Dutchess County Tourism hosted a regional tourism conference at the Poughkeepsie Grand Hotel this past week, a themed, semi-annual event last held in 2006. This year’s theme, “Growing Hudson Valley Tourism,” focused on increasing profits by increasing business throughout the Hudson Valley.
More than 110 tourism-dependent businesses from 10 surrounding counties attended the event, along with elected officials and the county executives from Dutchess and Rockland.
The all-day symposium began at 8:30 a.m., and included topics such as “big ideas and small budgets” and “identifying the Hudson Valley visitor and where they come from,” a presentation from Preserve America, a national heritage group, and an update on the upcoming 2009 Hudson-Fulton-Champlain Quadricentennial celebration.
Chief Marketing Executive Thomas Ranese of Empire State Development, Director of Corporate Partnerships for the Newport Harbor Corporation Gail Alofsin, search engine marketing professional David Hoffman of Thompson and Bender, and Vice President of Business Development Sean Fitzgerald of Spectrum Creative Solutions, along with other industry professional, shared techniques on how to increase and maintain tourism in the region.
“We want to hold onto our current market share, and we want people to be ready for the quadricentennial celebration in 2009,” said Mary Kay Vrba, director of Dutchess County Tourism. Vrba joined Dutchess County Tourism in 1994, and for more than a decade she served as the assistant director before becoming the director in 2006.
‘One more day’
Assistant Secretary of the Interior, Fish, Wildlife and Parks, Lyle Laverty, spoke about the Preserve America program and made presentations to Hudson Valley communities who have been awarded the distinctive designation.
“How can we as an agency enhance value as it relates to tourism?” asked Laverty. “One phrase comes to mind – get people to stay one more day. One more day means one more night, another breakfast and another lunch.”
Laverty oversees policies for the National Park Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which combined have a workforce of more than 30,000 employees, and a budget of approximately $3.6 billion. He was formerly a Colorado state parks director, and a regional director and associate deputy chief in the U.S. Forest Service.
Preserve America is a nationwide initiative that encourages communities to preserve their natural and cultural heritage. Through preservation, communities can foster regional identities and local pride, increase local participation in preservation, and strengthen local economies.
“We are happy to have Mr. Laverty with us sharing how Preserve America can support the economic vitalities of our communities and priceless cultural and natural heritage,” said Vrba.
Preserve America recognizes and designates communities that value, protect and celebrate their cultural heritage. As a result, designated communities are eligible to apply for grants through the program and earn national recognition.
“We have, in Dutchess County, many assets and amenities. All of us enjoy working on these projects, and I know all of you take pride in your communities,” said County Executive William Steinhaus (R).
Dutchess County is a designated Preserve America community, along with municipalities Beacon and Beekman.
According to Laverty, four acres of open space is lost every minute throughout the United States. “After looking at the Vanderbilt property today, you can imagine how important that space is to the Hudson Valley.”
Other significant historical sites in the area include the 1869 Bardavon Opera House – New York’s oldest continually operating theater – the Franklin Delano Roosevelt complex and Presidential Library and Museum in Hyde Park, Locust Grove and Eleanor Roosevelt’s Val-Kill retreat.
Dutchess County Tourism, founded in 1984, is a destination marketing organization that brings tourism revenue to area businesses by promoting the assets of Dutchess County.