Monthly ReportsAugust 2007MEMORANDUM TO: Richard Benda DATE: September 7, 2007 FROM: Billie Jo Waara SUBJECT: Tourism’s August Monthly Status Report
Please refer to www.2010Initiative.com for updates. Or, review Tourism's
Summary Report to
Secretary Benda. Continued meeting with the Arts Council,
South Dakotans for the Arts, and the Historical Society to develop the upcoming
Cultural/Heritage Tourism Publication. Plan to send form to be listed on the Visitor
Services Directory on TravelSD.com. to Arts and History’s databases. Compilation of earned media: August –
estimated ad value of $99,488 (circ. of 889,089); total for 2007 – estimated ad
value of $573,815 (circ. of 17,221,167); and Fiscal Year 2008 – estimated ad
value of $144,945 (circ. of 1,588,616). Handled media calls and fulfilled requests
for information from the Today Show, Midwest Living magazine, Rapid City
Journal, Court TV, and several MediaSD inquiries. Worked with Diane Shrago of LA Splash
Magazines Worldwide to set up a tour of palentological and archeological sites
in South Dakota; provided her with press credentials. Sent press releases: film industry and film
industry media: "South Dakota’s Unknown Locations," "Opportunity to Showcase
Films in South Dakota," and "Cineposium International Conference 2007;" in-state
media (posted to www.MediaSD.com and the State News Web): "CBS Early Show Great
American Vacation Destination," "Wheels & Wings: Rev Up Your Engines," "First
Annual Custer State Park Tribal Art Show," "Tourism Award Nominations Due in
September," and Wheels & Wings to Kick Off;" outdoors media: "Prairie Grouse
Thrive in South Dakota;" Uniquely SD series that highlights counties (Moody,
Pennington, Perkins, Potter, Roberts); posted six industry releases to
MediaSD.com; and posted two industry releases to FilmSD.com. Mailed contact information/change of
information request to visitor industry as the first step in updating our
database. Coordinated details for Tourism’s booth at
the State Fair around the theme "Destination for All Seasons." Booth photos
showcase South Dakota in different seasons and experiences. The giveaway will be
the series of four posters representative of the state. Maps, Fall Calendar of
Events, plastic Great Faces. Great Places. pins, Hunting and Fishing Guides, and
other publications will be at the booth. Continued progress on organizing details for
the Governor’s Conference on Tourism, including speaker bios, sponsorship
mailer, meals, décor, Web consultants, ad critique sessions, updates to SDVisit,
and Annual Report. Made arrangements to ship Tourism
publications and lapel pins to Michigan to fulfill a request from a state
senator for the annual Midwest Council of State Government Conference. Contacted lodging properties and other
organizations to complete details for itineraries for several journalists’
hosting. Evaluated the hostings that took place this summer. Began working on
details for fall hostings. Continued working with local committees on
their Million Dollar Challenge projects, budgets, and marketing plans. Trade Sales Group Tour/International Fulfilled requests for information from AAA/CAA
offices in Colorado, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.
Assisted regional directors from AAA in Chicago, Ohio, Michigan, Minneapolis,
Nebraska, Missouri, Mid-Atlantic, Oklahoma, North Dakota, as well as various
independently owned travel agencies in Minnesota, Colorado, Ohio, and Michigan.
Selected photos and edited copy for the
TourSDakota/Travel Trade Professionals Web page. Updated Hosting/Fam tip sheet, which will be
added to SDVisit to assist and offer suggestions for suppliers when hosting. Mailed letter to 80 South Dakota National
Tour Association (NTA) and American Bus Association (ABA) members inviting them
to attend the Pre-convention Caucus on September 12 at the Tourism Office. There
is a first-timers session in the morning to help prepare them for convention. In
the afternoon trends, what’s new items, and co-op marketing efforts will be
discussed along with a sponsorship at NTA. Worked on design of the 24-page, four-color
Meeting Planners Guide. It is a first-ever, co-op piece with 11 of the 12
state’s CVBs. Expected delivery of the piece is late September and it will be
distributed by Tourism. Forwarded advertising opportunities to the CVBs.
Compiled there suggestions and a list of FY2009 trade shows to consider. Looking
into hosting an FY2009 meeting and event planner fam. Sent ad file to MLT publication. Sent requested information to Group
Destinations Unlimited, New Jersey; Group Travel Masters, Minnesota; Landmark
Tours, Wisconsin; Teresa Stehly, South Dakota; and Barbara Stafford, Rocky
Mountain International office, United Kingdom. Sent Buffalo Roundup invitations to 53
international journalists and domestic/international tour operators, including
two inbound tour operator companies – ATI and America 4 You, and one Austrian
tour company – Americareisen.at. Worked with Native Discovery on itinerary for a
pre-fam. Compiled and sent additional information and itineraries for add-ons
for their articles. Provided itinerary and assisted with arrangements for Meike
Boldt, CRD International, American Travelhouse, Germany, for visit to Deadwood,
Buffalo Roundup, Badlands National Park, and Pine Ridge. Worked with Rapid City
to arrange a bike builder tour and two days of excursions on a motorcycle for
Dirk and Adriane Koester, German journalists who will also attend the Roundup
for their articles in Tourfahren Magazine, Germany’s largest motorcycle
magazine. Compiled itinerary for Thomas and Christa Jeier, Germany, for their
trip to include Sioux Falls, Mitchell, Chamberlain, Rosebud and Pine Ridge
Reservations, and the Roundup. They will publish two articles and are writing a
book about Native Americans. Invited Tom Ruhl, Port Culinaire magazine, Germany,
to the Roundup. He plans to write a 16-page article for the magazine (ad value
equivalency of $21, 760). Custer is working with them and has provided
information on restaurants that serve buffalo, the Buffalo Roundup chili
cook-off, and they’ve offered to help find lodging. A gourmet chef will be in
the group and he will be promoting this trip on his television show in Germany. Attended Japanese Market Sales Mission in Los
Angeles and met with 63 of the 95 Japanese tour operators in attendance.
Confirmed 16 tours (nine with four overnights and seven with three overnights)
coming to South Dakota as a direct result of that mission. Worked with Mr. Osamu Hoshino to develop
ideas for a spring 2008 Japanese group tour fam and a possible fall 2008
Japanese journalist fam tour. Finalized itinerary for SpeakUp Magazine fam
for two journalists from the United Kingdom to the Black Hills and Badlands
National Park. Sent a story on the upcoming prairie grouse
season to our database for outdoors writers and editors. Those responding
inquired not only about the particular story topic of the month, but also about
other outdoors opportunities. The story has already resulted in hostings and
earned media for the state. Hosted three journalists in August: Jim
McDonnell, freelancer from Nebraska; Steve Weisman, freelancer from Iowa; and
Joe Blake, editor of Bowhunting Magazine. Upcoming hostings in September include:
Buffalo Roundup for 12 writers from around the country; Kent Hrbek Outdoors
filming; Lisa Metheney, whitetail/pheasant hunt; Lisa McClintick, caving in the
hills; and Jack Robertson, grouse hunt. In September/October: Scott Linden, Cast
and Blast Television. In October: Engles Outdoors TV; Lisa Price and Brenda
Potts, freelance writers; Ron Schara, Pronghorn Hunt; Governors Hunt; and MD and
Julie Johnson. In December: Woods and Waters Television. Discussed a possible
waterfowl/pheasant hunt with Dennis Schardin from Pennsylvania Sent an update to outdoors media list about
the pheasant harvest in 2006, which has resulted in numerous inquiries from
writers interested in coming back to South Dakota for deer, turkey, pheasants,
and fishing. Worked on developing promotional
opportunities for National Treasure: Book of Secrets premiere, including Walt
Disney public relations. Besides working with The Early Show on CBS
for their live broadcast at Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Tourism
coordinated an in-state vacation giveaway with partners, which was awarded to
Tina Gramkow of Avon. Worked with production company for the movie
"Into the Wild" for a South Dakota premiere at the September 21, 2007, at South
Dakota Film Festival in Aberdeen. Worked with FLVMEN, LLC for a documentary of
the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally for Harley Davidson. Fulfilled requests from Booz
Allen Hamilton on a project at Ellsworth Air Force Base; Per Diem Films/Tetra
Media Studio; Lynchpin Productions; J2 Pictures/J2TV; and May International Productions. Invited Reel Scout to the office for a
meeting to determine the next steps in using their services to manage electronic
location files for Tourism. Attended American Film Commissioners
International (AFCI) Cineposium in Santa Fe, New Mexico. It is their primary
educational event. Sessions included the pros and cons of offering incentives,
ways to work productively with a publicist, and how the digital age will affect
our areas. Completed Film Commission Professional Class online to become a
member of AFCI. Membership is granted individually rather than by organization. Mailed follow-up materials to Libby Platus
after visiting South Dakota for International Bison Conference. She is working
on a film location story for South Dakota as well. For July, 143 motorcoaches/buses stopped at
the Information Centers, and 22 were international. Use of Travel tapes and CDs at the
Information Centers was down 18.4% over July 2006. For 2007, 472 individuals/businesses have
received recognition for hospitality with the Governor’s Certificate, 24 have
received the foil star for a second recognition, and one lapel pin was awarded.
Prepared application form and letter and
mailed to the visitor industry for the Great Service Star Program and the George
S. Mickelson (GSM) Great Service Award. The Star logo can be used in advertising
and the GSM Award is an annual award announced at the annual Tourism Conference
banquet. Participated in conference call with Black
Hills State University staff and committee member Lois Davis, Tourism board, to
discuss proposal and next steps in development of hospitality training
curriculum. Will schedule meeting in September to include additional Tourism
Board members. Total FY2008 Inquiries through 09-01-07: Mail: 586 Internet (e-mail): 8,626 Phone: 1,144 Total: 10,356
Contacted members of the Tribal Tourism
Roundtable requesting suggestions for the Tribal Tourism Issues Forum during the
Tourism Conference. Fulfilled requests for photos/slides to
Lawrence and Schiller, AAA South Dakota, Bison River Jerky, Sioux Falls;
South Dakota magazine, Yankton; State Publishing, Department of Game, Fish
and Parks, Curt Merriman Printing, Department of Agriculture, South Dakota
Retirement System, Pierre; Pierre-Fort Pierre Rotary Club; Aberdeen American
News, McQuillen Design, Aberdeen; Meeting the Need, Keystone; Huron Chamber of
Commerce; Access Marketing, Rapid City Journal, Black Hills Corporation, Rapid
City; TDG Communications, Deadwood; Geocacher magazine, Washington;
journalist Libby Platus, California; AAA Home and Away magazine, Iowa;
Midwest Fly Fishing magazine, Wisconsin; Minneapolis Children’s Theatre
Company, Minnesota; and journalist Godfrey Hall, United Kingdom. Fulfilled requests for video dubs and loans:
footage of Mount Rushmore National Memorial and the Black Hills to NFL Films for
a feature they are producing on Adam Vinatieri; stock footage to Court TV for a
story they are producing on a South Dakota case; video of the boat racing at
Chamberlain to the Chamberlain event committee; and video of prairie and
grasslands to the Children’s’ Theater Company in Minneapolis. Set up locations and models for a pheasant
hunting shoot; scouted locations in the Badlands for a shoot and filled out
permits for the shoot. Filmed an interview and video at the Palmer
Gulch Resort, an interview with Custer Chamber and general downtown video of
Custer, an interview at the Washington Pavilion and interior video of the
Pavilion, and an interview at Wild Water West. Mailed 3,800 fyi "Shoulder Season Strategy" newsletters to the visitor industry. Updated the AAA CampBook ad for the North Central 2008 edition
and sent file to the publication. Finalized and shipped the following shoulder season ads:
Pheasant hunting Giant Step ad, Outdoor Life, on sale September 18;
Badlands Giant Step ad, Travel 50+ Beyond, on sale September 24; Rushmore
Giant Step ad, Midwest Living, on sale October 24; Pheasant hunting ad,
Sportsman magazine, on sale October 2; weekly newspaper ads in Eau
Claire, Council Bluffs, Mankato, Omaha, Sioux City, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Fargo,
SW Minnesota, and NW Iowa; hunting banner ads for PheasantCountry.com and the
Sportsman Channel; two TV donut spots; and four Tier 3 radio spots. Other shoulder co-ops include a partnership with Custer State
Park and Deadwood. Began brainstorming sessions to develop
campaign elements for 2008 peak season. Made final attempts to contact businesses who
had not responded to the Adventure Travel Guide mailing. Continued making
corrections/updates and began getting quotes for both b/w and color versions.
Expected return from the printer is mid-October; quantities to be determined. Completed preliminary work to updates of the
Guide to the Great Sioux Nation, which will be published in 2008. Finalized corrections for the Escort Notes for Group Tour
Operators; plan to send to the printer in early September. Finalized updates to listings in the Tourism Assistance
Directory, which will be distributed at the annual Tourism Conference in
January. Prepared golf publication mock-up for review. On TravelSD.com: Visitor Services Directory
has 5,087 entries; and 87 travel specials are listed for 19 cities. Between July
30 and August 28, 37 e-postcards were sent by consumers. For Hot Deals, 38
businesses are registered and nine hot deals are currently running. Enhancements
included Tour Guide, the Interactive Trip Planner; Online Polls, with different
questions posted for responses from consumers; Video player, an update to the
Experience and Travel Partners sections; and Publications Request, which
includes options to request specific publications/packets and/or download PDFs.
Continued working on adding the Travel Community section, a site for
consumers/travelers to post comments, photos, and videos. Completed entering data from visitors who
were given Intercept Surveys at the Interstate Information Centers. Sent full logo to Travel Industry Association
of America. Governor’s Buffalo Roundup and Governor’s Invitational Pheasant Hunt Continued working on details of both events,
including invitations, lodging, tours, menus, and transportation. Czech Days, June 14-16, Tabor: Will compile report from evaluations. Corn Palace Stampede Rodeo, July 19-22, Mitchell: Submitted evaluation forms to committee. Wheels & Wings Weekend featuring Sizzlin' Summer Nights, August 25-26, Aberdeen: Set up interview with KDLT morning show. Submitted evaluation forms to committee. Mickelson Trail Trek, Mickelson Trail,
September 14-16, Black Hills: Developed a public relations plan. Send mailing/press releases on 2008 campaign, requesting
applications. The South Dakota Office of Tourism was honored by the National Council of State Tourism Directors with two Mercury Awards: one for the 2006 Giant Step Cooperative Marketing Program and the $20 Bucks for the Road Campaign. The Mercury Awards:
Currently there are 12 general categories of
Mercury Awards, with entries solicited between March and May. Winners were announced at a special awards
ceremony held during Travel Industry Association of America’s (TIA) annual
Educational Seminar for Tourism Organizations (ESTO) on August 18. The Office
of Tourism competed against entries from all 50 states, and Tourism was only one
of two states honored with multiple awards. |
