MEMORANDUM TO: Richard Benda
DATE: January 7, 2008
FROM: Billie Jo Waara
SUBJECT: Tourism’s December Monthly Status Report
You may download and print the entire
December
Report in Adobe Acrobat (PDF).
Contents:
2010 Initiative
Cultural Heritage
Tourism
Media & Public Relations
Industry Relations
Trade
Sales
Outdoors
Film Office
Information Centers
Hospitality
Inquiries
Photo/Video
Travel Market Advertising
Publications
Web
Research
Great Events
Governor's Tourism Advisory Board
2010 Initiative
Please refer to the web site at
www.2010initiative.com
for updates.
Or, review Tourism's December Summary Report to
Secretary Benda.
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Cultural Heritage
Tourism
Continued working on content and listings for the new publication.
Agri-Tourism
Set up and attended a meeting with Country Adventures, an agri-tourism Internet
business in Kearney, Nebraska. The company informed attendees on ways to work
together to grow agri-tourism. They received a USDA grant to begin marketing
their services in South Dakota and Utah.
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Media & Public
Relations
Compilation of earned media: December – estimated ad value of $53,282 (circ.
1,951,550); and Fiscal Year 2008 – estimated ad value of $$1,137,697 (circ.
13,996,700).
Fulfilled requests for info from MediaSD; was interviewed by Rapid City Journal,
Argus Leader, WNAX and KYNT in Yankton, South Dakota Public Radio, KOTA radio,
Capital Journal, Hollywood Reporter, and Associated Press.
Press releases – to in-state media (posted to www.MediaSD.com and the State News
Web): “South Dakota on Ice…Cold Weather Welcomed by Fishermen,” “Great Customer
Service Earns Businesses a Star,” “Office of Tourism and Partners Promote
National Treasure: Book of Secrets,” “2008 Governor’s Conference on Tourism:
Industry Issue Forums Announced,” and “National Treasure: Book of Secrets in
Theaters.” Six industry releases posted to MediaSD.com. Two industry releases
posted to FilmSD.com
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Industry Relations
Contacted speakers regarding their travel needs and session handouts. Completed
edits for print materials and finalized arrangements for sessions, breaks,
meals, and décor.
Designed two new art posters, one of each will be signed by Governor Rounds and
given away during the Tourism Conference gala awards banquet.
Finalized copy for the cooperative advertising kit, which will be distributed at
the Tourism Conference and distributed throughout the year.
Worked with the Rapid City CVB and the Spearfish CVB on the Adventures in Travel
show we are attending in Chicago January 26 & 27th. Researched travel shows in
Arizona.
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Trade Sales
Group Tour/International
Coordinated winter fam arrangements for Alidays, Italy, January 27-31. It is one
of the key travel agencies in Italy, with fourteen agents planning to attend.
One of the travel agents owns 900 agencies.
Met with 92 tour operators, travel agents, and journalists at World Travel
Market in London, a 28% increase over last year. Leads are being compiled and
will be sent to South Dakota suppliers.
Dirk Rohrbach, Germany, sent schedule of three upcoming reader tours for this
summer, a result of Tours! magazine article written as a result of ’07 reader
tour.
Worked with the South Dakota Association of CVBs to create template for a
Meetings Tip Sheet, a quick, one-stop look at what services, hotel room numbers,
meeting and convention space, etc are available in South Dakota communities that
participate in the co-op.
Finalized cities and dates for trade blitzes: Minneapolis and Omaha in March and
early April.
Drafted itineraries for travel agent fam tour in May and Japanese group tour fam
in June.
Assisted travel agents and regional directors from AAA New York, AAA Oklahoma,
AAA Ohio, AAA California, AAA Chicago Motor Club, AAA Minnesota, AAA
Minneapolis, AAA Missouri, Abbott Travel, Carlson Wagonlit, and MLT World
Vacations.
Assembled, routed, and sent December Travel Professionals E-newsletter to 111
list members.
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Outdoors
Plan to attend Pheasant Fest 2008 in Minneapolis in January, the 25th
anniversary of pheasants forever and the national convention combined. They are
expecting around 40,000 people.
Have made all preparations for SHOT Show and contacted writers and outdoor
industry representatives to set up meetings at the show. Plan to attend POMA
press conferences to discuss their annual conference in Sioux Falls next year.
Sent outdoors story release on ice fishing in South Dakota to outdoors editors
and writers. It has already generated interested, even if it is for hunting
opportunities.
Hosted Dave Carlson, Northland Adventures TV.
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Film Office
Worked with Xanterra Parks & Resorts and Mount Rushmore National Memorial
Society to secure five gift certificates and five parking passes for 2008 for an
international promotion for National Treasure: Book of Secrets. Attended world
premiere of National Treasure: Book of Secrets in New York City.
For FilmSD, combined all crew listings into one listing with multiple category
option; combined all service listings into one listing with multiple category
option; and approved individual updates.
Fulfilled film production information requests to Bcut Productions, Ambidextrous
Films, BlueNile Films, Two Bears Productions, Eastview Entertainment, Reel
Entertainment, Rat Rod Productions, PacAtlantic Pictures, Xstudio Productions,
Illumination Pictures, and Dan Bublitz Jr.
Continued working on updating project and contact information on the Reel Scout™
program for the public locations library on FilmSD, which will be made available
after the Tourism Conference in January.
Provided information about the film office to Movie Maker magazine and to
Entertainment Law Resources.
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Information Centers
Discussed ways to make the Centers more “green” with Department of
Transportation officials.
Decided to implement new hours of operation at the Information Centers – open
daily from 9 am – 7 pm. Valley Springs, Vermillion, and Spearfish will remain
open through October with limited days in the off-season. Chamberlain will be
open seven days a week through October. The others are expected to close in
early September, as in previous years. Continue to review and approve brochures
for display at the Centers. Researched purchase of new brochure racks at the
Centers. Worked on new script for CDs. Worked with Department of Agriculture to
send the old CDs to teachers.
Announced that applications were now being accepted for the 2008 season. Drafted
basic map for the Information Center training tour in the spring: Rosebud, Pine
Ridge, and the southern Black Hills.
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Hospitality
Ordered plaques for businesses to use to affix decals for yearly approvals and
participation in the Great Service Star program.
Reviewed applications for the George S. Mickelson Great Service Award and
presented twelve applications to the Governor’s Advisory Board to discuss and
make recommendations of a winner for the Governor’s consideration.
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Inquiries
Total November Inquiries through
1-01-08:
Mail
Internet (e-mail)
4,578
Phone
Total:
5,760
For fiscal year 2008, there is an overall increase in inquiries of 21%
percent over FY2007
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Native American Tourism
Completed setting up the tribal tourism issue forum for the Tourism Conference.
Invited Tribal Chairs and Presidents to be guests at the Tourism Conference.
Developed discussions/questions for the next Roundtable discussion to be held
Friday morning, January 18, at the Tourism Office.
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Photo/Video
Fulfilled requests for photos/slides to Lawrence and Schiller, University of
Sioux Falls, South Dakota Soybean Association, Regency Management, Sioux Falls;
Department of Game, Fish and Parks, South Dakota Lottery, Great Lakes
Association, Department of Transportation, Human Services, Cultural Heritage
Center, South Dakota Pharmacists Association, Pierre; South Dakota Newspaper
Association, Brookings; Technology In Education, Rapid City; Tim Cross Farm,
Iowa; Prairie Business magazine, North Dakota; and Nice Bike Tours, Germany.
Researched several travel video sites to discuss options for video
promotions/placements.
Discussed possible options with the Bureau of Information and Telecommunications
and National Park Service and representatives to reconnect the Mount Rushmore
Webcam to a high speed connection.
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Travel Market
Advertising
Started giving the snow report for snowmobilers and skiers December 10th on the
snowmobile watts line (800-445-3474) maintained by Tourism. Will update as
conditions change.
Finalized and shipped the following for the Winter ‘07-08/Peak ’08 ad campaigns:
Giant Step (3-page) Mt. Rushmore magazine ad – Parents, on sale 2/13/08; Giant
Step (3-page) Sioux Falls magazine ad – Family Circle, on sale 2/13/08; Giant
Step (3-page) Buffalo magazine ad – Ladies Home Journal, on sale 2/13/08; KOA
Camp Directory ad for the 2008 edition; Travelsmart – Dec. issue; Deadwood
Winter snow alert email; Deadwood Winter snow alert text messages; Deadwood
Winter newspaper gaming ad – Casper and Sioux Falls; and Deadwood Winter FSI –
inserts 1/6 in Argus Leader and Casper Tribune.
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Publications
Recreated pages of the Glacial Lakes & Prairies Birding Book for a re-printing
that Glacial Lakes is handling.
Compiled list of Tribal Tourism Roundtable people who have not returned updates
to the Great Sioux Nation publication and will follow up with them.
Met with Jim Entenman to discuss updates to the motorcycle publication.
Began designing the state’s pages of the 2008-2009 Vacation Guide, the covers,
the foldout map, and calendar of events. Department of Transportation will
provide files for the inserted map. Guides are expected to be delivered in
mid-February.
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World Wide
Web/E-Commerce
On TravelSD.com: Visitor Services Directory has 5,138 entries; and 59 travel
specials are listed for 14 cities. For Hot Deals, 40 businesses are registered
and three hot deals are currently running. From November 30 to December 31, 18
e-postcards were sent by consumers. There are 475 events listed in the Calendar
of Events section.
Added pages to accommodate National Treasure: Book of Secrets promotions and
provide information about South Dakota’s locations in the film: “The National
Treasure Trail” and the “National Treasure Clue Hunt.” The Treasure Trail page
link went live December 20 and will be deactivated February 28, 2008.
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Research
Produced monthly report for tourism indicators; year-end car count reports for
Information Centers; and proofed annual Economic Impact Study.
Provided research and marketing strategy consultation to Parks Division of Game,
Fish & Parks.
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Logo Usage
Fulfilled request for logo for ’08 Active & Adventure Directory.
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GREAT EVENTS 2008:
Czech Days, Tabor – June 19-21: Made brochure updates with new schedule of
events and photos. Local committee will print 10,000 copies. Wrote copy for
postcard, magazine, and Web pages.
Oahe Days, Pierre – June 20-22: Forwarded Made in South Dakota database to
committee as they plan to send invitation to for vendors to apply to
participate.
Festival of Presidents, Rapid City – June 27-28: Designed event logos for the
committee to review.
Mickelson Trail Trek, Black Hills (Outdoor Event) – September 19-21: Will meet
with committee when notified.
Hill City Western Heritage Festival, Hill City – September 20-21: Designed logos
and forwarded to local committee for their consideration.
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Governor’s
Tourism Advisory Board
The Board met in Sioux Falls and reviewed nominations for the Ben Black Elk
Award and the A.H. Pankow Award which will be presented at the Governor’s
Conference on Tourism in January in Pierre along with the George S. Mickelson
Great Service Award. The Board also reviewed 11 applications for the Million
Dollar Challenge marketing funds and made recommendations to approve the
following: Akaska Commercial Club, 1st Annual SD Walleye Classic; Sioux Falls
CVB, Main Street Sioux Falls’ Hot Harley Nights, and Sioux Falls Jazz & Blues
Society’s JazzFest, Summer in the City, 2008; Watertown, Redlin Art Center,
Norman Rockwell in the 1940s: A View of the American Homefront; and Pine Ridge
Chamber of Commerce, Growing an Industry: Promoting the Pine Ridge. Assigned
Board liaisons to each approved project. Will notify all applicants of the
decisions and/or requests for more information.
The next meeting will be January 15 in Pierre when they will meet jointly with
the four regional tourism directors and their top two board members who will
present a 2007 marketing reports and plans for 2008.
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