Area Counties Receive $15,000 Grant to Promote Organic Tourism Efforts
Working cooperatively the Tioga, Cortland and Tompkins County tourism offices have been awarded a $15,000 Explore NY Grant to develop and promote "Natural Choices: An Organic and Eco-friendly Tourism Trail in the eastern Finger Lakes Region".
The interest in pursuing a grant that would promote organic options for visitors was based on the dramatic increase in organic food consumption and organic lifestyles that has taken place in recent years. According to the Institute of Food Technologies, between 1990 and 2005 there was a 20% increase in organic product purchases with sales reaching $13.8 billion worldwide.
"The Natural Choices project will be a unique opportunity to tap into that rapidly growing market segment that is interested in pursuing a healthy, organic lifestyle", according to Tioga County Tourism Director Stella Reschke.
Specifically the grant will be used to create and execute a marketing plan that will bring individuals interested in an organic lifestyle to Tioga, Tompkins, and Cortland County - the eastern Finger Lakes Region. The marketing plan will include advertising highlighting the organic opportunities in the tri-county area, printed material to promote and enhance the visits and a website devoted to everything organic in the eastern Finger Lakes.
Ithaca/Tompkins County Convention and Visitors Bureau Director Fred Bonn was quick to acknowledge the cooperative benefits of the project. "With three counties working together it will dramatically enhance the visitor experience by providing a huge variety of organic opportunities to explore."
"Natural Choices" will include everything organic from organic farms tours, restaurants featuring locally grown organic produce, to "green" accommodations and businesses that produce or manufacture natural products. The marketing effort will be yet another opportunity for area tourism promotion agencies to introduce people to New York's premier tourism destination - the Finger Lakes Region.
Cortland County Tourism Director Jim Dempsey was not available for comment for this article.
Farm Stands - A Summer Tradition
Longer days and warmer temperatures are sure signs of summer. It also means the opening of the farm markets and roadside stands season throughout Cortland County.
Interestingly enough, experts are seeing an increased interest in purchasing fruits, vegetables and other food items at seasonal farm markets and roadside stands. There are many contributing factors and one might be found in Bill McKibben's book, "Deep Economy: The Wealth of Communities and the Durable Future". According to McKibben, "the average American meal travels 1,500 miles before it lands on the dinner table, so it is no wonder people are looking for reasonable, in some cases seasonal, alternatives." This has given rise to a whole new segment of the buying public referred to as "locavores", a phrase coined by Jennifer Maiser. It refers to individuals committed to local consumption and reduced buying from big national brands. The benefits of consuming only locally grown produce are many, including shifting the market share back to supporting locally owned agricultural businesses at the same time reducing the environmental impacts associated with overland shipping.
If you plan to be a "locavore" you need to be aware of your options. According to Cornell Cooperative Extension the unofficial farm market and roadside stand season runs from May until October. In May the produce selection is slightly limited - asparagus. But by July and August you have a veritable cornucopia of fruits and vegetables to choose from. Beans to blueberries, peppers to peaches, seasonal produce is exceptional in quality and taste. What are the most popular farm stand purchases? An unscientific survey indicates sweet corn and tomatoes are the big sellers among the vegetables, cherries and peaches among the fruits.
If you are looking for a farm stand on your way home from work and you live in the Homer area, Anderson's Farm Market on Rt. 281 or Davie's Veggies on Rt. 41 are a good bet. Out in the Truxton area you'll find Reake's Country Goods just north of the village on Rt. 13 and at the opposite end of the county visit Jon-Lin Farm on Owego Hill Rd. in Virgil or Wright's Plants and Produce, 5 miles west of Marathon on Rt. 221. In the city of Cortland a favorite stop is Diescher's in front of the old Top's Plaza or on Rt. 11. Of course you can always go for a drive and discover the roadside stand in front of the family farm.
When it's time to shop for your fruits and vegetables during the summer months, think about stopping at a local farm market or roadside stand. You'll get great tasting produce and you will help support our farming community. And if you are wondering what an article on farm markets and roadside stands has to do with tourism - as agri-tourism businesses go, they offer visitors a great taste of life in our part of New York State.
Cortland County Convention and Visitors Bureau Receives Bicentennial Barn Mural Grant
The Cortland County Convention and Visitors Bureau recently received word it will be receiving a $5,500 grant from the New York State Council on the Arts, Decentralization Grant Program, administered regionally by the Cultural Resources Council of Syracuse and Onondaga County, to create a bicentennial barn mural commemorating the founding of Cortland County in 1808.
The idea originated a number of years ago when local art teacher Richard Mitchell, then a member of the Cultural Council of Cortland County Board of Directors, suggested a barn mural would make an interesting project.
"The concept of a barn mural seemed like a great way to help commemorate our county's bicentennial" according to Cortland County Convention and Visitors Bureau Director Jim Dempsey, "Cortland has a history as a farming community and a bicentennial barn mural will incorporate our agricultural heritage, local history and the visual arts all in one project."
Working together the Cultural Council of Cortland County and the Cortland County Convention and Visitors Bureau have formed a committee to oversee the project. To date the committee has commissioned a local mural painter to develop designs and once the committee makes its selection work will start on the mural.
The mural will be painted on a barn that has been graciously offered by Mr. Chuck Lacey. Located on Weaver Rd., adjacent to Rt. 11, the barn is visible to traffic entering the City of Cortland from the south.
Work is expected to start on the barn mural this summer and completed in plenty of time for the County's Bicentennial celebration in 2008.
Study Shows Cortland Repertory Theatre is a Tremendous Community Asset
Just as the local tourism industry is made up of various partners, the economic impact of each partner varies. A recent economic impact study of Cortland Repertory Theatre, done by the SUNY Cortland Economic Department with the support of the Cortland County BDC-IDA, shows just how substantial our theatre's economic impact is on the community.
The study shows there are four distinct segments of Cortland Repertory Theatre that contribute to the total impact: overall theatre operations, employees, the Theatre Guild and audience members. Audiences would probably be the first thing people think of in terms of economic impact. But even when you combine ticket sales and expenditures like restaurant visits, it is still a relatively small piece of the pie, accounting for 7% of the total impact at roughly $71,000.
The employees actually contribute a larger share then the paying customers. A seasonal staff of more than 100 professional actors, directors and technical people redistributes a substantial amount of their salaries back into the community. Taking into account food, lodging and other expenses, approximately $130,000 is generated by employee spending, accounting for 12% of the theatre's economic impact.
It is the theatre's operating expenses that contribute the "lion share", 75% of the economic impact. When you think in terms of what it takes to put on one performance, set design and construction, costuming, technical support, advertising, administrative costs, and you multiply that by a six show season, the amount of money expended is substantial. When you consider CRT is an annual operation with year round expenses, it isn't surprising that theatre operations generate an economic impact of more than $800,000.
Theatre discussions usually tend be about quality of performances, contribution to the genre or any number of creative aspects. These discussions are valid and important, but it is equally as important to recognize the impact the theatre makes as a local business. In the case of Cortland Repertory Theatre, the Economic Impact Study prepared by the SUNY Cortland Economics Department shows Cortland Repertory Theatre is a business that has a $1.7 million impact on the regional economy, which is a good reason to support the theatre and wish it many years of continued success.
Travel Trends in the Year Ahead
Predicting trends can be a tricky business. If they come to pass you are considered an expert in the industry, miss the mark and you don't know what you are talking about. Fortunately, Randall Travel Marketing of Mooresville, North Carolina, has a great track record when it comes to predicting travel trends and they are willing to share their insights. Based on 2006 travel data here are some predictions that could eventually impact our local tourism industry.
Based on last year's information, it will be a good year to be in the hotel business. Last year occupancy rates, average room rate and revenue per room all increased. They will continue to increase in the coming year.
Baby Boomers are entering their sixties and travel tops the list of things they like to do. And the best part is they have the discretionary income and the time to do all the traveling they like.
At the other end of the age spectrum, youth and student travel is on the increase. Young people are booking more expensive trips, using technology to do it and demanding more from their travel experience.
"Time Poverty" - the generalized feeling that there is not enough time to do everything we would like to - will impact travel decisions. Travelers want to simplify their lives as much as they can by identifying their area of interest and purchasing their vacation preplanned. In an interesting side note, in a recent Expedia survey, 30% of the respondents said they do not use all of their vacation days.
The "Trip of a Lifetime" concept is also on the increase. Individuals are banking their vacation time and money for several years in order to take that month's vacation they have always dreamed of, whether it's exploring New Zealand or taking cooking lessons in the south of France.
Of surprise to no one is that the internet will continue to grow as the number one source for travel planning and purchases. 79 million Americans used the internet to find travel information in 2005 and it will continue to grow. So, if you don't have a presence on the internet, you are losing business. If you need some convincing, travel is the number one online retail category and will continue to grow, according to the Travel Industry Association of America.
Some additional trends to watch - grandparents traveling with their grandchildren and extended families is on the rise. And finally, nature related travel will see anywhere from a 10% to 30% increase in the coming year as people reconnect with the environment.
Good information? It is, if you can use it to get ahead of the curve and tie the information into your marketing plan. A plan that we can then use to help bring visitors to our area.
You Meet the Nicest People When You Travel
On Saturday, May 13, the Cortland County Convention and Visitors Bureau participated in a "See America Week" promotion at the Gateway Visitors Information Center, located on Interstate 81 south of Binghamton.
"See America Week" is a national effort to promote the tourism industry. It is also intended to make the traveling public aware of the various attractions and events that are available along their route.
Over 20 tourism agencies and attractions set up their booths for the event with over 3,500 people stopping in the Visitor Center during the day. What really separated Cortland County from the rest of the exhibitors was the Convention and Visitors Bureau's co-sponsor for the event, Linani's Cookie Factory of Homer. Not only did Randy Lewis, owner of Linani's, donate a day's supply of cookies to share with hungry travelers, he also helped man the booth. The chance to sample some great homemade cookies provided a terrific opportunity to talk with people and to promote the Village of Homer and Cortland County as a great place to visit.