ACOMA, N.M. – The Pueblo of Acoma snagged a major rural tourism conference this year -one that was scheduled to include three workshops specifically on American Indian themes.
The Sky City Hotel is set to be the site of New Mexico’s 2003 Rural Economic Development Through Tourism Project (REDTT) conference April 28-29.
Gov. Bill Richardson was invited to be the keynote speaker at an awards banquet April 28.
Native American rural tourism workshops scheduled include “Developing Tourism Partnerships with Tribes” and “Cultural Tourism.”
The first is set to feature Monica Abeita, Indian tourism program manager, New Mexico Department of Tourism, Calvin Tafoya, economic development director, Santa Clara pueblo, Tom Teegarden, CEO of Acoma Business Enterprises, and Rebecca Grandbois, grant administrator, Jemez pueblo.
The “Cultural Tourism” workshop is set to feature Brian Vallo, manager of Sky City Cultural Center at the tribe’s successful hotel and casino an hour outside of Albuquerque.
The conference is also scheduled to have two “fam” tours with Native themes. One is a tour of Acoma pueblo and its famed Sky City, featuring San Esteven Del Rey Mission. The second familiarization tour will go from Acoma to the El Morro National Monument. The “Ancient Way” leads to a unique site where ancient petroglyphs mingle with much more recent travel inscriptions.
Those arriving early can be part of a fam tour to Zuni pueblo April 26, as well as one to Chaco Canyon April 27.
Fred Peralta, New Mexico secretary of tourism, is slated to speak about the state of tourism in the state as the final speaker at the conference.
REDTT is 11 years old and numbers 16 New Mexico counties in its ranks, with number 17 about to join. It provides rural tourism education, training and technical assistance.
Funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, it is a part of the New Mexico State University Cooperative Extension Service.
It has made awards of $234,122 and put on more than 50 conferences and workshops. REDTT has conducted 55 fam tours to date.
It says more than 5,500 people have been trained in hospitality techniques by specialist Allison Southworth.
The group also claims that sales in REDTT counties increased by 40 percent since it was started, compared to 35 percent for the counties that are not in REDTT (excluding Bernalillo, which includes Albuquerque, the state’s largest city).
The group also publishes a magazine, called “Trails & Treasures,” that has produced 32 issues to date.
For more information on the conference or other REDTT programs, call (505) 646-5994.
