Minnesota Features in U.S. Travel Trade Publications

Welcome to our page that displays coverage about our state from a professional perspective. Here you will find recent articles promoting Minnesota as a destination in various travel trade publications for tour operators and group leaders in the North American travel market. Note: Items posted more recently are noted with this symbol: 

Black Meeting & Tourism is publication to industry and  tour leaders who promote groups in the African American community. It has a circulation of 28,000 and is published bimonthly.  Black Meetings & Tourism MAY-JUN2010 Great Groups: Shopping Tours Bloomington and Mall of America are the first of four featured shopping destinations in the US. This 1/6 page mention has an ad equivalency value of $1,100.

Bus Tours Magazine is distributed to individual and firms that plan and arrange motorcoach tours in the U.S. and Canada. It is independent of national tour organizations, and reaches members of such groups and smaller, independent operators and planners. Bus Tours Jul2008 Capital Cities - Saint Paul: Includes Capitol building, History Center & MN150 exhibit, Summit Avenue & James J. Hill House. Ad equivalency for this cover photo and one page article is $4,110. Bus Tours Jul2008 Amazing Native American Casinos: Feature on five large U.S. casinos, including Mystic Lake. Ad equivalency for this 1/2 page feature is $1,035.

Byways published on behalf of the National Motorcoach Network, featuring North American destinations for motorcoach operators and tour planners. The bi-monthly magazine has a circulation of 5,000 each issue. Byways 2008 Issue 2 Top 50 Motorcoach Destinations of the Past 25 Years: Minneapolis/Saint Paul rounds out the list of top destinations for tours in North America.

Courier is the official magazine of the National Tour Association (NTA). It is the most-read publication of NTA members, with a circulation of 6,000 for its monthly editions. Courier Aug2008 10,000 Lakes & Just as Many Experiences: Nickelodeon Universe, theater hot spot, History Center & MN150, MN Zoo and Russia’s Grizzly Coast, Science Museum, Duluth, Bemidji, Itasca State Park and Treasure Island. The ad equivalency for two pages of coverage is $6,308.

Destinations is the official magazine of the American Bus Association (ABA). It has a circulation of 6,000 and is published bi-monthly, with destination and industry content, including the ABA Top 100 list published annually. Dest0908MNCapitalStatuspp48-49 Capital Status features St. Paul landmarks and attractions, Winter Carnival, MN State Fair, and Minneapolis’ Holidazzle. A second feature covers Duluth and Lake Superior attractions, with a sidebar about the SPAM Museum and other Austin sights. Ad equivalency for the two-page feature is $5,740.

Going on Faith is a Group Travel Leader publication. This bi-monthly  circulation of 6,000 is geared to qualified travel directors of religious groups. GoingFaith0806p16-18 Side by Side - Minnesota’s Twin Cities are a study in contrasts: Vatican Splendors, cathedral, gangster tour, Summit Ave, James J. Hill House, Walker, Weisman, Guthrie, CTC. The ad equivalency for three pages of coverage is $4,845.

Group Tour Magazine  Group Tour Fall 2010 Two-day itinerary on the Range and Northern Minnesota, Polish heritage in Winona, Science Museum special exhibit: Dead Sea Scrolls, outdoor group excursions, recounting WWII experiences at the ITOW Museum in Perham. Total of six pages with ad equivalency of  $31,000. Group Tour Summer 2009 Uniquely Minnesota: a seven-page feature focusing on wild rice, SPAM and other foods from the state, and festivals with food themes. The featured 3-day itinerary includes Saint Cloud, Little Falls, Grand Rapids, Bemidji and Itasca State Park. Also the Science Museum’s Titanic Exhibit, Paul Bunyan and other legends, Mall of America, Old Log Theater and the Guthrie. Cover mention plus seven pages in the Aug-Oct 2009 issue. Ad equivalency value of approximately $47,000. Group Tour Summer 2008 Stems & Vines: St. Cloud’s Munsinger & Clemens Gardens, area vineyards; Through the Woods: Minnesota Landscape Arboretum; Pipes and Pageants: Pipestone area offerings; Time Capsule: Historic Forestville. The four pages of features have an ad equivalency value of  $20,460. Group Tour Spring 2008 European Holiday, Minnesota Style : Historic holiday sites/events; Info Stop: Science Museum; More than Stores: Mall of America. The four pages of features have an ad equivalency value of  $20,460.

The Group Travel Leader Group Travel Leader JUL2008 Putting the Wow in Welcome: This article highlights the efforts by Austin CVB staff in welcoming groups, featuring Beth Altergott and Betty Olson as costumed guides displaying southern (MN) hospitality.

Groupaway Groupaway posted this feature on Barnesville Potato Days among many festival options.

Leisure Group Travel Leisure Group Travel MN Feature APR08 Minnesota Memories: This outstanding eight page feature appeared in Leisure Group Travel’s April 2008 edition.  It was written by PTM Group’s new editor, Randy Mink, following an 8-day fam trip through Minnesota in January 2008. The article first covers the Mississippi River communities of Red Wing, Wabasha and Winona, then continues across southern Minnesota through Lanesboro, Austin, Owatonna and New Ulm. After focusing on the Minneapolis Saint Paul area and Mall of America, a northern swing encompasses Duluth, Chisholm, Grand Rapids, Bemidji, Itasca State Park and Moorhead.

Also see: Minnesota in the News – International