Northeast Kingdom Travel & Tourism Association has achieved many accomplishments over the last year with the invaluable support of area businesses, Chambers of Commerce, and local communities.

In partnership with National Geographic, NEKTTA is proud to have created a Geotourism Program for the Northeast Kingdom which promotes sustainable tourism in the region. We have also assisted area businesses to promote this ideal and we have created a Vacation Package Category called Geotourism Escapes to help travelers incorporate sustainable tourism in their journey.

Thanks to the ongoing efforts of David Kestenbaum with UVM Extension, and in partnership with National Geographic, NEKTTA has been able to create an online interactive map which showcases the region to travelers. Since it's launch in December 2008, the Interactive Map has become the most viewed part of our website and has become an invaluable tool for travelers in search of dining, lodging, recreational, shopping, and other regional information.

NEKTTA has also begun a Canadian Awareness Initiative which promotes our region to Travelers north of the Vermont border. To achieve this goal, we advertise in key Canadian publication such as Montreal Families and we work with local area businesses to assist them in attracting Canadian visitors. A new Vacation Package Category called Canadians Bienvenue was created that combines lodging stays with offerings that appeal to a Canadian Tourist such as a guided hike with a French Translator or Canadian at par lodging rates. We have also added to our website an information page for tourists called Canadians Bienvenue which provides information about crossing the border including documentation requirements, travel tips, and more. We have also provided this same information in an I-Frame for our Marketing Partners to add to their websites.

In the last year, we have also worked with area businesses and ConnectNEK to create WiFi hotspots throughout the region. This is a great convenience to travelers and it also encourages people to visit the businesses which have become WiFi hotspots.

Most recently, we have obtained grant funding for a Central Reservations System which will allow travelers to the area to go to one regional website to plan their entire trip including lodging and recreational activities rather than having to visit several websites and make several phone calls. As part of this program, we will be overhauling our website to include new features such as an online Country Store.

As always, we continue our mission to showcase the region and provide marketing education, service, support and representation for 9 area Chambers of Commerce and over 180 area businesses. In doing so it is our mission to employ tourism to the benefit of our region by assisting in the development, marketing, and execution of experiential tourism products which will both honor and sustain that which, we as residents of the NEK, value most about our home. To aid us in our mission we employ the values and principles of agritourism, ecotourism and geotourism.