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Bed tax revenues up, other tourism indicators down
By Richard Reeder
This document was published online on Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Tourism numbers in Cody are a mixed bag this summer.
Park County Travel Council marketing director Claudia Wade told the council Thursday that lodging tax collections are up.
“Right now lodging tax collections are up $100,000,” Wade said. “And we don't have all the numbers from Yellowstone, so we don't have a real feel for where we really are.”
The lodging tax is up despite many venues being down in visitation.
“The BBHC is down about four percent and the Nite Rodeo is down 1-2 percent,” Wade said. “Yellowstone Park overall is down, but the east gate is up.”
And Yellowstone Regional Airport manager Bob Hooper said air travel is off.
“In July we had 3,367 enplanements,” Hooper said, for about a 5 percent decline.
Those numbers don't include private travel at the airport.
“Private fuel sales are up 48 percent,” he said. “There are private planes coming and going and each one usually has three or four people on it.”
Wade asked if the increase was in gallons or just sales based on rising fuel prices.
“Those are gallons of gas being sold figures,” Hooper said. “And that increase doesn't include fuel sales to commercial flights.”
Hooper said rental car days also are down.
“We've had 4,647 rentals - that's down four percent,” he said. “The companies say they have the same number of rentals, but they are just for fewer days than past years.”
Air travel consultant Rick Wilder of Denver told PCTC members they need to create a marketing strategy and work with the airlines to promote Cody.
“We've done well the last three summers in that the Cody Yellowstone Air Service Organization (CYASO) hasn't had to pay out any revenue guarantees,” he said. “The revenues (paid) have been for the winter months.
“But we have some real competition for summer visitors and we need to find ways to attract more fliers,” he added. “Some destinations have created special flights and they are doing well.”
Wilder said Colorado airports and destinations are booming.
“In Colorado the state gave communities the ability to create a tax f r airline revenue guarantees,” he said. “And local airports have created marketing plans with the airlines that have helped increase travel.
“The Gunnison/Crested Butte airport had more than 42,000 enplanements last year,” he added. “They've taken advantage of the revenue guarantees and are flourishing.”
Wilder said jet service and possibly bigger jets would help the Cody market, but there needs to be an emphasis on attracting summer travelers.
“Park County is fueled by tourism and we need to decide which way to go,” he said. “Competition will make us grow or we'll see a trend down.
“We need to grow air travel by developing a real marketing strategy and model,” he added. “If we get enough traffic, then the airlines will be able to use larger planes and fly more in the mid-day as opposed to only early morning and evening.”
The council will discuss the possibility of a marketing plan with officials from Delta and United airlines as they begin planning for next year.
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