Board hears from Wyoming tourism representative

During the Tuesday meeting of Hot Springs Travel and Tourism, the board had a visit from Abigail Martin, the brand partnerships manager and film liaison with the Wyoming Office of Tourism.

Martin explained an initiative was recently taken up to visit their partners more for lodging tax board meetings, tourism get-togethers conferences and other events. “We just want to make sure we’re out there and getting to know you guys on a more intimate level,” she said, “to make sure we’re addressing your needs.

Thermopolis was one of Martin’s first stops, and she is determining how to be most helpful.

Looking at the financial reports, Moeller noted there is a decrease of nine percent — $618.56 — compared to January last year. However, overall finances are up by eight percent from where they were this time last year and things are on track.

Moeller also spoke of the new accounting system they are using, which is online so it will not be on any computers. The new system has been easy to pick up, she said, and there will be an additional $23 per month charge for the online system.

Regarding special event funding applications, Moeller said advertising has begun for them, and the deadline to turn them in is March 1. Forms have been sent out to all current grantees, and anyone else will be able to see the forms in the paper.

Moeller also provided an update on the annual Keys to the City, noting she has heard several positive comments, but also some reports/complaints that the hotels are not giving out the keychains. Rick Tudor mentioned he was visiting with an acquaintance from Billings who has seen advertising for Keys to the City.

As for a recent lodging survey, Moeller it was sent out to all of the hoteliers by Young Strategies. The surveys go by room count rather than number of hotels responding, and as of Tuesday they had received 71 percent of the room count. Moeller has been making follow up calls with those who have not completed the surveys, which are fairly generic and short.

Rick Tudor raised the argument that people from outside the area were claiming one of the largest markets is Chicago, but according to records at the State Park Bath House there is rarely anyone from Illinois there. However, there are a lot from Minnesota. If people are travelling from Minnesota through Chicago to come here but advertising is only being done in Chicago, he said, they are doing themselves a disservice.

Moeller clarified that Hot Springs Travel and Tourism doesn’t advertise in Chicago, but the State of Wyoming does.

Later in the meeting, Troy Dorman suggested an advertising campaign for Thermopolis, somewhat “piggybacking” on Yellowstone. Where there are advertisements at Yellowstone cautioning people not to feed the buffalo or touch the water, there might be advertisements for Thermopolis that invite people to help feed the buffalo and swim in our water. He added it was an idea of “there you can see it, here you can experience it.” Martin said it sounded like a good campaign idea to test out, and later noted it could be effective for international ads as well.

Regarding the upcoming Governor’s Conference in Cheyenne Feb. 25-27, Moeller said herself, Tudor and Angie Guyon would be attending. Moeller was unsure if Young Strategies Inc. (YSI) would have their initial items ready for the board. In November, Moeller reported a technical assistance grant for $5,000 was received, which was utilized to help reduce costs to the board to have a conference with YSI.

Moeller was recently asked to be on new Wyoming Office of Tourism Committee, representing lodging tax boards with budgets under $500,000. The first meeting of the new committee will be at the Governor’s Conference.

Martin noted the day after the conference there will be an outdoor recreation, hospitality and leisure career fair at the University of Wyoming.

Looking ahead to the next meeting, Moeller said she would provide some detailed analytic information, and board members asked to see specific information such as where people are coming from, median salaries and other demographics.