More Than 100 in Tourism Industry Attend Northern NH Tourism Conference

More than 100 members of the tourism industry attended the second annual Northern New Hampshire Conference on Tourism held at Mountain View Grand Resort & Spa in Whitefield. Jeff Bercuvitz, an expert on community engagement, provided the keynote address. He discussed how to develop innovative partnerships. The second annual conference, which featured networking, interactive programming, and workshops, was a collaboration among the NH Grand, the Northern Forest Canoe Trail and the Women's Rural Entrepreneurial Network (WREN).

We are thrilled with another very successful, well-attended, and inspiring and dynamic conference, said Marilinne Cooper, executive director of WREN and a co-sponsor of the event.

Cathy Conway, vice president of economic development for the Northern Community Investment Corporation, provided an update on New Hampshire Grand activities during the conference. She pointed out that the Northern Community Investment Corporation had just received confirmation on a $200,000 grant from the Northern Border Regional Commission. The NH Grand will use grant funds to help construct visitor kiosks and signage throughout Coos County. 

These are important in continuing our successful efforts to bring more visitors to Coos County and continue to help us tap into the economic benefits of tourism in this region.  We also believe it will help support job creation and retention, said Conway. As many of you know, tourism is one of the region's leading economic drivers; and these signs and kiosks will help tell the visitor how to move around the county and discover all that it has to offer. It will benefit the local communities in beautification efforts, increase ease of access and improve visitation for local businesses and attractions. Right now the goal is to have the kiosks located throughout Coos County from Route 3 in Pittsburg to Route 3 in Twin Mountain. The easier it is for visitors to find attractions and amenities, the longer they will stay, and the more they will spend.

In addition, Conway pointed out the following New Hampshire Grand successes:

    Over the past two years, the revenue from rooms and meals tax in Coos County has seen a 10 percent increase, some of which may be attributable to the marketing efforts of NH Grand.  Coos County is the only county in New Hampshire to see that increase. This is significant.
    NH Grand has 13 Certified Grand Adventures to date, with the goal of reaching 25. 
    NH Grand has 27 Best of New Hampshire Grand Businesses in the categories of Dining, Retail, and Arts and Entertainment.
    NH Grand has provided 13 businesses with technical assistance, including Dube's Pittstop in Pittsburgh.  Dube's has done a phenomenal job of improving their facades and have realized increased foot traffic through their doors.
    NH Grand works with all Coos County Chambers of Commerce.  The Chambers now have individualized logos and websites that have the same look and feel as New Hampshire Grand for a unified approach.
    NH Grand reaches nearly 500 people in Coos County through its monthly Northern NH Business Insider newsletter to update them on NH Grand; and nearly 900 potential visitors every month with its Grand Views e-newsletter.
    NH Grand has more than 850 friends on our Facebook page, and we regularly connect with 365 people on Twitter with photos and news on visiting northern New Hampshire.
    Through our work with Montagne Communications, our pr agency, more than 400 stories have been published on Northern NH representing more than $1 million in earned media value.  Stories on the region have appeared in The New York Times, The Boston Globe, The Boston Herald, Travel + Leisure, USA Today, and many more statewide and online media outlets.

Helping our North Country businesses develop successful partnerships is key to this conference, said Cathy Conway, vice president of economic development for the Northern Community Investment Corporation.  Our businesses benefit greatly by the ability to collaborate, network and learn about the opportunities that are available to them.  By making connections and learning about marketing, communications, and partnership, we believe this forum will continue to be an important asset to North Country businesses.

Phoebe Backler, New Hampshire field coordinator for the Northern Forest Canoe Trail said, It was gratifying to see the diversity of participants this year. Non-profit staff, government officials and small business owners all came together to learn and discuss new strategies for drawing visitors to the North Country.

NFCT is a 740-mile inland paddling trail tracing historic travel routes across New York, Vermont, Quebec, NH and Maine. Through trail stewardship, wilderness youth programs and economic development initiatives, NFCT works to improve access to the Trail, to encourage its use and support the small businesses and rural communities situated along it.

For more information on the conference, visit www.nnhtc.com.