Please enjoy the attached December issue of I'Estoria ("The Story"), GVB's marketing newsletter. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

2013 marks a significant milestone in tourism on Guam with the fiftieth anniversary of the Guam Visitors Bureau. Over the past fifty years Guam’s tourism product has matured into a world-class destination serving nearly 1.3 million visitors annually.

Former First Lady Joann Garcia Camacho tendered her resignation as General Manager of the Guam Visitors Bureau effective December 31, 2012. Deputy General Manager Nathan Denight to serve as Acting General Manager until a successor is named.

PATA Micronesia to hold its General Membership meeting at the Outrigger Resort Guam, Fort San Rafael Room beginning at 9:00AM on Wednesday, December 12, 2012 wherein members will elect new officers. PATA International Director, Mr. Chris Flynn to offer free training.

GVB & Bank of Guam to welcome Shopping Ambassadors from Guam’s eight source markets.

Mr. Hyung Suk Kim was greeted as the One-Millionth Visitor to Guam for calendar year 2012. Mr. Kim and his family arrived Tuesday, October 16, 2012 and will be on island until Friday, October 19, 2012.

(Monday, August 6, 2012 – Tumon, Guam) The Guam Visitors Bureau donated two vehicles to the Guam Police Department to assist them in stepping up efforts in keeping visitors and local patrons to the Tourist District of Tumon Bay safe.

(Monday, July 16, 2012 – Tumon, Guam) The Guam Visitors Bureau is launching a local branding initiative coined as the “Rediscover Guam Campaign.” The campaign launches today for the next six weeks and invites all Guamanians to become ambassadors of Guam and rediscover what truly makes our island paradise.

(Friday, June 22, 2012 – Saipan, MP) Guam Visitors Bureau Chairman Monte Mesa and General Manager Joann Camacho were in Saipan June 19 and 20 to meet with Marianas Visitors Authority Chairperson Marian Aldan-Pierce and Managing Director Perry Tenorio. The meeting highlighted the commitment by both State Tourism Organizations (STO) to continue working together to promote “Destination Marianas” in travel trade shows internationally.

(Friday, May 11, 2012 – Tumon, Guam) As part of its celebration of Tourism Month, the Guam Visitors Bureau will be celebrating Håfa Adai Spirit Week next week, May 14 – 18, 2012, which means Håfa Adai Friday all week.

(Wednesday, March 28, 2012 – Tumon, Guam) On the first day of the Moscow International Travel and Tourism Fair (MITT) in Russia, the Guam and Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) delegation were greeted by U.S. Ambassador to Russia, Michael McFaul. While visiting the VisitUSA Pavilion at MITT, Ambassador McFaul took the time to attend the Guam-CNMI Destination Seminar, after which, he blogged about Guam on his site http://m-mcfaul.livejournal.com. "Each year, travel professionals from throughout the world, including the United States, gather at MITT to promote their country as a tourist destination,” McFaul said on his blog site. “The VisitUSA pavilion highlighted some of my country’s great attractions, ranging from New York City (www.nycgo.com) to Guam (www.visitguamusa.ru) the latter of which recently launched a visa-free travel program for Russian citizens.”

(Thursday, February 23, 2012 – Tumon, Guam) The Guam Visitors Bureau led by General Manager Joann Camacho returned recently from promoting Guam as the destination of choice at the 2012 Philippine Travel Agencies Association’s (PTAA) Travel Tour Expo. The largest travel industry event in the Philippines drew an estimated over 80,000 people and the Guam booth was honored as the “Most Fun.” This international award was given on the based on creativity, originality, relevance and consistency with brand character.

(Friday, January 20, 2012 – Tumon, Guam) In a first for the U.S., President Barack Obama today announced a national strategy on travel and tourism to boost travel in the United States. The U.S. travel industry is a cornerstone of the U.S. economy, representing 1.8 trillion in economic output and supporting 14 million American jobs.

(Wednesday, January 11, 2012; Tumon, Guam) Just in time for the New Year, the Guam Visitors Bureau (GVB) officially launched the “Omoide Guam” Campaign in Japan, Guam’s largest visitor market. Omoide is the Japanese word for memory.

(Tuesday, January 3, 2012; Tumon, Guam) Since the announcement by the Department of Homeland Security approving Parole Authority for Russian Visitors to Guam, the Guam Visitors Bureau (GVB) continues to work to develop a promotion strategy that ensures the successful entering of the market.