MEMORANDUM TO: Richard Benda
DATE: March 12, 2008
FROM: Melissa Bump
SUBJECT: Tourism’s February Monthly Status Report
You may download and print the entire
February 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
February Summary Report to
Secretary Benda.
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Cultural Heritage
Tourism
Sorted applications into categories for the cultural/heritage
publication and began imputing data.
Continued working on photo selections, copy, table of contents, etc.
Agri-Tourism
Continued working with Jacquie Fuks from Southeast South Dakota
Tourism and Bob Weyrich with Department of Agriculture on the Agri-Tourism
Conference scheduled for July 15. Met with Weyrich on a meeting
Country Adventures would like to have in Pierre.
Worked on developing a database of agri-tourism businesses.
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Media & Public
Relations
Compilation of earned media: February – estimated ad value of $17,944 (circ.
835,721); and Fiscal Year 2008 – estimated ad value of $474,438 (circ.
8,176,157).
Fulfilled requests from Sales-Fax news, Omaha World Herald, American Park
Network, John Burdick on ATV trails and gold panning, and inquiries from MediaSD.
Interviewed by Minnesota Public Radio. Fulfilled fact-checking requests from
Midwest Living.
Posted following press releases: To in-state media (posted to www.MediaSD.com
and the State News Web): “Industry Rallies Together at 2008 Governor’s
Conference on Tourism,” “South Dakota Welcomes Their Great Neighbor,” and
“Office of Tourism Media and Trade Blitzes Get Message Out to Key Markets.”
Posted nine industry releases to MediaSD.com. Posted two industry releases to
FilmSD.com.
Emailed the introductory letter and submission forms for the “In Your Own
Backyard” series to the industry. Have received 12 submissions.
Sat in on conference call with the American Park Network (APN) to discuss ways
we can work with the APN to help distribute their free guides of Mount Rushmore
National Memorial and Badlands National Parks. Provided information to them
regarding the brochure guidelines at the Information Centers.
Currently registered and have stories on Wordpress.com and Myspace.com.
Continued working on details for New York City/Washington DC media blitz, April
21-25.
Notified of article, “From Pioneer Days to Present Times,” in Canadian World
Traveller (circ. 77,000) written by David Cox, result of fam June 2007. The
story was also added to their Web site, and the teaser copy and photo are listed
with travel information for Italy, China, and Jordan.
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Industry Relations
Continued working with local committees on their Million Dollar Challenge
projects.
Mailed Annual Report, Cooperative Marketing booklet, and Tourism Assistance
Directory to mayors, economic development offices; and mailing to selected
attractions, full and part-time Chambers and CVBs, industry leaders received the
Annual Report and the Cooperative Marketing information.
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Trade Sales
Group Tour/International
Sent requested information to Karen’s Charters, Courtyard Travel, Great Western
Tours, California; Central Church Senior Adults, Tennessee; Friends Tours,
Nevada; Purpose Driven Tours, Mississippi; Caren’s Charters, Kansas; Lamers Bus
Lines, Wisconsin; and Wolfgang Engelke, Germany. Fulfilled requests from travel
agents and regional directors from MLT World Vacations; AAA offices in Oklahoma,
Ohio, California, Colorado, Minnesota, Minneapolis, Wisconsin, Missouri, and New
York; Abbott Travel; Carlson Wagonlit; and various independently owned travel
agencies.
Compiled leads from the National Tour Association (NTA) Annual Convention held
in November from attendees, Black Hills, Badlands and Lakes Association, Rapid
City CVB, Deadwood CVB, Mitchell’s Corn Palace CVB, and Tourism. Sent leads to
NTA/ABA (American Bus Association) members and completed follow up to 98 tour
operator requests.
Met with 30 tour operators in prescheduled appointments at American Bus
Association (ABA) Marketplace in Virginia Beach. Coordinated and held a state
caucus to share leads with South Dakota suppliers attending marketplace;
attended educational seminars.
Continued to work on Group Tour Planning Guide; have received information from
81 partners to date.
Mailed group tour coupon (a list of print materials available from Tourism) and
the group tour co-op ad to tour operators and group leaders on our database of
4,500. Drafted copy for postcard mailing to tour operators and travel agents to
sign up for monthly Travel Professionals E-Newsletter, which currently is sent
to 121 list members.
Finalized partner list for trade blitzes in Minneapolis, March 10-14, and
Omaha/Sioux City, March 31-April 4, which includes Black Hills, Badlands &
Lakes, Sioux Falls CVB, Watertown CVB, and Tourism (both); Rapid City CVB
(Minneapolis); and Yankton CVB and Southeast Region (Omaha/Sioux City). Teams
will meet with travel agents and tour operators to sell their destinations and
the state as a whole.
Created website banner ad that will be placed in two different locations on the
Midwest Meetings Web site for one year with a direct link to TourSDakota.com.
Finalized itinerary for Travel Agent Fam, May 17-24; will mail invitations to
travel agent database.
Fulfilled request from Jim Krantz, Minor County Extension Service, Howard, for
itinerary information for tourism and agriculture-related activities for a group
of 40-50 producers from Ohio who are planning a trip to South Dakota in
September.
Coorindated with Miles Armstead, Canadian Traveller, on the “America Yours to
Discover” issue for possible South Dakota participation.
Contacted Mary Ann Steen, Explore Minnesota and 2 Nation Tours, regarding the
“Pioneer Spirit on the Great Frontier” fam in June for tour operators. Fam
includes eastern South Dakota and a portion of Minnesota. Proofed postcard
invitation for the two fam tours: South Dakota/Minnesota and North
Dakota/Manitoba – invitees can choose either one or both.
Contacted attendees from 2007 Travel Industry Association of America (TIA) Pow
Wow regarding attendance at the 2008 TIA Pow Wow in Las Vegas, May 31-June 4.
Attendees include Rapid City CVB, Durst Investments, Crazy Horse Memorial,
Ramkota Companies, Hospitality Central, and Tourism.
Attended North America Journeys (NAJ) West Summit and met with 25 inbound tour
operators. NAJ develops itineraries for tour operators to sell to international
clients.
Submitted a listing of South Dakota pow wows and rodeos to Tommy Swanson’s
Travel, Sweden, for placement on their new website.
Fulfilled request from Sten Rastberg, Golden Coast Travels, Sweden, for
assistance in finding lodging for clients planning to attend the Sturgis
Motorcycle Rally. Contacted CVBs and Chambers in the Black Hills to find
availability of rooms and forwarded information. Fulfilled request from Ingeborg
Sorensen, Trillium Tours LLC, Minnesota, for assistance in finding lodging for a
group of 16 Norwegian travelers and guides planning to attend the Rally.
Contacted Sioux Falls CVB, Sturgis Chamber, Rapid City CVB, Deadwood CVB, and
Spearfish CVB and forwarded information.
Wrote itinerary for Rocky Mountain International (RMI) Roundup tour for 10 tour
operators to attend South Dakota post roundup fam tour of Black Hills area.
Worked with RMI’s Italian office to review Italian translation of Great Parks &
Monuments brochure.
Attended the Reiseliv Trade Show in Norway and VUSA Sweden, along with RMI staff
and partner states of Wyoming, Montana, North Dakota, and Idaho for the
Scandinavian Mission. While in Norway and Sweden, met with or conducted training
for tour operators, travel agents, and media. In Norway: Oslo media event -
three travel media plus members of the VUSA committee were present; FlyAway
staff training for seven; Nordmann-Reiser staff training for nine; and Reiseliv
Trade show - 29 travel media and tour operators stopped by RMI booth to gather
information about the region, and the two day show drew 22,697 consumers. In
Sweden: Stockholm media event for nine travel writers; Jambo Tours staff
training for two; Discover America Event for 200 travel agents, tour operators,
and travel media.
Prepared sample itinerary for ATI, Nordmans–Reiser, Norway, and Tommy Swanson’s
Travel, Sweden, for placement in their catalogs and on their websites. Submitted
the Buffalo Roundup to FlyAway Travel Agency, Norway, to be placed on their
website.
Fulfilled photos requests from Dirk Rohrbach, Germany, for three upcoming tours.
Fulfilled photo requests from Giancarlo Rondolotti, Italy, for upcoming article.
Provided Buffalo Roundup information to journalist Godfrey Hall.
Completed Japanese Group Tour Fam itinerary for 10 Japanese group tour operators
in the Black Hills and major attractions in June.
Emailed the top 100 tour operators at HIS, ANA and Jalpak, three Japanese tour
companies regarding enhancements to TravelSD.com and TourSDakota.com for
international visitors.
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Outdoors
Worked with Glacial Lakes & Prairies Tourism Association to host five writers on
an ice fishing fam: Larry Myhre, Sioux City Journal; Larry Porter, Omaha World
Herald; Gary Howey, Outdoorsman Adventure TV; Jim McDonnell, freelance writer
from Iowa; and Dave Carlson, Northland Adventures TV, Wisconsin.
Received an email form Doug Backlund with Game, Fish and Parks regarding an
Ivory Gull that had been spotted at the Oahe Dam in Pierre. This gull is a very
rare sighting for anyone in the United States as they usually do not leave the
Arctic. Forwarded Doug’s email, along with his photos, to Tourism’s
targeted outdoors writer list in Vocus.
Emailed February story idea on Bald Eagles to 1,400 outdoors writers and
editors.
Notified that CNBC – Mike On America – Pheasant hunting/Taxidermy story ran for
the third time.
Compiled information for the following individuals interested in visiting South
Dakota: Matt Ducharme, pronghorn hunting; Hiram Hutchison, pheasant hunting with
kids; and Jerry Stevens, pheasant hunting.
Continued working on fams for Jim Niemiec, spring snow goose hunt, March; Early
Ice-out Northing fishing trip, March/April; Joe Blake, turkey hunt, April/May;
Bob Jensen, March fishing trip; and Kenneth Kieser, May fishing in the Black
Hills.
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Film Office
Provided 2008 South Dakota Film Festival producers with Arts Council Guide to
Grants information. Provided topographical map, courtesy of Game, Fish &P, to
festival producers to be used in marketing efforts for their film festival to be
held in September in Aberdeen.
Fulfilled requests for film production and tax refund information to Traci
Langston; Megan Cissell, RebelM Productions; Cable Hardin; Gary Harris; Miriam
Dick, Bellevue Entertainment; Bob Makela, Emmy magazine; Eve Honthaner,
Dreamworks; Dawn Stephens, Agricultural Heritage Museum, Brookings; Jane Evans,
Focus Features; and Teresa Konechne.
Emailed visitor industry partners encouraging them to provide services/locations
listings to production crews while in South Dakota.
Provided film office history, recent success, and tax incentive information to
Mitchell Daily Republic reporter Seth Tupper.
Sent press releases, “South Dakota Film Office gains full AFCI Membership” and
“South Dakota presence at South by Southwest Film Festival” and posted them to
FilmSD.
Worked with Film the West partner state of Montana regarding the South by
Southwest Film Festival in March in Texas. There will be various screenings,
booth space, and seminars. Worked with Film the West partner states of Montana,
Idaho, and Wyoming on the booth concept for Association of Film Commissioners
International (AFCI) Locations Trade Show in April in Santa Monica.
Provided content and images to P3 Production Update for March issue, which
included services provided by South Dakota Film Office, fee-free locations, tax
refund program, and recent productions. Will distribute article at South by
Southwest Film Festival and the AFCI Locations Trade Show.
Provided content to Markee Magazine for March issue for article on the recent
filming of National Treasure: Book of Secrets and its impact on South Dakota
since its release.
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Information Centers
Reviewed 135 applications for the travel counselor positions at the Information
Centers; interviewed 74 returning applicants by phone. Contacted 89 applicants
to set up face-to-face interviews on March 4 in Sioux Falls and March 5 in
Chamberlain. Have begun making contacts for the training tour, May 1-8.
Will mail information/form for the poster program on March 1 and add to SDVisit.
Worked with Pheasant Land Industries and Certified Folders on the design of new
brochure racks. Worked with Bureau of Information and Telecommunications to
upgrade computers at the Centers.
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Hospitality
Mailed letter to all Chambers, CVBs, and development corporations with
information and application on matching funds program to help pay for speakers
for spring training. The hospitality program consists of two other training
components: online hospitality curriculum program and train-the-trainer
workshops.
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Inquiries
Total January Inquiries:
Internet (e-mail): 13,880
Mail: 1,540
Phone: 1,002
Total:
16,422
For fiscal year 2008, there is an overall
increase in inquiries of 19% percent over FY2007
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Native American Tourism
Plan to attend the Badlands RC&D’s Indians and Pioneers Conference at Red Cloud
Indian School on March 8.
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Photo/Video
Fulfilled requests for photos/slides to Lawrence and Schiller, Sioux
Falls; Game, Fish and Parks, Fischer-Rounds, Bureau of Finance, Department of
Labor, Division of Benefits, South Dakota Historical Society, Pierre; author Ed
McGaa, Grey Line of the Black Hills, Black Hills Harley Davidson, Rapid City;
Black Hills State University, Spearfish; Ingalls Homestead, De Smet; Watertown
CVB; Black Hills Central Reservations, Deadwood; Southeast South Dakota Tourism
Association, Living Here Magazine, Yankton; Native Discoveries, Faith; Quality
Quick Print, Aberdeen; Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce; Omaha World Herald,
Nebraska; Accent Art and Frame, Virginia; Travel Channel, Illinois; Wild West
Magazine, California; Travel Beyond, Germany; and Cowboys Magazine, Italy.
Fulfilled video requests: stock footage and footage of Mount Rushmore to Paulson
Media, Sioux Falls.
Developed list/ideas for media projects and hit list for the upcoming season.
Continued to work on identifying social media sites for video footage
placements.
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Travel Market
Advertising
Finalized the following and shipped for the peak ’08 ad campaign: Tourism FSI
for Tier One markets -- insertion is March 2 and March 30 for Gannet newspapers
(Green Bay, Appleton, Oshkosh, Sheboygan, Fond du Lac, Manitowoc) and Eau Claire
and La Crosse (March 2 only). Giant Step (1-page) Sylvan Lake magazine ad in
Camping Life on sale March 11 and in Field and Stream on sale March 25. Giant
Step (3-page) Falls Park magazine ad in Ladies Home Journal on sale April 10 and
Parents on sale April 17. O (Oprah) magazine ad on sale April 15; Midwest Living
magazine “Best of the Midwest” ad on sale March 25; and Frontier Airlines Wild
Blue Yonder magazine ad March/April issue. Newspaper ads in Eau Claire,
Milwaukee, Omaha, Des Moines, Gannett group (Green Bay, Appleton, Oshkosh,
Sheboygan, Fond du Lac, Manitowoc), and St Paul Go Guide.
Finalized details for the Minneapolis campaign, beginning in March. Components
include a train wrap of two cars with South Dakota images for 10 weeks on the
Hiawatha light rail line; a street team handing out brochures promoting vacation
packages offered by CVBs across the state and badge stickers during the first
week of March; TV spots; newspaper ads; and a landing page to sign up for a
Great Neighbor giveaway.
Other peak campaign elements include: fishing spot for Field and Stream website,
image spot for History.com website, Tourism TV donut spots, Orbitz banner ads,
Deadwood Co-op newspaper ads in Denver and Minneapolis, Deadwood Co-op radio and
TV spots, Rapid City Co-op newspaper ads in Minneapolis and St Cloud, Rapid City
Co-op TV spot, and February issue of Travelsmart to consumers.
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Publications
Made multiple phone calls and email contacts in an effort to reach golf course
managers and gather final information for listings. Finalized golf publication
and requested bids, which will determine the print amount of 30,000 or 40,000.
Began designing a new two-color, 4-page guide for archaeology and paleontology;
plan to print 3,000 copies for distribution at Information Centers and by
request.
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World Wide
Web/E-Commerce
On TravelSD.com: Visitor Services Directory has 5,158 entries; and 54 travel
specials are listed for 10 cities. For Hot Deals, one hot deal is currently
running. From January 29 to February 28, 31 e-postcards were sent by consumers.
Developed Outdoor Photography page for TravelSD.com, which includes links to a
new webpage about photography, the Photo Gallery, and “Dakotagraph” blog.
Redesign of Travelsmart, which is sent to a consumer database, will allow us to
send specific content to subscribers, based on their interests.
Created and posted several Web pages of other state’s print advertising with
comments on why they are good or not, as a reference tool for the visitor
industry when creating their ads.
Was notified by the Editor of IgoUgo.com that they had featured the South Dakota
Tourism website (TravelSD.com) as one of the top 10 state tourism sites in the
United States on the IgoUgo Travel Blog.
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Research
Presented research and peak marketing efforts at Black Hills Central
Reservations Annual Board Meeting in Rapid City.
Continued to collaborate with Corn Palace CVB by providing research assistance.
Produced data reports for GMA’s Mount Rushmore Recreation Corridor Overview
feasibility study for their Keystone project. Provided visitor tracking and
barometer data to Custer Stampede Art Auction. Provided additional data and
reports to Destination Development for the Rapid City re-branding project.
Reviewed landing page template, which is currently being used for the
Minneapolis promotion. Will use analytics from the campaign to make necessary
changes for future landing pages.
Contacted Black Hills Central Reservations (BHCR), Deadwood, and Rapid City CVB
to discuss current phone number tracking into BHCR in order to track the success
of the various co-op campaigns.
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Logo Usage
Sent logo to Redlin Art Center. Sent script to George Williams at Department of
Agriculture for use on Web site header.
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GREAT EVENTS 2008:
Czech Days, Tabor – June 19-21: Contacted film company that shot a documentary
of the 2007 event to inquire about scheduling a screening of their documentary
at this year’s event. Designed magazine ads for placement in South Dakota
magazine and Nebraska Life, due March 1. Schedule of events has been posted on
TravelSD.com’s Calendar of Events page.
Oahe Days, Pierre – June 20-22: Assisted committee to hire entertainment.
Designed magazine ads for placement in South Dakota magazine and Nebraska Life,
due March 1. Schedule of events has been posted on TravelSD.com’s Calendar of
Events page.
Festival of Presidents, Rapid City – June 27-28: Received approval of logo
design. Designed a rack card and sent to the committee; they will print and pay
for it. Designed magazine ad and sent to the committee to review. Will design ad
for newspaper placement. Schedule of events has been posted on TravelSD.com’s
Calendar of Events page.
Mickelson Trail Trek, Black Hills (Outdoor Event) – September 19-21: Worked on
design of a postcard for printing, with expected delivery by the end of March.
Schedule of events has been posted on TravelSD.com’s Calendar of Events page.
Hill City Western Heritage Festival, Hill City – September 20-21: Met with local
committee. Schedule of events has been posted on TravelSD.com’s Calendar of
Events page.
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