Tourism’s May Monthly Status Report Page 1
MEMORANDUM TO: Marty Davis
DATE: June 7, 2006
FROM: Billie Jo Waara
SUBJECT: Tourism’s May Monthly Status Report
2010 Initiative Please refer to the web site at 2010initiative.com for updates.
Rural Tourism Participated in regional arts meetings in Yankton in April and in Sisseton in May. Attended Agri-tourism Conference in Yankton. Attended Southeast South Dakota meeting on Agri-cultural Tourism.
Participated in Rural Assessment Training in Pierre.
Public Relations Assisted with and attended Tourism press conferences, May 1, in Rapid City and Sioux Falls with the Governor. Briefings were given on the success of the ethanol coupon promotion and other peak season elements. Coupon redemptions are being paid by ethanol industry; not by the Office of Tourism.
Completed details of See America/See South Dakota Week which included radio spots in communities with CVBs. Distributed co-op direct mail events flyer to homes with children in Sioux Falls, Fargo, Sioux City, Rapid City, Aberdeen, Watertown, Pierre, Mitchell, Brookings, Huron, Chamberlain/Oacoma, and Deadwood. The events flyer was a partnership with the communities listed above, and each chose their community’s event for the flyer. Media blitzes included working with Rapid City, Spearfish, and Aberdeen CVBs to organize radio and newspaper interviews – recorded interview with Aberdeen American News and participated in a live phone interview with KGIM radio in Aberdeen; gave interviews on four live broadcasts for Rushmore Radio stations; gave two newspaper interviews in Spearfish with Spearfish CVB. Other media interviews included KCCR in Pierre; KWAT, KDLO, and Power 106 in Watertown; 910 Depot Radio in Brookings; KSOO in Sioux Falls; WNAX, KYNT, MIX 106, and Yankton Press and Dakotan in Yankton; KMIT, KORN, and Mitchell Daily Republic in Mitchell.
Drafted, edited, distributed and/or posted to MediaSD.com and State News Web Site press releases regarding “Twenty Bucks for the Road,” See South Dakota Week, individual press releases for 12 CVB partner communities, and Lake Andes Fish Days.
Participated in phone conversation with Cabela’s and Pierre Chamber regarding PSAs and press releases for the fishing tournament in June.
Worked on details of hostings for Dave Hoekstra of Chicago Sun Times; John Smith for filming “Discovering America” on The Outdoor Channel; and Dan Kaercher of Midwest Living for his new book. Fact-checked data for Dan Kaercher's new book.
Interviewed by Minnesota Public Radio; Rochester Post Bulletin; USA Today; Channel 6 News and Omaha World Herald, Omaha, and KNEN TV, Norfolk, Nebraska; Channel 4 News and KMEG TV, Sioux City, Iowa; KWRD
Tourism’s May Monthly Status Report Page 2 Radio, Dallas, Texas; WTDY TV, Madison, Wisconsin; and South Dakota Public Radio for stories regarding “Twenty Bucks for the Road” program and our peak season marketing campaign.
Responded to and fulfilled requests for information from CBS Early Show, Travel Queen Radio Show, Meetings Media, KSFY, AAA Home & Away, and Midwest Living,
Attended meeting in Wall for Comin’ to Your City program.
Trade Sales Group Tour/International Asked CVBs in the state to forward suggestions for information to include in a meeting and convention facilities guide. This guide, whether posted online and/or in print, would be available to meeting and convention planners around the country.
Researched domestic trade shows to consider attending in FY2007.
Completed follow up to five travel agencies in Minneapolis that were contacted during the Trade Sales Blitz in April.
Attended meeting in Rapid City regarding group tour promotion with Mostly Chocolates, Landstrom’s, and La Quinta. Traveled to Highmore to visit the June Harter Wilderness Area and the Wind Energy Plant. Met with the Highmore Booster Club to answer questions concerning group tours. Others attending included representatives from the Central South Dakota Enhancement District and Great Lakes Association.
Cancelled 2Nation Tours Familiarization Tour, June 3-9, a joint effort with Minnesota Tourism, due to a number of participant cancellations; notified itinerary hosts.
Compiled information and submitted South Dakota events to American Bus Association (ABA) for the ABA Top 100 Events in North America list. Sent ABA follow up letters to 98 leads obtained from attending ABA Marketplace in February.
Sent final information on pow wow and appointments to South Dakota delegates for Travel Industry Association of America (TIA) Pow Wow. Delegation met with 65 tour operators and journalists during pow wow appointments.
Worked on two late summer/early fall fam tour itineraries for Bob Oliver, Northwest Iowa Transportation.
Assisted Bill Estep, Herald Leader, with information for a Lewis and Clark feature.
Sent requested information to Ambler Tours & Travel Service, Inc., California.
Updated listing of travel agents and completed final arrangements for fam for 18 travel agents, tour host, and airline representative for DERTOUR, Germany, May 31 – June 2, Black Hills and Badlands areas. Researched buffalo roundup at Badlands National Park for journalist Stefan Schomann, Germany, who is interested in attending and filming it.
Fulfilled request from Bon Voyage, United Kingdom, for list of attractions for South Dakota site visits in early June. Provided information to John Martin, US Tours, United Kingdom, for site inspections for 2007 Rally Tour arrangements. Worked on lodging arrangements for Neil Murray, a journalist from England, for fam tour in August (900,000 readership of article in two publications).
Fulfilled request for helps with tipi stay arrangements for Patrizia Pegolotti, UVET, Italy. Contacted Alex White Plum regarding request from Alidays, Italy, for clients visiting in August.
Finalized itinerary for locations in the Black Hills and Badlands for two journalists from France, representing NotreTemps magazine (circ. one million).
Tourism’s May Monthly Status Report Page 3 Continued working with Osamu Hoshino for a fam tour in late June in Rapid City and the Black Hills. He will be hosting 8-10 tour operators from Japan.
Made arrangements and met with Karin Gert Nielsen, Atlantic Link, and Judith Betak, Berlingske Tidende, Denmark during their press trip in the De Smet area. Little House on the Prairie is shown on Danish TV every Saturday night. (Result of 2005 Scandinavian Mission.)
Outdoors Switched snowatts to fishing hotline. Reports will be generated by Great Lakes and Glacial Lakes and Prairies Association.
Mailed Outdoor Newsletter media packet to 3,000 outdoors editors and writers. Packets are mailed twice a year. Packet contents – story ideas and photos – are also placed on MeidaSD.com.
Worked with Department of Game, Fish & Parks on gathering updated maps and information for the new Fishing and Hunting Guide, a 28 page, 4-color booklet. Expect delivery of 50,000 guides in late July.
Film Office Posted press releases under What’s New on FilmSD.com: Dakota or Bust Film Festival and Film Casting Notice for Native American Men.
Mailed approximately 150 information packets to contacts from Association of Film Commissions International (AFCI) Locations Trade Show held in April.
Worked on plan for a new condensed, image-based Film/Video Production Guide to replace the current directory. Plan to print 5,000 booklets for mailing to film industry database in late September.
Worked with Department of Revenue about rebate application and FAQ for new film incentive tax rebate. Information will be mailed to film industry contacts in July.
Fulfilled information requests from Into the Wild, BBC Wild West, Gallop Studio, Without a Box, two New York producers, Biker Buildoff, and another individual.
Attended meetings in Mission with Northern Plains Film Commission and in Rapid City with Black Hills Film Resource Council.
AAA/CAA Fulfilled requests for materials to 33 AAA/CAA offices in Canada, California, Colorado, Iowa, Massachusetts, Maryland, Minnesota, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Jersey, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Wisconsin, Washington, DC, and South Dakota.
Assembled and sent the May AAA e-newsletter via VerticalResponse.com to 92 recipients.
Information Centers Fam for travel counselors included Winner, Sioux Falls, N. Sioux City, Yankton, Chamberlain, and Rapid City. Centers opened on May 13th.
Received 26 comment cards for May.
Reviewed and approved 30 new brochures for display purposes at the Centers.
Followed up with the 66 poster co-op partners with addresses of the Centers where their posters can be displayed. There is still space available at Wasta EB and Salem EB.
Approved T-shirts and sent sizes to businesses that want to participate in the T-shirt program.
Tourism’s May Monthly Status Report Page 4 Met with Highway Patrol and Department of Transportation to discuss the Valley Springs Information Center rebuild. Date of the rebuild had to be pushed from 2008 to 2009. Welcome sign production was put on hold.
Hospitality For 2006, 75 individuals/businesses received recognition for hospitality with the Governor’s Certificate; 13 received the foil star for a second recognition; and five received a gold lapel pin for a third recognition.
Inquiries Total FY2006 Inquiries through 06-01-06: Mail: 23,532 Internet (e-mail): 88,705 Phone: 13,677 Total: 125,914
Total FY2005 Inquiries through 06-01-05: Mail: 46,984 Internet (e-mail): 83,507 Phone: _15,876 Total: 146,367
For fiscal year 2006, there is an overall decrease in inquiries of 14 percent over FY2005.
Calculated Web stats for TravelSD.com for May: Not Available at this Time Page Views Daily Average % Change over 2005
“Page views” represents the number of times each and every page within the web site is accessed.
Lewis and Clark Promotions Judged entries to the Lewis and Clark Essay Contest and notified winner, a fourth grade student at White Lake Elementary School. Essays were judged on creativity, grammar, spelling, and the writer’s understanding of Lewis and Clark Expedition facts. Sent prizes to the first place winner: $100, a two-night stay in a camping cabin at one of South Dakota’s state parks or recreation areas along the Missouri River, a South Dakota state park entrance license, four tickets to the Cultural Heritage Center in Pierre, a Lewis and Clark book and T-shirt, and other Lewis and Clark items. Posted essay on TravelSD.com. Sent other special prizes to 2nd through 5th place winners. Sent notification letters and prizes to all participating teachers and classes. Submitted information for press release announcing the winner of the essay contest.
Native American Tourism Met with Mobridge Chamber and Standing Rock delegation to discuss building a Sitting Bull visitor center. Followed up with information on the role Tourism can play.
Photo/Video Fulfilled requests for photos/slides to TDG Communications, Deadwood; South Dakota magazine, Lewis and Clark Resort, Yankton; Hill City Chamber of Commerce; Department of Game, Fish and Parks, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, State Publishing, Governor’s Inn, Dakota Outdoors, Pierre; Lawrence and Schiller, Insight Marketing Design, Kelly Inn, AAA South Dakota, Sioux Falls; Corbon, Sturgis; Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary, Hot Springs; Rock and Pine Tours, Edgemont; Lower Brule Sioux Tribe; Rapid City Regional Hospital, Ramada Inn, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, Black Hills, Badlands and Lakes, Rapid City; Mobridge Chamber; Murdo Chamber; Platte Chamber; Aberdeen American News, McQuillen Design, Aberdeen; Watertown CVB; Cherbo Publishing, Sunset Magazine, California; Rocky Mountain International, Wyoming; Physician’s Travel and Meeting Guide; and weltinfo.com, Spain.
Fulfilled requests for video footage: Mammoth Site to Lawrence and Schiller for use in Tourism’s summer ad campaign; stock footage to the School of Mines and Technology in Rapid City for use in a video for a summer school educational program; and stock footage to Film Garden Entertainment in Van Nuys, California, for use in the Travel Channel show “Taste of America.”
Tourism’s May Monthly Status Report Page 5 Travel Market Advertising Finalized/proofed following peak season ads for placement: Magazine ads – Fargo-Moorhead magazine, Fargo- Moorhead magazine Summer Vacation Guide, Fargo Area Woman, and Sioux Falls Woman; newspaper ads – Kansas City, Minneapolis, St. Paul, Des Moines, Omaha, Fargo, Sioux City, and Sioux Falls; additional ads in newspaper inserts or tabloids: Sioux City Journal 101 Things to Do, Sioux Empire City Weekly, and Argus Leader Link; banner ads – TwinCities.com and KELO; e-mail blast – TwinCities.com; TV donut spots – Badlands, Biking, Adventure, and Memories; radio spots – See America Week/Events and Glacial Lakes co-op; Glacial Lakes co-op general direct mailer; and Glacial Lakes co-op outdoors direct mailer.
Continued process of verifying ethanol coupon requests and mailed to valid addresses for a total mailing of 31,619.
Received updated copy from peak season Giant Step co-op program partners for the shoulder season Giant Step campaign.
Assembled and sent Travelsmart to a general audience and one to the family niche. The general issue was received by 146,473 list members and the family niche issue was received by 3,678 list members for a total of 150,151.
Publications Received Adventure Travel Guide from printer.
Completed final edits to motorcycle map and sent to the printer. Expect delivery of 75,000 maps is late June.
Continued making calls to entities listed in the Guide to Indian Reservations and Art and confirming information in the Guide to the Great Sioux Nation. Information from both will be combined into one booklet. Expect delivery from printer in late August.
World Wide Web On TravelSD.com: updated Visitor Services Directory to show 4,967 entries; and 152 vacation packages/travel specials and six coupons are listed for 32 cities in 25 categories. There are 607 listings for the 2006 statewide calendar of events. Forms for the new listings will be mailed in mid-July.
Monitored the receipt of registrations and forwarded for the Black Hills Vacation Giveaway. As of June 2 – 2,532 registrations had been submitted.
On SDVisit.com: completed updates to the “See America Week” (formerly National Tourism Week) webpage; added links, under the “Industry News” section, to press releases and visitor industry press releases on MediaSD and to the Calendar of Events on TravelSD; and updated the Industry News page and the Industry Calendar page with releases and events/activities for the peak season.
On MediaSD.com, added links to the homepage and the May 1st press release pointing to the online webcast archive of the Rapid City press conference and posted 26 visitor industry press releases.
Completed registration of the place name southdakota.travel. Gave approval to Bureau of Information and Telecommunications to renew 14 of Tourism’s domain names one year each: TravelSD.com, TravelSD.us, TravelSD.net, TravelSD.org, FishInSD.com, FishInSouthDakota.com, HuntInSD.com, HuntInSouthDakota.com, 1800SDakota.com, SDVisit.com, MediaSD.com, FilmSD.com and TourSDakota.com.
Governor’s Tourism Advisory Board Held Board meeting in Deadwood. Group was welcomed to Deadwood by Chamber director who briefed the group on the building projects going on in Deadwood. Other updates were given by Tourism director on revenue and budget, Disney Training, travel show booth research, welcome signs, in-depth economic impact research, Trip Planner option on TravelSD.com, and media plan for See South Dakota Week. Group was updated on Black Hills Central Reservations by their CEO and their annual report was distributed. Board received updates on peak season campaign and discussed options for campaign elements for the shoulder season. Board would like to see the ethanol coupon offer continued and a campaign targeting families to travel during their school breaks. Tourism will research school calendars. Tourism’s May Monthly Status Report Page 6 The next meeting is planned for Watertown, September 6 and 7.
Independence Day Celebration Completed flyer design and ordered 10,000 for distribution by partners.
Participated in conference call with committee for the Mount Rushmore Independence Day Celebration.
Contacted vendor and finalized contract for the fireworks’ satellite relay.
Interns Summer interns include: Troy Miller from Sioux Falls, a senior at South Dakota State University, majoring in journalism and working with Creative on photography projects. Jenna Everson from Pierre, a sophomore at South Dakota State University, majoring in biology and working with Visitor and Industry Relations. Matthew Fickbohm from Pierre, a senior at the University of South Dakota, majoring in accounting and history and working with Trade Sales Group Tour/International. Shayla Waugh from Hulett, Wyoming, a senior at South Dakota State University, majoring in journalism and working with Media/Public Relations. Jon Kotilnek from Pierre is a returning intern working on research projects. Jon is a recent graduate of South Dakota State University majoring in Political Science and with be attending Marquette University Law School in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Governor’s Buffalo Roundup Committee met to discuss the print pieces for the event and tours to research. Will design “Save the Date” postcards for mailing in early summer.
Began developing media invite lists.
Great Events 2006 Fish Days, June 2-4, Lake Andes: Developed and will run five 30 second radio spots per day for 15 days during drive times from May 18 through June 1 on Sioux City (KSEZ), Norfolk (KUSO), Norfolk (KEXL), and O’Neill (KBRX). Placed event information on TravelSD.com. Drafted and sent a press release to in-state media.
Oz Festival/Dakota Heritage, June 9-10, Aberdeen: Placed newspaper display ads in Bismarck Tribune, Fargo Forum, and Sioux City Journal. Developed and will run five radio spots per day for 15 days during drive times from May 25 through June 8 on Bismarck (KQDY), Fargo (KRVI), and Sioux City (KSUX). Placed event information on TravelSD.com.
Black Hills Overdrive, Black Hills, June 9-18: Have placed all ads. Placed event information on TravelSD.com.
Corn Palace Stampede Rodeo, July 13-16, Mitchell: Forwarded poster design to local committee for review. Ordered event buttons for Information Center staff to wear. Placed event information on TravelSD.com.
Tourism Office Funding Deadwood gaming revenue deposited for April was down 0.9 percent at $207,376, as compared to $209,232 for April 2005. The tourism tax deposited for April was up 5.1 percent at $200,509, as compared to $190,765 for April 2005. The deposits in FY06 for gaming and the tourism tax are $7,187,514, as compared to $6,677,049 for FY05. This is an overall increase in revenue of 7.6 percent when comparing the same time period in FY05.