By Dale J. Venturini
President/CEO, Rhode Island Hospitality Association
We are facing serious budget shortfalls on state and national levels. In this unprecedented era of congressional bailouts and money woes across all industry lines, it has never been more critical on a local, budgetary level to promote tourism and to reinforce drive destinations.
With gasoline prices holding steady below $2.00 per gallon, it is the perfect time for New England states to really aggressively promote tourism throughout the region. It has never been a more affordable option to visit Newport from New Hampshire or to drive to Bar Harbor from Rhode Island and stay for the weekend.
Hotels provide enormous tax benefits to states in the form of occupancy and lodging taxes. In Rhode Island, our hotels provide $16M in taxes to the State. These are crucial dollars to our local economy.
But, as we know, tourism has been as hard hit as any other industry beginning in the last quarter of 2008. According to a recent industry report by STR Global on more than 36,000 hotels, the U.S. hotel industry finished 2008 with a 60.4% occupancy rate, an average daily rate of $106.55 and revenue per available room of $64.37. The occupancy rate was 4.2% lower than in 2007. STR also predicts that the hotel business won’t get better until the second half of 2009.
So, it is vitally important that we all become ambassadors for our state’s tourism industry. Tourism is the second largest industry in Rhode Island, employing more than 67,000 people. According to the RI Economic Development Corporation, every 220 visitors equals a new job in Rhode Island. Tourism’s tax contribution saves every household $1,350.00 in taxes, annually. And, one in every 10 Rhode Islanders has a job in the tourism industry.
With unemployment rates skyrocketing across the nation, the tourism industry is perfectly placed to provide some employment relief. Tourism is an industry that will never be outsourced in any state. We can build cars in Mexico and we can manufacture in China, but our attractions, beaches, hotels and restaurants are fixtures that can only be enjoyed by visiting.
The big push is to Buy American and support America...well, there is no better way to do this than to patronize our great attractions, eat at our restaurants, stay at our hotels and visit our museums, aquariums, and national parks.
Tourism keeps Americans working. Tourism is a vital economic driver. We all know that there is no better way to promote a destination than by word of mouth. I encourage all of you to spread the word about what your own state has to offer. Talk about Maine’s coastline, New Hampshire and Vermont’s skiing, Massachusetts’ great sports teams, Rhode Island’s vibrant arts, and Connecticut’s quaint towns. Encourage those you know and can affect to take that road trip, to patronize hotels and restaurants and to become part of the bailout solution. Consumer confidence has to return and we have to do everything we can as private citizens to help return our country to normalcy.
Tourism dollars are crucial components to every state’s bottom line. And, there are so many fantastic packages to be found all over New England. Be a tourist yourself, bring your family and enjoy a neighboring state’s attractions and of course, recommend Rhode Island. While we are the smallest State, we have some of the best restaurants and hotels in the area and I for one am proud to represent such a vibrant and dedicated industry.
President/CEO, Rhode Island Hospitality Association
We are facing serious budget shortfalls on state and national levels. In this unprecedented era of congressional bailouts and money woes across all industry lines, it has never been more critical on a local, budgetary level to promote tourism and to reinforce drive destinations.
With gasoline prices holding steady below $2.00 per gallon, it is the perfect time for New England states to really aggressively promote tourism throughout the region. It has never been a more affordable option to visit Newport from New Hampshire or to drive to Bar Harbor from Rhode Island and stay for the weekend.
Hotels provide enormous tax benefits to states in the form of occupancy and lodging taxes. In Rhode Island, our hotels provide $16M in taxes to the State. These are crucial dollars to our local economy.
But, as we know, tourism has been as hard hit as any other industry beginning in the last quarter of 2008. According to a recent industry report by STR Global on more than 36,000 hotels, the U.S. hotel industry finished 2008 with a 60.4% occupancy rate, an average daily rate of $106.55 and revenue per available room of $64.37. The occupancy rate was 4.2% lower than in 2007. STR also predicts that the hotel business won’t get better until the second half of 2009.
So, it is vitally important that we all become ambassadors for our state’s tourism industry. Tourism is the second largest industry in Rhode Island, employing more than 67,000 people. According to the RI Economic Development Corporation, every 220 visitors equals a new job in Rhode Island. Tourism’s tax contribution saves every household $1,350.00 in taxes, annually. And, one in every 10 Rhode Islanders has a job in the tourism industry.
With unemployment rates skyrocketing across the nation, the tourism industry is perfectly placed to provide some employment relief. Tourism is an industry that will never be outsourced in any state. We can build cars in Mexico and we can manufacture in China, but our attractions, beaches, hotels and restaurants are fixtures that can only be enjoyed by visiting.
The big push is to Buy American and support America...well, there is no better way to do this than to patronize our great attractions, eat at our restaurants, stay at our hotels and visit our museums, aquariums, and national parks.
Tourism keeps Americans working. Tourism is a vital economic driver. We all know that there is no better way to promote a destination than by word of mouth. I encourage all of you to spread the word about what your own state has to offer. Talk about Maine’s coastline, New Hampshire and Vermont’s skiing, Massachusetts’ great sports teams, Rhode Island’s vibrant arts, and Connecticut’s quaint towns. Encourage those you know and can affect to take that road trip, to patronize hotels and restaurants and to become part of the bailout solution. Consumer confidence has to return and we have to do everything we can as private citizens to help return our country to normalcy.
Tourism dollars are crucial components to every state’s bottom line. And, there are so many fantastic packages to be found all over New England. Be a tourist yourself, bring your family and enjoy a neighboring state’s attractions and of course, recommend Rhode Island. While we are the smallest State, we have some of the best restaurants and hotels in the area and I for one am proud to represent such a vibrant and dedicated industry.
