IdeaLink - July 2010

Annual Reception & Member Mixer marks an evening to remember

Upwards of 300 people celebrated at the PA Dutch CVB's Annual Reception & Member Mixer earlier this month, with the recently-renovated and newly-branded Doubletree Resort Lancaster/Willow Valley serving as partner and host. The CVB named six local tourism professionals as winners of its 2010 Spirit of Hospitality Awards and five local students as recipients of its 2010 Hospitality Scholarships. View photos from the evening.

The Spirit of Hospitality Awards program honors individuals and organizations who exemplify the best of travel and tourism in Lancaster County.

• Tom Groff of the Choo Choo Barn in Strasburg was honored with the Pat Burnley Lifetime Achievement Award for his crucial role in developing and shaping Lancaster County’s tourism industry over many decades. Since he was a young boy, Groff has been involved in the development of this beloved Lancaster property that his father George founded in 1961. During his time of heading up its operations, Groff expanded the venue to include the Shops of Traintown, and has given selflessly of his experience, energy, and resources on the board and committees of the PA Dutch CVB.
• Jennifer Arrigo, Public Relations Manager at Herr’s Foods in Nottingham, received the Spirit of Leadership Award, which recognizes exemplary professionalism and exceptional service as a supervisory employee. Arrigo was honored for her more than 25 years of spearheading numerous creative marketing programs and special events, both at Herr’s and across the region.
• Terri and Bob Stauffer, co-owners of Red Rose Segway Tours in Lancaster, received the Spirit of Creativity Award, which recognizes dedication to innovation in such areas as creative marketing or new programs. The Stauffers’ guided tours are the latest way to experience the sights and stories of historic Downtown Lancaster. Their Segways are also available for special events and team-building activities.
• Bill Luckenbaugh, Business Development Manager at Sight & Sound Theatres® in Strasburg, received the Spirit of Service Award, which recognizes industry members who distinguish themselves in promoting Lancaster County tourism through exemplary service and dedication to the consumer. Blessed with a contagious spirit and passion for life that come through in his work, Luckenbaugh was honored for his more than 16 years of providing the outstanding customer service that each Sight & Sound guest deserves and his constant willingness to assist staff.
• Scott Bowser of the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire in Manheim received the Community Spirit Award, which recognizes an individual or organization whose actions demonstrate service and responsiveness to the local community. Bowser was honored for initiating programs at the Faire that have netted more than $100,000 in donations to non-profits like Make-A-Wish and Easter Seals, and for creating the Heroes of the Realm weekend that honors active duty members of the military, police, and fire services, as well as veterans of our armed forces.

Initiated in 1989, the Hospitality Scholarship program is open to students pursuing a career in the tourism industry. Winners were selected based on academic achievement and enthusiasm for the industry.

The 2010 scholarship recipients (award amounts in parentheses) are:

• Derick Esch ($1000) of Brownstown – and a graduate of Conestoga Valley High School – will be entering his freshman year at Messiah College. Derick is interested in the film side of the tourism industry and has several years of experience after working for Sight & Sound Theatres, Oregon Dairy, and Dutch Wonderland. Derick also finds time to volunteer for his local food bank and Vacation Bible School.
• Dale Eshbach ($1500) of Ronks – and a graduate of Lancaster Catholic High School – is a student at Penn State Berks, where he studies Business Administration. Dale discovered his talent for the tourism industry when he began selling horseshoes to tourists at his grandfather’s buggy ride business as a young boy. Dale is also an avid ice hockey player and has been involved in several volunteer projects with his college team.
• Melquis Reyes ($1500) of Lancaster – and a graduate of J.P. McCaskey High School – plans to attend East Strasburg University in the fall after working at Dutch Wonderland this summer. He is a second time recipient of this award and is pursuing his dream of owning a restaurant.
• Leah Riegel ($1500) of Lititz – and a graduate of Warwick High School – is a student at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. She aspires to open her own restaurant in Lancaster County that will emphasize the area’s farm fresh cooking. Leah currently works as a caterer and volunteers her time at a local soup kitchen.
• Jordan Smucker ($1500) of Bird-in-Hand – and a graduate of Lancaster Mennonite High School – attends Binghamton University, where he plays on the varsity baseball team. He enjoys helping people and would like to pursue a managerial career in the hospitality industry.

Thanks to our sponsors

Without the generosity of our partner and host, the Doubletree Resort Lancaster/Willow Valley, and our sponsors, we would not have been able to roll out this wonderful evening as a FREE member event. Please take their generosity to heart, make a point of thanking each of them, and really make an effort to become familiar with these great member businesses so that you can help promote each of them to your guests: Courtyard by Marriott® – Lancaster and the Lancaster Marriott at Penn Square; Dutch Wonderland Family Amusement Park; Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course; Kitchen Kettle Village; Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire; Sight & Sound Theatres®; U.S. Hot Air Balloon Team; and Zip Line Canopy Tour at Refreshing Mountain.

Lancaster County tourism in the news

The PA Dutch CVB communications staff works with our members to garner free publicity for Lancaster tourism in media outlets around the region, the country, and the globe. Below are just a few recent results of these efforts on behalf of our world-class travel destination, and you can see more in our monthly clip books here. Additionally, we anticipate a piece in the August edition of Bon Appetit on Central Market, a general Lancaster article in September’s AAA Times (covering a portion of New England), and an Amish quilts story sometime this fall in National Geographic Traveler.

• “Drive Under Five: Pennsylvania Dutch Country”, Pittsburgh Magazine, May 2010
• “A Growing Arts Scene in Lancaster”, Just Say Go travel site, 5/24/10
• “Joseph flying high in Lancaster, PA”, Contemporary Christian Travel blog at The Washington Times, 6/7/10
• “’Footnote’ battles of the Civil War get their due” (re. Lancaster stops on the PA Civil War Trails), USA Today, 6/18/10
• “Escape to Pennsylvania Dutch Country”, Trip.com travel blog, 6/21/10

3rd quarter Lancaster lodging forecast

Prior to the start of each new quarter, we survey our lodging partners to get a sense of how the quarter ahead looks for them, based on rooms already on the books as compared with the same quarter in the prior year. Booking patterns for the 3rd Qtr of 2010 (as compared with 3rd Qtr. 2009) revealed the following:

• Hotels - Of the 15 hotels responding, 1 reported fewer rooms on the books than same quarter last year, 10 reported more, and 4 reported the same. On average, rooms on the books are up 4.7%.
• B&Bs - Of the 10 B&Bs responding, 4 reported fewer rooms on the books than same quarter last year; 5 reported more; and 1 reported the same. On average, rooms on the books are down 1.5%.

Is the travel industry poised for a comeback?

So, it has been a rough road for the $704 billion U.S. travel industry, but the clouds seem to be lifting - at least a bit, according to Dr. Suzanne Cook, U.S. Travel SVP of research. The latest Travel and Tourism Satellite Accounts estimates prepared by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (and funded by the Office of Travel and Tourism Industries) reveal that real spending on travel and tourism (after adjusting for inflation) increased at an annual rate of 3.9 percent in the first quarter of 2010, following a decrease of 1.5 percent (revised) in 2009's fourth quarter. Direct tourism-related employment was unchanged in Q1 '10, following a 2.3 percent (revised) decline in Q4 '09. Growth in employment in food services and shopping offset declines in air transportation and accommodations.

And, several new surveys suggest this upturn in travel may continue. A May Harris Poll found that 66 percent of Americans plan to take a summer vacation this year, very similar to the 65 percent who expected to do so last summer. And, 19 percent plan to take at least one business trip this summer, a slight reduction from 23 percent last year at this time. This year, fewer plan to reduce the number of trips they will take, their trip durations or their expenditures. But, many travelers say that current economic conditions continue to alter how they travel, and many are still looking to economize in their travel spending.

• Meetings industry poised for recovery
  The recently released North American Meeting Planner Intentions Survey, conducted by Ypartnership, also suggests that the meetings industry is poised for recovery. The survey found there was a net increase in the number of off-site meetings planners expect to book in 2010 and 2011 versus 2009: 25 percent of meeting planners expect the number of meetings they book in 2010 to increase compared to 2009, and 31 percent expect this trend to carry over into 2011. An average of 17 more meetings each are expected for 2010 and 2011, respectively. Corporate planners were more likely than association planners to expect the number of meetings they book in 2010 and 2011 to increase. There was also a net increase in expected attendance at off-site meetings in 2010 and 2011 versus 2009: 34 percent of meeting planners expect meeting attendance to increase in 2010, while 44 percent expect this trend to continue into 2011.
• Hotels forecasts upped again
  According to Smith Travel Research's (STR) revised forecast, the U.S. hotel industry is expected to end the summer travel season (June, July and August) with the following year-over-year results: supply (+1.8%), demand (+6.2%), occupancy (+4.3 percent), average daily rate (ADR) (+ 0.1%) and revenue per available room (RevPAR) (+4.5%). To put this in perspective, recall that during summer 2009, occupancy fell 9.1 percent, ADR dropped 9.6 percent, and RevPAR was down 17.8 percent.
• International travel continues to rebound
  International tourist arrivals rose 3 percent in April 2010, marking the seventh month of growth after 14 consecutive months of declines, according to the UN World Tourism Organization. While April's results were affected by the week-long closure of European airspace due to the Icelandic volcanic eruption, globally the pace of recovery has been faster than expected, driven largely by emerging markets. International tourist arrivals grew by 7 percent in the first four months of 2010, with growth varying widely by region. The current volume, however, is still 2 percent short of the record year 2008, with 264 million arrivals in the same four months. Arrivals in the Americas were up 6 percent. Growth rates suggest that end-year results are likely to be up close to 4 percent.
  
  In the U.S., international visitors spent about 7% more on travel to, and tourism-related activities within, the United States during the month of April, as compared with April 2009 - marking the fourth consecutive month of growth in U.S. travel and tourism exports, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce.
• Tour operators report positive results
  Tour operators are seeing strong growth in international and domestic travel this year, according to the U.S. Tour Operators Association. The majority of respondents (66%) reported that domestic bookings are up this year, with a 33 percent increase in bookings. Most operators (84%) report that increasing discretionary income was a driving factor behind the gains and 58 percent said they reflected strength in the U.S. dollar. Prices for tours, vacation packages and custom vacations are the same as at the start of the year, according to 68 percent of respondents, while 20 percent said prices have decreased and 12 percent have increased their prices since January.

Reminder: Deadline for Board nominations is August 2

The 2011 Nominating Committee, chaired by Deryl Stoltzfus, and including Board members Chuck Simmons, Rick Stammel, Scott Bowser, Michelle Rondinelli, Jan Garrabrandt, and PA Dutch CVB President & CEO Chris Barrett, has been charged by the Board of Directors with the duty of selecting four candidates to fill the role of director of the PA Dutch CVB Board for a three-year term beginning January 1, 2011 and concluding December 31, 2013. Nomination information and forms can be found on our members’ section of our website.

We encourage you to give serious thought to candidates - yourself or others - for future board seats with the PA Dutch CVB. All nomination forms must be received at the PA Dutch CVB by August 2 at 5pm. Please contact Chris Barrett or Kristen May with any questions.

New buggy on display at Visitors Center, thanks to Hurst House B&B

The PA Dutch CVB would like to thank member Rich Hurst of Hurst House B&B for assisting us with the replacement of the buggy on display for our visitors at Greenfield Road. Rich was kind enough to donate his time and the materials needed to build a foundation for our new buggy to stand on. Thanks to his efforts, our visitors will now enjoy an upgraded version of a classic photo opportunity that countless visitors have enjoyed at our visitor center over the years. We thank Rich for his passion for our industry and his dedication to making Lancaster a memorable place for every visitor we welcome!

Keep abreast of what’s happening in Lancaster County

By subscribing to our TravelGuide e-news you’ll be in the know when it comes to events, deals and discounts in Lancaster County. Subscribing is free and easy. Simply click here.

Learn about PA’s Civil War Trails – new road trips for guests to explore

In the build-up to the 150th anniversary of the Civil War (1861-65), the PA Dutch CVB will be periodically highlighting the state’s recently-created Pennsylvania Civil War Trails (CWT), which represent a living, breathing discovery of our role in this nation’s great struggle. From battlefields and museums to Story Stops and living history artists, the trails offer not merely a deeper look at Lincoln, Lee, and Meade, but the stories of the small towns and families who endured our most personal war, and visitors are right in their midst, from Chambersburg to Lancaster.

The trails are comprised of two road trips through the south central portion of PA, to guide travelers exploration of the momentous events of June 22nd to July 4th, 1863. The first – The Road to Harrisburg – tells the experience of different towns as they tried to resist the advance of Confederate forces. The second – The Road to Gettysburg – looks at how, why, and when Union troops were sent in to defend the area, which eventually culminated in the Battle of Gettysburg.

These two vantage points are brought to life along the way through 40 Story Stop points of interest, each of which is connected to a nearby attraction, restaurant, or retail property, so there is something more to “do” in each location. For Lancaster County, the CWT literature details Story Stops in Marietta and Columbia, as well as related “Must See” items like Wheatland and Central Market in Downtown Lancaster and the Strasburg Rail Road.

The unique selling points of PA’s CWT include:

• One of only three states (OH & NY are the others) where its CWT stories are told from the Northern point of view.
• The only state where its CWT signs are connected to a nearby hospitality property (attraction, dining, or retail).
• The only state whose CWT incorporates social history voices from women, children, and African-Americans.

You can find out more information about the Pennsylvania Civil War Trails at the above links. You may also see periodic media stories on the trails, like the recent piece in USA Today, as well as the CWT-related ads that the state tourism office is running through the end of the year in such outlets as American Heritage, Preservation, Arrive (Amtrak’s on-board magazine), and a collection of websites that focus on Civil War enthusiasts.

Make sure you get noticed! Advertise with the PA Dutch CVB!

Terrific advertising opportunities abound for 2011; all designed to heighten your business’ visibility with our visitors and those considering a getaway to Lancaster. To view the 2011 ad kit online click here. Have questions or need help identifying the best fit for your marketing strategy and budget? Contact Deb Sellers, 509-6394.

Be sure, too, to take advantage of our freebies!

1. In our Map & Overnight Getaway Guide (MOGG):
   
   • Free Listing – We’ll list your business’s name, address, phone number and web address. Just complete the 2011 MOGG ad contract (link below) to verify your information. Interested in increasing your exposure? Consider upgrading to a basic line listing, picture line ad or a display ad.
2. On the Web:
   
   • Member listing, full page and photos on PaDutchCountry.com – Make sure your information and photos are current.
   • PA Dutch Coupons & Discounts – A link to a printable coupon on your site can appear under the “Deals” section of PaDutchCountry.com
   • Add your events to our online Events Calendar, one of our top 5 web pages!

Check out our online Jobs Board

Whether you’re searching for a sales, management or executive staff position, or looking for an employee to fill one, our online Jobs Board could be the answer. Posting positions available is free and easy. Simply email the job title, business name, city, a job description of 150 words or less and the application deadline to Sarah Long at slong@padutchcountry.com. Listings will be removed from the Jobs Board upon the application deadline unless otherwise indicated by the employer.

Board meeting in review

The PA Dutch CVB Board of Directors met on June 10. During the meeting, the Board reviewed the period 5 finance report, the current state funding and advocacy status, and the progress of the CVB’s strategic plan. In addition, the Budget and Finance committee offered recommendation for association banking, the 2011 Nominating Committee was appointed, and a brief update on the May 26 Member Briefing was shared. The June minutes will be available for viewing after they are approved by the Board at the next meeting on September 9.

CVB’s annual report for state grant monies available online

Each year, the PA Dutch CVB submits an annual report to the PA Department of Community & Economic Development to fulfill requirements for Tourism Promotion Assistance grant monies received. Click here to read the 2009/10 report.

Industry Newsmakers

• Flowers by Paulette is celebrating their 25th anniversary in downtown Lancaster. Throughout the year, owners Jack & Mary Beth Shenk will be celebrating this special milestone by offering 25% off or $25 in-store specials. However, what they are most excited about is their donation program. They are enhancing their giving this year by committing $2,500 in donations to 10 local individuals/organizations, focused primarily on serving the needs of our young people. “To date,” says Shenk, “we have sent donations to six recipients and will be notifying two others shortly.” They plan to launch their Facebook page in the next few weeks and will be asking their Facebook fans to send in their suggestions for the final two recipients.”
• 2010 Hospitality Days Winner Announced - The winner of the $500 cash prize for the 2010 Hospitality Days program is Carolyn Hersh who works at the Blue Rock Bed and Breakfast. Congratulations Carolyn!
• Brad Igou, president of Amish Experience was recently interviewed for Suzanne Woods Fisher’s hour-long Amish Wisdom program on TOGInet online radio. Listen to the program.
• Hampton Inn & Suites Ephrata-Mountain Springs is now ranked #1 in Pennsylvania and #3 (out of 469 Hampton hotels) in the nation for quality, service, and cleanliness.
• Tamanend Winery will be highlighted on CBS on July 23 and The Travel Channel on July 24 as a recipient of "The Official Best Of PA" will air on CBS on July 23rd and The Travel Channel on July 24th. Taping of the segment included a Winemaker Dinner, their Tasting Room - tasting and sales, a tour of the winery, the wine lab process and the bottling line production.
• Congratulations to the following properties and individuals for being designated a Lancaster County Heritage entity. Lancaster County Heritage, a program of the Lancaster County Planning Commission, was initiated in 1994 with assistance from the National Trust for Historic Preservation, to recognize the county’s astonishing diversity of natural, cultural, and historic resources that create quilt-like patterns across our landscape.
  
  Heritage Sites
  Christiana Underground Railroad Center at Historic Zercher’s Hotel, Christiana
  Shreiner-Concord Cemetery, Lancaster
  
  Heritage Events
  2010 Architectural History Tour: Lancaster City Architecture by C. Emlen Urban – scheduled for Sunday, October 24
  
  Heritage Lodging
  Historic Smithton Inn, Ephrata
  Lancaster Arts Hotel, Lancaster
  
  Heritage Dining
  John J. Jeffries, Lancaster
  
  Heritage Crafts
  Gunsmithing (Artist: Justin Spangler, Landisville)
  Windsor Chairs (Artist: Brian Cunfer, Kirkwood)
  Theorem Painting (Artist: Sandra Coldren, Lititz)
  
  Heritage Industries
  Susquehanna Glass Factory, Columbia
   

Questions or Comments?

Contact Janet Wall at jwall@padutchcountry.com, or 717-391-6005.

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