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The Rupert Report

From the Desk of AIANTA's CEO |January 30, 2023

CEO Rupert presenting at the Trails and Rails Conference in Washington, D.C.

AIANTA Highlights for the Coming Week

National Trails & Rails Conference

National Park Service Director Chuck Sams

The National Trails & Rails Operations Management Team organized a three-day National Trails & Rails Conference in Washington, DC, January 24 – 26, 2023 as a platform to discuss a variety of issues and topics dealing with the Trails & Rails program. The national meeting was jointly hosted by the National Park Service (NPS), Amtrak, and featured Director, Chuck Sams. AIANTA attended as an NPS partner to provide tribal perspective to the program.

AIANTA ASU Sustainable Tourism Certificate Program

The purpose of the online Sustainable Tourism for Native Nations and Communities Certificate (STC) is to provide participants with an overview of sustainable tourism and how it can be incorporated into their community’s tourism planning and development. The certificate will provide sustainable tourism curriculum with a specific emphasis on American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian tourism efforts offered both as a professional development option and a university credit option.

The certificate is offered through the Arizona State University Center for Sustainable Tourism housed in the School of Community Resources and Development. The Center for Sustainable Tourism and its affiliated partners, faculty, and students seek to examine the role and contribution of tourism in the social, cultural, environmental, and economic well-being of communities. The Center’s research, education, and development activities focus on long-term, system-wide, sustainable strategies, and co-created solutions for community and tourism development. To learn more about the Center, click here.

Requirements

The STC program will consist of seven modules plus an introductory module and a final project offered over a seven and half-week period, one module per week. Each module will require five to six hours of effort each week for seven weeks, two of which will be general content in class, will include a case study or other Tribal specific content offered in a variety of formats, and will include self-guided reading and assignments. Students enrolled in the program for credit will be required to complete a final project; the final project is optional for those enrolled as professional development. The course will be offered as pass/fail for both professional development and for-credit students.

Register Now

The TravMedia Summit North America

The Indigenous Tourism Panel from left to right: Paige Shepard, Matthew Cameron Smith, Sherry L. Rupert, Ryan Rogers and Tom Babin

On January 25, 2023 CEO Rupert attended the TravMedia Summit in New York to present on a panel dedicated to Indigenous Tourism for the first time at the summit. The panel was moderated by Paige Shepherd, Director or Tourism for Chickasaw Nation. The TravMedia Summit is a one-day conference that brings together travel and tourism PRs, editors, and writers to inspire ideas, share insights and discuss the trends and challenges affecting their industry. DMOs, new and experienced PR professionals, hotel marketers, PR companies, senior travel editors, and freelancers attend each year to learn new concepts and perspectives.

There's still time to become a Member!

Join AIANTA and Support the Movement to Build Cultural Tourism in Indian Country

Bird Singer Thumb Drive

Artists: designed by NSRGNTS, led by Native couple Votan Ik (Mayan/Nahua) and Leah “Povi” Lewis (Pueblo/Dine’)

Through AIANTA membership, tribes, members of the tourism industry, federal, state and local governments, colleges and universities and others form a resource network that shares experiences and supports one another.


Already a member and need to renew? You still have time!


Please do so by January 31, 2023 to receive our latest Bird Singer Thumb Drive created by NSRGNTS! 

Join Today

Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians Plans

NEW Spa at Séc-he Opening

The Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians has announced that they will open The Spa at Séc-he at the Agua Caliente Cultural Plaza will be Tuesday April 4, 2023. 

 

Owned by the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians and operated by Agua Caliente Casinos, the 40,000 square foot The Spa at Séc-he is one of the most luxurious hot mineral spring spa destinations in the country. Its downtown Palm Springs, Calif. location is across the street from the Tribe’s original entertainment property – Agua Caliente Casino Palm Springs.


The Spa at Séc-he features 22 private mineral baths, 15 treatment rooms, a cryotherapy chamber, two float pod suites, a boutique fitness area, a grounding room, an acoustic wellness lounge, tranquility garden, menthol dry sauna, eucalyptus steam room, two halotherapy salt caves, a resort-style mineral pool with four Jacuzzis, luxury cabanas, full-service salon with scalp treatment beds, a cafe and a poolside bar with food service.  Information on how to book services at The Spa at Séc-he will be available soon. 

 

The Tribe has decided to open the Agua Caliente Cultural Plaza in two phases: first, The Spa at Séc-he on April 4, followed by the Agua Caliente Cultural Museum, Gathering Plaza and Oasis Trail later this year. 

 

Design inspiration for the Spa and Cultural Plaza is rooted in Agua Caliente traditions such as basket weaving, pottery (ollas) and botanical elements native to the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indian Reservation. 

 

Boneedwa
(See you later, Northern Paiute)
 

Sherry L. Rupert, Chief Executive Officer
American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association
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