Monday, February 23, 2009

Earn your turns

Hello there!

This weekend was another one in paradise--between the Vinyasa yoga at Body of Santa Fe (http://www.bodyofsantafe.com/) and "skinning" up Ski Santa Fe, plus a nice afternoon sitting outside at the Teahouse on Canyon Road (http://www.teahousesantafe.com/), I was in heaven.

With friends Mary, John, Carol and Elizabeth, and three dogs (Stella is my blue heeler, to the right) we put felt "skins" on telemark skis and started our ascent, which totals about 1,800 vertical feet from bottom to top, at 4 pm. My dog, who is a herder by breed and from the Espanola Valley Humane Society (http://www.espanolashelter.org/), couldn't resist chasing at the heels of the skiers and snowboarders on the last run of the day. That was her first and last day on the ski slopes!

One hour later we made it to the top of Ski Santa Fe (http://www.skisantafe.com/), a resort nestled high in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and a mere 16 miles from the historic Plaza.
The view of the desertscape below us was worth the hard work. Minutes later we breezed down to the base and enjoyed a hot mug of mint tea.
If you're interested in getting a fantastic work out and need telemarking gear, Sangre de Cristo Mountain Works will hook you up with fantastic rental equipment: http://www.sdcmountainworks.com/
Here's to another great week in the Land of Enchantment!

Jen

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Ecotourism--a natural fit for the Land of Enchantment

Hello!




Right now I'm working on an exciting new initiative for the New Mexico Tourism Department, one that could redefine our state as a "green" destination: Ecotourism. Ecotourism is a big word with a lot of baggage, so let me break it down for you here with the International Ecotourism Society's definition, on which we are building this program:



"Responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people."


When Secretary Cerletti and I recently held a press conference (Jan. 15, 2009--see a photo to the right with guest speaker Stuart Ashman, Secretary of Cultural Affairs, at the podium)) to unveil our Ecotourism project, it was with the intention to share our plan for promoting and preserving the already rich treasures that bring visitors to the state—scenic beauty and cultural heritage—repackaging and rebranding what is qualified and vetted by Ecotourism experts as Ecotourism, thereby putting the state on the map as one of the country’s first statewide Eco-destinations.

Ecotourism is the fastest growing segment in the tourism industry and brings a desirable type of visitor—one that stays longer, spends more money, and has an interest in authentic, hands-on experiences. Here are some bottom-line facts regarding what the state has to gain by this initiative, as provided by the International Ecotourism Society.

Since the 1990s, Ecotourism has been growing 20% - 34% per year.

In 2004, Ecotourism/nature tourism was growing globally 3 times faster than the tourism industry as a whole.

“Experiential” tourism—which encompasses Ecotourism, nature, heritage, cultural, and soft adventure tourism, as well as sub-sectors such as rural and community tourism—is among the sectors expected to grow most quickly over the next two decades.

Analysts predict a growth in Eco-resorts and hotels, and a boom in nature tourism — a sector already growing at 20% a year — and suggest early converts to sustainable tourism will make market gains.

In Europe:

--20%-30% of travelers are aware of needs & values of sustainable tourism.

--10%-20% of travelers look for ‘green’ options.

--5%-10% of travelers demand ‘green’ holidays.

Nearly half of those surveyed in Britain said they would be more likely to go with a “company that had a written code to guarantee good working conditions, protect the environment and support local charities in the tourist destination…”

The question shouldn’t be why are we looking to bring Ecotourism to New Mexico, rather, why wouldn’t we? By branding and marketing ourselves as such, we stand to gain sustainable tourism that values scenic beauty, wildlife, outdoor adventure, and cultural heritage and will be a huge boon to an industry that already touts an economic impact of $5.2 billion dollars in direct spending each year in the state.



By identifying ourselves as the Ecotourism destination in the United States and offering Eco-adventures and packaged vacations across the state, New Mexico has the capacity to lead a rapidly growing sector of the tourism industry. This is our chance to embrace our already magnificent “Enchantment”, capitalizing on our existing assets in a new and growing market, and setting ourselves even further apart from our competitors in a time when ingenuity and freshness are in high demand.



If you can't tell--I'm excited about this project! The flood of interest and support from communities across the state and the country have been heartening. This is a big opportunity. For more questions feel free to email me: jennifer.hoffman@state.nm.us


Jen

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Hats off to New Mexico--another success in Pasadena

Dear friends,

It was a crystal clear morning, New Year's Day, as Wiley Coyote resumed his perpetual chase of the Road Runner through New Mexico's desert--only this time, it was at the Tournament of Roses in Pasadena, on the state's beautiful float. Recognized with the Bob Hope Trophy for Best Use of Humor, the float marked the New Mexico Tourism Department's third appearance in the famed parade.
It's hard to imagine the sheer size and incredible detail of each float when you're watching it on TV, as millions of Americans do each year. Let me tell you--it is a fascinating experience. Hundreds of volunteers swarm hundreds of floats in the arenas where they are built in the days leading up to the 1st of the year, and the smell of flowers is overwhelming. Everything from huge fresh pine boughs and full, luscious roses to wildly exotic birds of paradise and the smallest shells of peas. If it's organic, it qualifies to decorate the floats, some of which are over three stories tall, and often mechanically animated. As the floats stream by on Orange and Colorado Boulevard in the beautiful old neighborhoods of the City of Roses, you can smell the flowers.

It's not just for kids either--this event brings out the child in everyone who attends. It was another great year of showcasing New Mexico's scenic beauty--and sense of humor.

Jen
PS--to the left is a shot of Jimmy Garcia, of El Pinto in Albuquerque, alongside the daughter and grandson of famed cartoonist and creator of Wiley Coyote, Chuck Jones.

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

NM: The Last Frontier! (at least for the Chinese)

Hello everyone,
It's been a while, but I'm back, and I want to tell you about a recent trip. In November I traveled to Shanghai with Secretary Michael Cerletti to attend CITM, China International Travel Market, a trade show for those those in the tourism industry.

I met with thousands of tour operators, media, and consumers in the Shanghai Expo Center, where a myriad of states, countries, and vendors of all types set up shop to pitch their product, spanning hundreds of thousands of square feet. Ken Lingad, a Native celebrity from Isleta Pueblo, outshined even the glitziest hotel set up, standing in our space with his long black hair and big turquoise jewelry. A native of Isleta Pueblo, Ken was a magnet for the Chinese, who are huge fans of anything that has to do with cowboys and Indians.

Sec. Cerletti signed documents in a formal agreement to partner and cross-promote with the Jilin Province in the northeastern part of China. Astoundingly, this province alone is home to over 27 million people. Since this was the first time that New Mexico traveled on a mission to promote itself in China, it was a radical learning experience--this massive market is trending toward increasing travel to the United States, and not just the tried and true destinations that usually attract the Chinese, such as Los Angeles, New York, Las Vegas and San Francisco. Instead, the Chinese have a particular interest in indigenous culture and art, both are rich treasures found in the Land of Enchantment.

While Shanghai impressed with astounding architecture and an efficient, bustling, and polite people, it sure was good to get back to New Mexico and take a deep breath of big, clean, high desert air. We are so lucky!

Jen