August 2011 Newsletter Articles

What Should Your State Tourism Budget Be?

With sometimes dramatic budget cuts and financial challenges facing both federal and state finances, there is a lot of economic uncertainty to go around these days. As countless research studies have shown, now is exactly the time to make critical investments in businesses that have measurable and quantifiable returns in tax revenues to the state's general fund. I just read an article passed to me by one of my staff about Hawaiian tourism. Those poor souls currently have to get by on a mere pittance of $69 million in each of the next four years. That represents a sharp 15% decrease from their prior annual budgets of $81 million per year! Maine now has a stable and assured tourism budget for our ninth consecutive year. It was challenging to get the industry to work on the concept of a sustainable tourism budget in the past, but the industry prevailed and we are now in third position among the six New England states in tourism budget size.

After the MTA board approved my idea of the MTA collaborating with those of a like mind on tourism in Maine and how it should look for the future, the real fun started. I could see the wisdom of giving up something if in the long run you make gains over what you gave up. That, of course, involves trust, and sometimes trust and politics are like mixing oil and water. We only need to look back at what we have seen in DC over the past few weeks to understand that. Forming the Hospitality and Tourism Alliance was the first step down that path to a dedicated tourism fund. Once we had the principal players together, we began meaningful discussions as to what our common goal should be in that quest. The next challenge was to get those H&TA leaders to convince their boards that we could in fact build a tourism fund, keep that fund intact and then even grow it. I was surprised when a major tourism investor made a point of telling me it would never happen and I should pack my bags and go back to Alabama because it would be my undoing. He was wrong on two points: we could and did do it and that I had come from Mississippi, not Alabama, to Maine. The rest, as they say, is history.

Over the last decade, taxpayers of Maine have put hundreds of millions into businesses that have failed. During that same time, however, Maine's tourism industry has moved forward and annually generated about $414 million in tax revenues and 108,000 jobs for Maine's economy. It does make you wonder. If we invest more in Maine's dedicated tourism funding, say doubling it, for instance, what would the return to Maine become? If we did indeed double it, we now would be at $18 million, which is the average of the US tourism state budgets. The returns from this investment are proven and are consistent. Remember, all of these tax dollars are made possible by Maine entrepreneurs who, for the greatest part, get NO help from state or federal offices with investment funds or financing.

As you can see from the list below, within our New England region, Connecticut is number one at $22 million. What makes this very interesting is the previous year they were given a budget of $1.00 in order to avoid dissolving the Connecticut Department of Tourism altogether. Their tourism industry sent a strong message to their legislature that such an action was not acceptable again. Recall that it was not that many years ago that Maine had the smallest tourism budget among all the New England states. We have made progress but we must remain vigilant and deeply committed in order to keep what we have worked so hard to gain. Now would be a good time to let your Senators, Representatives and Governor LePage know just how vital the tourism budget is to Maine's financial health. And at the same time, please thank them for their support of our industry and the tourism funding that allows us to support Maine.

– Vaughn Stinson, CTC
Chief Executive Officer

Magic Falls and Magic Rivers Rafting Companies to Honor First Responders on 9/11

On the tenth anniversary of 9/11, Magic Falls and Magic Rivers Rafting Companies of West Forks, Maine will honor and thank all active duty firefighters, emergency personnel and military for the work they do in protecting the lives and property of American citizens.

On Sunday, September 11, Magic Falls and Magic Rivers are offering 150 whitewater rafting trips on the Kennebec River for free to these first responders and their families. Reservations must be made in advance and will be offered on a first come/first served basis.

Magic Falls owner, Donna Neddeau, and Magic Rivers owner, Dave Neddeau, are proud to make this offer. "We are grateful for the job that our firefighters, emergency medical personnel and servicemen and women do for all of us. By offering a complimentary raft trip, we hope to let them know how much we appreciate their devoted service and bring a day of fun and happiness to them and their families."

Magic Falls Rafting Company, founded in 1989 by the Neddeaus, offers whitewater rafting trips on the Kennebec and Dead River from May to October. The Magic Falls base facility includes a campground, lodge and a guesthouse for large groups. On site amenities include a recreation pavilion, outdoor climbing wall, volley ball court, half court basketball, tubing, and shower and changing facilities. Magic Rivers was founded in 2010 to offer high adventure, double run trips of the upper Kennebec Gorge.

Reservations may be made by phoning 1-800-207-7238. Magic Falls' web address is www.magicfalls.com.

IF&W Update August 2011

Watch Out For Endangered Piping Plover Chicks On Maine's Beaches

As Maine's beach season hits high gear, beachgoers are reminded to care for rare Piping Plovers.

The small shorebirds are listed as an endangered species in Maine and are on the federal list of threatened species. They breed in Maine during spring and summer to lay eggs, hatch chicks and raise their young on Maine's sandy beaches.

But Piping Plovers also are extremely vulnerable to the conditions around them.

"Overall, it's pretty amazing that some of Maine's busiest beaches are home to an endangered species," said Laura Minich Zitske, who runs the plover recovery program for Maine Audubon. "It makes for an incredible opportunity for people to see and appreciate rare wildlife. There is lots of room for everyone on our beaches, we just ask for people to share the beach and be aware of the plovers."

There have been two documented cases of Piping Plover chicks killed in Maine this season, though the overall prognosis for the species this summer appears good. There currently are 33 nesting pairs of plovers in the state - up from 30 in 2010 - with 26 chicks, 47 fledglings (juvenile birds ready to fly) and two other nests still with eggs to hatch.

It's shaping up to be a productive season in Maine for plovers, but the most dangerous time of the year for the birds is upon us. Adults, chicks and fledglings remain vulnerable to predators and disturbance.

Last Thursday, Audubon biologists discovered 37 adult and young plovers on Goose Rocks Beach in Kennebunk.

"We have never seen so many plovers in one place at the same time in all the years we've been working on the project," said Maine Audubon's Director of Conservation Sally Stockwell. "We think it's because most birds nested successfully the first time this year - that is, their nests were not washed out by high tides - and so have 'finished early' and are already starting to change into fall plumage and fatten up for their long flight south for the winter."

It is extremely important to remember that Piping Plovers need our protection.

Foot traffic on beaches can separate young from parents, and chicks may be stepped on unknowingly. People may see chicks on the ground trying to blend in with the sand and pick them up, thinking they are injured, in the wrong place or dead. Chicks appearing frozen on the ground should be left alone. If you hear an adult vocalizing or see it pretending to be injured with a "broken-wing display" - which they use to distract would-be predators from their chicks -- please back away and let the adults tend to their chicks.

Pets also can be lethal to plovers, particularly dogs and cats, which can kill chicks. Pets should be leashed or kept inside where plovers are nesting.

"Most of the beaches here in Maine have a high volume of tourists," said Judy Camuso, a wildlife biologist with the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. "We try and balance the needs of the plovers and of people. We've been very successful at producing young piping plovers here in Maine, and as long as people do their part and we do our part, we're going to continue to have a successful piping plover program for many years to come - and for the enjoyment of future generations."

Report from the Maine Wildlife Park

Things are picking up! After repeated poor weather patterns this spring and early summer, we have finally enjoyed a continuous stretch of nice weather and steady attendance. During the week of July 4th, the park saw over 5,430 visitors.

The Fisheries Division has 8 fish hatcheries. Their Web site lists their locations and the species that are reared at each. Plus, view this year's fish stocking reports: http://www.maine.gov/ifw/contactus.htm#fishhatcheries

Maine Audubon has assembled a new Loon Kit with funding from the Maine Outdoor Heritage Grant Fund. The kit is available for free loan for school teachers, lake associations, summer camps, scout groups and others who would like to teach children about loons. To reserve a Loon Kit, please contact Lisa Kane at Lisa.Kane@maine.gov.

Tourism Traffic Indictators

Probably the meals and lodging tax figures are the best indicators of the amount of tourism traffic Maine is enjoying this season. Unfortunately, it takes a while for those numbers to get compiled, so our next best stats might be those from the Maine Turnpike's. As of the end of May, overall traffic was off a slight 2.5% from the 2010 figures, as more than 4.6 million vehicles were clocked going onto the turnpike. Traffic picked up through the end of June, with just a bit more than 5 million vehicles being tallied, bringing the total to just .6% off from the same time as last year. A representative of the Maine Turnpike Authority said that the Kennebunk exit was trending higher than last year's already and that July is looking very promising. Much higher gas prices might be one reason why the lower quadrant of the state is enjoying these higher numbers, as travelers may be staying closer to the southern part of the state to save fuel costs.

– Michael Conley,
Manager - Advertising & Membership Sales

Sunday Brunch at the Sea Dog

By the Travelin Maine(rs) - George and Linda Smith

The deck sits high above the rushing full-to-the-banks river. A man in a red kayak floats in the eddy, casually casting to hoped-for fish. It's noontime and the sun has just broken out, so welcome after a spring of days full of drizzle and fog.

Inside, an astonishing array of food invites gluttony, as our waitress sets mimosas down in front of us. We'd heard good things about Sunday brunch at the Sea Dog Brewery in Topsham, located in the old refurbished Bowdoin Mill, but when we finally got a chance to visit, every aspect of the experience exceeded our expectations.

Linda

The atmosphere at the Sea Dog is cozy and relaxing. From our table, I noticed both kayakers and cormorants trying their luck at fishing. I know I won't be trying a kayak there. The currents and fast moving water would scare me to death.

This brunch is impressive, for sure. One long string of tables holds breads and pastries, appetizers, and many offerings of hot entrees. In a u-shaped pattern the food continues. There's a great salad selection, (loved their Caesar dressing), a carving station (serving lamb today), two entrees cooked right in front of you, and made-to-order omelets.

One highlight was the chicken wings cooked in duck fat, as the sauce made them perfect. I was impressed with the caprese salad, corned beef hash, Swiss chard and cabbage, roasted garlic and asiago flatbread (wow), and Belgian waffle topped with blueberries, strawberries and whipped cream.

I'm not a big cake fan but I did spot a chocolate torte amidst the many plates of desserts. It was absolute chocolate decadence.

George

While the Sea Dog would normally be a go-to-place for beer and burgers, the "pub fare" I associate with brewery restaurants, we decided to do brunch here enroute to a future column on the best brunches in Maine.

Just one look at the impressive array of food at one end of this large restaurant told us this was a brunch that will definitely make the list.

Favorite dishes included a fantastic spicy lamb stew (my overall favorite), Thai peanut salmon with black beans and rice (exceptional with perfectly cooked salmon), corned beef hash (always a favorite when it doesn't come from a can), biscuit with sausage gravy (too spicy for Lin but I loved it - and shouldn't every breakfast include gravy?), potato salad with bacon, chilled Asian mussels, Caesar salad (you add the lemon and dressing), strawberry cream cheese crepes (delicate), dumpling with mango sauce (spicy), and roasted garlic and asiago flatbread (crispy and delicious - the only item that drew me back for more).

I know this sounds like a lot of food, but remember, I sampled. Ok, maybe a bit more than sampled. Let's just say we found the $17.95 price ($8.95 for kids) for the brunch to be a great value, and the $3 for a Mimosa or Bloody Mary to be a real bargain.

We'll be headed back for lunch soon, so I can try the Windjammer Burger, the meat braised with Sea Dog's blonde ale and topped with beer cheese, thumpin onions, and Seadog mustard. I'll enjoy my favorite Sea Dog Hazelnut Porter with that, sun on my smiling face, river rushing by.

But Linda says no kayaks and no fishing.

For more from the Travelin Maine(rs) go to www.georgesmithmaine.com.

Maine Invites You and the Official Maine Highway Map

As Ronna Lugosch related last year, "At Peapod Jewelry, we ask every person who comes into our gallery how they heard about us. Although it is early in the season, a significant proportion of visitors are telling us that the Maine Invites You is where they saw our ad. We have been advertising in Maine Invites You for about three years, and this year we doubled the size of our ad because the response in the past has been very good. I can already tell that the response this year is better than last year."

Ronna's success story can be repeated dozens of times over throughout the state. When it comes to promoting your business to the Maine tourist, nothing comes even close for its winning combination of circulation (300,000 copies in print) and on-line punch with its own on-line eBrochure.

I know, you're barely through the first half of the vacation season and things are hopping at your location and throughout the state, but it is still time to take a breath and plan for 2012. Not only should that include Maine Invites You, the official travel planner of the State of Maine, but also the 2012 edition of the Official Maine Highway Map, with its incredible print run of over 400,000 copies. Both will be available to the traveling public right around New Year's Day. There is simply no better way to get your business in front of these many hundreds of thousands of potential customers beginning when the snow is still on the ground.

Both are in the sales process right now, with the Official Maine Highway Map ad sales closing on September 2, and Maine Invites You closing on October 3. For more information on either great marketing value, please call Michael Conley at 623-0363, ext. 107, or email him at mconley@mainetourism.com today. To view and download rate cards for either publication, please click here.

Get Yourself Really Seen by 400,000 Customers

People love maps and they really respond to advertising messages on them. This year, we are repeating an exciting and very affordable way of getting the attention of over 400,000 potential customers in 2012.

Get triple the space of the Basic Unit Ad for less than twice the price with the Map Back Display, and in glorious four color no less! If your business has a couple of locations or you want to stand out from your competitors, then this is the ad to consider.

For more information on this exciting marketing value, please call Michael Conley at 623-0363, ext. 107, or email him at mconley@mainetourism.com today. For rate card information for either publication, please click here for MIY or here for the Official Maine Highway Map.

Jim McGregor Honored at Retirement Party

A lobbyist for the Maine Merchants Association since 1993, Jim McGregor retired at the end of June and was honored by his friends and associates at a luncheon held at the Augusta Country Club.

Former Executive Vice President and Director of Government Affairs for the Maine Merchants Association, Jim not only managed the association but also spent much time at the State House addressing the many legislative issues facing Maine's retail community.

Originally from Mississippi, Jim came to Maine in 1972 as a state house reporter for United Press International (UPI). In 1974, he took on the task of running Jim Longley's successful campaign as Maine's first Independent Governor and served as his Chief of Staff. Jim then went on to become the chief spokesman for Bath Iron Works from 1980 - 1992 when he joined the Maine Merchants Association. Jim and his wife Shirley live in Augusta.

We at the Maine Tourism Association have worked closely with Jim McGregor over the years and wish him the very best for his well-earned retirement.

Featured Member

Skye Theatre/NE Celtic Arts
2 Highland Drive, South Carthage, ME 04224
www.necelticarts.com
(207) 562-4445

High atop Winter Hill, at the end of a narrow winding dirt road in the Western Mountains of Maine is an unlikely setting for some of the World's finest Celtic Musicians and dancers to perform. But here it is.

Skye Theatre Performing Arts Center is a work in progress, the dream of Phill and Jan McIntyre. "The Skye", as everyone calls it, is a 250-seat concert hall located in rural So. Carthage, Maine.

Currently hosting over 60 concerts per year. The concert hall is always buzzing with activity. Hospitality is its stock in trade.

Skye Theatre is the only theater in New England built specifically for Celtic music. Top named artists from all parts of the Celtic World come here to play, sing, and dance to an always appreciative audience. Shows are well attended and the space is very intimate with a great sound system.

We specialize in mid-week dates and often are able to book artists with other venues throughout New England. In 2011 alone Skye will partner just under 200 events in the region. Widely recognized as innovator, Skye hosts a 45-minute jam session where audience members bring their instruments for a pre-show jam session prior to each show. The artists will normally play in the jam session for a few minutes, which adds greatly to the total experience.

We have concerts every Wednesday, February thru December and on many Sundays throughout the summer. Skye has several lodging and restaurant partners in the area and can provide information for discounts at several locations. Call 1-207-562-4445 to reserve and go to http://www.necelticarts.com for schedules and directions.

Open Lighthouse Day

The third annual Maine Open Lighthouse Day will take place rain or shine Sept. 17, with many of the state's coastal, island and river lighthouses planning to welcome the public.

Eighteen thousand people visited 25 open light stations during last year's event, and 5,000 people climbed up light towers for the lantern room view. The event is coordinated by the U.S. Coast Guard, in partnership with the Maine Office of Tourism and the American Lighthouse Foundation. It is the largest event of its kind in the country.

Maine lighthouse fans can learn about participating lights and share their Lighthouse Day plans on the new event Facebook page at www.facebook.com/MaineOpenLighthouseDay.

Most lighthouses will be open to visitors from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for guided or self-guided tours of keeper's houses and light towers. Some light stations will have limited accessibility or special restrictions. For details about visitor hours, fees, activities and transportation to each participating lighthouse, visit www.lighthouseday.com or contact the friends group of an individual light.

More than half of the 60-plus working lighthouses in Maine are accessible to the public during the summer months thanks to the landmark Maine Lights Program passed by Congress in 1996.

The program transferred the ownership of lighthouses from the Coast Guard to local preservation groups and organizations like the American Lighthouse Foundation, and served as a model for the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act of 2000.

Taking Responsibility for our Healthcare Quality and Cost

There are several great Web sites that I learned about at a recent meeting about healthcare reform. The first one http://www.healthweb.maine.gov/claims/healthcost/default.aspx lets you compare the cost of specific procedures at various places around the State of Maine. It is very interesting to see how much the costs vary on some procedures around the state.

As the second part of that, the Web site http://www.getbettermaine.org/ lets you compare the quality of care at various places. The combination of these two resources should be very valuable to those small businesses and your employees that either have no health coverage, high deductible plans, or health savings accounts to better manage the usage of your funds.

Other areas to watch are the new healthcare guidelines in Maine around the recently passed LD 1333 and also the evolving health insurance exchanges that are part of the Affordable Healthcare Act passed last year in Washington. Also new to Maine will be the first Captive health insurer called Maine Wellness. These all have the potential to be helpful as we all struggle with health care costs and quality.

As always, if you have questions, concerns or input please give me a call or e-mail.

Hope everyone is having a good summer season!

– Ron Brann, Finance & Human Resources Manager
ron@mainetourism.com
207-623-0363 ext. 208

Maine Tourism Association Gets Even More Mobile Friendly with its Newest FREE Member Benefit!

The Maine Tourism Association is very excited to announce another fantastic FREE member benefit coming very soon! We have partnered with WPXT, New England Telemedia, Sephone Interactive Media, and MOWBI to list and promote all Maine Tourism Association Members through WPXT's Mobile App. Available online at http://www.wpxtforme.com and promoted on their exclusive in-hotel tv network, all members will be available with their listings information contained on http://www.mainetourism.com.

Visitors in the viewing range of the WPXT, WPME, MeTV, the Maine Visitors Channel and the participating locations will be presented with promotions for WPXTforME.com to find things to do, places to stay, where to shop and eat, and more. Their current promotional commercial has been airing for the past month on WPXT and you can view it on YouTube by visiting http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYv-t2zC8Uc. This is a fantastic companion to our TechMaine 2011 nominated Web site. We are extremely pleased to offer our members more exposure to the travelers in Maine. The Maine Tourism Association is the only tourism trade association with a mobile app for its members that is promoted on television.

In addition to this free campaign, all Maine Tourism Association members also have the option to upgrade their listing on http://www.wpxtforme.com and have MOWBI create a mobile version of their Web site at an extremely reasonable price! For an initial investment of $200, and $25 each month thereafter, MOWBI will create a one-page, mobile version of your Web site. This is an amazing deal for our members that is certainly worthy of your consideration! For information on upgrading your listing on http://www.wpxtforme.com, please visit http://mowbi.com/pay/wpxt/ or contact MOWBI directly at 800-985-9277.

For further information on http://www.wpxtforme.com, please contact me at 207-623-0363, ext. 106 or via email shawnbrann@mainetourism.com.

– Shawn Brann, Information Technology Specialist

Public Affairs Update
Carolyn Manson, Manager of Public Affairs

State Revenues - Good News/Bad News. State revenues were slightly higher than projections at the end of Fiscal Year 2011 leaving the state with a surplus of nearly $50 million. According to a Maine Revenue Services report to the Committee on Appropriations and Financial Affairs, in spite of the year-end totals, state revenues continue to be sluggish with high energy costs draining personal expenditures. Also, Maine's sales and use tax revenues only increased about 2 percent over 2010 with the national growth rate running 4 to 5 percent.

Budget Cuts Ordered.With funding cuts from the federal government looming, Governor LePage has ordered state agencies to identify ways to cut $100 million in current spending. The Governor has asked his department heads to conduct a "zero-based" budgeting exercise that will analyze and prioritize each program. In addition, the 2012 - 2013 Biennial Budget just enacted by the Legislature and signed by the Governor, established the "Streamline and Prioritize Core Government Services Task Force" and charged them with identifying $25 million in savings and efficiencies for FY 2013.

Tax Reform. The Taxation Committee has been authorized to meet four times during the interim to take a look at restructuring Maine's tax laws with the first meeting scheduled for August 15th. As you know, we have not had very positive experiences with previous tax reform proposals as the most recent effort, passed by the 124th Legislature, would have increased the meals and lodging taxes and expanded the sales tax to add 100 new items. This legislation was resoundingly defeated by a people's veto effort that the Maine Tourism Association supported. While we are encouraged that this committee will take a different approach to reforming Maine's tax laws, we will closely monitor this latest effort and keep you fully informed.

Tax Relief. This year, Governor LePage proposed, and the 125th Legislature enacted, several tax reform measures as part of the Biennial Budget. Some of those included are: lowering the top income tax rate from 8.5% to 7.95% effective January 1, 2013; conforming Maine's standard deduction and personal exemption to their federal equivalents; exempting meals served at retirement facilities from the meals tax; exempting from the sales and use tax sales of aircraft by nonresidents and replacements parts and increasing the estate tax exemption from $1 million to $2 million. The total package amounted to a tax relief package totaling nearly $160 million.

If you would like additional information, please call me at the Maine Tourism Association at 623-0363 Ext. 104 or email me at carolyn@mainetourism.com.

Welcome New Members
July 1 - July 31

Beaches Motel & Cottages
Wells
207-216-4065
info@beachesofmaine.com
www.beachesofmaine.com
Camp & Cottages, Hotel, Motel

Blue Harbor House
Camden
207-528-2022
info@blueharborhouse.com
www.blueharborhouse.com
Bed & Breakfast, Inn

Bowlin Camps
Patten
207-236-8113
info@bowlincamps.com
www.bowlincamps.com
Boat Rental, Camp & Cottages, Fishing Guide, Hiking, Hunting Guide, Sporting Camp

Bufflehead Cove Inn
Kennebunkport
207-967-3879
info@buffleheadcove.com
www.buffleheadcove.com
Bed & Breakfast, Inn

Eagle Island Cruise with Captain Claire
S. Harpswell
207-846-1254
eagleislandcruise@gmail.com
www.eagleislandcruise.com
Boat Cruise, Hiking

Fryeburg Academy
Fryeburg
207-935-2001 x. 3134
www.fryeburgacademy.org
Education

Hermon, Town of
Hermon
207-947-8595
Grantron@aol.com
www.hermon.net
Town

Obsession Sportfishing Charters
Bath
207-841-1444
dave@obsessioncharters.com
www.obsessioncharters.com
Boat Cruise, Fishing Guide

Schoodic National Scenic Byway
Ellsworth
207-667-7131
info@schoodicbyway.org
www.schoodicbyway.org
Maps, Organization

Skye Theatre Performing Arts Center
S. Carthage
207-562-4445
phill@necelticarts.com
www.necelticarts.com
Amusement, Entertainment, Music, Theatre

Thornhedge Inn
Bar Harbor
207-288-5398
innkeeper@thornhedgeinn.com
www.thornhedgeinn.com
Bed & Breakfast, Inn

Waterboro Association of Businesses, Inc.
Waterboro
207-206-5639
info@waterborochamber.org
www.waterborochamber.org
Association, Chamber of Commerce, Organization

Maine Tourism Association
Stats Report - July 2011

On-Line Stats

June 2011

July 2011

YTD 2011

www.mainetourism.com Page Views	22,956	23,644	272,472
www.mainetourism.com Unique Visitors	8,888	9,330	54,362
listings.mainetourism.com Page Views	29,122	32,836	143,542
listings.mainetourism.com Unique Visitors	9,457	11,061	44,560
www.mainetourism.com MIY Requests	685	616	4,812
www.mainetourism.com BB/CC Requests	596	538	4,146
www.mainetourism.com Visits per Day	296	301	256
listings.mainetourism.com Visits per Day	315	357	210
Total Users/MIY eTravelPlanner	3,722	3,796	17,794
Page Views/MIY eTravelPlanner	334,453	362,819	1,470,735
Link Hits/MIY eTravelPlanner	918	1,621	4,486
Total Users-BB/CC eBrochure	126	183	587
Page Views-BB/CC eBrochure	2,954	3,907	13,126
Link Hits-BB/CC eBrochure	15	15	53
Misc. Membership Info	237	136	1,526
Unique Calendar of Events Listing Views	325	201	1,276
InnLink Participants	169	153	N/A
InnLink Room Nights Booked	2,614	2,734	11,511
Maine Getaway Participants & Specials	276	256	N/A
Banner Ad Views	65,331	68,609	305,905
Banner Ad Links	469	505	2,011

MIY eTravelPlanner had 372 people that downloaded the full guide and 15,069 individual pages were printed.

BBCC eTravelPlanner had 11 people that downloaded the full guide. There were also 521 users via a mobile device to MIY eTravelPlanner, including 316 via an iPad.

Stats for individual Member Listings on www.mainetourism.com:
44,722 viewed Member listings pages with 28,464 clicks to member listings.

Top 10 Selections from Listings search:
Lodging, Recreation, Events, Dining, Shopping, Camping, Hotels, Sightseeing, Camps & Cottages, History

Top 10 Entry Pages to www.mainetourism.com: The Maine Beaches, Travel Planners, Information Centers, Fall Foliage, Spring/Summer, Maine's Lakes & Mountains, Winter in Maine, Regions, Greater Portland & Casco Bay, Transportation

Top 10 Exit Pages on www.mainetourism.com: The Maine Beaches, Travel Planners, Spring/Summer, Fall Foliage, Transportation, DownEast & Acadia, Information Centers, Mid-Coast, Maine's Lakes & Mountains, Greater Portland & Casco Bay

Average time on site: 1minute, 48 seconds; returning visitors are 28% of the traffic with 72% new traffic www.mainetourism.com Traffic Sources: 26% Direct; 23% Referring & 51% Search Engines

m.mainetourism.com mobile site 372 visitors, 1,290 page views;
average time on site: 3 minutes, 30 seconds

5,437 Twitter followers www.twitter.com/mainetourism
1,036 Facebook followers www.facebook.com/mainetourismassociation
112 visitors, 452 page views to memoir.mainetourism.com
64 visitors, 144 page views to www.greenmaine.net
MTA Google AdWords Ad: 934 clicks on the ad with 65,463 views

Calais	3,451	3,211	8,004	6,845	-1,159	-14%

Fryeburg	6,923	5,885	16,762	15,230	-1,532	-9%

Hampden (N)	26,435	17,771	59,118	43,398	-15,720	-27%

Hampden (S)	10,672	8,762	29,108	23,613	-5,495	-19%

Houlton	4,486	5,367	11,522	12,543	+1,021	+9%

Kittery	85,911	79,177	219,315	195,982	-23,333	-11%

West Gardiner	3,908	4,396	9,443	10,164	+721	+8%

Yarmouth	27,255	24,514	72,222	62,541	-9,681	-13%

Totals	169,041	149,083	425,494	370,316	-55,178	-13%

	Current Month		Year-to-Date		Y-D Comparison
	2010	2011	2010	2011	2011/2010