1. During your tenure at DCED, we know that your successes were many; but, what do you consider your major accomplishment(s) at DCED?

One of the major successes in Pennsylvania’s tourism industry, during my tenure, is the fact that we, Pennsylvania, out performed national averages. In fact, we doubled the national average in terms of visitation and expenditures in some years. I am also happy that hotel occupancy and average daily rate are holding fairly steady, while nationally, those indicators are down about 5%. Again, we come out looking pretty good from a comparative standpoint. Attendance at many of our attractions is up also. Interestingly, the Commonwealth has added many employees in the restaurant sector post September 11, 2001, so that’s an indication that there is consumer demand for our dining options.

2. You worked very closely with TPAs (helping them work through their challenges and celebrating their successes), can you cite a few of the most challenging and most successful DCED/TPA initiatives?

One of the major accomplishments was the implementation of the TPA/CVB Minimum Standards which were codified in March 2000. This major initiative was accomplished through partnership and support from both the TPA community and DCED.

Another success is the regional approach to TPA marketing. With the introduction of the RMI (DCED’s regional marketing initiative grants) the goal of regional marketing has become accomplished. The RMI program also ensures the leverage of private-sector investment in marketing Pennsylvania’s tourism product.

We expanded international marketing successfully by creating international offices and representation in Canada, Germany, England, Italy, France, and Japan. The creation and expansion of the international marketing program greatly increases the awareness of Pennsylvania’s tourism product internationally.

A challenging situation has been getting a statewide “tourism driven” signage program implemented. Another challenge has been on the legislative side; specifically, usage of the room tax and working with county commissioners to ensure usage of the room tax revenue restricted for local/regional TPA tourism projects.

3. You greatly improved the working relationship between DCED, PTLA, and PACVB. Can you describe, from your perspective, the benefits of having these tourism organizations working together now and in the future?

Partnerships and strategic alliances are critical in this industry and at this time. The new management agreement between the Pennsylvania Tourism and Lodging Association (PTLA) and the Pennsylvania Association of Convention & Visitors Bureaus (PACVB), working closely with DCED (Department of Community & Economic Development), we now have the advantage of positioning Pennsylvania for tourism economic development with an integrated approach that aligns the state’s foremost tourism groups working together and speaking in one voice which sends a unified message. It is critical, post September 11, 2001, that our message is loud and clear, tourism development is of great importance to the Commonwealth’s economic recovery and that PTLA, PACVB, and DCED are partners to ensure this success.

4. Is there unfinished business? Lessons learned? Best practices?

Yes, I guess there are a few things unfinished. I would have liked to have the seen the signage initiative implemented statewide during this administration. I am hopeful that the Governor’s Council on Tourism will be assured and continue through legislation. Increased/expanded funding for the Office of Travel and Tourism is always a priority.

Lessons learned for me personally were about the use of technology and the application and success of the web. Web communication has changed our industry dramatically and has eclipsed use of written materials as the main source of information for tourists.

I also learned after September 11, 2001, how important our local markets are. It became apparent that we needed to focus on Pennsylvanians visiting Pennsylvania, and retaining that market, instead of allowing them to visit other traditional tourism destinations outside the Commonwealth. I assumed that our residents had a certain level of knowledge about Pennsylvania and its marvelous things to see and do, but learned that we were taking our residents awareness of these assets for granted. We have been the beneficiary of a lot of new business just by encouraging intra-state travel.

A best practice that I can cite is VISIT Florida, that state’s privatized tourism corporation. They made an industry driven decision to privatize their tourism office about 6 and a half years ago, which allowed Florida to plan long term and be proactive and responsive to their customers’ needs and changes in the industry. This model assures maximum productivity. I am very impressed by their staffing, funding, and marketing models.

5. Your future? Your next assignment?

As of November 1, 2002, I will be employed by the Delaware River Port Authority for Economic Development of the Philadelphia and Camden waterfronts, Philadelphia office. I hope to be involved in many tourism development activities and look forward to working with many of you in the future as we continue to work toward the economic growth of Pennsylvania.

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Fritz Smith, former Deputy Secretary for Tourism, Film & Economic Development at the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, will be honored at a Reception and Dinner on Tuesday, December 10, 2002, at the Harrisburg-Hershey Marriott. Retiring Minority Leader of the House Tourism and Recreational Committee, Representative E. J. Lucyk, will also be honored during dinner. An e-invitation/registration form is available as a PDF file. Details about a room block at the hotel are also included.

Hollywood Comes to Lawrence County You read that right. Little Lawrence County, one hour north of Pittsburgh, became Hollywood East in August when a quarter of the television season’s two hour premiere episode of The West Wing was filmed there. The farming area in and around the small community of Volant was used to depict the state of Indiana. JoAnn McBride (left), executive director of the Lawrence County Tourist Promotion Agency and Jackie Meade, right, member of the TPA Board of Directors, present Martin Sheen of The West Wing a Westminster College sweatshirt. The Pittsburgh Film Office, working in cooperation with the Lawrence County Tourist Promotion Agency, brought the Warner Brothers Production to Western Pennsylvania. The Pittsburgh region was in competition with locations in Indiana, Maryland, Texas and North Carolina. The tourism office first learned about the need for a farm with soybean plants, a secluded gas station, train station and general store through an email from the Film Office in June. A subsequent email to TPA members generated photos from throughout the county. The local farm bureau, conservation district and scouts from the Film Office were also a part of the process. Dawn Keezer, director of the Pittsburgh Film Office, landed the producers’ attention by not only sending the photos but also a two-pound box of soybeans. She personally drove the producers to locations throughout the region. Eventually, the farm of a long-time TPA supporter was used. The tourism agency assisted with the casting call that attracted 1,200 people from Western Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio. All together 500 extras were used for the production, many from outside the Lawrence County area. The TPA could not have paid for the regional, statewide and national publicity generated from filming The West Wing in Lawrence County. Entertainment Weekly, a national publication, published a two-page color spread of the filming in Western Pennsylvania. Visitors from Canada drove to the community just to apply to be extras. The story doesn’t stop here. During a recent visit to California, TPA Executive Director JoAnn McBride was leaving a restaurant when she received a tap on the shoulder. It was the director of The West Wing who remembered her from the filming.

Members Survey
In September 2002, the Communications Committee conducted a membership survey to poll all members about their bureau needs; e.g. medical insurance, long distance service, pension and 401k plans, education seminars and education scholarships.
The survey results indicated that medical insurance is of great importance to our members. Please view the PACVB Membership Survey Report (PDF), which includes a summary of the results as tabulated September 19, 2002.

PACVB Committees
President Howell invites all PACVB members and their staff members to consider volunteering your time, talent, and expertise by serving on committees and ad hoc committees. Our association has opportunities and challenges at both the local and state level. Your support and active involvement in PACVB committees enables our association to hear your concerns, suggestions, and better serve you, our members. There are 11 committees (listed here with chairpersons). If you are interested in serving on a committee, please contact the committee chairperson for that committee.

PACVB Moves Listserve to Yahoo!

As many of you are aware, we have been experiencing difficulties with our current “listserve” service, Topica.com. Several attempts have been made to remedy the situation to no avail. With this in mind, it appears our best option is to work with a new service and discontinue the Topica.com account.

Several days ago you should have received an e-mail invitation to join the PACVB Group hosted by Yahoo!Groups. The instructions are fairly simple. You have the option to “Join the Group” or to “Join the Mailing List.” The simplest option is to “Join the Mailing List.” This will simply add your e-mail address to a list that will receive any message sent to the entire group.

If you decide to choose the more involved “Join the Group” option you will be prompted to set up an account with Yahoo! It will not cost you anything to do this, and there other features that you get, but the other option is much simpler. It’s up to you. There are currently 24 members participating.

By joining this service, you will be able to exchange messages and information with other group members by sending e-mail to one address (pacvb@yahoogroups.com). After you join, you will receive an e-mail to confirm that you have been successfully added. This e-mail will also contain instructions on how to send messages to the group, as well as how to unsubscribe if you wish.

We have set the service up so that when you reply to an e-mail that has been posted to the group, your reply will ONLY go to the person who initiated the posting (NOT to the entire group). If you want the entire group to see your message you need to put the group’s address (pacvb@yahoogroups.com) in the “TO:” field

If you have any questions about signing up, please contact Eric Adams at 717-232-8880 x104, or by e-mail at eadams@patourism.org.

And A Good Time Was Had By All (who attended)

Doug Smith and Janet Allen at the Welcome Reception at the 2002 Fall Workshop, Gettysburg Hotel

We are delighted to announce that the 2002 PACVB Fall Workshop, held at the Gettysburg Hotel September 9-11, 2002, was a great success. The workshop was record breaking, generating approximately 114 attendees, 19 exhibitors and 8 sponsors. The workshop included excellent educational content provided by Joe Veneto, the opportunity guy, 8 panelists representing state and local organizations that we partner with, and educational programs provided by DCED staff, their vendors, and advertising agency representatives. Michael Gehrisch, President and CEO of the International Association Convention & Visitors Bureaus, gave the keynote address at lunch.

Many individuals helped to make this year’s event spectacular. Philip Magaldi, Gettysburg CVB, worked behind the scenes to ensure that his colleagues would be enamored by Gettysburg’s hospitality—the welcome reception at the Gettysburg Hotel, the dinner at Dobbin House, the Ghost Walking Tour, transportation, and Boyd’s collectible bears were complimentary thanks to Philip’s efforts on behalf of the Gettysburg CVB. As our evaluations indicate, we had a great workshop and had a great time experiencing Gettysburg. Thank you to all of you who attended the workshop and completed evaluations forms. Click to view the 2002 PACVB Fall Workshop Evaluation Report (PDF).

Save the Dates

Fine food and carver at the Gettysburg Hotel, Peter Lopes waiting to be served.

More coverage will appear in the February 2003 issue of e-News; but we do want you to save these dates:

Interview with Don Kamens
e-News editor conducted an e-interview with Don Kamens, Travel Sales Manager, Meredith Publishing (our PACVB Fall 2002 issue e-News sponsor). Meredith Publishing, represented by Don, is a long-time supporter of PACVB activities. In the following interview, Don shares his news and views about the PACVB and the value of partnership.

1. Don, I know that you are a veteran of our many workshops and conferences, what significant changes have you seen over the past few years?

There are more marketing funds available to TPAs, as more counties have installed room taxes. The net result is that people are more willing to listen, ask questions and learn. There is also a greater willingness to share information with others, often adjacent, TPAs. It’s worked well for us; we are now doing business with 26 of the 45 PA TPAs; that’s about double the number of only 3 years ago.

2. Don, how did Meredith Magazines and the PACVB begin partnering? When did the relationship begin and what did you have in mind?

Actually, the State of Pennsylvania found Better Homes and Gardens, our flagship publication, in 1994. It was searching for a large circulation, dollar-efficient, vehicle that reached family vacation decision makers for offering to TPAs as a turnkey co-op partner.

For a number of years BH&G was one the State’s regular choices to carry State offered coops. In those years when the State concentrated on the internet, BH&G continued to offer TPAs their own coop vehicle at least once a year. The number of TPAs using BH&G grew. In mid-2002, when the state returned as a magazine advertiser, it was only natural that it returned to BH&G. In Spring ’03 it will actually run several times with us including participating as the anchor for a co-op.

3. Don, can you tell us about new opportunities that Meredith Magazines is offering that should be of interest to TPAs in Pennsylvania?

Better Homes & Gardens will again offer a Pennsylvania Coop in its May issue. Geographic coverage will be improved with the addition of Ohio and West Virginia, making it even more useful as a marketing tool for more TPAs.

And, we’ve added Ladies Home Journal as an option as a PA coop carrier. Used in combination with BH&G, this combination reaches roughly 1/3 of the leisure travel market that lies between North Carolina and Massachusetts. And the rates are very advantageous.

4. Don, we sincerely thank you for your past support and look forward to continuing the strong relationship we have with your magazines. How can we improve the relationship?

There is a growing sense on the part of TPAs that they need to really understand their options. That’s really positive. I’ve noticed that the content of workshops is improving, focusing on education. I’d like to see that push to learn continue to expand. With the greater availability of flexible funds, everyone will benefit.

TRAVELPAC
The funds generated in the PAC are used to attend political fundraisers and support the public officials who, in turn, support our tourism industry. Please send your personal checks to: TRAVELPAC, 902 North Second Street, and Harrisburg, PA 17102. Your generosity is appreciated and is needed as TRAVELPAC adopts an ambitious new governmental affairs program in building relationships with our new Executive Branch and Legislative partners.

PACVB thanks the following PACVB members for their generosity to the TRAVELPAC fund as of 11/15/2002: