Monthly Reports: August 2006 -


	Monthly Reports August 2006 MEMORANDUM TO: Richard Benda DATE: September 8, 2006 FROM: Billie Jo Waara SUBJECT: Tourism’s August Monthly Status Report You may download and print the entire August Report in Adobe Acrobat (PDF). Contents: 2010 Initiative Governor's Conference on Tourism Rural Tourism Public Relations Trade Sales Group Tour/International Outdoors Film Office Information Centers Hospitality Inquiries Native American Tourism Photo/Video Travel Market Advertising Publications World Wide Web Research Logo Usage State Fair Independence Day Celebration Governor's Buffalo Roundup Governor's Invitational Pheasant Hunt Great Events 2006 and 2007 Tourism Office Funding 2010 INITIATIVE Please refer to www.2010Initiative.com for updates. [ back to top ] 2007 GOVERNOR'S CONFERENCE ON TOURISM Met via conference call with Conference Industry Steering Committee: Julie Ranum, George Kessler, and Johnny Brockelsby, Tourism Advisory Board; Karen Witt, Watertown CVB; Teri Ellis Schmidt, Sioux Falls CVB; Carol Johnson, AAA Travel Publishing; and Rosie Smith, Glacial Lakes & Prairies to review progress and get further input on speakers and agenda. Will mail sponsorship and booth request mailer after Labor Day, and downloadable information/form will be available on SDVisit.com. [ back to top ] RURAL TOURISM Developed timeline for update of Tourism Assistance Directory. [ back to top ] PUBLIC RELATIONS Began distributing a feature series called "Uniquely South Dakota." Stories will be posted weekly on www.MediaSD.com and www.MediaSD.com/press/UniquelySeries.htm. Composed letter and form and sent to Tourism’s visitor industry database to gather visitor industry partners interested in hosting journalists, tour operators, travel agents, etc This database will streamline the process when building itineraries for hostings. Compiled list of services offered by the Office of Tourism and distributed to media. Fulfilled media/information requests: Midwest Living magazine; Rachel Ray Show; Ethanol Production magazine; South Dakota Public Radio; Statline.org, Washington D.C.; Iowa outdoor travel writer; Retirement Living Network; Hart Ranch; and Mobridge Tribune. Received evaluation forms from CVBs regarding the SEE AMERICA/SOUTH DAKOTA WEEK theme for National Tourism Week (NTW) and worked on report. Researched what other states do/did for NTW. [ back to top ] TRADE SALES GROUP TOUR/INTERNATIONAL Posted the 2006 Midwest Group Tour Expo leads and the 2006 African American Travel Conference leads under the “Reference Tools / Group Tour Leads” section on SDVisit.com. Assembled, routed, and sent the August Travel Trade (formerly AAA) e-newsletter to 89 recipients. Fulfilled requests for materials to AAA/CAA offices in Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Wisconsin. Compiled hostings reports for FY06 and gathered information for the FY06 performance indicator reports. Contacted individuals to obtain information about Bigfoot Memorial Ride held in late December for journalist Beatrice Leproux-Gillet. Conducted pre-convention caucus for NTA/ABA members to help prepare them for upcoming convention and marketplace. Held a first-timers session in the morning and a pre-caucus and annual meeting in the afternoon with discussion on co-op programs and what’s new information from various communities. Provided information to Destinations magazine for a new program being launched with the Sept/Oct issue. Readers will receive an e-Response message one week prior to mailing date of issue to allow readers to request information directly from advertisers. Worked with Bureau of Information and Telecommunications to add Japanese language capability to computers. Created ad for Brochure File Folder. Sent requested information to: Maupintour, LLC, Nevada; Adventure Bus Charters, Alabama; Desert Sojurn Tours, Arizona; Main Street Baptist Church, Mississippi; Prime Fifty Club, United Travel Associates, Missouri; White Rock Bank, Angela Grambart, Minnesota; World Travel, Illinois; Nebraska Division of Travel; Here to There Tours, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan; and Hell’s Gate Airtram, Inc., Hope, British Columbia. Assisted Alidays, Italy, with information and arrangements for clients to experience Native American culture and tipi stay at Brewer Buffalo Ranch Tipi Camp. Followed up with Brewer Buffalo Tipi Camp and Alidays following clients stay. Participated in Rocky Mountain International (RMI) Roundup conference call with Hot Springs and Deadwood to discuss January 2007 RMI Roundup in South Dakota Worked on preliminary itinerary for Dr. Peter Kranzle and Dr. Margit Brinke’s post-Buffalo Roundup Fam. Worked on itinerary for pre-Roundup press tour. Was contacted by Stefan Schomann, German journalist, regarding his possible TV shoot at the Buffalo Roundup or Badlands Buffalo Roundup in October. Updated the American Journal ad “Seeing is believing” with German translation and sent back to publication. Reviewed Visit USA Planner copy and sent to RMI. [ back to top ] OUTDOORS Hired Buddy Seiner as the new Outdoors/Media Relations staffer. He has been traveling around the state to introduce himself and become more familiar with visitor industry members and activities. Buddy has been contacting outdoors writers with whom Tourism works. He is a 2006 graduate of the University of South Dakota with a Bachelor's degree in Marketing. His hometown is New Underwood. Drafted Outdoor News stories for spring/summer ’07 issue. Finalized details for AV presentation, banquet, and fams for Association of Great Lakes Outdoors Writers (AGLOW) conference in Sioux Falls in September. [ back to top ] FILM OFFICE Coordinated ad for the December 2006 issue of 2007 LA411 edition. Attended Northern Plains Film Commission meeting in Hermosa. Met with Biker Build-off crew on route to Sturgis Rally. Attended “Artist Ride” event to meet film industry contacts. Disseminated press release for casting call and handled numerous phone calls and questions regarding filming of “Rez Bomb.” Worked with members of the South Dakota film industry to try to lure upcoming productions to the state. Handled numerous e-mail and phone inquiries on FilmSD.com. about crew/service listings, casting calls, location photos, film incentives etc. Communicated with Department of Revenue and Regulation about details on film incentive rebates. Handled filming information requests from: Moon Song Films, History Channel, Bluewood Films, Film Permits Unlimited, Biker Build-off, Producer Bob Duscay, Oo La La Productions, BFT International, Chicago Production Company, Roaring Fire Films, Tool of North America, Rhythm and Hues Production Co., Crash Casting, P40 Flying Tiger Productions, Old West Re-enactors, Milago Films, CP Productions, Rachel Ray Show, and Run Don’t Walk Films. [ back to top ] INFORMATION CENTERS Calculated car count for July, which showed a decrease of 4.9% over July 2005; for Canadian visitors, car count was up 7.8%; and car count for international visitors was down 1.7 %. Received 326 comment cards in July. Information Center closing dates include: September 4, New Effington; September 11 (week of), Wasta; September 17, Wilmot, Valley Springs, Vermillion, Salem, Vivian, Tilford, and Spearfish; and October 31, Chamberlain. [ back to top ] HOSPITALITY Reviewed hospitality nominations and sent notifications to recipients. For 2006, 339 individuals/businesses have received recognition for hospitality with the Governor’s Certificate; 33 have received the foil star for a second recognition; and nine have received a gold lapel pin for a third recognition. Plan to mail Great Service Star Program cover letter and updated the application forms in September. This application process is for consideration in awarding the STAR for visitor industry businesses to use in advertising as well as for consideration of the annual George S. Mickelson Great Service Award. [ back to top ] INQUIRIES Total FY2007 Inquiries through 09-01-06: Mail: 3,023 Internet (e-mail): 17,017 Phone: 2,332 Total: 22,372 Total FY2006 Inquiries through 09-01-05: Mail: 2,858 Internet (e-mail): 15,196 Phone: 3,044 Total: 21,098 For fiscal year 2007, there is an overall increase in inquiries of 6 percent over FY2006. The Office of Tourism is reviewing its internet traffic reports. Information will be provided next month. [ back to top ] NATIVE AMERICAN TOURISM Sent Guide to Great Sioux Nation to the printer – this publication is a combined of two previous booklets produced by Tourism: Guide to Indian Reservations and Art and Guide to the Great Sioux Nation. Expect delivery in mid-September. [ back to top ] PHOTO/VIDEO Fulfilled requests for photos/slides to Sioux Falls Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, Lawrence and Schiller, Sioux Falls; Department of Transportation, Department of Game, Fish and Parks, South Dakota Lottery, Pierre; Rapid City Journal, Rapid City Regional Hospital; South Dakota magazine, Yankton; Hill City Prevailer; TDG Communications, Deadwood; Daughters of the American Revolution, Hot Springs; Aberdeen Convention and Visitor’s Bureau; Dakota Presbyterian Church; South Dakota State University, Brookings; Shooting Industry magazine, Virginia; Rocky Mountain International, Wyoming; FilmUSA.org, California; U.S. Forest Service, North Dakota; CharmKraft, Pennsylvania; Chosen Few Veterans Group, Arizona; TIA, Japan; and Conde Nast Traveler, Italy. Fulfilled requests for video footage: Tom Hanson Productions, Portland, Oregon, for a Sturgis Rally video they are producing. Stock footage to the Huron Chamber to be included in the Miss America Pageant programs. [ back to top ] TRAVEL MARKET ADVERTISING Revamped the Giant Step co-op campaign and added a few outdoor publications to the mix for the shoulder season campaign with a three-page advertisement that will run in eight magazines, 16 times over a five month period in September issues of the following magazines and markets: - Arthur Frommer’s Budget Travel (circ. 125,599) in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. - Better Homes & Gardens (circ: 732,000), Child (Circ: 87,572), Ladies Home Journal (circ: 409,000), and Parents (circ: 225,842) all in North Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, Colorado, South Dakota, and Chicago - Midwest Living (circ: 925,000) full circulation - Travel + Leisure Family (circ: 450,000) - September launch of TL Family as stand-alone publication and Travel 50 & Beyond (circ: 100,000) both with national distribution - Pheasants Forever Journal (circ: 94,000), Ducks Unlimited (circ: 532,000), and Outdoor Life (circ: 925,000) all have national distribution. Great Getaways shoulder season campaign is a newspaper insert co-op, with the first insertion on August 27 and the last on September 10. The nine newspapers are in Minnesota, Winnipeg, North Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, and South Dakota. Combined circulation is 875,000. Newspaper ads were placed in northwest Iowa – Sheldon, Ames, Ft. Dodge, Mason City, LeMars, Spencer, Sioux City, and Council Bluffs; Minnesota – Rochester, Albert Lea, Marshall, Willmar, Worthington, Minneapolis, and St Paul; Nebraska – Omaha; Wyoming – Casper, Cheyenne, Gillette, and Laramie; Colorado – Denver; and Sioux Falls. Banner ads were placed in Casper, Cheyenne, and Denver. Set up web page along with the tracking links for the Deadwood co-op. Created a web page to review the co-op banner ads and set up tracking codes for the ads. Updated the homepage photos to correspond with the fall Giant Step photos and updated partner photos for seven of the Giant Step partners (Custer State Park, Mobridge, Prairie Berry, Rapid City, Silverado/Franklin, Sioux Falls, and Spearfish). Assembled and routed the August issues of Travelsmart. The generic issue was received by 150,358 list members and the “scenic drives niche” issue was received by 10,077 list members for a total of 160,435. Added text to the information request page and the Sturgis Rally page about the new motorcycling map. Mailed Tourism fyi to visitor industry with information on the Shoulder Season campaign. [ back to top ] PUBLICATIONS Organized translation, design and printing for 3,000 each of English and Japanese Great Parks, Monuments and Memorials brochure and 1,500 each of the German and French brochures. [ back to top ] WORLD WIDE WEB On TravelSD.com: updated Visitor Services Directory to show 5,015 entries; and 148 vacation packages/travel specials are listed for 31 cities in 27 categories. Began processing event listings for the 2007 statewide Calendar of Events. Forms were mailed in July; deadline for submissions to be considered for the print piece in the Vacation Guide is mid-September; otherwise, events are encoded to the online version as they are received. Worked with Lawrence & Schiller to reinstate Photo gallery/e-postcards option for consumers to send to their friends. [ back to top ] RESEARCH Have input data from 2006 Intercept Surveys that have been returned from visitors. Worked on report. [ back to top ] LOGO USAGE Fulfilled request to Bureau of Information and Telecommunications. [ back to top ] STATE FAIR Developed schedule for staff working the booth at the State Fair and made arrangements for giveaways from four events, new photos of events, and materials that will be distributed. Drawings will be held after the Fair and winners will be notified. [ back to top ] Independence Day Celebration Tracking service report a Nielsen Audience of 62.1 million. [ back to top ] Governor's Buffalo Roundup Developed print pieces for event. Continued working on tour options for guests, meals, and visits to attractions. Contacted media to determine who would be attending the event for transportation schedule and an estimate of the articles they planned to produce and the publications that will print the articles. [ back to top ] Governor's Invitational Pheasant Hunt Coordinated notification to artists of results of the jury for the First Lady’s Prairie Art Showcase. Worked on print pieces for the event. Mailed “Save the Date” postcards. [ back to top ] GREAT EVENTS 2006 Fish Days, June 2-4, Lake Andes: Worked on report from evaluations. Oz Festival/Dakota Heritage, June 9-10, Aberdeen: Worked on report from evaluations. Black Hills Overdrive, Black Hills, June 9-18: Worked on report from evaluations. Corn Palace Stampede Rodeo, July 13-16, Mitchell: Worked on report from evaluations. [ back to top ] GREAT EVENTS 2007 Responded to inquires regarding the application process for the 2007 campaign. [ back to top ] TOURISM OFFICE FUNDING Deadwood gaming revenue deposited for July was up 2.1 percent at $248,475, as compared to $243,415 for July 2005. The tourism tax deposited for July was up 7.8 percent at $641,552, as compared to $595,037 for July 2005. The deposits for FY07 for gaming and the tourism tax are $1,436,252, as compared to $1,344,212 for FY06. This is an overall increase in revenue of 6.8 percent when comparing the same time period in FY06. [ back to top ]