Confessions of a Contest Entrant

  • Fran Stephenson
  • February 13, 2012
  • 3 min read

I was certain I would get a phone call last month to say that I had won the contest.  Not just any contest, but the Williams-Sonoma, Real Simple Holiday Sweepstakes Extravaganza or something like that. The prize was awesome. A $5000 gift card to shop at Williams-Sonoma.  There were so many things I needed for […]

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Are You Celebrating Your Volunteers?

  • Fran Stephenson
  • September 21, 2011
  • 2 min read

Nonprofits depend on volunteers for all sorts of things.  In some organizations, they may answer phones or process donations.  In others, they may assist clients or staff.  But volunteers also direct strategic campaigns to bring millions of dollars into organizations.  And they often govern the very structure of the nonprofit, through board service and operations. […]

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Grand Rapids Raises the Bar

  • Fran Stephenson
  • August 18, 2011
  • 1 min read

It’s the end of another summer season and tourism destinations are about to ask themselves the hard questions as they start to plan next year. What worked? What didn’t? What should we change for next year? It’s hard for some destinations to rise above the well-funded voices of the “biggies” like New York City, Orlando […]

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Earlier this week, Jet Blue announced a different sort of airfare.  Unlimited three month airfare “pass” between two of their key cities.  Like the unlimited rail passes so attractive to backpackers in Europe, the unlimited fares have a number of desirable characteristics. The fares are good until November and include the ability to book up […]

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Traveling with your Grandparents is Nothing New

  • Fran Stephenson
  • August 1, 2011
  • 3 min read

Multi-generational or 3G travel is an emerging trend that has gotten media and public relations professionals talking. Earlier this summer, it was the focus of one of the livelier sessions at the PRSA Tour and Travel Section Conference held in June in San Antonio. (Disclosure:  I was part of the local, logistics team for the […]

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Business Plans and Sticky Notes

  • Fran Stephenson
  • July 21, 2011
  • 2 min read

I have been writing a lot of proposals for new business lately and it’s easy to get lost in the details when you are trying to impress a new client and win their business.  It’s gratifying to have the opportunity to write proposals but when you are working on them back-to-back for different types of […]

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The Tourism Paradox

  • Fran Stephenson
  • June 22, 2011
  • 2 min read

Tourists vs. travelers. Which do you want visiting your destination? Tourists are those somewhat doe-eyed, hapless visitors who are incapable of decision-making without a guidebook or map, while a traveler is some independent soul enjoying a physical and spiritual journey independent of coupons, specials or freebies. Not true. They’re really one and the same. The […]

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Celebrate Your Destination, Don’t Sell It

  • Fran Stephenson
  • June 21, 2011
  • 3 min read

This was the clear message from National Geographic Traveler’s Keith Bellows to attendees at the Public Relations Society of America’s Travel and Tourism Section national conference two weeks ago. This is a hard message to hear for destination “cheerleaders,” those who make their livelihood from promoting destinations, attractions, transportation and hospitality. Bellows has been a […]

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Before Your Next Crisis: Assign Roles and Responsibilities

  • Fran Stephenson
  • June 17, 2011
  • 3 min read

Earlier this week, I taught two classes at the TTIA’s Tourism College at Texas State University. The program, in its second year, will lead students who participate all three years to a certificate called “Certified Tourism Executive” or CTE. While teaching the sophomore class this week, we examined a mock crisis in small groups.  Our […]

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Crisis Planning includes Packing a Bag

  • Fran Stephenson
  • June 15, 2011
  • 3 min read

There’s a crisis every day somewhere in the world and plenty of advice from marketing and public relations professionals on how organizations should handle communicating when they happen. But rarely have I seen an attempt to outline the supplies you need to have on hand before your crisis hits. When I was the communications director […]

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