Convention & Visitors B Qtrly RDUB JQUE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
CONVENTION AND VISITORs BUREAU
MEMO
To:
Terry Duggan lVlayor
Mike Van Milligen, City Manager
Jan Hess, Administrative Assistant
Dubuque County Supervisors
City Council Members
Pr:
Greg Malm; Chair
Sue Czeshinski, Director
Re: Quarterly Report--January through Apri 2001
Date: April 18, 2001
The DubuqUe Convention & Visitors Bureau has been extremely busy this first
quarter working to attract individuals, groups, meetings, and-conferences to ~the
Dubuque area. First quarter was slow for individual travel dueto the economy
and difficult weather conditions. However, intemet inquir'~es continue to shew a
-strong response for Dubuque as a travel destination.
The Independent Traveler Marketing Committee has placed ads in Chicago,
Milwaukee, and the Des Meines newspapers and online to attract visitors to the
area. Dubuque participated in both the Milwaukee and Chicago Boat, Sport and
Fishing Shows. Interest in Dubuque was strong at both Shows. The Ohicago
show decreased its number of days from10 to 5 but attendance was similar to
the 10 day- show bdnging tremendous amount of interest to the Dubuque area.
Over 7,500 pieces of literature was distributed over the5 day period. The
Milwaukee Show was a little slower then usual yet there still was a lot of interest
in Dubuque. At this show the Dubuque Convention & Visitor~ Bureau
representatives distributed 5,000 pieces of information such as Visitor Guides
and assorted brochures from member participants.
Group Tour Marketing Committee---CVB Tourism Marketing Manager Linda
Hatcher attended her first American Bus AsSOciation Convention in Baltimore,
MD: The American Bus Association Convention was the best Show the Bureau
has had at that marRetplace in history generating over 33 appointments. Typically
a show this size would generate 18-20 appointments. The Bureau promoted
Amedca'sRivei-andexisting attractions at this show. The Bank Travel
Management Show was also held during first quarter. This is the show of
National Bank Club Planners. The Bureau had 35 appointments at this 'show'and
received leads from air the Bar)lc-Club attendees as a resL~lt ~f.buying into the
', - · . ' ~l~ow The Bureau a sopla~e(j a;n.sadin'tbe National Tbu~ A~ociati0n Couder
', ~agazlnef~rMaY20dlfeatueng Dubuque'as a [rave de§t nat on for tour
operatoes.
.... Committe meet prora
7the' cenventiOn Marketing e continues to arid develop otions
for Dubuqu~ as a trave destination: $ome'comm tree me~bef, s at[ended the
Affordable-Meet ngs-Show in April with 1 500 meeting planners at Chicago's
Navy Pie~, The Bureau ha~ a booth at th,.e show Vch (~h prOmOted the Field
DreamSwith a'Gh0st Player taking pictui:es with ~eetir~g plann~s as a "h0ok~; t0
bring planners ~o the, Dubuqu~ booth ,wh, ich st~oWeased America's River. ~he~e -
was a tremen~ious amount Of inter;est with, over ! 75 plan hers requestir~g
information abeu. t Dubuque;and profiles of 1 500 meeting planners a~ailable to
members for review and marketing.
The Convention,& VisitOrs Bureau hired a .n. ew,,Convention & Marketing Director;
Ger Shafei" n March, to Cont nue DUbuque s marl~eting ~ffo,rt to bring n~eetings
and cUnferences here'. Ged wili n,,o.t on!y work irf Iowa butlaround the region
market ng Dubuque and America's 'Riverfo~ meetings and conferences of all
types.
Dubuque again hosted the,fowa Wir)ter Gamesin Febrsary. The a'ttendance at
,' this indiCated that Dubuque iS Still a, great l~)cation for t'heS~ ganges. The I~wa
Games are a very popular'wintertime activity for Dubuque. -
The Convent on and Visitors B~reau continueS to work in par[ne[ship with the
City of Dubuque to develop a Directional sigg S~S, tem'fo~ the entire City. '
- ongoing negot at o~s with th~ IoWa Departr~en( of Trar~sp~)rtation t~as I~'een
extremely P, ositive. The DOT spent tim~ in Dubuque?n ~ driving tour along the,'
hghwa,~ s~§tem inc~ cat ng that most's :gn locations v~ere'fav0rable Engineering
staff members a ong ~,ith the Convent on & Visitors Bureau p aced s~ecific sign
locations on a mapand sbnt that tO ttie DoT for their final c~nsider~tibn and
budgeting for:the next fiSca year The'Bureau is currently waiting for a~res'ponse
On that reqUest. Th~ presentation wasma(~e to City-COUnc Jn ear y'Aprit in
regard to the plans for the'directional sign system in Dubuque,
Ri~erfront Development'activities continue to progress with the America's Rive~r
project. Vision Io~ was~the focus during t~e fir'st quarte~ fo~ the director 0f the
~VB Much time was spent Wbrking Witl~'theViSior{ Iowa Committee from
Dubuque to present the~Amenca s R~ver project to the statew~de committee.
sir~c~that time, a specific ma~'keting committee has b&en Set from[he ' .
Cohvention & VisitorS Bureau volunteers; T,en volunteers have been appointed to
serve on this national'marketing coi-rimittee, The Conv~ention &'Visitors Bureau,
ha~ bee~ 'market ng Amer, ica'¢ -Rifler nat orca ly for tl~e ast nine ,months to ~the
Society of,Amencan Travel Wnter s, M~dwest Travel Writer s Assoc~at~ n,
National Tour Association. Amer can' Bus Association. National Ba, n'l(,Travet
Market Place, Affordable Meetings, 'National Travel Media Showcase, Corporate
Travel Association, Meeting Professionals International and many other-
organizations which have extreme interest in coming to Dubuque as a result of
the America's River project. Attached you will flnd a copy of the America's River
Marketing Plan which was submitted as part of the Vision Iowa Grant. This Plan
is a guide to direct volunteer efforts in marketing America's River regionally and
nationally,
Enclosed you will find a flyer that has been included with Dubuque's Meeting
Planner Guide and the interactive CD-ROM to help promote the many amenities
associated with America's River. This flyer was created in-house with graphics
used through the Vision iowa project asa marketing ~)iece to promote America's
Riverto interested tour operators and meeting planners. ~
The Hospitality Committee continues to meet to develop customer service
training opportunities for service industries in the Dubuque area. A t~o year plan
has been developed by the Hospitality Committee to address the needs of
tourism related businesses and to educate Dubuque as a whole on the
importance of tourism and the importance to being friendly to incoming travelers
as Dubuque will see a tremendous influx in visitation due to America's River. The
Convention & Visitors Bureau will implement this two year program beginning in
May 2001.