April 2006
MEMORANDUM TO: Marty Davis
DATE: May 5, 2006
FROM: Billie Jo
Waara
SUBJECT: Tourism’s
April Monthly
Status Report
You may download and print the entire
April Report in Adobe Acrobat (PDF).
Contents:
2010 Initiative
Public Relations
Trade Sales Group Tour/International
Outdoors
Film Office
AAA/CAA
Information Centers
Hospitality
Inquiries
Lewis and Clark Promotions
Native American Tourism
Photo/Video
Travel Market Advertising
Publications
World Wide Web
Logo Usage
Independence Day Flyer
Great Events 2006
Tourism Office Funding
2010 INITIATIVE
Please refer to
www.2010Initiative.com for updates.
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PUBLIC RELATIONS
For Comin’ to Your City program, worked with KNBN, KEVN, and KOTA for story
at Bear Country USA; visited with the Winner Chamber of Commerce Board members;
and toured the Minuteman II Missile National Historic Site’s above and below
ground launch facility and missile silo sites and was briefed on their plans for
construction of an interpretative visitor center by 2010.
Drafted copy for “Uniquely South Dakota” series of stories.
Drafted list for National Tourism Week/See South Dakota Week media blitz:
Watertown and Brookings, May 15; Sioux Falls, May 16; Yankton, May 17; and
Mitchell, May 18. Worked with CVBs in Rapid City and Spearfish to schedule those
media appointments.
Finalized details of May 1 press conference regarding the peak season in Rapid
City and Sioux Falls. Worked with the Washington Pavilion and The Journey Museum
to finalize location details and Internet access.
Mailed 8,400 copies of the Fall 2006 Great News to writers and editors, AAA/CAA
agents, and group tour operators on Tourism’s database. Posted the Fall 2006
Great News newsletter and spring 2006 Outdoor News stories to MediaSD.com.
Handled media and information requests from Parker Morgan from Nick Jr.
Magazine, New York Times, USA Today, KDLT-TV, Joan Chen of Life
magazine, Mitchell Daily Republic, KYNT Radio, “Taste of America” on the Travel
Channel, Sunset magazine, and “Discovering America” on The Outdoor
Channel.
Assisted American Coalition for Ethanol and the Ethanol Promotion and
Information Council ACE/EPIC with details for their press release regarding
“Twenty Bucks for the Road.”
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TRADE SALES GROUP TOUR/INTERNATIONAL
Continued to input data for the new Group Tour Planning Guide. Made follow up
calls to current partners who had not sent their information. Proofed first five
sections of guide.
Compiled list of seven Bed & Breakfast establishments and 26 hotels willing to
host small retreat groups.
Attended a Cabela’s fishing tournament meeting at the Pierre Chamber of Commerce
and offered assistance with press releases and contacting media.
Drafted fams for Bob Oliver of Northwest Iowa for August and September/October.
Attended the 2006 Group Tour Expo in Minnesota and contacted 80-90 tour
operators, mostly from Minnesota.
Attended Board of Directors Meeting for Black Hills, Badlands & Lakes
Association at Badlands National Park Visitor Center near Interior. Discussions
included marketing service and membership services.
Mailed Group Tour Co-op piece to 4,500 tour operators and travel agents on our
database. Mailed Group Consumer ad to 875 tour operators and travel agents in
the target market states, along with Tourism fyi, What’s New, and list of
travelers interested in motorcoach tours to South Dakota and peak season media
chart.
Compiled information to submit South Dakota events to American Bus Association
(ABA) for the ABA Top 100 Events in North America.
Met with National Tourism Association (NTA) board members in the Black Hills
during their annual spring meeting held in Rapid City this year.
Sent letters to 75 ABA/NTA South Dakota members regarding advertising rates and
information for Canadian Traveller - America Yours to Discover; and sent press
kit and provided information for a South Dakota spotlight that will be at least
one page
Sent requested information to Dream Away Tours, New York; Time Lines LLC,
Oklahoma; Robert Whitledge, Illinois; Quince Orchard Travel, Inc. Maryland; All
Travel LLC, Michigan; Globus, Colorado; Sons of Retirement, ANA Sales America, California; and Mae’s Travel Inc, Ontario, Canada.
Following the Rocky Mountain International (RMI) Roundup, Gianfranco Costeniero,
Italy, booked one tour in South Dakota for June and one for August. The 2007 RMI
Roundup will be held in South Dakota, January 24-27. Compiled a list of
chambers, CVBs, and others who have shown interest in hosting the Roundup and
sent it to RMI. Bid applications will be sent in May.
Assisted Stewart Gough with U.S. Commercial Service with United Kingdom
journalists requests for the Buffalo Roundup in October. Sent information and
photo site to Claire O’Reilly, United Kingdom journalist, for Mount Rushmore
article. Assisted Stefan Schoman, journalist who attended the 2005 Buffalo
Roundup, with contact information for the Badlands National Park and Mount
Rushmore National Memorial as the superintendents of both are brothers.
Results of 2005 Scandinavian Mission: Worked on itinerary and making
arrangements for Karin Gert Nielsen with Atlantic Link and Judith Betak with
Berlingske Tidende from Denmark for their press trip to South Dakota in May.
They will be visiting the De Smet area to gather information for an article on
Little Town on the Prairie. Little House on the Prairie is now shown on Danish
TV every Saturday night. Continued to work with RMI on media fam itinerary for
My Planet, Denmark. This will be a 4-state press trip in June and July. The
South Dakota portion is July 4-8 with visits to Black Hills, Badlands and
central South Dakota.
Developed a fam in the Black Hills and Badlands areas in May for two journalists
from the Notre Temps magazine, Paris, France (circ. one million). Drafted an
itinerary for Osamu Hoshino who is bringing a group of Japanese tour operators
to Rapid City and the Black Hills in late June. Sent requested information for a
one-day tour of Rapid City and the Black Hills in May to a tour group from
China, which included Mount Rushmore National Memorial and Crazy Horse Memorial,
with shopping and an overnight in Rapid City.
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OUTDOORS
Discussed outdoor marketing plan and reviewed proposal submitted by an
outfitters group.
Met with Great Lakes Association executive director and Department of Game, Fish
& Parks officials to discuss Great Lakes Birding Trail Guide.
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FILM OFFICE
Toured Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary and shot panoramics of the movie set
and landscapes at Fort Robinson.
Developed hit list of photo needs for locations’ pages of web site.
On FilmSD, added three press releases under the “What’s new?” section plus one
for the Wind River Film Festival and Dahl Film Festival.
Was contacted by a director/writer from California about the Association of Film
Commissions International (AFCI) Conference.
Assisted a production company from New York with contacts for a camera operator
and sound recordist; BBC, England, with requests for caterer and transportation
services; Diverse Productions, England, for filming permits in Badlands National
Park; film producer for photos and diner; producer for location photos of
Badlands, preferably private ranches; Canadian Heritage Department regarding
filming permits for national parks; individual from New Mexico about filming
motorcycle scenes near Mount Rushmore; a production company requesting the
location of a field with five foot high wheat the first week of June; and an
individual regarding a documentary on a reservation.
Contacted Jewel Cave regarding electronic film permit applications.
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AAA/CAA
Fulfilled requests for materials to 75 AAA/CAA offices in Canada, Colorado,
Florida, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan,
Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Jersey, New
York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Wisconsin,
and West Virginia.
Assembled and sent the April AAA e-newsletter via VerticalResponse.com to 100
recipients.
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INFORMATION
CENTERS
Held meeting for supervisors of Centers to review fam details, April 28-May
4, and upcoming visitor season.
Fam includes the southeast part of South Dakota and locations in the Black Hills
plus the Lit Swaps in Mitchell and Rapid City.
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HOSPITALITY
For 2006, 46 individuals/businesses received recognition for hospitality with
the Governor’s Certificate; seven received the foil star for a second
recognition; and one has received a gold lapel pin for a third recognition.
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INQUIRIES
Total FY2006 Inquiries through 05-01-06:
Mail: 21,241
Internet (e-mail): 74,972
Phone: 11,904
Total: 108,117
Total FY2005 Inquiries through 05-01-05:
Mail: 27,017
Internet (e-mail): 71,982
Phone: 13,578
Total: 112,577
For fiscal year 2006, there is an overall decrease in inquiries of 4.0
percent over FY2005.
Calculated Web stats for TravelSD.com for April: Not Available at this Time.
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LEWIS AND CLARK PROMOTIONS
Responded to questions from fourth grade teachers regarding the Lewis and
Clark Essay Contest. Mailed additional Lewis and Clark materials to teachers who
requested them.
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NATIVE AMERICAN TOURISM
Sent letters to tribal contacts asking for updated information for the
revamped American Indian Guide, which is a combination of two previous guides –
Guide to Indian Reservations and Art and Guide to the Great Sioux Nation.
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PHOTO/VIDEO
Fulfilled requests for photos/slides to TDG Communications, Cadillac Jack’s,
Deadwood; South Dakota magazine, Yankton; South Dakota Rural Electric
Association, Dakota Outdoors, South Dakota Rural Health Association, South
Dakota Rural Water Association, South Dakota Department of Social Services,
Pierre; South Dakota Hall of Fame, Chamberlain; Mitchell Manufacturing; Lawrence
and Schiller, American Lung Association, Sioux Falls Woman magazine,
Outdoor Campus, Sioux Falls; Custer State Park Resort Company; Sisseton Chamber
of Commerce; Palisades State Park, Garretson; Aberdeen Chamber of Commerce;
Winner Theatre; AAA National Office, Florida; Kathy Wheelock Productions, Cherbo
Publishing, California; EnCompass magazine, Colorado; Family Fun
magazine, Massachusetts; and Mark IV Productions, Iowa.
Fulfilled requests for video footage: Missouri River footage to Family Focus
Productions in Sioux Falls for a video they are doing for the PUC; footage to
Lawrence and Schiller to use in travel special promotions; and stock footage to
Tracy Valleau Productions in Monterey, California, for an interactive DVD they
are producing for Marbett Productions.
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TRAVEL MARKET ADVERTISING
The following advertisements were placed: Magazine ads in Des Moines
Parent, Minnesota Parent, Omaha Herald, Omaha Magazine,
Siouxland Lifestyle, and Travel & Leisure; newspaper ads in
Chicago, Milwaukee, Kansas City, Minneapolis, St. Paul, Des Moines, Omaha,
Fargo, Sioux City, and Sioux Falls; additional ads in newspaper inserts in
Omaha World Herald Spring Vacation Guide, Fargo Forum Outdoor Recreation
Guide, and Argus Leader Link; banner ads on KOA.com; e-mail blasts
for Chicago Co-op; ethanol promo mailer; events mailer; Deadwood TV donut;
Glacial Lakes jump page; Chicago Tribune Admail; Glacial Lakes co-op;
S.A.W. materials; and radio in the close-in markets.
Assembled and sent Travelsmart to a general audience and one to the family
niche. The general issue was received by 136,388 list members and the family
niche issue was received by 4,172 list members for a total of 140,560. Added a
Trip Planner link to the new Travelsmart header. June Travelsmart niche will be
outdoors.
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PUBLICATIONS
Worked on photo hit list for motorcycle map/brochure and finalized copy. Plan
to have brochures delivered in early June.
Drafted timeline for Hunting and Fishing guide update, which will be a 4-color
piece. Requested updated information from Game, Fish & Parks on maps and type of
fish in each lake. Expect delivery of guides in mid July.
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WORLD WIDE WEB
On TravelSD.com: updated Visitor Services Directory to show 4,960 entries;
and 136 vacation packages/travel specials and 11 coupons are listed for 31
cities in 26 categories. There are 602 listings for the 2006 statewide calendar
of events.
Continued to work on readying the Flash-based Interactive Trip Planner, which
was launched on April 21.
Monitored the receipt of registrations and forwarded the registrations for the
Black Hills Vacation Giveaway. As of April 27, 1,600 registrations had been
submitted.
Worked with Lawrence & Schiller on the Glacial Lakes and Prairies jump page,
TravelSD.com/Rediscover page. Created web pages for the rules for the Glacial
Lakes Vacation Giveaway, the request form, and the details of the vacation.
Confirmed that tracking code was in place.
Worked on registering place names (i.e. southdakota.travel) and will complete
the renewal process for Tourism’s domain names in May.
On MediaSD, added JPGs and PDFs of the two Tourism posters to a page on the site
to correspond with the press release sent about the posters. Posted 14 visitor
industry press releases.
On SDVisit, posted a PDF of the 2005 Intercept Study and three new pages
covering the national outlook for tourism and links to PDFs of approximately
12-14 charts from TIA under the Reference Tools/Research section. Set up pages
about the 2006 peak season campaign under the Marketing Campaigns section,
including a PDF of the peak season “Tourism fyi” newsletter. Will continue
adding collateral examples (i.e. e-mails, print ads, banner ads, etc.) and the
calendar of activities/events. Updated pages under the About the Office of
Tourism section.
Worked with Urchin Tracking System to monitor the e-promotions and hits to the
web sites owned by Tourism.
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LOGO USAGE
Sent logo to representative at VisitFlorida who is coordinating a study, by
SMU in Dallas, on the effectiveness of logos and their relative values. Sent
logo to Trevor Dierks, Corn Palace Stampede Rodeo committee.
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Independence Day Flyer
Participated in a conference call with the Rushmore Fireworks committee to
discuss plans for this year’s event. Contacted Relay House to reserve a
satellite truck for the event. Worked with Rushmore Historical Society to
provide equipment for the big screens that will be set up during the fireworks.
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GREAT EVENTS 2006
Fish Days, June 2-4, Lake Andes: Poster and rack cards highlight the
lake and fishing so the same design can be used year after year, per request of
local committee. Will send ads for placement in May to Sioux City Journal,
Norfolk Newspaper, and O’Neil Newspaper. Worked on event promotion buttons for
Information Center staff. Sent oversized postcards to Lake Andes’ all-school
reunion database.
Oz Festival/Dakota Heritage, June 9-10, Aberdeen: Created event
buttons for Information Center staff. Sent oversized postcards to committee’s
database. Worked on poster and newspaper ads.
Black Hills Overdrive, Black Hills, June 9-18: Continued working with
committee as needed.
Corn Palace Stampede Rodeo, July 13-16, Mitchell: Worked on poster
design. Sent GreatFaces. Great Places. logo to local committee. Worked on poster
and newspaper ads.
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TOURISM OFFICE FUNDING
Deadwood gaming revenue deposited for March was up 2.0 percent at $185,589,
as compared to $181,900 for March 2005. The tourism tax deposited for March was
up 27.2 percent at $206,240, as compared to $162,167 for March 2005. The
deposits in FY06 for gaming and the tourism tax are $6,779,629, as compared to
$6,277,052 for FY05. This is an overall increase in revenue of 8.0 percent when
comparing the same time period in FY05.
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