Provided by Visit Bucks County:
More than 100 members of Bucks County’s tourism and hospitality industry gathered at the Centre Bridge Inn in New Hope on Tuesday to celebrate National Travel and Tourism Week. Visit Bucks County’s board of directors and leadership showcased the economic impact of hospitality, presented Tourism Week Awards, previewed the upcoming consumer marketing campaign and distributed more than $180,000 in grants.
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TOURISM’S ECONOMIC IMPACT
Nationally, according to the U.S. Travel Association, travel generates $2.1 trillion for the U.S. economy and supports 14.9 million jobs—one in every nine jobs. Here in Bucks County, tourism is making a major impact too.
According to Tourism Economics and Visit Philadelphia, visitor spending in Bucks County generates:
- $877.3 million in local economic impact
- $117 million in federal, state and local taxes
- Tourism supports 11,637 jobs locally
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First quarter hotel indicators show positive signs for 2014:
- Occupancy is up 9.4%
- RevPAR is up 2%
- Revenue is up 10.2%
VISIT BUCKS COUNTY TRAVEL AND TOURISM WEEK AWARDS
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During the celebration, the tourism office recognized five outstanding tourism and hospitality professionals. The following individuals and businesses were honored:
Hospitality Leadership Award: Michael Conti, New Hope Winery
Guest Services Excellence Award: Harold Mitchener, Bristol Cultural and Historical Foundation
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Rising Star Award: David Peoples, Hampton Inn Doylestown
Community Service Award: Sesame Place Cares
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Dedicated Partner Award: Eve Moody, Shady Brook Farm
TOURISM GRANT PROGRAM REACHES $2 MILLION MILESTONE
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On Travel Rally Day, Visit Bucks County announced that it has reached the $2 MILLION milestone in its Tourism Grant Program. Instituted in 2008 to assist in the development and enhancement of non-profit tourism product and marketing, grants are distributed every fall and spring. The Tourism Grant is supported from a portion earned from the Bucks County lodging tax.
Spring 2014 recipients are as follows:
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9-11 Memorial Garden of Reflection – $3,000
Artists of Yardley – $3,000
Bristol Cultural & Historical Foundation – $3,000
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Bristol Riverside Theatre – $5,000
Bucks Beautiful – $10,000
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Bucks County Children’s Museum – $3,000
Bucks County Choral Society – $2,000
Bucks County Historical Society-Mercer Museum – $15,000
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Bucks County Playhouse Theatre, Inc. – $12,000
Doylestown Historical Society – $3,000
Friends of Washington Crossing Park – $25,000
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Haycock Historical Society – $1,000
Heritage Conservancy – $8,000
Historical Fallsington, Inc. – $1,000
James A. Michener Art Museum – $25,000
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D&L Heritage (Landmark Towns) – $3,000
New Hope Arts – $10,000
New Hope Celebrates – $3,000
New Hope Chamber of Commerce (First Friday) – $5,000
Newtown Hall Theatre – $5,000
Pearl S. Buck Historic House – $10,000
Pennsbury Society-Pennsbury Manor – $15,000
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Phillips Mill Community Association – $1,000
Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament – $5,000
Snipes Farm & Education Center – $3,000
Tyler Park Center for the Arts – $5,000
Total – $184,000
