Partnership Development
We build strategic partnerships, both public and private, to extend the reach of tribes and ensure authentic tribal experiences.
AIANTA’s best work is done by connecting with tribal, federal, state and industry leaders. Through strong relationships with our partners and stakeholders, we are able to move our mission forward. Since our founding, we have worked to grow our existing relationships while attracting new partners to support our work.
Through our strategic partnerships, AIANTA works to educate state, federal and industry leaders so they support and facilitate a thriving Indian Country tourism industry. In our work with strategic partners, we help to cut through the noise of global tourism promotion to elevate tribal destinations among travelers, tour operators, travel agents, the media and nationally.
Our Valued Partners
Federal
- U.S. Department of Interior
– Bureau of Indian Affairs Tribal Technical Assistance Programs
– National Park Service
– Bureau of Land Management
– U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
– U.S. Bureau of Reclamation - U.S. Department of Commerce Office of Travel and Tourism Industries
- U.S. Small Business Administration
State
Member Partners:
- Arizona Office of Tourism
- Colorado Tourism Office
- Hawaii Tourism Authority
- Montana Office of Tourism and Business Development
- Oklahoma Tourism & Recreation Department
- South Dakota Department of Tourism
- Wyoming Office of Tourism
Tribal
- National Congress of American Indians (MOU)
- National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development
- Native American Rights Fund (MOU)
- National Indian Gaming Association (MOU)
- American Recreation Coalition
- American Association of Parks and Recreation
- American Indian Law Center
- Native American Tourism of Wisconsin
- Midwest Alliance of Sovereign Tribes
Industry
- U.S. Travel Association
- National Tour Association (MOU)
- National Geographic Society Sustainable Destinations
- George Washington University International Institute of Tourism Studies
- International Tourism Marketing
- Western States Tourism Policy Council (MOU)
- Kilpatrick Stockton and Townsend (LOI)
- Powers Pyles, Sutter and Verville PC (LOI)
- Hobbs Straus Dean and Walker LLP (LOI)
- Akerman, LLP
AIANTA welcomes new partnerships to expand our impact and increase collaboration throughout Indian Country and the tourism industry.
If you are interested in joining AIANTA as a strategic partner, contact Hannah Peterson, AIANTA’s Development Director at hpeterson@aianta.org or 505.361.2168.
Collecting and Understanding Tourism Data
Within the competitive hospitality industry, investing time and resources in collecting accurate visitor data can help significantly improve the customer experience by aligning programming with traveler expectations. Equally importantly, collecting tourism data can help ensure community expectations align within the larger tourism infrastructure and tourism data can also help justify marketing efforts with tribal leadership and local and national elected officials. In this webinar, Daniel Nāho’opi’i (Kanaka Maoli, Native Hawaiian) tourism data expert and former Director of Tourism Research for the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority, discusses why quantifiable tourism data should be a part of any visitor marketing plan.
O me’a”kwa: Happy New Year!
Happy New Year!
As I write this note, I have just returned from the memorial service of AIANTA friend, former Nevada Senator and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. I’m so saddened by the passing of Senator Reid, who was a staunch ally of Native Americans, including supporting the passage of the NATIVE Act, which was signed into law in 2016. Here, you can read a beautiful tribute to Reid in by AIANTA colleague Wendy Helgemo, who wrote “Sen. Reid made our country a better place for First Americans – and every one of us.”
O me’a”kwa: Wishing you Safe & Happy Holidays
As the holidays approach and the weather starts to cool across the country, from wherever you are reading this, I hope you are entering the holiday season with the same great excitement and anticipation of being surrounded by your loved ones as I am. As I prepare to return home to Nevada to spend the holidays with my family, I am overwhelmed with the thought of what makes the holidays so special for me, family. My own family, and my AIANTA family.
SDSU/AIANTA Information Session on Certificate in Cultural Tourism & Tribal Enterprises
In partnership with San Diego State University (SDSU) and the L. Robert Payne School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, AIANTA is offering the online Certificate in Cultural Tourism and Tribal Enterprises (“CTTE”).
BLM and AIANTA Partner to Promote Nevada Tribes Along the California National Historic Trail
The two national organizations will build a collaborative tourism program to showcase Northern Nevada Tribes along the trail.
Information Session & Indigenous Marketing Spotlight: GW & AIANTA Professional Certificate in Cultural Heritage Tourism
Join us for a 30-minute information session on the Professional Certificate in Cultural Heritage Tourism offered by the George Washington University International Institute of Tourism Studies (GW) in partnership with AIANTA. This 7-week online program provides tourism entrepreneurs and community leaders with the tools to identify and develop tourism assets.
2021 in Review
2021 in Review: A Snapshot of AIANTA’s Year2021 was an incredibly productive year for AIANTA. Join us in celebrating some of our top accomplishments and memorable moments for the past year.American Indian Tourism ConferenceAIANTA CEO Sherry L. Rupert, Board Members...
O me’a”kwa: Grateful for Our AIANTA Friends
It’s hard to believe we are once again entering the holiday season. This past year seems to have gone by in a flash. Despite the challenges we faced in 2021, I have so much to be grateful for this holiday season.
RFP: NATIVE Act Study
Request for ProposalProject Name and Description NATIVE Act Study and Report to identify where technical assistance is needed to empower Indian Tribes, Tribal Organizations and Native Hawaiian organizations to participate fully in the tourism industry and to provide...
Seeking Participants for Steering Group to Guide on Responsible Visitation
Seeking Participants for Steering Group to Guide on Responsible VisitationAIANTA and Leave No Trace are seeking Native participants to join a new new inter-tribal steering committee that will guide a national messaging campaign that will guide visitor awareness of...
AMERICAN INDIANS AND ROUTE 66
More than half of Historic U.S. Route 66 lies in Indian Country, roughly 1,372 miles. AIANTA, in collaboration with the National Park Service Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program and Cherokee travel writer Lisa Hicks Snell, has published a tour guide of Route 66, bringing American Indian voices and a new perspective to this iconic highway.
To learn more, visit www.AmericanIndiansAndRoute66.com
