Shop America Alliance Membership Services

Shop America's Mission is to promote Shopping, Dining and Cultural Travel as the top tourism activities.

TOP TEN MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS

1. SHOP AMERICA TOURS PACKAGING & MARKETING
   Shop America Tours develops and markets commissionable shopping tours, generating revenue for SAA members as well as extensive exposure on major web sites FREE OF CHARGE to SAA members. Shop America Tours are sold at shopamericatours.com and via leading more than 30 travel partners including Mark International, Southwest Vacations, Funjet, Gray Line, Expedia.com, Orbitz.com, Travelocity.com, MLT NWA Worry Free Vacations, LasVegasAndMore.com, Viator, GTA, VacationsMadeEasy.com, leading hotel web sites and DiscoverAmerica.com. During 2008, visitors from 161 countries went to ShopAmericaTours.com as tracked by Google Analytics.
2. SHOP AMERICA MAGAZINE REACHES DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL CONSUMERS AND TRAVEL TRADE
   Shop America magazine, circulation of 100,000-plus, is published each Spring and Fall, showcasing SAA members with consumer focused editorial and advertising. Shop America magazine is the only national shopping tourism magazine in North America and it is distributed in partnership with leading AAA/CAA Clubs and Essentially America in the UK, Swishy Magazine in Latin America as well as at major travel trade events including Pow Wow. All SAA Members enjoy a free listing and discount on advertising in Shop America Magazine. View the digital version online at ShopAmericaTours.com
3. SHOP AMERICA TOURISM CONFERENCE AND SASI AWARDS
   Shop America’s Global Shop Summit is held each January in a major shopping tourism destination to provide executive level education and networking opportunities for retail and tourism professionals. Shop America salutes innovation and honors marketing excellent through the Global SASI Awards and Shopping Tourism Person of the Year at the annual Conference. SASI Awards entries are free and easy. SAA members enjoy a discounted delegate fee and access to all presentations online.
4. AAA PARTNERSHIP – TOURISM TRACKING & REWARDS PROGRAM
   Shop America VIP/AAA Show Your Card & Save is SAA’s exclusive tracking and rewards program that rewards visitors with discounts at participating SAA member locations. The VIP program has tracked millions Shopper Tourists. SAA works with top tour operators and select AAA/CAA clubs on the VIP program. See details at ShopAmericaVIP.com. This is a free optional program for SAA members.
5. TOURISM MARKETING AT TRAVEL TRADE SHOWS
   Shop America Alliance promotes global awareness of the important economic impact of Shopping Tourism and specific SAA member programs by participating in more than 15 major Travel Trade Events and sales missions annually. See the complete 2009 Travel Trade Show schedule, which includes member co-op opportunities at selected events. Trade show leads are available to SAA members upon request.
6. SHOP AMERICA PR SERVICES
   Shop America develops and distributes its official media CD each year at Pow Wow, featuring news and photos from all participating SAA members. These releases are also posted online at ShopAmericaTours.com. In addition, there are PR opportunities and special features developed throughout the year to showcase SAA members in the media. SAA's international and domestic media lists are available free to members.
7. TOURISM RESEARCH, MEDIA & TRENDS REPORTS
   SAA monitors and reports on tourism trends and Shopping Tourism developments via ongoing member communications and DIRECTIONS E-newsletter. SAA is a source for media information on Shopping Tourism and frequently refers media to SAA members. SAA also publishes Tourism White Papers in partnership with the Museum Store Association and is developing the new International Shopper Traveler study in partnership with Taubman and the US Department of Commerce, which will be published in May 2009. All White Papers and Research Reports available free to SAA Members.
8. EDUCATION, COUNSEL, RECOMMENDED RESOURCES
   Shop America Alliance offers ongoing education by providing speakers on Shopping Tourism, participating in major tourism meetings and providing tourism counsel to SAA members upon request. The Shop America Scholarship, presented in partnership with the Travel Industry Foundation, benefits deserving undergrad students in a tourism or hospitalities studies program. SAA's list of Recommended Resources includes consultants, agencies and travel experts who can enhance your tourism marketing programs.
9. TOURISM PARTNERSHIPS & CONTACTS
   Shop America Alliance develops and manages marketing partnerships with leading travel firms and organizations worldwide and provides SAA members with leads, contacts and new opportunities for business development. SAA maintains international and domestic tour operator and travel media databases available to SAA members. Shop America Alliance is an active member of US Travel Association, National Tour Association, VISIT FLORIDA, Shop California, Visit USA Committee UK, Luxury Marketing Council, International Culinary Tourism Association, Southeast Tourism Association and the US Cultural & Heritage Tourism Marketing Council, representing all SAA partners and providing industry leadership.
10. SHOP AMERICA COMMITTEES-LEADERSHIP & NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES