Group Tour Magazine - August 2024 - 6

EDIT OR'S LETTER
Planning Your
Next Group Trip
As a group travel planner, how do you typically plan your itineraries?
The internet no doubt is a resource, as is your experience in the travel
industry-but hopefully you're using Group Tour as a resource, too.
Recently as I sat at my desk reviewing the topics my team and I have
covered in this August edition, I felt a bit in awe of the many thousands
of words we have devoted to destinations across the country. It is something
we do in every issue, of course, but still being fairly new here I find
it quite remarkable that month after month so much content and so
many photos target the topic of group travel.
Across the topics-from eclectic neighborhoods to scenic waterfalls-covered
in this issue, there are more than 15,300 words from
our writers, with around 500 destinations and attractions listed in the
articles and itineraries. That's not counting the special sections and
advertisers' content. Many photos help showcase the magazine as well.
It's all enough to fill this 168-page magazine. During a year, of course,
some editions are even bigger, thus having higher word counts.
This is my third issue of Group Tour since joining the team last fall,
and already I can say it has been a " trip " for several reasons, including
the editing of the many thousands of words just mentioned. There has
also been a lot to learn. Every company has its own computer programs
and unique way of doing things, for instance, and I have had to learn
aspects of the group tour industry that I was unfamiliar with previously.
I also have taken a few trips over the past few months, among them
to the American Bus Association conference-which my publisher
described as my group tourism " baptism by fire " -in Nashville,
Tennessee; and the Southeast Domestic Showcase in Little Rock,
Arkansas. Both helped me become immersed and settled in the travel
industry, and I was able to meet many key players, but I'm the first to
admit I still have a long way to go before feeling truly rooted. What
I mean by that is my education in the field didn't end once I left the
conferences and learned the programs; there are things I am still
learning, like you I can assume, every day. But that also is one of the
traits I enjoy about journalism-the opportunity it affords me to learn
about and experience many new things.
This opportunity also is offered to group tour planners: There is no
dearth of places to learn about and experience. As you plan your next
group trip, searching for those memorable experiences, I hope the articles
here will help you uncover new ideas.
GROUP TOUR MAGAZINE
is a proud member of:
American Bus Association
ANDREW WEEKS
aweeks@greenspring.com
6 AUGUST 2024
Circle Michigan
National Tour Association
Ohio Travel Association
Ontario Motor Coach Association
Student & Youth Travel Association
Tour Kansas
Virginia Motorcoach Association
PHOTO HEIDI WEEKS
Group Tour Magazine - August 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Group Tour Magazine - August 2024
