Posted on 02/09/2004 6:59:54 AM PST by bc2
Tourism officials seeking $1.5 million and ‘I Love New York' ads in Canada.
By Rick Armon
Staff writer
(February 9, 2004) — Upstate tourism officials are banding together to pressure the state for help in making sure that Canadians are aware of the new ferry on Lake Ontario.
The Spirit of Ontario — a ship capable of carrying about 750 passengers and 220 cars — is to start cruising between Rochester and Toronto at the end of April.
With some critics questioning whether Canadians will hop on board, the tourism officials want the state’s I Love New York agency to target some of its advertising to the province of Ontario.
They also want the state to give at least $1.5 million to local tourism agencies to supplement their efforts to promote Rochester and the Finger Lakes region in Canada.
“We need New York to step up,” said Tim Elie, president of the Greater Rochester Hotel Association.
The participating groups are the Finger Lakes Tourism Alliance, Seaway Trail Inc., the Greater Rochester Visitors Association, the Greater Rochester Hotel Association and six area county tourism offices.
About 25 business and tourism leaders from Rochester and the Finger Lakes will be in Albany on Tuesday, lobbying state officials for money and a commitment.
They said Canadian tourism agencies are planning to spend between $6 million and $8 million on advertising in upstate New York this year, and they worry about this area’s ability to compete successfully for tourism dollars.
But Ellen Flowers, a spokeswoman for the Toronto Convention & Visitors Association, said that figure is much too high.
“We would never spend that kind of money on one market,” she said. The agency is developing its spring and summer program now, and Rochester is always an important target, she said.
Assemblyman Joseph Morelle, D-Irondequoit, chairman of the Assembly’s Tourism, Arts and Sports Development Committee, said it’s important to build awareness about the ferry in Toronto. The state has invested $14 million in the construction of the ship.
“We want to make sure from day one that we’re doing an adequate job of support,” Morelle said.
But with the state facing a budget gap of $4 billion to $5 billion, it might be difficult to find $1.5 million for local tourism agencies, he said.
A study by the Greater Rochester Visitors Association has indicated that for every advertising dollar spent in Canada, at least $33 would be returned in visitor spending and taxes. A $4 million campaign would result in a return of more than $130 million, the study says.
RARMON@DemocratandChronicle.com
By Rick Armon Staff writer
(February 9, 2004) — Upstate tourism officials are banding together to pressure the state for help in making sure that Canadians are aware of the new ferry on Lake Ontario.
The Spirit of Ontario — a ship capable of carrying about 750 passengers and 220 cars — is to start cruising between Rochester and Toronto at the end of April.
With some critics questioning whether Canadians will hop on board, the tourism officials want the state’s I Love New York agency to target some of its advertising to the province of Ontario.
They also want the state to give at least $1.5 million to local tourism agencies to supplement their efforts to promote Rochester and the Finger Lakes region in Canada.
“We need New York to step up,” said Tim Elie, president of the Greater Rochester Hotel Association.
The participating groups are the Finger Lakes Tourism Alliance, Seaway Trail Inc., the Greater Rochester Visitors Association, the Greater Rochester Hotel Association and six area county tourism offices.
About 25 business and tourism leaders from Rochester and the Finger Lakes will be in Albany on Tuesday, lobbying state officials for money and a commitment.
They said Canadian tourism agencies are planning to spend between $6 million and $8 million on advertising in upstate New York this year, and they worry about this area’s ability to compete successfully for tourism dollars.
But Ellen Flowers, a spokeswoman for the Toronto Convention & Visitors Association, said that figure is much too high.
“We would never spend that kind of money on one market,” she said. The agency is developing its spring and summer program now, and Rochester is always an important target, she said.
Assemblyman Joseph Morelle, D-Irondequoit, chairman of the Assembly’s Tourism, Arts and Sports Development Committee, said it’s important to build awareness about the ferry in Toronto. The state has invested $14 million in the construction of the ship.
“We want to make sure from day one that we’re doing an adequate job of support,” Morelle said.
But with the state facing a budget gap of $4 billion to $5 billion, it might be difficult to find $1.5 million for local tourism agencies, he said.
A study by the Greater Rochester Visitors Association has indicated that for every advertising dollar spent in Canada, at least $33 would be returned in visitor spending and taxes. A $4 million campaign would result in a return of more than $130 million, the study says.
RARMON@DemocratandChronicle.com
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