Travel and Tourism board receives updates

At the January 19 Hot Springs County Travel and Tourism meeting held via Zoom, Treasurer Audra Dominguez provided the financial report.

The lodging tax revenue for December 2021 was $17,981.77, which marks the halfway point of the fiscal year. Their Year to Date revenue total is $142,239.07. This compares to the total of the previous year of $179,106.68. That’s about 79%. There are still six more months to go. The board’s budgeted expenses for the year total is $304,760. 

For the Cares Act spending, the board submitted to the state a report to complete their ‘grant’. According to the rules, they had to spend it down to the penny by December and they met their goal. The CARES act made it possible to extend their Winter Campaign and begin their international campaign. It takes two to three years to get established in the international market, so they need to start now even though the borders aren’t all open. The board is now focused on increasing its numbers for the winter season. The board voted and passed to accept the financial report.

Jackie Dorothy has posted all their videos online. Jeb Schenck plans on hosting an event on February 8 at 7 p.m. at the school auditorium to showcase the videos.

Under old business, Chairman Carl Leyba said they still have an opening to be filled. The vacancy was Bob Roos’ position from East Thermopolis, which was an at-large position. 

In new business, the board welcomed new member Sherman Skelton. Skelton, unfortunately, was not able to attend. 

Dorothy and the board went over the Rocky Mountain International (RMI) TRIP Report. According to the report, it said, “The following document is produced exclusively on behalf of the state tourism offices of Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming. This report offers travel data for the five-state region collectively known as The Great American West, which includes current (as of June 30, 2021) product inventory, and, in a typical year, the preceding travel year international trade booking information and estimated international visitors spend.”  

The RMI overview stated that in 2020 there were 193,855 total estimated rooms booked, with visitors spending $110,837,282 in Wyoming. For Thermopolis in 2021there were 17 tour operators, and the overnights offered were 22. The reported market share is 0.19% of Wyoming. For international tourists, the report shows different nations who came, they include Australia, France, Germany, Italy and the UK. 

The board also discussed some advertising and partnership opportunities, along with a data report. A company that performed some SEO optimization, and the board felt there was not enough return on their investment for the amount they were spending to get significant clicks that lead to their website and conversions. The board decided to part ways.