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| Interim County Administrator Dan Frank Chairman Wayne C. Speenburgh Legislator, District #2 wspeenburgh@discovergreene.com |
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For Immediate Release: August 20, 2009Greene County Selects Firm to Develop Tourism Action Plan (CATSKILL, New York, August 20, 2009) – The Greene County Legislature passed a resolution last night to hire Tourism Economics, one of the world's leading tourism industry consultants, to develop a results-oriented “Tourism Action Plan” for the county. Greene County received funding from the New York State Office of Community Renewal (OCR) Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Community Planning Program to assist with preparation of the Tourism Action Plan. The plan will examine the current state of the Greene County tourism economy; identify key drivers of the tourism and hospitality sector; develop a tourism projects priority list, which may be used for future state and federal grant applications; and develop a revenue enhancement profile and marketing profile. “The Tourism Action Plan has the potential to be a real game-changer for Greene County,” said Wayne Speenburgh, Chairman of the Greene County Legislature. “This is not just another study. It will focus on performance-based return on our investment. Now, more than ever before, we need to be fiscally responsible and maximize every dollar we can from the county’s investment in tourism.” “It is a major coup for Greene County to be able to engage a consultant of this caliber that has both the global experience and local understanding to help us achieve our goals,” said Warren Hart, Director of Greene County Economic Development, Tourism and Planning. “Tourism Economics has vast experience in providing actionable and credible analysis of our tourism sector, which is a crucial driver of Greene County’s economy,” he noted. A subsidiary of Oxford Economics, which began in London in 1981 as a joint venture with Oxford University’s business college, Tourism Economics has analyzed tourism in more than 20 countries, 10 U.S. states and more than a dozen U.S. cities. Tourism Economics is widely known in the tourism and hospitality industries as they are commissioned annually to quantify the economic impact of tourism for the State of New York and each of its counties. They also examined the economic benefits of the I Love New York campaign. Tourism Economics is partnering on the Greene County Tourism Action Plan with Virginia-based Marshall Murdaugh Marketing, which is considered a top industry consultant for performance-based strategic planning, tourism management and destination development. “Both because of the national recession and where Greene County is today with its tourism industry, this is the absolute best time for us to be aggressive and to take a hard look at what we are already doing and what we should be doing in the future to make sure our money is well spent,” said Karen Deyo, chairman of the Legislature’s Government Operations Committee, who is serving on a special Tourism Action Plan Committee. Legislators Keith Valentine and Larry Gardner are also serving on that committee, along with the staff of Greene County Economic Development, Tourism and Planning. The Action Team will spend substantial time and energy meeting with business and tourism industry sector partners, listening to their concerns and ideas, and ultimately providing a forum to develop consensus on the county’s tourism strategy. “Greene County needs to be smart, hard-nosed and creative about how we can capture more market share,” said Suzanne Oldakoswki, owner of the Bavarian Manor Inn and co-chair of the Greene County Resort & Hospitality Association with Charlie Serro of Pollace’s. “The county is changing and the preferences of travelers are changing as well. While many counties are just realizing the benefits of investing in tourism, Greene County is already ahead of the curve. We fully support the county in this effort.” Tracy McNally, Executive Director of the Greene County Chamber of Commerce, concurred: “Greene County has a lot going for it. The challenge is to look at our special set of circumstances, to pinpoint what we do well and what the opportunities are in this fast-changing world of ours, and then to build on that. The Tourism Action Plan should do just that for us.” Mike McCrary, President of the Hunter Chamber of Commerce, said: “I believe one of the most valuable things to come out of the Tourism Action Plan will be a priority list for the kinds of four-season tourism projects the county should be pursuing. Should we be trying to develop additional tourist anchor attractions, a sports complex, a retail destination or something altogether different? It will be extremely valuable to get expert advice on what will deliver the greatest return on our investment.” Eugene McGrath, Executive Director of the Greene International Golf Association, added: “The Tourism Action Plan should fully demonstrate the positive economic benefits that tourism drivers such as golf, skiing, lodging and resorts bring to the county. This plan will give us hard numbers and projects to rally around. What emerges from this study can really change the course of the county’s future.” The first phase of the Tourism Action Plan should be complete in January 2010. For more information, call Greene County Economic Development, Tourism and Planning at (518) 719-3290 or visit www.GreeneBusiness.com
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Greene County Economic Development, Tourism & Planning
Warren Hart, Director, AICP
411 Main Street Catskill NY 12414 Phone: (518) 719-3290 Fax: (518) 719-3789