“And you could have won a trip to Belize…” this was the ringing anthem in the popular Let’s Make A deal gameshow in January. The Daytime Emmy Award winning CBS gameshow (with a viewership of 3.5 million+ nationwide) provided an opportunity for the BTB and Naia Resort and Spa to promote Belize. View a sample of the segment below. To date the airings showcasing Belize have an earned a media value of US$948k.
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The “Exhale” campaign continues throughout our marketing and paid support initiatives. Click here for the Exhale video assets.
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Easy as 1, 2, 3
Awareness of the destination, and ease of accessibility are equally important in our promotion efforts. Belize capitalized on its “Easy as 1, 2, 3” messaging informing audiences of the steps to visit.
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Direct mailing to consumers in the US highlighted why Belize is Easy to reach and Easier to Love. Click here to view
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Top Stories
Some top stories for January resulting from proactive pitching and direct media contact included:
USA
“14 Cold Weather Cocktails” – Millenium Magazine – see HERE
“International Destinations you can Travel to” – MSN News – see HERE
“2021 Travel Outlook for 10 Popular Caribbean Destinations” – Travel Pulse – see HERE
“Belize Expands COVID-19 Departure Test Capacity” – Travel Pulse – see HERE
“Smooth Re-Entry New Resorts & GS - 2021 Belize Travel” – AgentAtHome – see HERE
“A Country-by-Country Guide to Central and South American Travel Restrictions” – Conde Nast Traveler– see HERE
“50 Bucket List-worth Romantic Getaways Around the World” – Travel & Leisure – see HERE
Europe
“Bucket list trips for 2021” – Wanderlust – see HERE
“The Ultimate All Inclusive Holiday” – Mail Online – see HERE
“Top Luxury Fishing Destination” – Luxury Lifestyle – see HERE
“Surf and Turf” – Charitable Traveller – see HERE
“Best Water Sports Adventures in the Caribbean” – Sounds and Colours – see HERE
Canada
“Latin American Countries Reopening for Tourism” - Travel Off Path — see HERE
“Where will Canadians Travel in 2021” - Travel & Style — see HERE
Key Press Releases
Releases highlighting Belize’s acquisition of the WTTC’s Safe Travels Stamp resulted in the following exposure:
Caribbean Journal – Click HERE
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Key Promotions
The “Stay Home/Stay Safe” PR campaign continued to encourage Belizeans to take the necessary safety precautions and minimize social interactions over the holidays. A new video was added and social media posts continued.
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Ministerial Destination Visits
In January, the Minister of Tourism and Diaspora Relations, Hon. Anthony Mahler, began his Ministerial Destination visits. The Minister was accompanied by the CEO in the Ministry of Tourism, Nicole Solano, the Chairman of the BTB Board of Directors, Evan Tillett, and other personnel; the team was also joined by the Minister of Civil Aviation and the Blue Economy, Hon. Andre Perez. Visits have been concluded in the North islands; GS properties, tourism service providers, industry partners and tourism associations provided insightful feedback for the industry’s rebounding efforts. The Ministry and BTB, while unable to visit every tourism stakeholder, reaffirms its commitment to remain accessible to the industry.
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Congratulations to all our industry partners who have achieved Gold Standard certification! Close to 60% of accommodations (some 489 properties) and more than 60% (251) of tour operators have been certified; 20 tourism entities and transportation providers have aligned their operations with the program and are actively working to provide guests with a safe experience while in Belize.
Gold Standard stakeholders continue to be highlighted via social media; here are a few examples:
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All GS entities will also now be able to utilize the WTTC Safe Travels stamp for marketing. If you are a GS property and have not received the communication and marketing collateral for the Safe Travels Stamp, please contact pr@belizetourismboard.org
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Royal Roads University Belize Session
On January 20, the Travel Trade Unit, BHA and DCI collaborated as panellists during a Belize session with Royal Roads University, based in British Columbia, Canada. This one-hour discussion included a discussion on Belize’s tourism industry and how the organization handles marketing during the pandemic. The session included 60 participants comprising of Graduate Tourism Management Students, faculty members, and fourth-year students of Tourism and Hotel Management.
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Virtuoso Belize Webinar
The Travel Trade Team conducted a Virtuoso webinar on Jan 28 with a group of Travel Advisors from around the globe. The webinar started with an overview of the destination and the key selling points. Our team also spoke about the Specialist Program, our Facebook group, and addressed the entry requirements and safety protocols involved. The session had high engagements as the audience asked several questions that showed great interest. 157 Travel Advisors registered and 92 advisors attended, putting the AR at 59%; an excellent success!
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Here are a few posts from our Social Media platforms: |
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Share & Earn
What’s new in your neck of the woods - a tour, new cooking class at your property, an expansion? If you’re Gold Standard, let us know at industryrelations@belizetourismboard.org and we’ll share your good news with our international media and trade partners to earn coverage for you. Belize Boutique Resort & Spa, San Ignacio Resort Hotel, Blue Marlin Beach Resort, Sweet Sings Jungle Lodge, El Gran Mestizo, Jaguar Creek and Mystic River shared their updates with us, and here’s a sample of the coverage they received:
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More virtual press trips are coming up soon!!
Gold Standard certified and want to host media during an upcoming press trip? Send us an email today.
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More Live Instagram Inspections are coming up soon!!
Gold Standard certified and interested in showcasing your property? Send us an email today.
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Thanks to Belize Harbor View for joining us for an Instagram Live Inspection.
Click HERE to view the Live Site Inspection on Harbour View Cottage Instagram Channel.
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Become a Belize Travel Specialist!
The Belize Travel Specialist Program offers travel advisors well-rounded knowledge of Belize as a travel destination. Benefits of the Belize Travel Specialist Program include:
- priority consideration for familiarization trips;
- recognition on TravelBelize.org where visitors can search for qualified Specialist agents in their area;
- invitations to attend exclusive events;
- printable diploma certifying your status as an official Belize Travel Agent Specialist; and
- a wide range of marketing tools and resources to help promote and sell Belize.
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Be a Part of Our Online Travel Agent Community!
Belize Travel Advisors & Friends is a private Facebook Group where Travel Advisors can interact with Belize Suppliers. Learn about the positive things happening in Belize amidst the pandemic and share personal experiences about Belize. Be sociable and share with other Advisors.
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Belizean Traveller & Belizebooking.com
As COVID continues to challenge the travel industry, domestic travel is more important than ever. We encourage you to join the Belizean Traveller campaign and promote your ‘Belizean’ rates and packages on Belizebooking.com
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In our next edition: More on the “Visiting Belize is as Easy as 1,2,3” Campaign and the Exhale Gamification launch |
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