Dear Members,
I’m pleased to provide you with this annual report for the Travel and Tourism Marketing Association.
Our organization has been through a lot this year, including a change in administrative leadership and adherence to stricter budgeting procedures, and I’m pleased to report that we’ve finished the year with a stronger membership and leadership base, an improvement in our financial management. This success is due to our very dedicated Board of Directors who coordinated some terrific programs including the most lucrative Annual Leadership Awards event we have had in years, and helped lead the way for better communications tools and practices for the day-to-day administration of our organization. Following is an overview.
ADMINISTRATION
Towards the beginning of the year we learned that TTMA co-founder and longtime Executive Director, Joanie McClellan, was moving to Oregon to spend more time with her family. After much difficult deliberation, Joanie informed the Board that she would be retiring in June. The Board of Directors spent the spring months considering candidates who could fill the position. Longtime industry colleagues and friend to TTMA Susan McCloskey was hired for the position, and spent the months of May and June learning from Joanie to ensure a smooth transition. Joanie is enjoying her well-deserved retirement immensely, and we have appreciated all of the energy and ideas Susan has brought to the organization. A big thank you goes out to the entire 2011 Board for their help with the transition process, especially Jerri Harris, J.P. Gaspar, Carrie Tayloe and David Singleman.
MEMBERSHIP
For the past few years our membership has hovered around the 90-100 member mark, including both paid and honorary members. Currently we have 55 paid members, so I encourage you to send in your 2012 dues if you have not already done so, and introduce new colleagues and friends to TTMA.
COMMUNICATIONS
Our electronic communications improved this past year. Thanks to outgoing Board Member, Carrie Tayloe, for all of her work in keeping our web site continent current and helping us to improve our technological practices. Per the leadership of Susan and Carrie, we also switched our luncheon invitation system to Event Brite allowing members and guests to pay for luncheons in advance via credit card.
TTMA Secretary David Singleman also added to the communications team by authorizing our quarterly newsletters to keep members up-to-date on TTMA activities.
Finally, Board member Dick Bublitz did a great job of photographing our meetings and events, arranging our participation in LA’s Largest Mixer, and sending out press releases about standout events.
PROGRAMS
This past year we hosted a variety of programs, attracting superior speakers from a broad range of tourism organizations and companies. Highlights include:
- January at the Skirball, – Michael McDowell gave a “State of the Cultural City”, Los Angeles
- February at Sportsmen’s Lodge – Panel discussion about marketing shopping destinations in Los Angeles with the Beverly Center, Citadel Outlets and Hollywood and Highland.
- March at LACMA – Creative Marketing to Grow Visitor Attendance
- April at the Angeleno Hotel – Sports Tourism
- June at the LAX Flight Path Learning Center – Bradley Expansion and LAX Update and airport tour!
- July at Kyoto Hotel and Gardens – Pow Wow Update
- August at Buca di Beppo Universal City, Reaching the Student Youth Travel Market
- October at the Lobster Restaurant in Santa Monica – AKM Awards Luncheon
- November at the House of Blues – Marketing West Hollywood and Interactive Marketing Practices
- December on Hornblower Cruises in Marina Del Rey – Holiday Luncheon and Hornblower Overview.
Additionally, the membership took advantage of some great extras including a summer evening of theater at the Getty Villa and a CTTC Presentation by Caroline Beteta.
In sum, it was a year packed with great venues, informative speakers, and a diverse array of opportunities for networking with our friends and colleagues. All Board Members were involved in setting up these monthly meetings, but special thanks goes to Joanie, Susan, Mia and Michael McDowell for their effort to bring us great programming.
AKM/LANDMARK AWARDS CELEBRATION
Our annual AKM/Landmark Awards celebration was held Thursday, October 6th at the elegant Lobster restaurant in Santa Monica, California. Perfect California weather and a breathtaking ocean view was the backdrop for one of our most successful AKM events in recent history. Universal Studios’ Thomas See was honored with the Anastasia K. Mann Leadership Award and Pacific Park at the Santa Monica Pier received the Landmark Award in honor of the attraction’s importance to Southern California tourism. Pacific Park’s CEO Mary Ann Powell accepted the award. Joanie McClellan was recognized for her tenure, leadership and contributions to TTMA.
Board Member Jean-Pierre Gaspar did a superior job in planning the event, ensuring detail was attended to with care, and securing donations for as many luncheon expenses as possible.
Many guests commented that it was one of the most elegant and enjoyable luncheons they had ever attended. Attendance was strong with almost 130 members and friends enjoying the day’s festivities. Additionally, our silent auction was one of the best in recent memory. Silent Auction Chair Beverly Sparks secured some fantastic donations, including two Jet Blue airline tickets. Proceeds from the luncheon and auction helped to improve the organization’s financial standing.
I’d like to thank Jean-Pierre, Beverly, Susan, AKM Co-Chair Jerri Harris and the entire Board for producing a truly memorable luncheon. Many thanks also to event namesake Anastasia K. Mann, and to all who purchased tickets, sponsored tables and participated in the silent auction.
FINANCES AND ADMINISTRATION
Our Executive Director reports that our organization is financially sound. Should any member wish to see a financial report, please email Susan McCloskey susan@ttma.org. Thank you to our outgoing Secretary, David Singleman, for taking minutes this year.
CHALLENGES FOR THE FUTURE
Although we’ve accomplished much in the way of communication and administration, there is still a lot of room for growth and improvement. To ensure the organization does not become stagnant we need to continue to grow our membership, improve our financial status, continue to produce a slate of engaging and educational programming activities, keep our communications tools vibrant and up-to-date and stay abreast of what is happening in the travel and tourism scene in Southern California. I’m confident that Susan and the new slate of elected officers and Board Members will do much in the year ahead to achieve these goals.
I encourage you to make the most of your TTMA membership this year. Join a committee, host a luncheon, suggest a future speaker or venue, or simply invite one of your fellow TTMA colleagues to lunch or coffee to exchange ideas. You’ll be glad you did.
I’d like to close my summary with a thank you to our Executive Director, Susan McCloskey, who jumped into her new position with great gusto and quickly familiarized herself with all of the organization’s processes. Susan, you’ve become a great asset to the organization and friend to TTMA in the six months you’ve been with us. Thank you.
I would also like to acknowledge and give my heartfelt thanks to our terrific 2011 Board of Directors who took on some tough issues this year and accomplished a great deal. I believe we were successful because of our work together as a team. Thank you for your dedication, leadership and friendship. I am very proud of what we accomplished as a team and I hope you are too.
It was a pleasure serving as TTMA president I look forward to continuing to serve you as a member and Immediate Past President of the 2012 Board of Directors, while seeing the continued growth of TTMA!
Here’s to a terrific 2012!
Ilysha Buss
2010 and 2011 President
Travel & Tourism Marketing Association
