Tri State
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2010 County Tourism Effort To Focus On Converting Inquiries Into Sales
CUMBERLAND, MD - As the 2010 peak travel season approaches, the Allegany County Department of Tourism is looking to apply new on-line tools and new marketing tactics to the job of attracting destination visitors to Mountain Maryland.
2010 County Tourism Effort To Focus On Converting Inquiries Into Sales
CUMBERLAND, MD - As the 2010 peak travel season approaches, the Allegany County Department of Tourism is looking to apply new on-line tools and new marketing tactics to the job of attracting destination visitors to Mountain Maryland.
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For the sixth consecutive year, last calendar year’s inquiries for local travel increased measurably. But just like 2008, the final tally of hotel/motel taxes collected remained steady, running uphill against a deep recession that pushed 2009 lodging demand down 6% nationwide and pushed average rates charged for lodging down 14%, according to the US Travel Industry Association (TIA).
“We’ve outperformed the industry since the end of 2007 and kept Allegany County’s hotel/motel collections from sagging the way many other destinations experienced,” Tourism Director Barb Buehl said.
Buehl credits improved advertising efficiency and a move into social media, for some of the results - plus the creation of new events including the Mountain Maryland Marathon, DelFest, Cumberland Goes To War and expanded arts and entertainment programming
The local tourism team, anchored by marketing communications contractor McClarran and Williams and technology provider Exclamation Labs, is not willing to sit by and simply hold the line against tough times in the marketplace.
“We’re especially motivated to move aggressively given the toll the soft economy has taken on some of our more vulnerable businesses,” Buehl said in reference to the closing of several established dining, retail and hospitality businesses locally during the last year.
“We’ve outperformed the industry since the end of 2007 and kept Allegany County’s hotel/motel collections from sagging the way many other destinations experienced,” Tourism Director Barb Buehl said.
Buehl credits improved advertising efficiency and a move into social media, for some of the results - plus the creation of new events including the Mountain Maryland Marathon, DelFest, Cumberland Goes To War and expanded arts and entertainment programming
The local tourism team, anchored by marketing communications contractor McClarran and Williams and technology provider Exclamation Labs, is not willing to sit by and simply hold the line against tough times in the marketplace.
“We’re especially motivated to move aggressively given the toll the soft economy has taken on some of our more vulnerable businesses,” Buehl said in reference to the closing of several established dining, retail and hospitality businesses locally during the last year.
Photo courtesy of David Romero / VibrantImage.com
Improvements planned in 2010 focus on new strategies for mass emailing visitor promotions, updates and expanded capabilities on the county’s web platform, improved e-commerce tools for the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad, and expanded viral promotions in social media sites – including the addition of “Share Buttons”, widgets and a Facebook Fan Page.
Local tourism officials also are working to increase the number of co-promotions between the county’s hotel/motel operators and major events and attractions. They’re already off to a strong start, as sales of cooperative ad space in the county’s Visitor Guide increased by 68% in 2010, compared to 2009.
“In a year when budget cuts and wary consumers are goint to combine to make it hard to generate large number of new inquiries, we’re focusing on reaching more people through opted-in email lists, Facebook and YouTube….and, most of all, improving the conversion rate between inquiries through our portals and sales for local attractions
and businesses,” Buehl said.
“The challenge is still same now as it was in 2003 when the MDmountainside.com revolution began – get regional spending into our Main Street economy.”
Tourism related businesses and organizations interested in increased participation on local tourism promotions can contact the Department of Tourism at 301-777-5134 or email info@mdmountainside.com.
Local tourism officials also are working to increase the number of co-promotions between the county’s hotel/motel operators and major events and attractions. They’re already off to a strong start, as sales of cooperative ad space in the county’s Visitor Guide increased by 68% in 2010, compared to 2009.
“In a year when budget cuts and wary consumers are goint to combine to make it hard to generate large number of new inquiries, we’re focusing on reaching more people through opted-in email lists, Facebook and YouTube….and, most of all, improving the conversion rate between inquiries through our portals and sales for local attractions
and businesses,” Buehl said.
“The challenge is still same now as it was in 2003 when the MDmountainside.com revolution began – get regional spending into our Main Street economy.”
Tourism related businesses and organizations interested in increased participation on local tourism promotions can contact the Department of Tourism at 301-777-5134 or email info@mdmountainside.com.
2010 County Tourism Effort To Focus On Converting Inquiries Into Sales
