6 guests from Italy, Iceland, Greenland, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland and Sweden. Doug says the inn’s presence in Fodor’s, Frommer’s and Lonely Planet guidebooks also helps. “They show up, books in hand, ready to make the Napa Valley circuit with our inn and the area’s attractions highlighted or circled.” Some international visitors are attracted by favorable exchange rates, but many have been wooed by active and creative marketing. Frederique Procyk, for instance, has a page on her website in French (she was born in France), and several agencies around the country devote themselves to attracting international visitors—efforts attentive innkeepers can use to their marketing advantage. Discover New England, for instance, a
innkeeping quarterly • winter 2009
They show up, books in hand, ready to make the Napa Valley circuit with our inn and the area’s attractions highlighted or circled. non-profit organization funded by the six New England states, works to attract Canadians and Europeans and annually holds an international “summit” to allow American travel industry representatives to connect with foreign travel resources. This year, Maine will host the Discover New England Summit and International Marketplace in April at The Grand Summit Resort — Sunday River, near Bethel.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity for small businesses to meet with international tour professionals one-on-one,” says Carolann Ouellette of the Maine Office of Tourism, “as well as a chance to learn more about the international market.” State tourism agencies are active in promoting international travel as well. Linda Hayes of Inn at Riverbend says learning what the Virginia Tourism Corporation is doing has been helpful. Virginia vigorously promotes international travel, reaching out to both Canada and Europe with brochure distribution, press releases, familiarization tours, and advertising abroad. To be sure, most state tourism bureaus devote the greater part of their energy to fostering domestic tourism. But while the bulk of Washing-