MAMMOTH LAKES TOURISM INDUSTRY SITE

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MLT Attended the 2015 Visit California Outlook Forum

2015 Visit California Outlook Forum

Mammoth Lakes Tourism attended the 2015 Visit California Outlook Forum this past February. The Outlook Forum is Visit California’s annual strategy session, attended by 500 of the leading DMO, CVB, attractions, and destinations in the State of California. The topics covered were California’s strategic planning for the next 5 years in various international markets, as well as the marketing focus in the other 49 U.S. states. Visit California’s international in-market agencies were in attendance and provided market intelligence on the tending developing in their perspective markets.

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MLT and MMSA Hosts Black Diamond

skiing with Black Diamond, 2015

MLT and MMSA hosted the ownership of Black Diamond, our agency of record in the UK and Ireland. PR and marketing plans for 2015,2016 were discussed, as well as possible partnerships going forward with key media member in the UK, travel trade opportunities, and programs with Visit California and Brand USA.

As a co-sponsor ( with Yosemite) of the UK’s Adventure Film Festival, MLT was provided an update on the 2015 Festival’s success.

Black Diamond is also the agency of record in the UK and Ireland for both Visit California and Brand USA.

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MLT Attended Visit California German Sales Day & World Travel Market

MLT booth, 3

Michael attended both the Visit California German Sales Days and World Travel Market on behave of MLT. Partnering with Visit California, MLT was able to further expand its international exposure in both of these key markets.

Download German Sales Day Recap

Download World Travel Market Overview

MLT booth

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MLT at Top Resa

Top Resa, MLT, California booth

In September, Michael represented MLT at Top Resa, the top industry travel trade exhibition in France / Belgium. 30k travel agents and wholesalers attended the show over 4 days.

Michael’s goal was two-fold: increasing the destination awareness for Mammoth Lakes with the French travel trade industry, and increase the average length of stay of French FIT travelers in Mammoth Lakes from 1 night, to multiple nights.

Michael also conducted 4 print interviews with French publications, and 2 TV interviews with French travel shows while at the exhibition.

160 destinations worldwide were represented at Top Resa. Mammoth Lakes was in the California section of the show. SF, Santa Monica, and the High Sierra were the other destinations within California that had a presence.

After Top Resa, Michael conducted personal sales training with 14 travel agencies (64 agents in total) over 3 days.

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New Research from Visit California Shows the Economic Impacts of Tourism

VCA-research

A new report commissioned by Visit California explains the economic benefits of tourism in each California Assembly and Senate district. With the upcoming election rapidly approaching, this information can be a valuable communications tool for elected officials and influencers at the regional and local level. Data on visitor spending, tax revenues and employment are included.

The report is available for free. To download, or find other valuable Visit California research, visit the “Economic Impact of Tourism to California” section of Visit California’s Latest Tourism Research page.

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Facebook Fans Top 30,000

FB-30K

On Wednesday, July 9, 2014, Edina Ingram, the channel manager for VisitMammoth’s Facebook fanpage topped 30K. Since she took over the VisitMammoth fan page in January 2014, Edina has consistently gotten over 100 likes per post and now gets several hundred as well as comments and shares.

This type of engagement is crucial to the health of our fanpage, as Facebook’s algorithm has changed, it has become more difficult to get in front of fans who have liked your page. Facebook assumes that if fans don;t engage on a consistent basis, then you are not producing interesting content. If you are not producing interesting content, Facebook won’t show your posts to your fans.

Edina has gone beyond the “Like” game and sought to consistently inspire and engage the VisitMammoth Facebook fans.

Additional Resources

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2014-15 ML Visitors Guide Reservations

2014-vgIt’s time to start taking reservations for the 2014/15 MLT Visitors Guide. The 2014/15 edition promises to be the best version yet, with a circulation of 130,000 distributed in over 337 locations by Certified Distribution. Some of these locations include Northern California, Southern California, Reno, Las Vegas, and the entire Westside of the Sierras.

The Visitors Guide is also distributed at 210 locations in Mammoth Lakes and in 50 free standing racks along the 395 corridor.

It is the only piece that Mammoth Lakes Tourism uses for fulfillment both domestically and internationally, and at the numerous Trade Shows MLT attends to promote Mammoth Lakes.

Prices have remained at 2011/12 levels, so the Visitors Guide remains one of the best value for your marketing dollars…..affordable with a massive reach!

 

Space commitments are due 7/9/14!!!!!

Please fill out this Reservation Form and return it to mvanderhurst@visitmammoth.com

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Mono County Economic Development Updates

Road Update

  • Tioga Pass: Yosemite National Park will begin snow removal on Tioga Road on April 16th. (Weather pending) A projected opening date has not been set.
  • Bodie Road/SR 270: Is currently scheduled to open on April 15th (Weather pending)
  • Monitor Pass: Currently open
  • Sonora Pass: Caltrans is projecting to open Hwy 108 before April 20th. (Weather pending)
  • June Lake Loop: Currently Open
  • Lundy Lake Road, Virginia Lakes Road and Rock Creek Road: Projected to be open before fishing opener on April 26th. (Weather Pending)
  • 120 East: Currently open

Tioga Pass – Summer Road Construction

Yosemite National Park has plans to reconstruct Tioga Road starting this summer from Crane Flat to White Wolf. The project has two schedules. Schedule “A” begins at the intersection of Big Oak Flat Road and Tioga Road, and proceeds east for 12.8 miles. Schedule “B” begins at the intersection of Big Oak Flat Road and Tioga Road and proceeds east for 15.0 miles. The project is scheduled to take place over two seasons with a tentative completion in October/November 2015. The details of the project can be found here: https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=6e5b009864a942d41d6fa2203e5c1f29&tab=core&_cview=1
Here are the planned delays once construction commences. The Park Service stated their goal is to begin construction as soon as possible in May of 2014:

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U.S Department of Agriculture Designates Drought Relief

Mono and Inyo Counties are Eligible for State of Nevada Disaster Designation as California Contiguous Counties

On March 5th, 2014, the U.S. Department of Agriculture granted disaster designation for certain counties in the State of Nevada, also including Inyo and Mono Counties in the State of California. This provides nearly automatic approval for assistant in counties that meet the required drought intensity levels. Assistance may include emergency farm loans for actual losses as a direct result of the drought, up to $500,000 for farmers and ranchers who conduct family-sized farming operations. U.S. Small Business Administration will be providing Small Business Administration Economic Injury Disaster Loans to small, non-farm businesses, some private non-profit organizations and small agricultural cooperatives. The deadline for these loans will be November 5th, 2014.

Please visit the USDA website for additional information at www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA.
Or contact U.S. Small Business Administration at 1-800-659-2955, or visit SBA’s website at: www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance.

Mono County Board Waives Permit Fees

Mono County Board of Supervisors approved a resolution to waive permit fees for energy efficiency and alternative energy projects. Projects that qualify for these permit fees being waived are commercial and residential solar, ground space and water conditioning systems with a maximum project valuation of $75,000 each. The program will help create private sector jobs around energy efficiency throughout Mono County for individuals and businesses alike.

For more information on the fees waiver programs, please contact Building Official Tom Perry at 760-932-5433 or tperry@mono.ca.gov