Dear partner in travel

Welcome to this our very first TDM Linked! Newsletter aimed at keeping you, our valuable partner, updated with news and happenings within the Tourvest Destination Management (TDM) family.

Who's who in TDM Contracting and Marketing?

The tourism industry is evolving rapidly. With the ever increasing accent on innovation, it’s never been more important to remain abreast of industry developments. Tourvest Destination Management (TDM), a principal in the tourism services arena, and enables global customers in the leisure, sports and business travel markets to do just this.

TDM focuses on providing competitive, carefully selected and accessible third party product that is closely monitored to ensure superior quality. An accent on adding value wherever possible has resulted in enduring relationships with suppliers.

TDM has created economies of scale by creating a single point of contact for all matters related to suppliers’ contracts, product selection and financial issues. This makes it possible for supply chain related information to be communicated into all areas of business, creating a dynamic strategy and direction.

So ‘Whose Who’ in TDM Product, Marketing and Contracting?

	Felicity Vieira, previously responsible for Marketing and Business Development within Welcome Tourism Services, has taken over the role of Marketing and Product Director, TDM. Her responsibilities include, but are not limited to, contracting of suppliers and product for the company’s four business units, namely Welcome Tourism Services, Your Africa, Focus Tours, and SST.  Email: fviera@tourvestdm.com
	Grant Grobler continues in his role as Contracting Manager, contracting and managing select portfolios of accommodation and vehicle suppliers as part of TDM’s supplier and vehicle strategy. He also manages rate and information dissemination, support and revenue analysis within the company. Email: ggrobler@tourvestdm.com
	Chris Iuel, previously responsible for Business Development within TDM Product, has now taken over the role of TDM Product Marketing Manager. His responsibilities include, but are not limited to, project management and production of the TDM local and regional travel guides, TDM product training, campaigns and promotions to the local travel trade and marketing and PR responsibilities alongside Felicity Vieira.  Email: ciuel@tourvestdm.com
	Previously responsible for supplier contracting within TEAM (Tourvest Event Activation Management), Janine Potgieter was actively involved with the FIFA 2010 Soccer World Cup™. She has now been appointed Contracting Executive, and as such contracts and manages a select portfolio of local accommodation suppliers as part of TDM’s supplier strategy. Janine also contracts for and manages the growth strategy of TDM regional suppliers.  Email: jpotgieter@tourvestdm.com
	Lerato Letsoko is Contract Administrator. Her current responsibilities include contracting a specific portfolio of accommodation suppliers as well as support for information dissemination within TDM. Email: lletsoko@tourvestdm.com

New TDM 2012/13 Travel Guide

We are delighted to advise you that we have already embarked on the new Tourvest Destination Management (TDM) Travel Guides (South Africa and Regional) for the validity period being 1st November 2012 until 31st October 2013. These publications will be launched to our international clients and the trade at large at the Indaba 2012 held in Durban.

In line with our TDM supplier strategy of maximizing supplier exposure to the entire TDM client base, our Travel Guides are the key marketing tool used by all the TDM business units Welcome Tourism Services; Your Africa; Focus Tours; SST and B.A.S.E (Business and Sport Events)

The Travel Guides covers our full portfolio including our comprehensive destination, responsible tourism and accommodation guide; transport options; scheduled touring and; TDM product. The Travel Guides have proved to be an extremely successful sales tool for our business units, and much sought after by our international client base.

Considering how many Travel Guides are published each year, with many requiring participation fees, understandably the decision to financially participate in any Travel Guide is not one taken lightly; TDM has taken all possible steps to ensure that our featured travel partners receive the maximum support levels where ever possible. These steps include:

1. Suppliers featured in the Travel Guides have access to the TDM business unit’s reservation and sales teams for purposes of training, product development, presentations, educational invitations and inclusion into our monthly staff and client newsletters. This also extends to introducing suppliers to our international clients where we have substantial influence over their Travel Guide content. 
    
2. Suppliers featured in the accommodation guide are contracted and distributed within the various TDM business units via our Intranet, Extranet and our Tourplan reservations platform. Should a consultant try and book a non-featured product, this has to be specifically activated, which can only be done with authorization from a director and with good reason. Exposure to the TDM client base occurs via the web based TDM B2B Connect reservations & rate/information distribution system and our innovative Desktop TDM Air App.
    
3. Travel Guide participants qualify for inclusion in the TDM Touring, all other related TDM products as well as the TDM rewards program T Bucks, aimed at influencing and increasing support to all our Travel Guide participants.

All TDM business units have a strategic sales and marketing approach, which revolves around targeted and focused distribution of the Travel Guides and their corresponding websites. Through our international network and local wholesale distribution channels, we believe that your product will receive the maximum exposure possible through a South African publication.

Should you require any additional information regarding the TDM Travel Guides please do not hesitate to contact  Annette van den Bosch, TDM Travel Guide Co-coordinator on avdbosch@tourvestdm.com

TDM Pass

South Africa offers an alluring variety of attractions – from sandy beaches to arid bushveld, from tropical wetlands to spectacular mountain scenery. Whether you are interested in nature, wildlife, cuisine, culture or history, South Africa has something unique to offer you. Moderate climate may be expected all year round with hot and thundery summers and dry mild winters with occasional cold spells only expecting snow on the highest mountain peaks.

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