May 13, 2020
COVID Update #11
Lea Filson, Executive Director, See Plymouth
We are beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel. As we forge our way into this ‘new normal’, See Plymouth will continue to pass along pertinent information to the tourism industry. It is so important that we all work together and that we present a great experience to those who visit us. 

You may remember hearing me say that “locals are tourists too.” That has never been more true, because we know our first visitors will be our neighbors both from Plymouth and our own back yard. From there we expect regional and repeat visitors and then new visitors showing up, likely, next year or the one after. We have one opportunity to make them into repeat visitors. Showing our visitors we have opened and followed all protocols to keep them safe and sanitary will be expected by them. There is talk of a certification that businesses can display. There is talk of asking all businesses to post a checklist of how it is staying clean and sanitary. These are things we can begin preparing now.

In addition to making your work plans, when it is time, think of supporting the tourism industry by reserving a room and taking some ‘you’ time to reflect on what we have just experienced. Eat in our restaurants, purchase some treasures and show your Plymouth pride. 
As you watch opening plans being announced by Governor Baker, watch also for information from the new Plymouth Recovery Task Force. The brainchild of Plymouth Chamber Executive Director Amy Naples, great local information will be shared. I am honored to be a member of the task force. We are busy getting a series of meetings ready for anyone who wants to join us as we are work closely with a number of business leaders. You can help!

Please complete this survey either as a business or an individual or both. Here is an article about the group in the Old Colony Memorial. 
Governor Baker has announced a four-phase opening approach for Massachusetts. You can read about it here: 


The staff at See Plymouth is working remotely to get ready for opening what we now know will be a much diminished 2020 season. As Plymouth 400 makes its plans, we will share them with you in these updates as well. We know there will be a lack of funding because our tax returns will be down for three quarters next year. With that in mind, we are researching and applying for grants wherever we can. We want to be able to market all our wonderful activities and events here so that we can help businesses get back on their feet as soon as possible. Please continue reading to learn how we are continuing to promote even through the COVID crises. We monitor what is out there so we can better judge where to promote.

Recent Avenues for Promotion
Earned Media
This is promotion that you do not pay for, received from television shows,
news stories, newspaper articles and radio news. 
Television Show
Designing Spaces segment features a Plymouth couple restoring their home - aired May 10, 2020 in
all U.S. states

News Article
Boston Globe article
with Lea, published
May 8, 2020

Television Show
Weekends with Yankee
Story on the first female
of color in Yale’s Whiffenpoofs…singing a song about Plymouth Rock
Television Show
Diners, Drive-ins,
and Dives features
Blue-Eyed Crab and
Chef Jim Casey
Television Show
Rick Steves Europe
A story about Leiden, Netherlands where he discusses Plymouth Rock in Plymouth, MA
Television Show
Free Thought Matters Interview about separation of church and state beginning with Plymouth Pilgrims
Advertising

Paid for by See Plymouth to promote the destination.
Ads will sometimes include coop advertisers in the placement.
Magazines
  • Yankee Magazine - Best of New England May issue. (See above - bought six months ago) Coop partners with the destination ad include Pilgrim Hall, Discover Quincy, The Inn at Scituate Harbor and Mama Mia’s.
  • To enhance the ad, and give Plymouth a bigger presence, ads were also bought by Plimoth Plantation and the MA Office of Travel & Tourism (MOTT)

By joining together, we were able to have a much larger presence in the print
magazine and on the social media that was part of the purchase.
Social Media
 See Plymouth Ad Campaign 

Brochures
2020 Commemorative Edition - See Plymouth Guide
We have just mailed these to all Plymouth residents, and it is
also online at SeePlymouth.com. Expect to receive it in the mail next week.

STR Hotel Stats from Mass Office of Travel & Tourism
One last note before our articles. Our hotel businesses continue to suffer. Here is the latest information received from our statistician at the MA Office of Travel & Tourism (MOTT). We are going to have to work hard to promote tourism here to normalize our usual tax revenues.

Plymouth County STR Hotel Stats received May 12, 2020
7-Day Occupancy - down 51.4%
Average Daily Rate ADR ($100.92 average) - down 14.7%
RevPar - down 58.6%
Articles
Tourism Review News highlights 7 Ways Travel Will Change

Here's a quick summary:

  • Certificates of Vaccination (ICV) will be required for international travel
  • Personal Protection Kits will be in everyone’s carry-on
  • Checkpoints will be in place to check temperatures and look at ICV
  • Hotels will require more distance – facing away from each other in elevators, for instance
  • Museums will end crowds and accept pre-reservations only
  • Travel insurance will be more expensive with a ‘cancel for any reason’ clause
  • Everyone will travel closer to home and check for open air activities

As we market our destination and your businesses, See Plymouth uses three types of data: user content, technical devices and transactional analysis.
Read why here .


American Bus Association is a vital organization
to our bus traffic
through Plymouth.

Watch why...
Best ( New York Times) article I’ve read yet on contagion and how it works.
Please take time to look at U.S. Travel Association updates. The webinars they give are incredibly helpful, full of latest data, and help you make decisions on your own businesses. 

The studies with tourism statistics, articles, and news are worth the read.
And Because We Don't Want You to Forget to Smile...
Dogs are Zoomers too!
Prepare Your Cat for Back to Work
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