Weekly stories curated exclusively for digital tourism marketers
Writing in Travel Weekly, Johanna Jainchill, Destinations Editor, observed from the floor of IPW last month:
How is Alaska managing its way into a Tourism Business Improvement District? Will Visit Florida survive? (The Travel Vertical, “Visit Florida Saga Continues…” 7/25/2017). How did Visit California built a funding model to execute long-term marketing strategies that escape the whims of politicians? Read more here.
Since the release of Instagram Stories in August 2016, Visit California has posted approximately 180 stories producing in excess of 1.5 million views.
For more about how Visit California is incorporating partner DMOs in their campaigns and boosting brand awareness using bite-sized stories, click here.
Craig Ray took over as Visit Mississippi travel director in mid-July. The state is focused on its upcoming bicentennial with the use of additional funds coming in part from the first installment of money from the BP Oil Spill settlement. A veteran travel pro, Craig resumes the post he held in 2004-09. He has sat on boards for U.S. Travel, Travel South, and the Southeast Tourism Society.
Vicki Varela of the Utah Office of Tourism, Film and Global Branding was named national State Tourism Director of the Year for 2016 during the ESTO conference in Boca Raton last month. Since assuming her role in 2013, Vicki and the team have led a major expansion of Utah’s international and digital marketing strategies, developed new analytics and research practices, and successfully increased the state’s marketing budget from $9 million to $21 million.
Caroline Beteta, President and CEO of Visit California and Chris Nassetta, President and CEO of Hilton Worldwide, have been named to the U.S. Travel Hall of Leaders, the highest honor from U.S. Travel Association. Both Caroline and Chris lead organizations that are Founding and Diamond Partners with Brand USA. The induction takes place on Nov. 16, during an event in Washington D.C. marking the 75th anniversary of U.S. Travel Association.
Looking for Robert Patterson? Find him once again at MMGY Global, says the TwitterSphere and LinkedInLand. In Kansas City, Robert reports:
Jamie Claudio has been named to a new position as director of brand development for New York’s Long Island Convention & Visitors Bureau and Sports Commission. Claudio brings a specialty in broadcast and digital communications and has experience overseeing both leisure and business initiatives on behalf of destination organizations including Tourism Toronto, Visit North Carolina, Discover Los Angeles, The Greater Louisville CVB, Visit Scotland.
Caroline Beteta, president and CEO of Visit California says, “California is more than a destination. It’s a ‘lifestyle brand.'” The nation’s #1 destination has the #1 budget. It’s now pegged at a cool $100 million, thanks to an increase in the assessments levied on hotels, restaurants, rental cars, attractions and other tourism related services.
California’s Dream Big campaign resulted in Dream Big dividends, projecting visitation for 2016 to rise 2.3 percent above last year’s 257.9 million person-trips with spending going up by 2.7 percent from $122.5 billion.
Among the other 49 US states, Florida had the largest increase for fiscal 2014-15. To see where your state fits in a chart of US states and their tourism budgets, click here.
Bonus Infographic:
The state where your state wants to visit most:
[Courtesy of HotelsCombined]
