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August 2019

Dear Colleagues,  
 
We’re having a wonderful summer at the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism (MOTT) and hope you are too.

On July 31, 2019, Governor Charlie Baker signed the FY20 budget that will help fund tourism efforts throughout the Commonwealth.  MOTT also received an additional $2 million allocation to promote the state’s restaurant industry.  We will be working out the details of this new revenue in the coming weeks and look forward to showcasing our great restaurants. You can find details in our industry news section below.

We send our thoughts and best wishes to ACT&T Chairman Tom Kershaw, who is recuperating from an injury he suffered in July. Be well Tom!   

Thank you for working with us to promote Massachusetts as a top destination for leisure and business travel on a global stage.


Sincerely,

 Keiko Matsudo Orrall
 Executive Director

 

 

Industry Spotlight
Elizabeth Carey
Covering the Gloucester Waterfront
Discover Gloucester‘s Executive Director Elizabeth Carey promotes Gloucester as a premier visitor destination to domestic and international travelers.  Renowned for its coastal beauty and maritime riches, arts and cultural scene, cuisine and seafood and for its storied history, Gloucester is a quintessential destination for visitors seeking a true New England experience ...Read more. 

 

 

By the Numbers

 

Lodging Data for U.S. & Massachusetts: June 2019 vs. June 2018

  • In June of 2019, the Occupancy Rate in MA (78.4%) decreased by 0.9%, compared to June 2018. The Occupancy Rate across the U.S. for June 2019 (73.5%) decreased by 1.3% compared to June 2018.
  • Rooms Sold in MA totaled 2.1 million, an increase of 1.3%. U.S. Rooms Sold grew by 0.6% to 117.7 million.
  • The Average Daily Rate in MA of $212.25 was a 3.7% increase, which was greater than the U.S. ADR growth of 0.9% to $134.52.
  • Revenue Per Available Room (RevPar) increased by 2.7% in MA to $166.31, compared to the 0.4% growth to $98.85 in the U.S.
  • Room Revenue in MA totaled $445.1 million, up 5.3%, and outperformed the U.S. which was up 1.5% to $15.8 billion.

Lodging Data for U.S. & MA: Calendar year to date June 2019 vs. June 2018

  • From January to June 2019, the Occupancy Rate in MA (65.5%) decreased by 1.9% compared to the same period in 2018. The Occupancy Rate across the U.S. grew by 0.1% to 65.9%.
  • Rooms Sold in MA totaled 10.0 million, an increase of 0.5%. The U.S. Rooms Sold increased by 2.1% to 629.3 million.
  • The Average Daily Rate (ADR) in MA of $179.41 was a 2.8% increase, which was more than the U.S. ADR growth of 1.1% to $131.20.
  • Revenue Per Available Room (RevPar) increased by 0.8% in MA to $117.46, and underperformed the 1.2% growth to $86.51 in the U.S.
  • Room Revenue in MA totaled $1.8 billion, up 3.3%. The U.S. was up 3.3% to $82.6 billion.

 

 

Industry News

MOTT receives $2 million to promote the restaurant industry
Governor Charlie Baker has signed the Fiscal Year 2020 state budget into law, which included an additional $2 million to MOTT’s budget for the promotion of the Massachusetts restaurant industry. The fiscal year runs from July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2020. Read more about the FY2020 budget here.   

MOTT awards $6 million to Regional Tourism Councils
MOTT has completed the FY2020 grant cycle for local tourism council assistance grants, awarding $6 million to 16 destination marketing organizations promoting tourism within and to the Commonwealth. For more details on the regional tourism councils grant program, please visit our industry portal.

Big News from THE BIG E
The Massachusetts Building at The Big E holds its Centennial Celebration this fall.  A rededication day is September 16, and this year’s Massachusetts Day is on September 19.  The Big E highlights Massachusetts agriculture, commerce and tourism through informational, educational and retail exhibits. The Fair takes place from September 13 -29.   

 

 

International News

Cynthia McLeod, Assistant City Editor of the Toronto Sun, visited Boston on a press visit this summer. The visit was organized in partnership with Porter Airlines, MOTT, GBCVB and numerous hosts across Greater Boston. The print article, FENWAY GETAWAY: Short stop in Boston can yield a lot, appeared in the Toronto Sun on July 24, focusing on sports, history, food and new developments in the Seaport District.  This story generated 48 pieces of coverage across print and online outlets, reaching a combined audience of 22.3 million. We look forward to continue welcoming visitors from Canada to Boston and Massachusetts. Thank you to everyone who hosted.

 

 

Travel News

Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) has initiated “Logan Forward,” a communication campaign to inform passengers, employees and tenants about construction projects taking place at Boston Logan International Airport in the months ahead. Details here.
 
On August 1, Worcester Regional Airport launched a new Worcester-Detroit service on Delta Air Lines, marking the 5th daily nonstop service from the airport. Details here.

 

 

Industry Calendar

September ACT&T meeting – September 18
The next quarterly meeting of the Advisory Commission on Travel & Tourism (ACT&T) takes place at 10 a.m. at the State Transportation Building, 10 Park Plaza, Conference Rooms 2+3, Boston.

 

 

Massachusetts Film Office
 
For a schedule of film festivals in Massachusetts this month and throughout the year, visit MAfilm.org/.

 

 

MOTT Bulletin Board
 
Happy Anniversary!
Did you know that MOTT has a specific landing page just for Special Anniversary Celebrations? Check it out to see upcoming events like the 100th Anniversary of Saint Anthony’s Feast, the 100th Anniversary of the Massachusetts Building at The Big E, the 50th Anniversary of the Norman Rockwell Museum and so much more! We are always looking for distinctive and unique anniversary celebrations recognizing a variety of events such as the establishment date of a city or town, a special birthdate, celebration or commemoration. If you have a special anniversary to list for 2019 or 2020, please contact John Alzapiedi.
 
FREE means FREE!
With so many amazing free things to do in Massachusetts, we created a FREE category listing in our online calendar of events at massvacation.com. Now, you can add your organization’s cost-free events to MOTT’s year-round calendars. Just visit massvacation.com and click on ‘submit your listing’ on the bottom of the homepage. With questions, please reach out to John Alzapiedi.
 
50 Great Things to do Under $50
MOTT’s ’50 Great Things to do Under $50’ is consistently ranked as one of our most visited web pages each month. To list a special deal offered by your organization, the offer must be valid for a two-month duration and the admission of under $50 must cover either:  two adults and two adults with two children 12 and under. We are currently accepting ’50 Under $50’ submissions for November/December 2019 and January/February 2020. Please send your offers for consideration to:  Phyllis M. Cahaly.

Call for Brochures
Our friends at Lee Premium Outlets/Simon Properties are happy to display your latest brochures, rack cards and travel guides at their active visitor information center. Please send one (1) box of material to Carolyn Edwards, Area General Manager, Lee Premium Outlets, 17 Premium Outlets Blvd., Lee, MA 02138; 413-243-2063; cedwards@simon.com.

 

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Copyright © 2019 Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism, All rights reserved.
You are receiving this email because you are listed in our industry database and we want to keep you informed about our agency.

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Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism

136 Blackstone St.

5th Floor

Boston, Massachusetts 02109


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