Newsletter - Quarterly Promotional Newsletter

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WYOMING COUNTY TOURIST PROMOTION AGENCY NEWSLETTER

30 North Main Street - Castile, NY 14427 (585) 493-3190 - Fax (585) 493-3191
wctpa@rochester.rr.com - www.wyomingcountyny.com

FROM THE DIRECTOR

DianeNewsletter2 Q: What is one of the few states in the USA that had an increase in visitors in 2008?

A: New York State with a 4% increase. (See Tourism Industry Coalition of New York State, page 2)

Our membership drive is coming up again, and now more than ever, your dollars will benefit tourism and help to promote your hospitality product! The cost remains the same this year, and the benefits of your membership can't be overstated. Tourism has been a consistently growing business sector in Wyoming County! I have thrown these statistics out to you in previous newsletters, but the key thing is that the bed tax revenue has been rising annually and that visitor spending went from $22 million six years ago to $33 million last year! Our tourist promotion agency has so many partnerships within the state and our region that our promotional dollars are well leveraged! Despite receiving an across the board, statewide Matching Funds cut of 20%, we still plan to serve you and your business with smart marketing. We have had lower dollar amounts in previous years. I know in these times of shrinking economy you are looking long and hard at your dollar commitments, but we urge you to look at the value of your return. We know you will agree that your benefits, enclosed on a membership form herein, are critically important to you. We have our brochure exchange date and location, will be promoting your business at our annual campground promotional bag drop before Memorial Day and we offer you LINKING to our website which received over 2,757,000 hits in 2008!

Diane Johnson Jaeckel
Executive Director

TOURISM INDUSTRY COALITION OF NEW YORK STATE/TPA SUMMIT: On March 10th Diane met with State representatives in Albany and presented economic data on tourism importance in Wyoming County (already given in preceding Newsletters) as part of a statewide event to show the importance of tourism as an economic engine. Diane also lobbied in opposition to the proposed Recreation Tax. The tax was proposed in the Governor's budget with a potential of 8% taxes on campgrounds, recreational activities, (including golfing, bowling and other activities) shows and performances. It appears at this time that the bill is "off the table" and that this sort of tax in a down economy would have a strong negative impact! Governor Patterson announced that in 2008 there was a 4% increase in direct tourism spending in New York State, a total of $53 billion! He stated that, "The tourism industry continues to prove itself a vital and growing part of the State's economy...these results are demonstrative of the industry's indispensable role to the overall economic health and vitality of New York State."

The TPA Summit followed on the next day where I Love NY outlined their marketing initiatives and partnerships. We will be soliciting businesses for participation in some of the free partnerships coming up, but it is most important to note that YOU MUST HAVE A PACKAGE AND DEAL IN MOST CASES TO PARTICIPATE! These include reduced rates, specials, partnerships between lodging, restaurants, spas, activities, etc. You must think creatively in these economic times the emphasis across the board in the travel industry is HOT DEALS! What do you look for when you travel now price, price, price and the value of good quality! There is also a lot of headway being made in logo recognition of "Another Reason I Love NY" in getting the inclusion of all of NYS to be incorporated in the I LOVE NY recognition by travelers.

The new I LOVE NY website will be activated in June and our office has been involved in extensive training and time spent on inputting onto the new website. Our thanks to Theresa Parker for her diligence and countless hours spent in coordinating our data with this service, a service that brings your tourism business to State prominence on their website!

SPRING MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS:

Check out our insert to renew your membership now so you can participate in the following:
Brochure Exchange at Anastassia Events, 6440 Pike Street, Portageville, Thursday, May 14, 5:30- 7:30 pm. This is the former Assumption Church in Portageville, now hosting catered events and run by Mike Vasile, former chef at The Glen Iris Inn.
Campgrounds Promotional Bag Drop: Bring 1,000 of your brochures, flyers, special deals, giveaways, menus whatever you want to promote, to be stuffed into our promotional bags and distributed Memorial Day Weekend for returning campers. Your brochures must be in our office by noon on Friday, May 1.

Memberships must be paid to participate in these benefits.

U.S. TRAVEL ASSOCIATION'S U.S. TRAVEL OUTLOOK: The March issue stated that the real GDP decreased at an annualized rate of 6.2% in the fourth quarter of 2008, and that recovery seems much more elusive in the deepening crisis in meetings, events and incentives sector. Further, industry performance ended with nearly a 2% overall decline in both hotel room demand with few destinations nationwide escaping the painful losses. (See the exception in the above 4% increase in NYS announced by Governor Patterson!) U.S. legacy airlines carried nearly 6% fewer domestic passengers last year, while international inbound travel to the US also hit the wall in the fourth quarter, declining 9% in November alone.

Considering these facts the U.S. Travel Association revised their forecast with U.S. domestic leisure and business/convention travel projected to decline 3.5% and 5.6% respectively in 2009. International inbound travel (Canada & Mexico) is expected to decline 3%, with overseas travel to the U.S. declining nearly 4%.

However, leisure travelers are considering vacations stimulated through aggressive promotion of discounted fares and rates, according to TravellHorizons.

OK, let's say it again, the name of the game is "hot deals!"