March is Women ‘s History Month: A NYC & Company campaign promotes women-owned, women-operated establishments through the five boroughs. A new website guide, “The Women Who Made NYC History,” includes landmarks, hotels, restaurants, shops, cultural and historical venues.
“Female-owned and -operated businesses are so vital to our city and our industry, and we invite New Yorkers and visitors to support these enterprises now and into the future,” said Nancy Mammana, NYC & Company’s chief marketing officer, in a media release.
More than 700 attended last week’s virtual Visit California Outlook Forum, an annual event.
While Disneyland and other attractions remain idle, the California Tourism Act, Senate Bill 285 was under discussion. Introduced Feb. 1, it would provide $45 million to launch a media and jobs recovery campaign (when state guidelines allow) called “Calling All Californians,” aimed at driving in-state travel to hospitality businesses and popular destinations that largely have been dark for nearly a year. Newspaper publishers and broadcast media would match the funds provided to Visit California, said Visit California CEO Caroline Beteta during a Feb. 24 virtual roundtable discussion.
“We actually have more than 20,000 businesses that pay an assessment and because of the pandemic, when the tourism business revenues stopped, so did our funding,” Beteta said. “We were able to conserve some cash due to the shutdowns for a recovery campaign, but our marketing will stop in June of this year as those reserves dwindle.”
The J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation has launched a $20 million endowment, Marriott-Sorenson Center for Hospitality Leadership, to establish a hospitality leadership program at Howard University, one of the nation’s most prestigious historically Black colleges and universities. Named after the late Arne Sorenson, the business school program aims to develop future hospitality industry executives.
“I can think of no better tribute to the amazing legacy of Arne Sorenson than to focus on educating and advancing future leaders of the hospitality industry,” said J.W. “Bill” Marriott, Jr., executive chairman and chairman of the board. “Arne’s passion for creating a culture of opportunity brought real change in the executive ranks of our company. But work remains to be done. Our industry needs a pipeline of diverse leadership talent and that’s exactly what this Center will achieve.”
Tripadvisor has launched a live sentiment dashboard to support global tourism recovery. It delivers real-time, affordable, and actionable intelligence derived from millions of destination–specific conversations happening across the internet so users can craft products and messaging that’s most relevant. Powered by Vancouver-based Tourism Sentiment Index, the new dashboard is part of Tripadvisor’s wider suite of data intelligence products for DMOs, known as the Tripadvisor Insights Platform.
Tripadvisor Group Head of Destination Marketing-Americas, Steve Paganelli, said, “This live dashboard puts actionable insights at DMOs’ fingertips to help them make more informed and strategic marketing and media placement decisions. For example, being able to understand travelers’ readiness to travel in real-time helps DMOs update their marketing with the most effective messaging, therefore, getting the most impactful message in front of the right people, at the right time.” Read more here.
Delaware Tourism Office is launching a two-pronged incubator and workshop program, Destination Development Program, to help ensure businesses are prepared for recovery.
For the incubator program, the state office is working with Miles Partnership, and leading the workshop training is Wilmington-based marketing firm Aloysius Butler & Clark. Visit Delaware tourism director Liz Keller said the idea for the program was hatched before the pandemic and the crisis emphasized its need.
A popular Louisville theme park is officially under new ownership, with Herschend Family Entertainment becoming majority partner and operator of Kentucky Kingdom and Hurricane Bay. Herschend operates popular attractions including Dollywood and Newport Aquarium in northern Kentucky, and is the owner of the Harlem Globetrotters.
“…Very proud and excited to announce our new partnership with amusement park Kentucky Kingdom in Louisville, KY. Looking forward to working with Kentucky Tourism, Louisville CVB, and all our Kentucky friends and partners,” said David West, executive director of destination marketing at Herschend Family Entertainment.
Pre-schoolers and parents, are you ready? The owners of the Legoland Florida Resort will build a theme attraction dedicated to the British cartoon character Peppa Pig. Scheduled to open in 2022, it’s 4.5 acres adjacent to Legoland in Winter Haven. Rides and attraction details for the 4.5-acre park will be announced this summer, according to parent company, Merlin Entertainments. [Fun fact: Peppa Pig World opened in 2011 near Winchester in southeast England.]
Discover Denton (TX) the primary sponsor of the No. 44 Chevrolet Camaro driven by Tommy Joe Martins for Martins Motorsports in the NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 6. Even more cool, Discover Denton will leverage its first NASCAR sponsorship to promote the launch of their new website, DiscoverDenton.com, utilizing a car design that mirrors the aesthetic of the new website.
“There has always been a strong connection between NASCAR and Denton, especially with our close proximity to Texas Motor Speedway,” said Mike Pistana, VP of Discover Denton.
Take out & toke up: At Claremont Club & Spa, Bay Area icon since 1915, Limewood Bar and Restaurant in Berkeley, Calif., is unveiling a food-and-weed pairing. Meal with marijuana is a take-home dinner and Zoom call with reheating instructions and weed wisdom. Apothecarium cannabis dispensary supplies the marijuana ($34 to $36 for two grams or $110 to $116 for two eighths) and Limewood’s chef prepares the four-course meal for two ($150).
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