Growing Together

Alex Ogburn

Chairman of the Board, Cape Chamber

Colleagues,

On Friday, March 22, the Chamber hosted our 2024 Annual Dinner. For those who were able to attend, there were several differences from years gone by. These differences had a significant impact: the pace of program was increased, beverage lines were complimentary and faster, videos for our awardees enabled multiple community members to efficiently share their insights, and the return of music and dancing to continue the celebration. Many of these changes were led by our Chamber team and came in response to the feedback our members provided. The evening offers an opportunity to commemorate success and achievement within our community. This year, the inaugural Young Professional of the Year award recognized a key segment of our business community, with Jeff Rawson of Rust Media receiving the recognition. In addition, Laura Younghouse received recognition for embodying the Drury Family Spirit of Entrepreneurship, Jim Riley was honored with the Rush H. Limbaugh Award, and the room Hair Design Studio was acknowledged as the Small Business of the Year.

The Chamber’s greatest value lies in its membership, fostering connections among members both on a personal and professional level. It fosters a deeper understanding of each other’s businesses and strengths, while promoting awareness and support within the community. Together, members of the Chamber collaborate to enhance our community and showcase the beauty of our business community, including the numerous opportunities for both visitors and residents to experience the eclipse on April 8.

Membership is a foundational element of the Chamber’s role, and we all constitute that value individually. The Annual Dinner is the best opportunity for networking among fellow members each year. While we can continue to take advantage of the networking opportunities such as First Friday Coffees, Business After Hours, or YPC events, go ahead and mark your calendars for next year’s Annual Dinner on March 21, 2025.

Chamber Chat

Rob Gilligan

President & CEO, Cape Chamber

Increased Connectivity,

As Alex mentioned in his column, we had a great time at the 2024 Cape Chamber Annual Dinner and certainly enjoyed spending an evening with close to seven hundred of our members that were able to join us for this year’s event! We also had a wonderful time just a couple weekends later at the SEMO 150th Celebration Gala with well over 1,000 in attendance to help wrap up the sesquicentennial year of Southeast Missouri State. Follow those events up with the thousands of guests from all around the world here to witness the eclipse last week, and you have a great run of events and opportunities to engage.

I have noticed over the first four months of 2024 that participation and engagement of our members and the community seems to be increasing. The First Friday Coffee attendance has been about 15-20% larger than the average audience size last year. Several of our programs this spring like the YPC Lunch & Learn or the Women’s Networking events have had sell-out crowds, and we’re on pace to have more than 100 attendees for next week's YPC Summit, almost triple last year’s attendance.

While it would be nice to claim this is in reaction to our renewed focus and strategy to align our events and programs with the strategic plan developed with the help of our members, and that probably has some effect on the engagement; it feels like we have fully recovered from the effects that the 2020 pandemic had on our habits and participation and the opportunity and need to connect with each other in person is stronger now than before. This can be true on both a personal level, but also a business level, as we navigate changing economic conditions and, in some ways, return to an environment more reminiscent of the 90’s and 00’s.

For more than one hundred years, the Cape Chamber has been a leading business organization here in Southeast Missouri. Working to create opportunities for our members, support their work and investments, and provide information, opportunity, and advocacy to enhance the overall business climate. That work is best achieved through partnerships and collaboration, with a focus on bringing a variety of voices, expertise, and insights to the table to help craft a strategy for success. With more than 800 member businesses, organizations, institutions, and individuals, the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce is one of the best ways to be connected to the work that helps build and grow our communities.

On May 7th and 8th, the Cape Chamber Ambassadors will hold their annual spring membership drive, Membership Blitz, to help expand the network and opportunities for connection in the community. As a current member, we hope you feel confident in the value of your annual investment, and if you know of a business or organization that would benefit from becoming more involved feel free to reach out or connect them with our Membership Engagement Specialist, Shelly Kaiser. Together we can continue to connect, collaborate, and cultivate a stronger community and region here in Southeast Missouri.

Let's Grow!

Tourism Talk

Brenda Newbern

Executive Director, Visit Cape 

The 2023 travel year is behind us and the U.S Travel tallies are in. There was a 12-month low in 2023, things ended at 7.9 on a 0-10 scale, but it remained above 2022 levels. The American traveler still has a trip already planned for 2024 and that reflects about 80%. They plan an average of 3.5 leisure trips in the coming year. Travel will be in the budget for a little over 50% of the American travelers. Although one third of American travelers believe that there is no time like the present to travel, the cost of travel weighs heavy on their minds. It must always be weighed out as to whether the trip is too expensive. There are personal financial reasons and the perception of high cost.

The other factor that is in our mist is AI and it assisted about 13% of American travelers in the planning of their trip last year. The prediction is that 59% of all trips will be assisted by AI in 2024. So, it is highly suggested that TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, reels, search engines and the like will be a part of the travel inspirations! And get this, email marketing and podcasts are cited by 10% of American travelers. Create, create, create!!! However, since there is a rise in AI the importance of soft skills will be heightened. Those soft skills in ethics are going to be crucial in trying to preserve authenticity and trust. Interpersonal communication skills, and how to navigate interactions and build relationships will become even more valuable.

The United States remains the world’s most desired place to travel. When it comes to promoting your tourism business – whether you are an attraction, restaurant, museum or hotel, there are times you may feel like you’re all alone. Your Destination Marketing Organization i.e. Visitcape/the Cape Girardeau Convention and Visitors Bureau, wants to distribute your message beyond your own efforts and attract more visitors. We are in your corner and want your business to succeed. As much as you do! Our goal is to get in front of those travelers and help them put Cape Girardeau on their itineraries!