The Cultural Traveler Pavilion will Showcase Cultural Tourism at AAM Expo

April 14, 2009 - PRLog -- Denver, CO, The Museum Store Association (MSA) is a joint partner in The Cultural Traveler Pavilion, an innovative experiential exhibit at the American Association of Museum’s 2009 MuseumExpo, May 1 – 3, in Philadelphia, PA. The Pavilion will feature a series of tourism-focused presentations and fun events throughout the AAM Expo, all designed to educate museum directors about cultural tourism and the role their stores can play in helping build museum attendance.

“The Cultural Traveler Pavilion is an excellent opportunity to demonstrate the important connection between tourism and shopping, and show museum executives how highlighting their stores can increase museum visitation,” said MSA Executive Director Beverly Barsook.

“The Cultural Traveler Pavilion will be an exciting interactive showcase at the 2009 MuseumExpo,” said Ford Bell, president and CEO of the American Association of Museums. “Building on ‘The Museum Experience’ theme, our partners in this 2,500 sq. ft. pavilion will promote cultural and heritage tourism marketing strategies in an educational and entertaining format during the AAM tradeshow .”

Shopping is the #1 activity of all travelers, according to data tracked by the U.S. Department of Commerce / Office of Travel & Tourism Industries and the Travel Industry Association. The Cultural Traveler Pavilion is part of a larger initiative to inform cultural tourists and shoppers about museum stores as unique shopping destinations.

Another piece of MSA’s cultural tourism initiative is The Cultural Traveler guidebook which is devoted to cultural travel and discovering the leading museum stores around the globe. Copies of this prestigious publication will be available at The Cultural Traveler Pavilion at AAM. The complete 2009 edition of The Cultural Traveler also can be viewed at www.museum-store.travel . Details about participating in the 2010 edition will be available soon.

The Cultural Traveler Pavilion is a joint partnership of MSA, the U.S. Cultural & Heritage Tourism Marketing Council, the National Trust for Historic Preservation / Heritage Travel Inc., National Geographic Traveler, Int’L Connect / RepeatSeat, the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Council and the AAM.

The pavilion will feature ongoing demonstrations, the introduction of new technology and products, and a variety of educational and entertaining presentations every half hour throughout the three-day show. These will include mini-seminars on how to market to cultural and heritage travelers presented by the U.S. Cultural & Heritage Tourism Council, Museum Store Association, Heritage Travel and the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation; the marketing strategies of cultural and heritage destinations such as Winterthur, Hagley, Longwood Gardens and the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts; conversations and photo opportunities with Ben Franklin, Betsy Ross and other historical “celebrities;” and other informative and unique ideas for building a cultural and heritage tourism market.

In addition to building institution revenue through sales, museum stores provide a high-impact point of contact with cultural institution patrons. The store is a place to reinforce the experience of visiting a cultural institution and to re-emphasize the mission of the institution.

MSA is a nonprofit, international association organized to advance the success of museum retail professionals. By encouraging business excellence in museum stores, MSA helps cultural commerce professionals better serve their organizations. MSA also is focused on helping increase awareness about museum stores as unique shopping destinations for tourists and cultural travelers.

Contact:
Tina Eichner
Managing Editor
Museum Store Association
4100 E. Mississippi Avenue, Suite 800
Denver, Colorado 80246
Tel :303-504-9223
Fax :303-504-9585
Teichner@museumstoreassociation.org
http://www.MuseumStoreAssociation.org
http://www.museum-store.travel