Tour operators from around the country attended a three-day tour of Northwest Indiana. This tour allowed them to experience firsthand all the Region has to offer and lets them share the experiences with future tour clients.
The Heartland Travel Showcase took place from March 1-3 in South Bend. This showcase served to connect group tour operators with travel suppliers. The South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority (SSCVA) attended this conference alongside restaurants, destinations and hotels that are trying to spread the word about their services.
After the conclusion of the showcase, The SSCVA hosted one of two familiarization (FAM) tours to showcase conference attendees.
FAM tours allow tour operators to familiarize themselves with an area and destinations they may have never visited. This lets them store this knowledge for future reference when working with clients and planning tours.
The tour was led by Candance Nowak, SSCVA housing and accounting manager. She accompanied the guests throughout the entire tour and ensured everything went smoothly every step of the way.
“Our goal working with group tours and conventions is to bring visitors to the area,” Nowak said. “Our goal was to inform and show everybody what the South Shore area has to offer.”
The tour traveled by motorcoach to popular destinations around the Region.
Day one included visits to Albanese Candy Factory, Chicagoland Popcorn in Merrillville, and Fair Oaks Farms in Fair Oaks. Day two began at Fair Oaks and continued to the Indiana Dunes Visitor’s Center in Porter, the Friendship Botanic Gardens in Michigan City, and concluded with Four Corners Winery in Valparaiso.
The final full day of the tour consisted of the Museum at Lassen’s Resort in Cedar Lake, the Shrine of Christ’s Passion in St. John, Provecho Latin Provisions and Downtown in Crown Point, Community Veterans Memorial and the Theatre at the Center both in Munster, and Teibel’s Restaurant in Schererville. The tour concluded on the morning of day four at the Indiana Welcome Center in Hammond.
The tour showcased all the Region has to offer and emphasized there is something for everyone.
“We came up with a well-rounded tour. We wanted to pick attractions, restaurants and the areas that depict the South Shore,” Nowak said. “We wanted to make sure we showed everyone all the area has to offer.”
Not unlike many other industries, the SSCVA was negatively impacted by COVID-19 and is still getting back into the swing of things. The SSCVA hopes this tour will increase the frequency and popularity of motorcoach and group tours that come to the area.
Bringing tour operators in to experience the Region firsthand allows them to share their personal experiences with their clients rather than relying on information from outside sources. Firsthand travel experiences and stories motivate and inspire clients to travel so they can have similar experiences.
The tour operators that attended the FAM tour cater to a multitude of markets, allowing tourists of all ages and backgrounds to learn more and be able to experience what the South Shore area has to offer.
For more information regarding the attractions mentioned above or for further information about South Shore Conventions and Visitors Authority, please visit southshorecva.com.
