Merry Christmas!
To all of our members, their families and associates, we wish you a Merry Christmas and our best wishes for a healthy and prosperous 2012!
– Vaughn Stinson, CTC
Chief Executive Officer
Merry Christmas!
To all of our members, their families and associates, we wish you a Merry Christmas and our best wishes for a healthy and prosperous 2012!
– Vaughn Stinson, CTC
Chief Executive Officer
Apps, Coupons, and More!
It is truly a great time to be a member of the MTA. The benefits we offer to our members continue to expand and I'm excited to be able to share them with you.
As you may have noticed in a recent email sent out to our membership, the Maine Tourism Association recently launched an App for Android and iOS devices called My Maine. For those of you who haven't seen the App yet, My Maine uses your device's GPS to find places to stay, eat, and do close to you. All Maine Tourism Association Members are listed on this App for FREE as one of our many member benefits.
In addition to this, our Members Only part of our Web site, accessible by visiting members.mainetourism.com, is constantly adding new features. All members can get statistics on their listing on www.mainetourism.com, and also get widgets they can put onto their Web site to support other MTA members. In addition, you can also download a QR Code which you can use in any print materials you have. And now – members can even create coupons!
Members have the option of creating an unlimited number of coupons. The coupons are completely customizable also – YOU decide what you want the coupon to say & when it is able to be used. Looking to entice more visitors to stay at your hotel in Maine's offseason? How about giving out free items when someone purchases $50 worth of merchandise or food at your store or restaurant? The possibilities are endless. And to help celebrate this new member benefit, we are going to feature some of these specials in a BIG way – check out the rest of this newsletter for more details.
In other news, we have also streamlined the searching on our Web site in hopes of helping users find member listings easier. I'm happy to report that thus far, our monthly statistics have seen a slight increase in numbers – meaning more people are getting to YOUR information and Web sites.
If you're interested in more information on any of our tech-related happenings at the MTA, or simply want to talk technology, please give me a call or send me an email.
– Shawn Brann, IT Specialist
207-623-0363, ext. 106
shawnbrann@mainetourism.com
Get More Exposure for your Business!
As noted in our Technology article this month, our newest member benefit allows members to promote specials and coupons on your listings page on our Web site!
In addition to launching this we will be sending out an email to the 90,000 + consumers that in the past have expressed interest in receiving information about Maine and we want everyone's offer to be available. Within this email we would like to highlight 12 special offers from our members. We would like to offer you the chance to have your specials featured. Specials will need to be valid through at least the end of January. In order to be considered you will need to be one of the first 12 to respond to ron@mainetourism.com with the details of your offer and be willing to pay $100 via credit card to help cover associated costs. Your special could potentially be seen by over 100,000 people.
Don't miss out on this amazing opportunity to get more exposure for your business!
Exclusive Offer for Maine Tourism Association Members!
We are pleased to announce that the Maine Tourism Association has partnered with PowerPay, based in Portland, Maine, to give our members access to a broad range of payment solutions and merchant services at exclusive savings! PowerPay is Maine's premier provider of integrated eCommerce, mobile, and point-of-sale (POS) processing solutions, giving you greater access to the world of commerce.
With PowerPay, the Maine Tourism Association will enjoy:
Not processing credit cards yet?
PowerPay will work with you to find the right payment solution for your business.
Get Started Today!
Contact your local PowerPay representative for a no-obligation complimentary cost savings analysis at (877)775-6900.
New Member Benefit!
Springtime Marketing Opportunities
Even with the Christmas and New Year's holidays just around the corner, it is not too early to plan your marketing for the 2012 vacation season. The Maine Tourism Association will once again be producing two very popular publications that have proven to be hits with marketers and travelers alike.
The 2012 Maine Guide to Inns and Bed & Breakfasts and Camps & Cottages has already had many early renewals. Produced in vibrant four-color and printed on quality paper stock, this guide also has an on-line eBrochure to stretch your marketing dollars even further. Along with moose, lobsters and lighthouses, nothing is so typically Maine as its array of unique lodging. And the Maine Guide to Inns and Bed & Breakfasts and Camps & Cottages is the best resource to discover the lodging gems in our great state.
Maine is a really big place, as we all know, and for folks coming from away, the sheer size of the state can overwhelm a traveler. With seemingly a million things to do while touring the highways, the best way to get a real sense of what the state has to offer is by picking up a copy of the Maine Attractions & Service Map, available for free at over 500 locations statewide from May through October. If your business wants to attract travelers in search of interesting places to stay and things to do, there is no better place to advertise your business than in the Maine Attractions & Service Map. With a Basic Unit Ad, travelers can read about what you have to offer and find out exactly where you are. At a cost of only $200, your ad will be in front of 100,000 and more readers of this invaluable traveler resource.
For more information on either marketing opportunity, please contact Michael Conley today at 623-0363, ext 107 or email him at mconley@mainetourism.com today.
Tourism Award Winners
We are very pleased to tell you we hit a grand slam on MTA leadership as it relates to the 2012 Tourism Awards recipients.
Four serve on Maine Tourism Association's Board of Directors*:
Our Association continues to move forward and excel at what we do because we are able to attract professionals like these to serve on our Board of Directors.
Congratulations to all on your well deserved industry recognition!
City of Portland Awards CVB
The City of Portland and the Portland Development Corporation presented the Convention & Visitors Bureau with the 2011 Economic Development Achievement Award, on November 30, 2011 at Ocean Gateway, for its annual Harvest on the Harbor event.
Barbara Whitten, President of the CVB: "It is truly an honor to be recognized by the city for our role in economic development and, more importantly, to recognize the hospitality industry for the significant role it plays as an economic engine in our community. As a destination marketing organization, the role of the Convention & Visitors Bureau is to enhance the economic climate of the Greater Portland Region through tourism development.
On an annual basis nearly 5,000 people participate in Harvest on the Harbor from 38 states and 5 countries, generating an economic impact of approximately $2 million.
Nearly $300,000 are spent to promote culinary travel and Harvest on the Harbor. We have been extremely fortunate to have major sponsors like Down East Magazine, the Portland Press Herald, Time Warner Cable, WHOM Radio, and the Maine Office of Tourism along with countless others who generously provide the marketing resources necessary to attract visitors, especially in our shoulder season."Thank you to all involved! Mark your calendars for next year's Harvest on the Harbor, October 25-27, 2012.
Photo from left: Portland City Manager Mark Rees, Convention & Visitors Bureau President Barbara Whitten, and Portland Mayor Nick Mavodones.
IF&W Update Nov/Dec 2011
The MDIF&W has expanded the list of Sportsman's Shows it will be attending in 2012. Organized by I&E's Emily MacCabe, DIF&W will have informational booths, new materials and personnel at the following shows:
The Fly Fishing Show –
Garden State Convention Center, Somerset, NJ
January 27-29, 2012
Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show –
Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex, Harrisburg, PA
February 4-12, 2012
Boston Globe Travel Show –
Seaport World Trade Center, Boston, MA
February 10-12, 2012
Salon Expert Chasse Peche et Camping (Hunting, Fishing & Camping Show) –
Place Bonaventure – Montreal
February 23-26, 2012
World Fishing & Outdoor Expo –
SUNY Rockland Community College, Suffern, NY
March 1-4, 2012
DIF&W will also be at the four In-State Maine Sportsman Shows:
Eastern Maine Sportsman Show
Orono – March 9-11, 2012
Pine Tree State Sportsman Show
Winslow – March 16-18, 2012
Northern Maine Sportsman Show
Presque Isle – March 23-25, 2012
State of Maine Sportsman Show
Augusta – March 30-April 1, 2012
John 'Jack' Gibbons (1929-2011)
It is with a great deal of sadness that we announce the passing of one of the enduring and endearing figures in Maine's tourism industry. Jack Gibbons, owner of the renowned Fisherman's Wharf Inn, passed away on December 7th from complications of a stroke at the age of 82.
Jack, an avid golfer and successful businessman in a number of endeavors, purchased the Inn during the late 70s and was a fixture in the industry, and the local golf courses, for the next third of a century.
Jack was predeceased by his wife Pat, and survived by his four children, five grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews. A funeral mass was held in his memory on Monday, December 11.
Wreaths Across America and Maine's First Lady Team up to Honor the Fallen
On December 7th, First Lady Ann LePage arrived at the Vietnam War Memorial in Holmdel, New Jersey. The stop is one as she makes her way to Arlington National Cemetery to deliver 90-thousand wreaths which honor fallen soldiers. The First Lady is among the many Mainers heading to Arlington, Virginia with the Wreaths Across America convoy that left Maine December 5th.
"There are so many wonderful people that we have met along the way and they are so grateful," said Ann LePage. "People we pass by on the side of the road have their hands over their hearts or are waving a flag. It's heartwarming and I have never been more proud or honored to do anything in my life," she said.
The First Lady has been riding with the Patriot Guard Riders who have been escorting the tractor-trailers filled with Maine-made balsam wreaths. This is the 20th consecutive year that Morrill Worcester, owner of Harrington, Maine-based Worcester Wreath Company, has traveled to Arlington to lay wreaths on gravestones and it is the first time someone from Maine's first family has joined Morrill and Karen Worcester for the trip to honor deceased veterans at Arlington.
The Governor and First Lady attended the opening of the Wreaths Across America Museum last September in Columbia Falls. At that time, the First Lady asked if she could volunteer and make the trip with the Worcester's.
The Governor helped decorate gravesites and participated in other ceremonies including the wreath laying on the "Mast of Maine."
Public Affairs Update
Carolyn Manson, Manager of Public Affairs
Legislature Convenes in January. The Second Regular Session of the 125th Maine Legislature will meet on Wednesday, January 4, 2012 and statutory adjournment is scheduled for April 18, 2012 with the possibility of two, five day extensions. The Legislative Council approved 132 bills for submission this session and there are another 134 bills carried over from the First Regular Session. In addition, the Governor will submit his legislative package along with supplemental budgets to ensure that the 2012 – 2013 Biennial Budget remains balanced. The first supplemental budget will address the recently announced $120 million shortfall in the Department of Health and Human Services while the second supplemental budget will address adjustments to other departments. Governor LePage has also announced plans for restructuring departments with the goal of providing better services for citizens and businesses.
Taxation Committee Discusses Reform. The Joint Standing Committee on Taxation has held four interim meetings to discuss possible future tax reform initiatives. The committee has developed a mission and goals for tax reform and heard from a variety of panelists on the topic. These discussions will continue during the upcoming legislative session with some on the committee wanting to create another "blue ribbon" commission to make recommendations for the next legislative session in 2013. On several occasions it was suggested that an increase in the meals and lodging taxes could be used to pay for a decrease in other taxes. Sound familiar? This is the same type of plan that led to the People's Veto and successful YES on 1 campaign last year. The Maine Tourism Association supports tax reform but without the resources to pay for lowering the income and property tax burden it becomes a tax shift and the tourism industry and our customers will be asked to pay higher taxes. We continue to oppose an increase in the meals and lodging taxes and will be closely monitoring these discussions.
Earlier 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. Governor LePage has stated that he would like to repeal the income tax on pensions and may submit implementing legislation or the upcoming session in January.
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
October 1 - November 30
Visitor Information Center
TRAFFIC FIGURES FOR OCTOBER
| Current Month | Year-to-Date | Y-D Comparison | ||||
| 2010 | 2011 | 2010 | 2011 | 2011/2010 | ||
| Calais | 1,667 | 1,358 | 16,689 | 14,311 | -2,378 | -14% |
| Fryeburg | 6,408 | 5,740 | 37,207 | 31,647 | -5,560 | -15% |
| Hampden (N) | 9,265 | 7,709 | 102,777 | 79,114 | -23,663 | -23% |
| Hampden (S) | 7,142 | 5,840 | 56,529 | 45,957 | -10,572 | -19% |
| Houlton | 2,116 | 2,302 | 21,284 | 23,692 | +2,408 | +11% |
| Kittery | 41,231 | 36,853 | 401,871 | 359,497 | -42,374 | -11% |
| West Gardiner | 2,582 | 2,558 | 20,607 | 21,360 | +753 | +4% |
| Yarmouth | 16,050 | 13,229 | 141,329 | 116,326 | -25,003 | -18% |
| Totals | 86,461 | 75,589 | 798,293 | 691,904 | -106,389 | -13% |
Visitor Information Center
TRAFFIC FIGURES FOR NOVEMBER
| Current Month | Year-to-Date | Y-D Comparison | ||||
| 2010 | 2011 | 2010 | 2011 | 2011/2010 | ||
| Calais | 392 | 453 | 17,081 | 14,764 | -2,317 | -14% |
| Fryeburg | 1,320 | 1,454 | 38,527 | 33,101 | -5,426 | -14% |
| Hampden (N) | 3,052 | 2,875 | 105,829 | 81,989 | -23,840 | -23% |
| Hampden (S) | 2,697 | 2,426 | 59,226 | 48,383 | -10,843 | -18% |
| Houlton | 895 | 1,013 | 22,179 | 24,705 | +2,526 | +11% |
| Kittery | 13,360 | 13,503 | 415,231 | 373,000 | -42,231 | -10% |
| West Gardiner | 744 | 790 | 21,351 | 22,150 | +799 | +4% |
| Yarmouth | 5,341 | 4,302 | 146,670 | 120,628 | -26,042 | -18% |
| Totals | 27,801 | 26,816 | 826,094 | 718,720 | -107,374 | -13% |
Maine Tourism Association
Stats Report - October & November 2011
| On-Line Stats | October 2011 | November 2011 | YTD 2011 |
| www.mainetourism.com Page Views | 12,485 | 9,147 | 238,534 |
| www.mainetourism.com Unique Visitors | 4,708 | 3,381 | 75,309 |
| listings.mainetourism.com Page Views | 10,991 | 8,642 | 204,538 |
| listings.mainetourism.com Unique Visitors | 4,301 | 2,852 | 65,922 |
| Total Users/MIY eTravelPlanner | 1,305 | 916 | 25,551 |
| Page Views/MIY eTravelPlanner | 82,622 | 64,409 | 2,021,086 |
| Link Hits/MIY eTravelPlanner | 205 | 114 | 5,798 |
| Total Users-BB/CC eBrochure | 102 | 137 | 1,111 |
| Page Views-BB/CC eBrochure | 1,941 | 2,951 | 22,747 |
| Link Hits-BB/CC eBrochure | 2 | 9 | 83 |
| Misc. Membership Info | 109 | 72 | 1,940 |
| Unique Calendar of Events Listing Views | 88 | 99 | 1,839 |
| InnLink Participants | 158 | 158 | N/A |
| InnLink Room Nights Booked | 744 | 494 | 16,581 |
| Banner Ad Views | 24,169 | 14,876 | 425,266 |
| Banner Ad Links | 134 | 80 | 2,721 |
MIY eTravelPlanner had 137 people download the full guide as well as 5,037 individual pages printed. There were also 294 users via a mobile device to MIY eTravelPlanner, including 173 via an iPad.
Stats for individual Member Listings on www.mainetourism.com:
64,205 viewed Member listings pages with 31,115 clicks to member Web Sites.
Top 10 Selections from Listings search:
Recreation, Lodging, Events, Dining, Shopping, History, Camping, Sightseeing, Chambers of Commerce, Hotels
Top 10 Entry Pages to www.mainetourism.com: Fall Foliage, Winter in Maine, Video Postcard, Maine Weather, Travel Planners, Regions, Information Centers, The Maine Beaches, Contact Us, Maine Seasons
Top 10 Exit Pages on www.mainetourism.com: Foliage, Winter in Maine, Travel Planners, Contact Us, Video Postcard, The Maine Beaches, Transportation, Spring & Summer, Maine Weather, Information Centers
Average time on site: 1minute, 43 seconds; returning visitors are 38% of the traffic with 62% new traffic
www.mainetourism.com Traffic Sources: 31% Direct; 19% Referring & 50% Search Engines
m.mainetourism.com mobile site 374 visitors, 905 page views;
average time on site: 1 minutes, 47 seconds
5,967 Twitter followers www.twitter.com/mainetourism
1,115 Facebook followers www.facebook.com/mainetourismassociation
115 visitors, 314 page views to memoir.mainetourism.com
58 visitors, 142 page views to www.greenmaine.net
MTA Google AdWords Ad: 846 clicks on the ad with 109,685 views
Tourism Tidbits
Outdoor Safety
Many people consider the winter months to be a time of tourism hibernation. Yet nothing could be further from the truth. Ski vacations and other winter sports turn the tourism industry from a limited product into a twelve-month a year product. The growth of the winter tourism industry in both hemispheres does not mean that this form of tourism is not without its perils. Winter tourism can be divided into several sub-categories of tourism. Included in these are winter outdoor activities, sun and surf activities for those who live in colder climates, and urban cultural activities. What makes the winter tourism season even more challenging is that it attracts a large number of people who are not accustomed to cold weather precautions and therefore often do not give the weather the respect that it demands. The same phenomenon occurs in sun 'n sand destinations where people from colder climates tend to forget just how dangerous both the sun and the sea can be to those who are not cautious. To provide you guests with a safe and secure outdoor winter tourism season T&M suggests that you consider some of the following:
-Know your public. Do you attract a mixed public or one that is in need of cuddling or likes to take risk? Are your guests from one particular country and tend to speak a single language or do you attract guests from a wide variety of nations who speak different languages, have different dinning hours and do not share the same customs?
-Know the law. If we like it or not, we live in litigious societies. Make sure to consult with a good lawyer as to where your legal vulnerabilities may lay. It is a lot cheaper to take preventative action then to be tied up in court and end up being on the wrong end of a law suite. Remember while anyone can sue you for almost anything, taking legal precautions is the best way to protect your industry and yourself.
-Match your product to the appropriate target market. Make sure you market to those regions that can get to you easily. Winter travel can often be challenging, especially if road conditions are not always the best or visitors cannot use direct flights to get to your area. Take into account which are the transportation hubs that lead to your destination and what can go wrong at these hubs.
-Update your community's list of local services. Make sure that you have accurate lists regarding everything from medical services to insurance claims. Out-of-door activities often attract people who have a higher tolerance of risk and no matter how cautious you are, some of these risks will materialize. Good risk management is another form of good marketing.
-Make sure that you know what your hotels' policies are in case of major weather problems. In the snow-belt areas of the world this can mean anything from an unexpected blizzard to an avalanche, in the sea and sand destinations this can mean a medical emergency or a hurricane. In all cases weather can mean that visitors are forced to stay beyond their intended stay producing reservation problems along with transportation issues.
-Add a section to your web page. Add a safety and security section to your web page. Remind people that while no one can guarantee ultimate safety and security that we can all lessen the risk of becoming a victim if we follow simple procedures. Be aware of the fact that many tourists and visitors leave their minds at home when on vacation, so repetition of common sense precautions adds an extra level of caution.
-List what vaccinations are needed for your area and remind people that strenuous physical activity and heavy use of alcohol are not the best policy. While no one wants to scare tourists, telling most people what they need to do prior to a vacation provides most visitors with a sense that you care. While the après ski activities may make the vacation, winter sports mixed with alcohol may well result in tragedy.
-Remind people that vacations are most fun when activities are done with other people. Be it swimming or ice-skating the buddy system works best. Make sure that dangerous areas are clearly marked and in areas where many tourists flock for winter sports, borrow a page from the world of summer travel and develop winter lifeguards.
-Develop good personal communication plans. For example, many people do not carry a cell phone while skiing, but in case of accidents how would that person communicate or seek help? Work with your local police, ambulance units and first aid specialists along with computer and communication technologies to develop communication methods that do not interfere with the winter sports experience.
-Remember that the Earth has two hemispheres. Thus when the northern hemisphere is boiling in the sun, it is winter south of the Equator. Do not limit your marketing to only one region of the world. In a global economy, think globally and be prepared to provide hospitality to people from all corners of the globe.
-During the summer months, sell your destination as a winter location. The summer is the best time to sell winter vacations. During the heat of the summer visitors are seeking cooler solutions and want to dream about cooler experiences. These people already know your area so stress that a return winter vacation is a whole new experience in a place where they will not get lost.
Excerpted from Tidbits & More, Inc. November 2011. To read more: www.tourismandmore.com
