Partnership renewal period is happening right now! New benefits for 2009 – Don’t miss out on these great marketing opportunities!
Fresh Thinking
New partner spotlight
What’s the word?
Partners in the news
Inside the bureau
In order to get listed in the official Annual Visitors Guide, your signed partner application and renewal materials must be submitted by no later than December 12th, 2008.
Yes, it’s that time of year. You should have already received your 2009 Partner Renewal Packets as they were mailed out on October 16th. If you haven’t received your materials, please email or call Justin Martsolf directly to let him know! (Tel: 717-231-2986 or Email: justin@hersheyharrisburg.org) No partner should be left un-mailed! To date, we’ve had many renewals returned and we are elated to have them on board once again.
Many new opportunities and benefits await you as a HHRVB partner in 2009! We are offering much more and some new programs are waiting in the wings. The following changes and additions have been made to the Partnership Destination Marketing Levels:
New Programs for 2009!
Visitor VIP Card:
“Yes, Mr. Gibson here is the table we specifically held for you with the wonderful view of the city. By the way, I loved your role in the movie, Braveheart!” Everyone would like the “V.I.P.” treatment once in awhile. Mr. Gibson and the rest of the celebrity crew shouldn’t be the only ones. So, why not show a little extra hospitality to a regular out-of-town guest, travel writer, meeting planner, group tour organizer. This program is available to those properties willing to go the extra mile for one of their guest and a HHRVB Visitors VIP cardholder. The good gesture, welcome gift, discount or promotion (no matter how big or small) is decided by the individual participating properties honoring the card. Finalized details and how to participate to be released early 2009.
Partner to Partner Program
As a HHRVB partner, you experience firsthand what it truly means to be a part of your local visitor’s bureau. This program allows you to share those experiences with a prospective partner who you may think would value by joining the partnership. If you recruit a new partner for the bureau, we will offer you a reward of $25 off the next bureau event or activity.
CyndiLou Foster, Director of Sales of the Days Inn Hershey, recently shared with us what it truly means to her and her property to be a part of the bureau family:
"As a limited service property, in a very competitive market, it is important to participate in the success of our region in order to see success at the property level. The Hershey Harrisburg Regional Visitors Bureau allows me to market to a greater audience and actively be part of developing the strategies to reach industries such as charter bus and group tour as well as the conventions and meetings market. I certainly could not do this on my own. I look forward to the opportunities that will be made available in 2009!"
A great article which offers projections and compares how the economy can and will be sluggish for a time, but that the only way is up from here!
Link to STR industry news article
http://www.hotelnewsnow.com/articles.aspx?ArticleId=280
Link to STR Industry Projections
http://www.hotelnewsnow.com/media/Image/Charts/STR_Projections_20081023.pdf
Please welcome our newest partners of HHRVB!
Bridgeview Bed and Breakfast – Marysville
Keith Latimer, owner, recently moved back to the area to purchase and restore a property on the banks of the beautiful Susquehanna River in Marysville. It offers home style lodging with breathtaking views of the river, rolling mountains and railroad activity. For more information please visit, http://www.bridgeviewbnb.com
The Patt Organization
Josh Patt joined us as the Development Director of The Patt Organization. They offer a full service real estate development firm with over 35 years experience that specializes in hospitality and commercial real estate development throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. The Patt Organization has a few projects in their early stages planned for our region.
A large out-pouring of supporters, city and county officials, media, friends and partners of present and past turned out to celebrate and witness the HHRVB’s official Open House and ribbon cutting ceremony on October 22nd, 2008. Mayor Reed and state and local officials spoke about the true impact tourism have on its local community and its economy. To date, the Hershey Harrisburg region has seen nothing more than positive growth and gain in statewide market share.
We would like to thank everyone who attended and hope you will come back to visit us again!
Winners of our Free $50 Gas Card Drawing are:
Elizabeth Williams - Sales Consultant, Felicita Garden Resort and Spa
Hector Alvarez – Catering Sales Manager, Four Points by Sheraton
Congratulations and Happy Free Gas Driving!
The National Civil War Museum recently announced that it will enclose an existing observation deck at the Museum. The enclosure will be named the Kunkel Rutherford Observatory due largely in part from a generous grant from the John Crain Kunkel Foundation. Located just off the upper galleries, the deck originally was to allow visitors access to views of the Susquehanna Valley and specifically areas that once housed such important historic sites and events. It has not been accessible to visitors since opening, in order to maintain temperature and humidity levels for the care and preservation of artifacts on display.
There are currently display panels on the deck that also detail the significance of Harrisburg in the Civil War, particularly highlighting Camp Curtin and General Lee’s original target in Pennsylvania: Harrisburg. This new addition to the museum will allow for some additional event and meeting space and as well as bringing a brand new perspective and view of the Civil War and the role Harrisburg played in it all! For more information, please visit; http://www.nationalcivilwarmuseum.org.
PTLA’s 2008 Annual Sales & Marketing Conference, to be held on Thursday, December 11, 2008, at the Sheraton Harrisburg Hershey Hotel. Visit www.patourism.org/sales for more information.
The registration fee is --only $99.00 for PTLA members (if received on or before November 27). You can register by mail or visit http://shop.patourism.org.
“From Roads to Rails”
November 15, 2008 – January 4, 2009
All Aboard! A custom train display is scheduled to roll out at the Antique Auto Museum at Hershey on November 15, 2008. It’s yet another opportunity to cruise through time – on rails -- at the AACA Museum during the holiday season. Visit: http://www.aacamuseum.org/
Look what’s cooking!
Available November 17, consider "settings cookbook" for the perfect welcome, thank you and VIP gift as well as a way to take care of your own holiday shopping!
The cookbook features the chocolate scented neighborhoods, buggy ridden backroads, crisp waterways, sassy small cities and fun food factories of our region. The photography is beautiful. In addition to the delicious recipes, the book includes a "White Plates and Wine Glasses" tasting menu designed by Joe Massaro and well as other special sections.
Written by Honeydew Events owner Julie Sullivan, the cookbook reads like a love letter to the region. Visit www.settingscookbook.com or call 232-4100 to order.
Watch out for that bus!
Candice Fry, Group Tour Sales Manager, and many from the Group Tour Committee members and Group Tour Planner participants explored new ways to market and sell to the motor coach industry and gained valuable information about the industry at HHRVB’s Crash Course in Group Sales. The event was hosted at the Hilton Garden Inn – in Techport on October 24th. Chris Harrower, Group Sales Director, Dutch Apple Theatre, shared his experiences and past knowledge of group tours and Pennsylvania tourism. Executive Coach was kind enough to bring a motor coach to the event to discuss safety and explain various features on your typical motor coach.
“It was great to get pointers on what the drivers like when they arrive at the hotel: easy access, parking, and baggage help. We also learned here they like to sleep, such as, away from the group and elevators, and what they look for in services and meals. The driver is an important communicator to the contact for the tour company. I also learned the words and meanings to certain inside language terms.”
Daniel Jusko, Sales Manager, Radisson Penn Harris Hotel & Convention Center
HHRVB held its Partnership Breakfast Seminar on October 30th, at the National Civil War Museum. Approximately 50 HHRVB partners were on hand to enjoy good food, good company and good knowledge. After a warm breakfast (catered by Stock’s on 2nd), some quick updates from board and staff and the National Civil War Museum, the guest speaker, John Wagner took the reins of the event. John Wagner spoke, cried, screamed, laughed and fought the audience on hand. The message he sent loud and clear: John Wagner sees optimism around every corner in life. In the heat of a good challenge in life or work, everyone has the ability to bring a smile, a little enthusiasm, some optimism and you should be able to tackle any obstacle. The Bureau would like to thank all of those who participated at the event. Without you and your active participation, we could not have events like these. Thank you again!
Those who were in attendance at the event were also placed in the drawing to win a 2009 “Premium Level” Partnership - Paid in Full by the HHRVB.
Our winner of the Free Premium Level Partnership for the 2009 year is: Hunter’s Valley Winery. Congratulations!
The bureau’s sales staff will be attending the following Tradeshows for 2009:
MEETINGS & CONVENTIONS
Destinations Showcase Feb-09
PASAE Annual Expo Apr-09
Meet Chicago 2009 May-09
PAMPI/PBTA Education Inst. May-09
Connect Marketplacee 2009 Aug-09
Affordable Meetings Sep-09
Meet New Jersey 2009 Oct-09
Meetings Quest Oct-09
Meetings Quest Nov-09
Destinations Showcase 9-Jun
SISO 9-Apr
NACS 9-Jun
Rejuvenate 9-Nov
IAEE 9-Dec
ASAE
MPMPI
HSMAI
SPORTS
AAU National Convention October 27-31, 2008
TEAMS 2008 October 22-25, 2008
2008 Sports Institute** December 7-10, 2008
NCAA National Convention January 14-17, 2009
NASC Sports Events Symposium April 21-23, 2009
GROUP TOUR
ABA January 7-12,2008
United Motorcoach EXPO January 21-25,2008
Tennessee Motor Coach Assoc. February 2-4, 2009
NCMA February 15-18, 2009
Bank Travel Conference February 19-21, 2009
Heartland Travel Showcase February 19-21, 2009
Yankee Trails February 26, 2009
PBA Marketplace March 23-24, 2009
TIA-POW WOW May 16-20,2009
PBA Annual Meeting June 16-19, 2009
Florida Motorcoach Association TBD
Georgia Motorcoach Association July 17-20, 2009
Alabama Motorcoach Association August 3-7, 2009
Going On Faith August 20-22, 2009
MCASCA August 23-27 2009
SYTA August 28-Sept. 1, 2009
VMA Septmeber 2009
OMCA October 1, 2009
South Central Motorcoach Assoc. October 1, 2009
NTA November 1, 2009
Bank Travel Conference
LEISURE
New York Times Travel Show Feb. 6-8, 2009
Greater New Jersey Golf Show Feb. 13-15, 2009
