10 10 06 Chamber reportDuBUQuE
AREA CFIAMBER OF COMMERCE
CONVENTION £~ VISITORS BIJREr\U
Memo
To: Roy Buol ( Mayor
City Council Members
Mike Van Milligen ~ City Manager
Wayne Demmer ~ Chair
Dubuque County Supervisors
Mary Ann Specht ~ Administrative Assistant
Denise Dolan ~ Dubuque County Auditor
Fr: Jim Normandin ~ Convention Et Visitors Bureau Board Chairman
Sue Czeshinski ~ Convention &t Visitors Bureau Director
Re: Convention and Visitors Bureau ~ Quarterly Report
Dt: 10 October 2006
The Dubuque Convention and Visitors Bureau had a productive 3~d quarter creating new
partnerships, developing new marketing campaigns, hosting international media,
promoting tourism on the federal level and increasing sales activities to push for
additional business to the Dubuque area.
Marketing Partnership Launched
The Dubuque Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Galena Chamber of Commerce, the
Platteville Chamber of Commerce and the Tri-State Tourism Council partnered this
summer to create a special promotion to attract more consumer travel to the tri-state
area. The campaign featured all three areas while creating one message that
encompassed the area. The campaign highlighted the theme A Trip on a Tank of Gas.
This radio campaign ran in Madison, Rockford, Cedar Rapids and the Quad Cities
promoting what a great value a trip to the tri-states really is. The promotion ran
during July and sent travelers to a website for information where to go and what to
see while in the area. (radio spots included) The campaign was important because of
high gas prices and because the ongoing effort to partner was finally realized!
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Legislative Activities
Travel Leadership Summit was held on Sept 12-13. Iowa Tourism Officials including Sue
Czeshinski and Teri Goodmann attended the Travel Industry Association National
Summit on travel and tourism in Washington DC. The 14 representatives from Iowa
met with Sen. Grassley, and members of the house and Senate Staff to address State
and Federal Tourism issues. The group was well received and made very professional
presentations on behalf of the state of Iowa.
The Iowa Team presented 5 priorities while on the trip which included:
I. Tourism Marketing
Request: Continue funding and support for the Department of Commerce
Tourism Marketing grant programs.
II. Transportation
Request: Continue funding for maintenance and expansion of critical
transportation infrastructure, including critical air connectivity
III. Attraction Development and Education
Request: Continuation of Enhancement Funding through transportation and
heritage area appropriations
IV. Trail and Recreational Activities
Request: Funding for the maintenance and expansion of recreational trails
V. Wayfinding Signage
Request: Legislation to streamline the coordination of Signage regulations
between Federal, State and Local Government.
In addition to the presentation of priorities the committee surveyed our tourism
members and communities throughout the state and asked that any federal requests
for funding be submitted to be put in a booklet for the House and Senate staff. All
submissions were formatted in a consistent manner for easy review by staff members.
This was a very positive step for heightening awareness of Iowa tourism and building
good relationships on the federal level.
Group Sales Committee Efforts Significant
The Group Sales Committee has been extremely busy during the 3~d quarter. Efforts
have included travel shows in Chicago and Des Moines and a sales blitz trip to Des
Moines to generate leads for meetings and conventions. Sates staff have sent many
bids and have conducted many site tours as well. Meetings and conventions are now
returning more frequently to Dubuque because of the great facilities and service
provided while attending conferences here. The Committee has been planning a FAM
Tour for Fall that has been well received as well. Over 20 attendees are already
registered to attend this upcoming trip the end of October. The number of groups
that the Convention and Visitors Bureau has serviced has increased as well. Sales
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Managers and Welcome Center staff have greeted groups, worked registration and
packed materials for many groups during the past 3 months.
The following is a listing of some highlights of activities, groups and accomplishments
achieved during this quarter.
Group Sales Committee Efforts Significant
Destination Showcase, Chicago IL
Des Moines Sales Blitz
ISAE Golf Outing/Booth Sponsor at September Meeting
Upper Midwest CVB
October Hometown Hero Booth at Westside Business PM
Tourism Conference, Ames IA
FAM Tour October 29-30
Recent Rebooked
Iowa Library Association
Iowa Credit Union League
Iowa/Illinois Safety Council
New
Iowa Society of Human Resource Management Association
Iowa Court Reporters Association
Midwest Chapter of the American Planning Association
CVB Welcomes Matt Kostuck
Matt Kostuck is the CVB's new sales manager. Matt is working with regional
conventions and group tours as part of his position with the Bureau. Matt has
background in working with groups from his employment with Noah's Ark Waterpark in
the group sales department and most recently in sales at Circuit City in Madison.
Matt replaces Shane Devine.
International Media Exposure features Dubuque and the Mississippi River
Travel Media from the BBC London Radio came to Dubuque as part of a trip by bike
down the entire Mississippi River. The Journalist assigned to this feature series also
wrote articles on Dubuque for Cyclist Magazine, NPR and the London Times. He left
Dubuque with 4-5 strong stories on the National Mississippi River Museum and
Aquarium, Dubuque River Rides, Casinos and the Grand River Center.
The CVB also hosted 2 French journalists during the past weekend who were
contracted to do a story for an upscale French newspaper. They stayed overnight and
toured Dubuque where they took many photos for their feature.
Iowa Welcome Center has more new products!
Stacy Hubanks has taken over management of the Iowa Products Gift shop and has
ordered additional items to enhance the shop's sales. New stadium blankets with the
Chamber logo are among some of the newest items.
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