Nov. 8, 2002 – The guest speaker for the next luncheon meetings of the Advertising Club of the Virgin Islands on St. Thomas and St. Croix will focus on a subject that should be of interest to anyone who lives and works in the territory: Marketing Solutions for the Travel and Tourism Industry.
Garry Duell, publisher and chief executive of Miami-based Herald Custom Publishing, will examine approaches that work in selling a destination in today's ever-changing travel
and tourism market.
He will speak at the Ad Club luncheons Tuesday at the Old Mill Restaurant on St. Thomas and Wednesday at the Caravelle Hotel conference room in Christiansted on St. Croix.
Herald Custom Publishing is a division of Knight Ridder, the nation's second-largest print and online information publisher. Specializing in providing promotions and communications tools for the travel and tourism industry, HCP publishes high-end magazines, destination guides, in-room hotel guest guides and in-flight magazines that together reach 35 million frequent travelers a year.
Virgin Islanders on the go are probably familiar with one of its publications, the American Eagle in-flight magazine Latitudes.
The purpose of such publications, the Herald Custom Publishing Web site notes, is to enable clients "to strengthen their message in the marketplace and promote loyalty, retention and branding programs."
HCP clients include the St. Maarten Hospitality and Trade Association, Bermuda Hotel Association, Los Cabos Hotel Association, Hyatt Hotels and Resorts, Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau and Colorado Mountain Express.
Two years ago, HCP purchased Aboard Publishing, the largest publisher of in-flight magazines in Latin America. Last year, American Eagle selected HCP/Aboard to publish Latitudes. Aboard also produces Discover Central America, a publication found in premium hotel rooms in seven Central American countries.
The company recently launched proprietary publications in Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and Charleston, South Carolina, along with a Spanish-language magazine, Destino Miami, targeted to reach the Hispanic population visiting South Florida.
Reservations for the St. Thomas luncheon must be received by Monday noon and may be made by calling 776-7828. Tickets are $25 for Ad Club members and $30 for non-members. No-shows will be billed.
Reservations for the St. Croix luncheon, which is being sponsored by St. Croix Insurance and Bohlke Airways, must be received by Tuesday noon and may be made by calling 719-0578. Tickets are $18 for members and $23 for non-members. Again, no-shows will be billed.
On both islands, the luncheon and program will begin promptly at noon.
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