The Colorado Tourism Office Appoints a New Canadian Representative

TORONTO – The Colorado Tourism Office (CTO) is pleased to announce the joint appointment of The Kai Group and Travel Marketing Experts Inc. (TME) as its marketing and public relations representative in Canada. The two Toronto based companies submitted a joint bid in an official RFP process to represent Colorado in the Canadian marketplace. The appointment is effective immediately.

“We are thrilled to have KAI and TME become our new representatives in Canada and look forward to developing new visitor markets and expanding existing ones,” said Michael Driver, International Marketing Manager for the Colorado Tourism Office. “We want to focus more on tour operator product that agents can sell as well as showcasing the state to the consumer in ways they haven’t seen Colorado before – everyone knows it’s great for skiing but it is also ideal for adventure and outdoor pursuits, spa/wellness, nature, culinary and music festivals, and vibrant arts and culture scene,” added Driver.

The Kai Group and Travel Marketing Experts Inc. will jointly support the marketing and promotional efforts in Canada. Annika Klint, the managing director of The Kai Group, and co-director on the account will be responsible for the trade marketing activities for CTO which will include participation in consumer and travel trade shows; sales calls to travel agents, tour operators, meeting planners and special interest groups; trade promotions; product development; agent training; co-ordinating and escorting trade familiarization trips; and trade fulfillment and requests – essentially the Canadian travel trade’s key contact.

Chris Ryall, the president of Travel Marketing Experts Inc., and co-director on the account will be responsible for the media, promotion, and advertising activities for CTO. Responsibilities include: media relations; writing and distributing press releases; consumer and media promotions; media spokesperson; handling media requests for information, contacts, images and press trips; escorting group press trips; and arranging the media buy.

The Kai Group is a Toronto based tourism marketing representation company with particular expertise in working with the travel trade. Managing director Annika Klint has more than twenty years of experience in the travel industry while working in a variety of senior level management positions in the airline, wholesaler and retail areas. The Kai Group was formed in 2008 and has built up a roster of clients including Coconut Bay Resort & Spa (St. Lucia), Windjammer Landing Resort & Spa (St. Lucia), The Elegant Hotels Group (Barbados), The Luxury Resorts (Dominican Republic), Pipers Cover Resort (Jamaica), Bay View Villas (Jamaica).

Travel Marketing Experts is a Toronto based tourism marketing and PR representation company which has been operating since 1996. President Chris Ryall has more than twenty years of tourism marketing and public relations experience. TME has conducted marketing and PR activities with numerous tourism boards, wholesalers, airlines, and travel industry suppliers from around the world. TME’s current clients include New Hampshire Division of Travel & Tourism Development, Scottsdale Convention & Visitors Bureau, GLP Worldwide Expedition Travel & Tours and Ottawa Tourism.

The state’s scenic beauty attracts many Canadians with more than 158,000 visiting in 2008 (1+ nights). Colorado can be explored by hiking its mountains, rafting down its rivers, horseback riding its trails, mountain biking through backroads, or just relaxing at a mountain side spa. Discover Colorado’s 60 wineries, go back in time and pan for gold, be a pioneer along the Sante Fe Trail, or test your golf swing at the state’s many picturesque courses. Colorado is ideal for Canadians looking for outdoor adventure, culture, and history.

Travel Trade Contact: Annika Klint – The Kai Group

Office – 131 Felbrigg Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M5M 2M6 Tel: (416) 787-8446

Email: annika@thekaigroup.ca or Colorado@thekaigroup.ca

Media Contact: Chris Ryall – Travel Marketing Experts Inc.

Office – 76 Bonacres Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M1C 3B9 Tel: (416) 861-1022 Toll-free: (888) 423-3995 Email: chris@travelmarketingexperts.com

ABOUT COLORADO

Colorado is a four-season destination offering unparalleled adventure and recreational pursuits, a thriving arts scene, a rich cultural heritage, flavourful cuisine, and 26 renowned ski areas and resorts. The state’s breathtaking scenic landscape boasts natural hot springs, the headwaters of seven major rivers, many peaceful lakes and reservoirs, 10 national parks and monuments, and 54 mountain peaks that top 14,000 feet. For more information or a copy of the 2010 Colorado Official State Vacation Guide, visit www.COLORADO.com or call 1-800-COLORADO. Media are invited to visit the Colorado Media Room at www.COLORADO.com/mediaroom for story ideas, press releases, press kits, and high-resolution, downloadable photos and video for editorial use. Follow Colorado on Twitter at www.twitter.com/coloradoor become a Colorado Facebook fan at www.facebook.com/visitcolorado

July 23, 2010   Posted in: United States West