With an eye on rising fuel costs and a shaky economy, Cayuga County tourism organizations are remaining upbeat while making extra efforts to attract visitors who might otherwise pocket dwindling dollars.
Chet Susslin / The Citizen
A local station displays prices well above $4 per gallon with Owasco Lake in the background. The tourism industry statewide is stepping up marketing efforts to help maintain business despite the high cost of fuel this summer.
A local station displays prices well above $4 per gallon with Owasco Lake in the background. The tourism industry statewide is stepping up marketing efforts to help maintain business despite the high cost of fuel this summer.
“Obviously, there are no hard facts on how this area will be affected,” said Meg Vanek, Cayuga County Convention and Visitor's Bureau director. “Larger groups are thinking that increasing fuel prices will not necessarily stop travel.”
“If people are going to spend $25 more for gas to go on vacation than they have in the past, they will drive,” she said.
But how much visitors spend once they get here is of greater concern.
In 2006, the most recent figures available, tourists in Cayuga County spent $84.3 million: $21.8 million for lodging and $18.42 million for food. Figures for 2007 might be comparable since both years had no significant rises in fuel or economic decline.
“It's really going to be a little bit of a wait-and-see,” Vanek said.
The American Automobile Association noted a slight nationwide decrease in Memorial Day holiday travel, at 0.9 percent, with 83 percent traveling by car. The AAA Web site's “fuel price find” link lists cheapest area gas stations to most expensive. It also links hotel booking sites and gives “better mileage” Trip Tik travel routes to bypass congested areas and travel at constant speeds.
Recent postings on the AAA site show an average gas price per gallon in the Auburn area of $4.037 compared to last year's $3.113.
Vanek said the Cayuga County tourism bureau this year has shifted its target to people living within a 200-mile radius.
“We used to market to people 500 miles away,” she said. “People are coming from a lot shorter distances just to have the feeling of getting away.”
The Pleasant Beach Hotel on Sodus Bay, she noted, recently booked reservations for people as close as Rochester.
At the end of April, Cayuga County began its television campaign, the “Lake Effect Scene,” on Channel 10 and the Travel Channel for Rochester area viewers, stressing good “lake effects,” psychological and physical advantages of coming to the Finger Lakes. It spent about $5,000 for ads on the two stations through mid-June and $1,000 more with the Finger Lakes Alliance.
Cynthia Kimball, president of the Finger Lakes Tourism Association, said 14 counties were working to advertise to areas, including Canada, within a five-to-eight-hour road trip, or about 400 miles.
So far, she said, destinations are doing well.
“From what we hear, on Memorial Day, everyone was pleased with the numbers and there was a slight year-over-year increase,” she said. “Everyone is holding with last year's figures.”
The Cayuga County travel bureau is wooing Canadians with the present difference in the dollar. It has sent staff to Ottawa and Toronto to meet with the press, although Toronto visitors tend to go to the Niagara Region and Rochester.
“Shopping and golf is what they want,” Vanek said, “ and we have 11 public golf courses in Cayuga County.”
Canadians spend $900 compared to other international travelers' $4,000 yearly in the U.S., the U.S. Commerce Department says. Yet, Canadian visits are up nationally by 18 percent compared with last year.“
Peter Wisbey, director of the Seward House in Auburn, a major local tourist attraction, expressed concern over rising fuel prices because visitors to the site are often bussed in from as far away as central New Jersey, Philadelphia, and New York City, and attendance spikes in the summer.
That said, the season is off to a strong start.
“We've just finished having our most successful May ever,” Wisbey said.
Coaches typically book in the fall and then fill up. If they don't fill, they cancel. But Wisbey said, “We haven't seen a drop-off in coach visitations, and I don't think we've had any cancellations.”
“So far we've had numbers above those in 2006,” he said. “We might do very well if things hold up, probably with the local traveling public.”
Last year Seward House saw 12,300 visitors, with 13,000 the year before, Wisbey said. Lots of local community programming draws area tourists.
Wisbey said this year ads are being directed to Rochester, Syracuse, and Ithaca for day trips.
Tracie Saltonstall, of King Ferry Winery, said tourism to her business has definitely been affected by gas price increases, more with out-of-state customers.
“Sales have fallen by about 10 percent,” she said, “but we still have lots of local customers.”
She noted that wine sales to restaurants and liquor stores have also slowed.
“People are feeling the pinch,” she said.
“Some of the wineries are noticing a decline in attendance, where others are noticing the same amount of customers,” said Cathy Millspaugh, executive director of the Cayuga Wine Trail. “In both circumstances, though, there has been an increase in group attendance, either arriving in vans, limos or buses.”
Millspaugh said two new bus tours are developing: Fitzgerald Wine Tours starting in Ithaca, a company that has been around, and Seneca Wine Tours, developed by the Seneca County Development Economic Agency, beginning June 21.
“This bus tour has three different wine tours visiting five or six Seneca County wineries,” she said. “Group visitation is definitely the trend.”
Efforts to combat the impact of rising fuel costs can be seen statewide.
The “I Love New York” program is partnering with more than 215 lodging properties by offering money-saving getaways: two nights with a third night free and with Amtrack and Enterprise Rent-A-Car to make state travel convenient. Travelers can save 20 percent on fares to all state destinations served by Amtrak and get a 5 percent discount on Enterprise car rentals at Amtrak and MTA Metro North Railroad Station stops through Labor day weekend.
“We know that now, more than ever, vacationers are looking to get the most out of their travel dollars, seeking to beat prices at the gas pump with travel opportunities close to home,” Thomas Ranese, chief marketing officer of I Love New York, said in a press release.
Staff writer Kathleen Barran can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 238 or kathleen.barran@lee.net
“If people are going to spend $25 more for gas to go on vacation than they have in the past, they will drive,” she said.
But how much visitors spend once they get here is of greater concern.
In 2006, the most recent figures available, tourists in Cayuga County spent $84.3 million: $21.8 million for lodging and $18.42 million for food. Figures for 2007 might be comparable since both years had no significant rises in fuel or economic decline.
“It's really going to be a little bit of a wait-and-see,” Vanek said.
The American Automobile Association noted a slight nationwide decrease in Memorial Day holiday travel, at 0.9 percent, with 83 percent traveling by car. The AAA Web site's “fuel price find” link lists cheapest area gas stations to most expensive. It also links hotel booking sites and gives “better mileage” Trip Tik travel routes to bypass congested areas and travel at constant speeds.
Recent postings on the AAA site show an average gas price per gallon in the Auburn area of $4.037 compared to last year's $3.113.
Vanek said the Cayuga County tourism bureau this year has shifted its target to people living within a 200-mile radius.
“We used to market to people 500 miles away,” she said. “People are coming from a lot shorter distances just to have the feeling of getting away.”
The Pleasant Beach Hotel on Sodus Bay, she noted, recently booked reservations for people as close as Rochester.
At the end of April, Cayuga County began its television campaign, the “Lake Effect Scene,” on Channel 10 and the Travel Channel for Rochester area viewers, stressing good “lake effects,” psychological and physical advantages of coming to the Finger Lakes. It spent about $5,000 for ads on the two stations through mid-June and $1,000 more with the Finger Lakes Alliance.
Cynthia Kimball, president of the Finger Lakes Tourism Association, said 14 counties were working to advertise to areas, including Canada, within a five-to-eight-hour road trip, or about 400 miles.
So far, she said, destinations are doing well.
“From what we hear, on Memorial Day, everyone was pleased with the numbers and there was a slight year-over-year increase,” she said. “Everyone is holding with last year's figures.”
The Cayuga County travel bureau is wooing Canadians with the present difference in the dollar. It has sent staff to Ottawa and Toronto to meet with the press, although Toronto visitors tend to go to the Niagara Region and Rochester.
“Shopping and golf is what they want,” Vanek said, “ and we have 11 public golf courses in Cayuga County.”
Canadians spend $900 compared to other international travelers' $4,000 yearly in the U.S., the U.S. Commerce Department says. Yet, Canadian visits are up nationally by 18 percent compared with last year.“
Peter Wisbey, director of the Seward House in Auburn, a major local tourist attraction, expressed concern over rising fuel prices because visitors to the site are often bussed in from as far away as central New Jersey, Philadelphia, and New York City, and attendance spikes in the summer.
That said, the season is off to a strong start.
“We've just finished having our most successful May ever,” Wisbey said.
Coaches typically book in the fall and then fill up. If they don't fill, they cancel. But Wisbey said, “We haven't seen a drop-off in coach visitations, and I don't think we've had any cancellations.”
“So far we've had numbers above those in 2006,” he said. “We might do very well if things hold up, probably with the local traveling public.”
Last year Seward House saw 12,300 visitors, with 13,000 the year before, Wisbey said. Lots of local community programming draws area tourists.
Wisbey said this year ads are being directed to Rochester, Syracuse, and Ithaca for day trips.
Tracie Saltonstall, of King Ferry Winery, said tourism to her business has definitely been affected by gas price increases, more with out-of-state customers.
“Sales have fallen by about 10 percent,” she said, “but we still have lots of local customers.”
She noted that wine sales to restaurants and liquor stores have also slowed.
“People are feeling the pinch,” she said.
“Some of the wineries are noticing a decline in attendance, where others are noticing the same amount of customers,” said Cathy Millspaugh, executive director of the Cayuga Wine Trail. “In both circumstances, though, there has been an increase in group attendance, either arriving in vans, limos or buses.”
Millspaugh said two new bus tours are developing: Fitzgerald Wine Tours starting in Ithaca, a company that has been around, and Seneca Wine Tours, developed by the Seneca County Development Economic Agency, beginning June 21.
“This bus tour has three different wine tours visiting five or six Seneca County wineries,” she said. “Group visitation is definitely the trend.”
Efforts to combat the impact of rising fuel costs can be seen statewide.
The “I Love New York” program is partnering with more than 215 lodging properties by offering money-saving getaways: two nights with a third night free and with Amtrack and Enterprise Rent-A-Car to make state travel convenient. Travelers can save 20 percent on fares to all state destinations served by Amtrak and get a 5 percent discount on Enterprise car rentals at Amtrak and MTA Metro North Railroad Station stops through Labor day weekend.
“We know that now, more than ever, vacationers are looking to get the most out of their travel dollars, seeking to beat prices at the gas pump with travel opportunities close to home,” Thomas Ranese, chief marketing officer of I Love New York, said in a press release.
Staff writer Kathleen Barran can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 238 or kathleen.barran@lee.net
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Post your comment - click hereThere are 3 comment(s)
TommyO wrote on Jun 8, 2008 8:33 PM:
Vacations are out of the question to a regular family other tha local attractions, maybe. Until our State & Federal Gov. decides to care about us instead of all the so called needy bloodsucker overseas all Americans should be screaming in the faces of our corrupt state & fedreal legislators, congressmen etc. & asking this question!
Is it legal to feed & clothe the kids next store & ignore my own children? If you did that you would be arrested by the so called social services system. Imagine that! "
karl wrote on Jun 8, 2008 9:40 AM:
They are the FIRST to jack their prices up by ridiculous amounts--the one on State Street is a FULL TWELVE CENTS MORE expensive than the "no name" 500 feet right down the road!
BOYCOTT EXXON/MOBIL! "
tome8689 wrote on Jun 8, 2008 9:23 AM: