Shop America Alliance, the travel trade organization dedicated to promoting shopping, dining and cultural travel as the top tourism activities, is celebrating its 17th Anniversary as the leader in marketing shopping and dining tourism. Founded in 1998, Shop America (SAA) is a travel trade organization offering ongoing travel and tourism marketing support to its members and partners with programs that provide measurable ROI.  The programs include partnerships, packaged tours development and sales, publishing, communications, research, public relations, meetings and events.

Representing leading retailers, brands, shopping centers, outlets and shopping destinations throughout North America, Shop America's 2014 programs include:

•Shop America Magazine and Where to Shop guide published annually in partnership with Brand USA

•Shop America Tours— 175+ commissionable shopping, dining and cultural heritage packages in 40 cities sold via major tour operators worldwide and at ShopAmericaTours.com

•MasterCard® Shop America Savings program with special discount offers at 75+ locations throughout the USA

•AAA/CAA Show Your Card & Save Shop America VIP partnership provides savings at participating shopping centers and outlets

•Shop America Tours Club—consumer club features special savings and monthly contests promoted via social media campaign and bi-monthly ShopTalk Ezine

•ONE Travel Conference for Shopping, Dining & Cultural Tourism—annual conference featuring executive level education, networking and the SASI-ONE Awards for marketing excellence.

•Participation in 15 major travel trade events and sales missions annually to market Shop America Tours and showcase Shop America partners including IPW, ITB, WTM London, WTM Latin America, La Cita, NTA, ABA, Active America China, CITM, China Sales Mission, ONE Travel Conference, Go West Summit, OMCA, California Marketing Outlook Forum and Expedia Partners Conference.

•Special focus on top international inbound markets:  Canada, China, UK, Mexico, Brazil and Germany

•China Market opportunities: China Ready Shopping White Paper and engagement of East West Marketing as Shop America's China representative

•DIRECTIONS enews provides timely information and opportunities.

“Shopping tourism continues to provide exceptional economic benefits to all engaged. Shop America's role is to provide essential information, key contacts and expanded opportunities for our partners to enhance their success,” said Rosemary McCormick, founder and President of Shop America Alliance.

Expanding into the cultural and heritage tourism arena in 2005, Shop America Alliance co-produced the US Cultural & Heritage Tourism Summit with the US Department of Commerce/OTTI in Washington, DC and co-founded the US Cultural & Heritage Tourism Marketing Council (USCHT) in 2007.  The strong correlation between shopping, dining and cultural & heritage tourism, as indicated by several research studies, led to more innovative collaborations including the ONE Travel Conference for Shopping, Dining and Cultural Tourism which was incorporated with the former Shop America Tourism Conference.  Shop America president Rosemary McCormick's book “Marketing Cultural & Heritage Tourism” was published by the Museum Store Association providing tools for increased effectiveness and developing partnerships. Shop America also co-publishes The Cultural Traveler guide annually in partnership with USCHT.

Shop America continues to grow its extensive network of partners to expand its marketing efforts including MasterCard Worldwide, US Travel Association, International Council of Shopping Centers, National Tour Association, Visit USA UK Committee, Discover America Canada, Mandala Research, Brand USA and US Department of Commerce/OTTI.

Shop America Tours works with top online travel agents and tour operators worldwide including Expedia, Orbitz, Gray Line, Tourico Holidays, Allied TPro, Mark Travel, Hotelbeds, Viator and more.

Shop America Alliance Executive Advisory Committee 2014

Kathy Anderson, Anderson Retail Tourism Marketing

Ann Ackerman, AWE Talisman

Bonnie Carlson/Jan Kroells, Bloomington MN CVB
Rose Hapanowich, Destiny USA

Pat Lee, Cherry Creek Center
Carolyn Feimster, CJF Marketing International

Petty Ziglin, Craig Realty Group
Gina Slechta, Horizon Group Properties

Kris Land, Kay Jewelers
Art Jimenez, Las Vegas CVA/Shop Las Vegas
Denise Thevenot, Louisiana Tax Free Shopping
Kate Birchler, Macerich

Kristen Esposito, Macy's
Doug Killian, Mall of America

Laura Mandala, Mandala Research

Chris Szalay, The Outlet Shops at Grand River
Jean Guinup, Premium Outlets®

Werner Escher, South Coast Plaza

Carolyn Petty, TaxFree Shopping Texas

Amy Drouillard, The Taubman Company
Sheila Armstrong, U.S. Cultural & Heritage Tourism Marketing Council
Karin Fish, Visit California

Cheryl Hatcher, VISIT FLORIDA

Nancy Hahn Bono, Visit Orlando

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