NTA and Edelman to Host Free Crisis and Media Relations Seminars for Gulf Coast Region

June 25, 2010

NTA and Edelman to Host Free Crisis and Media Relations Seminars for Gulf Coast Region

LEXINGTON, Ky.- NTA, North America’s premier association of travel professionals, and Edelman , the world’s largest independent public relations firm, are presenting a series of free seminars titled “Practical Skills for the Oil Spill Crisis: Managing Media Relations and Building Business through a Crisis.” The seminars, open to all members of the tourism industry and others impacted by the crisis, have been scheduled for July 13 at the Mississippi Gulf Coast Coliseum in Biloxi, Mississippi and for July 14 at the Municipal Auditorium in Houma, Louisiana. NTA and Edelman are working to schedule seminars in Alabama and Florida the last week of July.

“So many businesses and destinations throughout the Gulf Coast region are being tragically hurt by incomplete information about tourism in this area,” said NTA President Lisa Simon, CTP. “Through these seminars, NTA and Edelman will help people in the impacted destinations proactively manage this crisis and use the media as partners to help communicate the facts.”

“We are proud to partner with NTA to offer a much-needed service to the tourism industry throughout the Gulf region,” said Cathleen Johnson, executive vice president of Edelman’s Tourism practice. “We believe that in this age of lightning-fast communications, it is essential to be skilled at managing traditional and social media to ensure the right information is getting out to potential tourists to these areas.”

These half-day seminars will offer practical advice that can be used immediately by participants. Speakers will include Edelman’s experts in crisis, media and social media relations as well as NTA’s experts with tour operator communications who will focus on the following topics:

· Why Gulf Region businesses should be paying attention to media relations now more than ever

· Crisis communications skills that businesses can use throughout this evolving crisis

· How to monitor the news to know what the media is saying and what your potential customers are hearing

· How to manage interactions with social media outlets—using Facebook, Twitter and blogs to help ensure the right story is getting out to your friends, customers and business partners

· Best practices in ongoing, real-time communication to tour operators, travel agents and meeting planners

· Information on how NTA is working with members to increase tours and travelers to impacted states, attractions and businesses for sustained tourism

Registration is currently open for the July 13 seminar in Mississippi and the July 14 seminar in Louisiana at NTAOnline.com/gulfcoast. Please contact NTA Public Relations Specialist Madeline Vied at madeline.vied@NTAstaff.com with any questions regarding the seminars.

Edelman has one of the largest tourism PR practices in the world, and the firm’s crisis and issues management practice has helped counsel Fortune 500 companies, mid-sized organizations, non-profits, government entities and high-profile individuals respond to a range of communications and reputational challenges. The firm has 3,200 employees in 52 offices worldwide and has been named Advertising Age’s top-ranked PR firm of the decade; Adweek’s “2009 Agency of the Year”; and PRWeek’s “2009 Agency of the Year.” Visit www.edelman.com for more information.

NTA is the leading association for professionals serving travelers to, from and within North America. Since its founding in 1951, the association has served a broad and diverse membership and helped them expand market reach with innovative business tools, strategic relationships and collaboration within the industry. NTA membership represents more than 40 countries. To learn more about NTA, please visit NTAonline.com/.

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