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Guam Visitors Bureau teams up with local artist for ongoing mural series

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The Guam Visitors Bureau (GVB) is pleased to announce the non-profit membership corporation is working with local artist Lee Hiura San Nicolas to produce a series of murals around the island.

GVB has been a long-time supporter of the arts on island and sponsored numerous events to include Pow! Wow! Guam, Guam Art eXhibit (GAX), and Guam Spraycation. The Bureau has also encouraged the growth of art spots and linking businesses with local talent.

“GVB has been working with other local and international artists for many years to beautify our island. We’re proud to continue that effort by collaborating with Lee,” said GVB President and CEO Pilar Laguaña. “This project is all about creating art with purpose. We wanted to create murals that told a Guam story and will become new attractions for our visitors and residents to see. There are five prime spots that will have large scale murals in the coming weeks for everyone to enjoy.”

Two of the five murals have already been completed. San Nicolas has finished a mural of a large coconut crab or ayuyu in the village of Anigua close to the Federal District Court. The second mural that was done is of a Chamorrita girl, Cameron San Agustin, and large hibiscus flowers next to the old Blockbuster/ Oasis Empowerment Center in the village of Tamuning. The next mural project will be at Paseo de Susana with the last two murals to be finalized.

“As an artist, I work hard to create paintings that visually speak both to me and to my audience about the beauty and culture of our island,” said San Nicolas. “Art is a movement and I hope to inspire the younger generation of artists to show their love of Guam and pair it with their love for art. Si Yu’os Ma’åse’ GVB for supporting the local art scene!”

Guam Visitors Bureau teams up with local artist for ongoing mural series
lee san nicolas at work
Guam Visitors Bureau teams up with local artist for ongoing mural series
chamorrita girl mural
Guam Visitors Bureau teams up with local artist for ongoing mural series
ayuyu mural

San Nicolas has a “street island style” that aims to depict original culture fused with contemporary art flavor. He began his early career as a graffiti artist and has worked toward professional aspects of art in creative forms. His work is featured in galleries and throughout the local community. San Nicolas is a graduate of the University of Guam and majored in Liberal Arts.

Follow GVB on instagram @visitguamusa and Lee San Nicolas @thefueking for highlights on the mural project.

Source:http://www.visitguam.com

MEDIA CONTACT:

JOSH TYQUIENGCO

Public Information Officer

GUAM VISITORS BUREAU

Office: (671) 646-5278 

josh.tyquiengco@visitguam.org  |  http://www.visitguam.com

Guam and Karatsu friendship strengthened in Japan

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The Guam Visitors Bureau (GVB) helped to strengthen friendship ties with the small Japanese coastal city of Karatsu from November 2-4, 2019.

Led by GVB Japan Marketing Committee Chairman Satoru Murata, the Guam delegation met with Karatsu Mayor Tatsuro Mine and other high-ranking leaders to discuss ways of furthering Guam and Japan’s friendship, as well as developing a youth exchange program in English speaking countries. Karatsu was also invited to attend the next Pacific Island Environmental Conference.

“We were honored to have met with our friends in Karatsu and thank them for their hospitality. We’re appreciative of their efforts to help our island home with their recycling efforts and resources,” said GVB Vice President Bobby Alvarez. “It’s these types of friendships that show us how tourism works to reinforce the over 50 year bond between Guam and Japan.”

Karatsu has been Guam’s official Friendship City since July 24, 2013. However, there has been a strong connection between both locations long before that official title. Karatsu has been shipping basalt rocks to Guam for the island’s roads. The Friendship City also helps with Guam’s treatment of waste, including recycling glass bottles and scrap tires. The recycled waste is loaded to the empty ships that bring the basalt rocks to Guam.

Karatsu officials also invited the Guam delegation to attend the city’s Kunichi Festival, which was added to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Intangible Cultural Heritage List.  The festival featured a daily parade of fourteen Hikiyama, which are massive traditional floats in the form of samurai helmets, sea bream, and dragons constructed from wood, lacquer, and other materials. The event attracted an estimated 570,000 visitors.

Karatsu is located on the island of Kyushu in the Saga Prefecture of Japan and has a population of 78,386 people.

MEDIA CONTACT: GUAM VISITORS BUREAU, Office: (671) 646-5278, Mobile: (671) 686-4827, http://www.visitguam.org

Guam Visitors Bureau: Over 200 offers available in eighth year of Shop Guam e-Festival

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The Guam Visitors Bureau (GVB) is proud to announce that 142 local businesses are taking part in the eighth annual Shop Guam e-festival, providing 208 special offers to island residents and visitors. The GVB signature event launches on Thursday, November 10, 2019, and will run through Thursday, February 10, 2019.

“With over 200 exclusive offers every year from our local businesses, everyone can take part in the Shop Guam e-Festival, for free,” said GVB President and CEO Pilar Laguaña. “Shop Guam is the only campaign that our industry stakeholders can promote their products and services across our diverse source visitor markets. We encourage everyone to download the free app and take advantage of the different experiences and deals, especially during the holiday season.”

Inspired by Airbnb’s Experience Marketplace, GVB is also inviting all aspiring businesses or talents to host an event or experience through Shop Guam.

“Our most significant new focus this year is to bring Shop Guam into the 19 districts and 24 villages across Guam,” said GVB Director of Global Marketing Nadine Leon Guerrero. “We are actively recruiting small village vendors and entrepreneurs to be a part of Shop Guam. It supports GVB’s ongoing effort to extend tourism outside of Tumon and create an impact for Guam’s community at large.”

Shop Guam Ambassadors to promote e-Festival

Seven social media influencers from China, Japan, Korea, and Taiwan are on the island this week to help boost the awareness of the e-Festival launch. These ambassadors, chosen by GVB, have over 2.6 million followers, across different social media platforms that include Instagram, Facebook, Tik Tok, YouTube, Weibo, and Naver. They will also have a more immersive community experience hosted by some of Guam’s aspiring local talents. The 2019 Shop Guam e-Festival influencers are Po Yan (Hong Kong), So Hee Nam (Korea), Ayaka Kawaguchi (Japan), Karen Okajima (Japan), Peter Su (Taiwan), Ruo Guam Nian Hua (China) and An Lan (China).

Upcoming promotional features

The Shop Guam mobile app will continue to be the primary marketing toolkit to help GVB to promote our local attractions and offers. Since GVB launched the Shop Guam mobile app, it has achieved just nearly 200,000 total user downloads. The app will again come with the iBeacon Bluetooth enabled proximity marketing technology and QR Code to send push notifications to the app users when they are near a participating merchant. GVB is also producing social media micro-videos featuring all the merchants and their offers in the campaign throughout GVB’s global social media network, including GVB’s Instagram Stories and TikTok China channel.

Evolution of Shop Guam

The Shop Guam e-Festival began in 2012 with only 10 merchants and has now connected with more than 962 merchants promoting to global markets and tourists. The campaign has attracted 2.2 million visitors to Guam with the ability to reach GVB’s top source markets through innovative marketing technology.

The Shop Guam e-Festival mobile app received the 2017 Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Gold Award for the best mobile app category. In addition, the Shop Guam campaign supported GVB’s historic recognition as the first tourism office in the United States to win the prestigious President’s “E” Award for tourism export excellence.

For more information, contact GVB’s Shop Guam e-Festival liaison Robbie Gerrie S.N. Bautista at shopguam@visitguam.org or call (671) 797-9900.

MEDIA CONTACT: JOSH TYQUIENGCO, Public Information Officer, GUAM VISITORS BUREAU, Office: (671) 646-5278, josh.tyquiengco@visitguam.org   

Guam Visitors Bureau seeks tourism destination marketing representation services in the Philippines

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The Guam Visitors Bureau (GVB), a public, non-stock, non-profit membership corporation, has issued a Request for Proposal (“RFP”) soliciting proposals from established marketing companies to act as GVB’s TOURISM DESTINATION MARKETING REPRESENTATION SERVICES THE PHILIPPINES to assist GVB in promoting Guam tourism and achieving visitor arrival goals in the Philippines.

RFP packages can also be downloaded at no cost from GVB’s website or obtained (in USB format) at the GVB Office, 401 Pale San Vitores Road, Tumon, Guam, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Monday – Friday, excluding Guam holidays.  A non-refundable $25.00 fee is required for each packet picked up at the GVB office payable in US$ cash, bank wire transfer or major credit card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, JCB).

Questions, if any, should be made in writing to the President and CEO, which can be dropped off at the GVB office; emailed to procurement@visitguam.org; or sent by fax to 671-646-8861 according to the timeline provided in the RFP.

GVB hereby notifies all offerors that it will affirmatively ensure that minority business enterprises will be afforded full opportunity to submit a response to this request for proposal and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color or national origin in consideration for an award. 

GVB reserves the right to reject any or all proposals, waive any imperfection in the proposal, or cancel this solicitation all according to law in the interest of the bureau.  Direct or indirect contact with the GVB Management or Staff, Board Member, or any person participating in the selection process is prohibited. 

If you are interested in submitting a proposal, please note the deadline for submission is no later than 5:00 p.m. (Chamorro Standard Time) on Monday, October 28, 2019.               

MEDIA CONTACT:  Guam Visitors Bureau, Setbision Bisitan Guahan, 401 Pale San Vitores Road, Tumon, Guam 96913, (671) 646-5278, Fax: (671) 646-8861, guamvisitorsbureau.com, visitguam.com, info@visitguam.com

South Pacific Cruise Alliance welcomes Guam

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The South Pacific Cruise Alliance is pleased to announce the Micronesian US Territory of Guam has joined the organization.

“Guam becomes our ninth member and our second new member to join this year,” said SPCA President & Chairman, David Vaeafe from American Samoa.

At Seatrade Cruise Global in Miami, Florida in April this year, Wallis & Futuna joined the organization.

“Guam’s location in the northern Pacific and close to Asia makes it an ideal cruising destination from the eastern markets and a potential home port for cruising around Micronesia.

Mr. Vaeafe said SPCA welcomes the opportunity to share information, best practices and experiences to help the destination develop its cruising sector.

“The Guam Economic Development Authority (GEDA) is very excited for this opportunity to work with the SPCA and its partners in strengthening the Pacific’s position in the cruise market,” said Melanie Mendiola, GEDA CEO.

Under the new leadership of Governor Lourdes Leon Guerrero, GEDA is breathing new life into initiatives to get more cruise ship traffic into Micronesia with the hopes of creating more jobs, promoting the entrepreneurial spirit and increasing resiliency of our already thriving visitors’ industry.

“Guam receives over 1.5 million travellers per year primarily from Japan and Korea. We are investing millions in upgrading our Port of Entry including Guam International Airport Authority and the Port Authority of Guam with plans to develop Guam as a viable home port for top tier cruise brands,” she said.

The South Pacific Cruise Alliance members are American Samoa, Cook Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, Guam, Pitcairn Islands, Samoa, Tonga and Wallis & Futuna.

For 2020, 723 cruise ships will call into SPCA ports and destinations.

MEDIA CONTACT: GUAM VISITORS BUREAU, Office: (671) 646-5278, Mobile: (671) 686-4827, http://www.visitguam.org

IGLTA Foundation’s new NYC think tank to address key issues in LGBTQ+ Tourism

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The International LGBTQ+ Travel Association Foundation (IGLTAF) inaugural Leadership Think Tank will unite top executives from LGBTQ+ welcoming destinations around the globe at Google during IGLTA’s 36th Annual Global Convention in New York City this April. The invitation-only discussion will focus on responsible tourism through the lens of LGBTQ+ welcoming travel and is presented with support from Miles Partnership and Google.

“IGLTA strives to continuously drive the conversations around LGBTQ+ travel to reflect our ever-evolving industry,” said IGLTA President/CEO John Tanzella. “We’re proud that IGLTAF has assembled for this important dialogue such an influential group of industry veterans from destinations and organizations that value our LGBTQ+ travel community.”

The Leadership Think Tank, organized in collaboration with NYC & Company and NYU’s Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality, will include leaders from Destination Canada, Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board, Cape Town Tourism, Destination DC, Italy National Tourist Board, Visit Dallas, Destination Niagara USA, Bermuda Tourism Authority, Discover Puerto Rico, Embratur (Brazil), Visit California, Milano Smart City Association, Greater Boston CVB, Destinations International, Tourism Madrid, Guam Visitors Bureau, U.S. Travel Association, Greater Fort Lauderdale CVB, Barcelona Tourism, Visit Salt Lake City, Thailand Tourism, and Greater Miami CVB.

“Accepting a seat at the leadership table during this invitation-only roundtable is important to affirm Bermuda’s position as a welcoming destination to all travelers, including the LGBTQ+ visitors,” said Kevin Dallas, CEO of the Bermuda Tourism Authority. “We applaud the IGLTA Foundation’s role in convening such diverse destinations to discuss critical issues facing the industry.”

A white paper from the session will be provided to the trade press and IGLTA’s global membership that focuses on five topics:
• Addressing issues of destination overcrowding as it impacts LGBTQ + travelers
• Analyzing the differences between LGBTQ+ travel niches and integration of LGBTQ+ travelers into the “mainstream”
• Diversifying LGBTQ+ products and services
• Examining cultural perspectives that impact LGBTQ+ tourism
• Discussing the challenges facing LGBTQ+ business owners in emerging destinations

“It’s a privilege to work with IGLTAF and to be a part of this special event, which is pondering some of the key forward-looking issues facing travel and tourism,” said U.S. Travel Association President/CEO Roger Dow. “This will be a terrific lineup engaging one of the most valuable practices we can undertake as an industry: anticipating and planning for challenges, which will better enable us to sustain our strength as an economic engine and job creator.”

Daniela Wagner, Group Business Development Director, Jacobs Media Group & Director EMEA, Pacific Asia Travel Association, and Fred Mayo, MBA, PhD, CHE, CHT, Founder, Mayo Consulting Services and Clinical Professor of Hospitality and Tourism Management, Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality, NYU, will co-moderate the Leadership Think Tank.

The 36th Annual IGLTA Global Convention would not be possible without the generous support of our convention sponsors: Presenting Level – NYC & Company, Delta Air Lines, Disney Destinations©, Italian National Tourist Board; Official Level – AIG Travel, Inc., Airbnb, Guam Visitors Bureau, Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau, Italian National Tourist Board, Malta Tourism Authority, Visit Philadelphia®; Conference Level – Inprotur Argentina, Visit Britain, VisitDallas, International Experience Canada/Government of Canada, Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, Miles Partnership, Q.Digital, Visit St. Pete/Clearwater, Visit West Hollywood.

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Strong interest in Guam grows at travel fair in Malaysia

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GVB

Guam continues to generate strong interest in Malaysia and was one of the newer and popular destinations featured at the country’s top consumer travel fair.

The Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) Fair is a bi-annual travel fair that ran from March 15-17, 2019 in Kuala Lumpur. Over 1,300 booths took up about 95,000 feet of exhibition space in seven halls at the Putra World Trade Centre. Guam was among the 272 organizations that were present to include travel and tour agencies, national tourism organizations, hotels, resorts, theme parks, cruises and other businesses. Organizers estimated this year’s fair to exceed over 110,000 visitors and sales of over $51 million. This is Guam’s second time having a presence at the event.

Mayor Robert Hofmann, committee chairman of the Guam Visitors Bureau’s North America and Pacific Market, noted that as an emerging market for Guam, Malaysian visitors are intrigued they can travel to the island visa-free.

“I think there’s huge interest in Guam from not only the Malaysia population, but also people that travel to Malaysia from countries like Singapore, the Middle East, and India,” said Hofmann. “It’s great to see they’re excited about Guam. It’s exotic to them and it’s a new destination they’re looking forward to seeing. They don’t know much about our history, but they are a culture similar to ours. We should start to learn more about their culture because we have so many commonalities and could retrace some of our steps to Southeast Asia where the CHamoru people came from.”
GVB
North America and Pacific Marketing Manager Mark Manglona conducts a Guam product presentation to Philippine Airlines and travel agents in Malaysia.
GVB
Team Guam takes a group photo at the Guam booth in the 2019 MATTA Fair.
GVB
A look at some of the 1,300 booths that were at the 2019 MATTA Fair in Kuala Lumpur.


A culture at the forefront

Fairgoers witnessed multiple performances from Guma Taotao Tano at the three-day event as they shared Guam’s unique CHamoru culture through song and dance.

“Malaysia is a very rich cultural place,” said Guma Taotao Tano musician Vince San Nicolas. “I believe that our 4,000-year-old history is vital to share with them in person. Bringing out the re-identification and resurgence of the CHamoru culture is very important to share with the rest of the world so that we’re known as the CHamorus from Guam and the Marianas.”

Airline and travel agents create Guam packages

While in Kuala Lumpur, GVB met with Philippine Airlines and other travel agents for a Guam product presentation to further develop the Malaysia market.

Philippine Air offered special fares from Malaysia to Guam via Manila during the MATTA Fair.  Travel agents, such as Apple Vacations and Golden Tourworld Travel,  have also been promoting six-day packages to Guam.  The agents have already confirmed Guam is scheduled to welcome group travelers from Malaysia in the coming months.

“We’ve been making great leads and strides in promoting Guam in the region,” said GVB North America and Pacific Marketing Manager Mark Manglona. “We’ve developed key partnerships with travel agents who have put up all-inclusive travel packages and we also have a very good relationship with Philippine Airlines. They’ve been very supportive and connected us with travel agents.  There is a tremendous opportunity to promote Guam in Malaysia and we look forward to growing and developing this new market.”

The next MATTA Fair will be in September 2019.

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