"The underlying logic is simple: the further away a visitor comes from, the longer they tend to stay - and longer stays mean more money flowing into the local economy through lodging taxes, restaurant bills, and retail spending."
"He really emphasized that the SCVA doesn't get tax dollars that are generated on people who are living and working in the county. The SCVA is funded fully through the lodging tax that is collected on hotel rooms and Airbnb stays in the county."
"A jump to 30% occupancy, he projected, would generate roughly $2.69 million in additional sales and lodging tax revenue. A climb to 40% - a figure he said he achieved over eight years while leading tourism efforts in Telluride, Colorado - could mean $8 million more, with $5.6 million of that coming through sales tax alone."
The Sullivan County Visitors Association is pursuing a strategic shift in tourism marketing, targeting visitors from distant cities like St. Louis and Milwaukee rather than day-trippers from New York City. Executive Director Michael Martellon presented an ambitious plan to county lawmakers emphasizing digital advertising over traditional print and trade shows. The strategy recognizes that distant visitors stay longer, generating more revenue through lodging taxes, restaurants, and retail spending. The SCVA is funded entirely through lodging taxes on hotel rooms and Airbnb stays. Currently at 25% occupancy, Martellon projects that increasing to 30% could generate $2.69 million in additional revenue, while reaching 40% occupancy could yield $8 million more, with $5.6 million from sales tax alone.
#tourism-marketing-strategy #digital-advertising #hotel-occupancy #economic-development #catskills-region
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