The Rupert Report
From the Desk of AIANTA's CEO | April 18, 2022
Sherry L. Rupert, AIANTA CEO; Fred Dixon, President & CEO, NYC & Company; Paige Shepherd, Director of Corporate Development & Tourism, Chickasaw Nation at the U.S. Travel Association Board of Directors Meeting
AIANTA Highlights for the Coming Week
Go International is This Week!
AIANTA is excited to welcome friends and partners from around the country for our annual Go International travel trade training. We have some amazing speakers who will share actionable tips and advice on attracting international travelers, building group business and working with the media. Follow along with us on social media at #DiscoverNativeAmerica or look for images on Facebook.

Interested in attending? We are accepting registrations at the door!
Meet Me at the Montana Governor's Conference on Tourism
April 18, 2022

I'm excited to be giving the featured presentation, "Working Together to Build Tribal Tourism," at the Montana Governor's Conference on Tourism this week. We have so many amazing Native partners in Montana and I'm looking forward to showcasing their work and how the greater tourism industry at large can work with these tribes and destinations. If you'll be attending the conference, please make sure to say hello.
AIANTA Impact Report
As I am about to enter my fourth year as AIANTA CEO, I am amazed at all that we have accomplished since that time. When I first arrived in Albuquerque, our staff was eight people strong. We are now poised to hit 16 team members in the very near future with plans to hire a few more. Click here to view a few employment opportunities.

The accomplishments of this tremendous team are outstanding and I'm delighted to introduce our new AIANTA Impact statement, which only highlights AIANTA's very top-level accomplishments.

We thank you for joining us on this journey and are excited as we look forward to watching Indian Country grow.
Tourism Survey
AIANTA launched its fourth State of Indian Country Tourism Industry survey. The survey will help us measure indigenous and Native communities’ confidence in the growth of the visitor industry for the coming year.

Please take a moment to complete the brief survey now.
Deadline to take the survey: April 22, 2022
Upcoming AIANTA Webinars & Events

Connecting Health and Healing with Tourism
April 26, 2022; 10 a.m. (Mountain)

Next Evolution Coffee Shop is not your ordinary coffee shop. The Schurz, Nevada shop was created to promote a healthy lifestyle while also breaking down barriers on the Walker River Paiute tribal community. The plant-based coffee shop, owned by tribal citizen Andrea Martinez, features organic juices, smoothies, salads, sandwiches, wraps and much more. While the shop was created with the needs of the community in mind, its key location on Highway 95, means travelers between Reno and Las Vegas also have the opportunity to enjoy a healthy snack while learning more about the Walker River Paiute tribal community. In this webinar, learn how Next Evolution Coffee incorporates Indigenous learnings and a people-over-profit philosophy in its business model.


AIANTA Town Hall Series: Technical Assistance & Training Opportunities
April 27, 2022, 1 p.m. (Mountain)

From Tourism 101 to the intricacies of international outreach, AIANTA’s experienced team helps tribes and native-owned businesses create tourism experiences that honor culture, tradition and history. During this Town Hall, you’ll meet an advisory group guiding AIANTA’s Leave No Trace partnership program, and learn how the group has been working to create resources that will prepare travelers to be more respectful and responsible during their visits to Tribal lands.
 
Additionally, AIANTA CEO Sherry L. Rupert (Paiute/Washoe) and Board President Emerson Vallo (Pueblo of Acoma) will lead an open dialog with attendees on how they can engage with AIANTA in the year ahead. This is your opportunity to tell us what your needs are. How can we help you grow and develop in the tourism industry? What types of training would you like to see piloted at Go International, the American Indian Tourism Conference (AITC), our Cultural Heritage Certificate Programs and through our AIANTA Webinar Series?

Boneedwa
(See you later, Northern Paiute)
 

Sherry L. Rupert, Chief Executive Officer
American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association
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Funding Opportunities
AIANTA collects funding opportunities that may be of interest to Indigenous or Native American tourism & hospitality enterprises looking to grow their tourism, culture, heritage, arts, agritourism or other culture and heritage programming.

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