packages and provides news and views on USCHT developments.

6. Networking and Professional Development

Partners in USCHT are invited to attend the annual meeting at the ONE Travel Conference

7. Tourism Education

We provide training and development for USCHT partners.

8. Dedicated Professional Staff

USCHT's President, Rosemary McCormick and Communications Director, Anita Boeker, work directly with USCHT partners. The USCHT affiliation with Shop America Alliance provides marketing assistance and a support network.

9. Affiliation with Industry Leaders

Partners include the leading U.S. Tourism Destinations, Attractions and Travel Partners

dedicated to marketing U.S. Cultural and Heritage Tourism.

WHAT IS UNIQUE ABOUT THE CULTURAL TRAVELER TOUR PACKAGES AND ITINERARIES?

The Cultural Traveler Tour Packages are a fun, new way to “catch some culture”!

• Offering the best cultural experiences combined with VIP, insider opportunities, special savings and the convenience of flexibility
• Enriching a vacation getaway, to see family and friends or a business trip
• Inviting visitors to experience America's Culture, History, Gardens, Arts, Shopping and Dining in a unique and entertaining way.
• Going beyond the usual package tours to feature “And More” experiences!
• Focusing on the WOW! Factor—tell a story, are memorable, add value and enrich the visitor's experience.

Why Is US Cultural & Heritage Tourism Important?

• Cultural & Heritage Tourism is the largest growing segment of the Tourism Market (Ref. TIA and U.S. Department of Commerce/NTTO)
• Culture & Heritage is the #3 top tourism activity in the USA (Shopping and Dining are #1 & #2 Ref. U.S. Department of Commerce/NTTO Studies)
• Cultural & Heritage Tourism is a $192.3+ billion industry (Ref. The Cultural Traveler Market Research Study) Cultural & Heritage Tourists spend more and stay longer at their Destinations (Ref. The Cultural Traveler Market Research Study)
• Arts and Culture Economic Growth has increased 24% in last 5 years—now a $162.2 Billion Economic Activity (Ref. Americans for the Arts)

Who are the Most Productive Cultural Travelers in generating ROI?

(Ref. The Cultural Traveler Market Research)

• Baby Boomer/Seniors
• College Degree/Professional
• Annual HH Income of $75,000 or More
• Stays Longer & Spends More
• Looking for Unique Travel Experiences
• WantingValue-- Both in Time AND Dollars
• Spend $3,000+ on 4.2 Trips Per Year
• Force Behind Multi-Generational Travel
• Get Information From the Web (as well as word of mouth)
• Part of 80%+ of Americans Who Book Their Travel On-Line

How is USCHT Structured and Who Are Our Partners?

The USCHT is an LLC that develops and markets cultural and heritage tour package for our partners.  Our partners are cultural and heritage organizations and destinations engaged in cultural and heritage travel marketing. USCHT works in affiliation with Shop America Alliance, which serves as the facilitator and program manager of these packages, bringing their expertise as a leading tour operator with years of experience in developing and marketing more than 100 diverse package tours.

How Do You Become a Partner?

To join the U.S. Cultural & Heritage Tourism Marketing Council, Contact:

Anita Boeker, Communications Director

U.S. Cultural & Heritage Tourism Marketing Council

Phone: 760-703-6020

Email: AnitaBoeker@gmail.com

TheCulturalTraveler.com ONETravelConference.com

To learn more about the U.S. Cultural & Heritage Tourism Marketing

Council, visit www.theculturaltraveler.com