Amador Tourism Council says TOT down in Sutter Creek

Friday, 17 September 2010 06:18

Amador Tourism Council says TOT down in Sutter Creek

Amador County – The Sutter Creek City Council received a report of declining Transient Occupancy Tax receipts in the city, and a corresponding decline in funds given to the Amador Council of Tourism. ACT Executive Director Maureen Funk gave an annual report of activities for 2009-2010 last week, with details of the decline, which occurred between 2008 and 2009. Funk said “regional hotel and motel occupancy continued to decline through 2009, forcing lodging prices downward and lowering TOT receipts.” A study by Dean Runyan Associates said TOT revenues decreased in Sutter Creek by 10 percent from 2008 to 2009. Funk said in fiscal year 2008-09, the Amador Council of Tourism received a total of $12,780 from Sutter Creek. That declined by 45 percent in 2009-2010, with ACT getting a total of just over $7,000, including $5,800 from the city and $1,200 from Sutter Creek Promotions Committee. Funk said 60 percent of the budget was spent on advertising and the council “increased the value of its investment to more than six times, for a total of $137,000.” That included ads in “Sunset,” “Sactown,” and “Sacramento News & Review” magazines; on Capitol Public Radio; in the state visitor’s and travel and recreation guides; and a state fair exhibit. Funk said “media coverage for Amador County has continued to grow,” including a year-long ad on Capitol Public Radio, and ads with Herburger Publications and Sierra Heritage magazine. Funk reported that Amador Council of Tourism’s “website traffic has continued to grow strongly.” She said the new “Sutter Hill Transit Center is open seven days a week,” and as the new tourism council home, it has placed the Council “in a more central location, making it easier for ACT to service visitors and member businesses.” Amador Council of Tourism in the past year participated in travel and trade shows in Los Angeles and London, and had several big partners. Funk said those included the Gold Country Visitors Association, California Travel and Tourism Commission, and Sacramento Convention and Visitors Bureau. Funk said Amador Council of Tourism also “distributed 15,000 copies of the Amador County Travel and Recreation Guide in one year,” with a plan to have the magazine’s next issue ready in time for travel shows in late January 2011. Until then, the council will produce 10,000 copies of a brochure and map. Funk said 2010 so far marked the opening of the new office on Sutter Hill, a social media marketing workshop, and hosting six German journalists, in partnership with the California Travel and Tourism Commission. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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