Muskegon Hopes To Draw Large Crowds This summer

Muskegon County's tourism and marketing goals remain similar to those of the statewide Pure Michigan campaign.

Like their partners at Travel Michigan, staff at the Muskegon County Convention and Visitors Bureau are working to bring guests to the state by changing outdated or inaccurate perceptions, creating more things for people to do and highlighting the region's abundant natural beauty.

"The power of the Pure Michigan brand really can't be underestimated," said Muskegon County Development Director Bob Lukens. "It's one of the most powerful brands in America, so, as a convention bureau here in Muskegon, we work with Pure Michigan to tap into the power of the brand."

Lukens expanded on several of the county's strategies in front of a full house at the Holiday Inn Muskegon Harbor on Friday, March 25. Here are a few highlights:

Partnerships

The Muskegon CVB partners with Pure Michigan in a variety of ways, most notably through its winter and summer marketing campaigns. Two of Muskegon County's top attractions, Michigan's Adventure and the Muskegon Winter Sports Complex, are prominently featured in the campaigns that focus mainly on Chicago and Ohio.

"We're finding more visitors are coming from Ohio market," Lukens said

Muskegon also has a partnership with Michigan's Beachtowns, a cooperative effort by West Michigan cities to draw people to the area. St. Joseph-Benton Harbor, South Haven, Saugatuck-Douglas, Holland, Grand Haven and Silver Lake Sand Dunes-Hart are all involved.

Muskegon County advertisements of the color tours and luge track are also featured in Pure Michigan's, fall and winter travel guides, respectively.

New website

Like Travel Michigan, staff at the Muskegon CVB is working to unveil a new and improved website in hopes that it will encourage prospective visitors to further explore the area's amenities.

"We want to make it a more responsive site and to highlight our partners more," Lukens said, "We want to keep them (visitors) on our website for a longer period of time."

But what about the statewide website?

The Muskegon County page is the 15th most visited on www.Michigan.org.

"Of course we would like to raise that number but we have a lot of competition in this state," Lukens said. "There are many destinations and many destinations, even in our own state, that people haven't discovered yet."

Focus on sports

Semipro teams like the Muskegon Lumberjacks, Risers, Mustangs, Lake Hawks and Ironmen have increased the sports profile of Muskegon County. The CVB recently hired a sports sales person to make Muskegon more of a focus as a sports and entertainment destination.

"You will see a lot more sports marketing in the future," Lukens said.

Looking forward

Here are a few of the Muskegon County CVB's initiatives for 2016:

Focus aggressively on sales outreach

Optimize ad buys and continue Travel Michigan ad partnerships

Increase local partnerships.

Increase earned media opportunities.

Build group tour awareness of Michigan's Heritage Park.

Continue event and festival promotion.

Promote retail tourism development.

Accommodation tax collection revenues

Muskegon County has been trending upward in accommodation tax collection revenues for the last seven years thanks in large part to higher occupancy rates and increased daily rates.

2009 - $748,881

2010 - $845,152

2011 - $852,637

2012 - $920,332

2013 - $939,153

2014 - $1,096,033

2015 - $1,152,610

The years of 2014 and 2015 are the first time the accommodations tax collection revenues have exceeded $1 million.

Bay County is becoming Michigan's next great destination

A few years ago, a man from Bay County was having a conversation with a friend from Saginaw County. The Bay County man was preparing to perform in a show with the Bijou Orchestra at the State Theatre in downtown Bay City. He invited his friend from Saginaw County to see the show.

"I should come," said the man from Saginaw County. "I haven't been to Bay City in years."

Around the same time, that same man from Bay County was taking part in a leadership training day with fellow community leaders from the Great Lakes Bay Region. He was walking along Water Street in downtown Bay City with a friend and long-time colleague from Midland. As they walked, he couldn't help but notice her looking up in amazement. He inquired about what had caught her eye.

"I've never been to downtown Bay City," she said. "I've heard some things about it, but I've never been here. It's amazing."

On a third occasion, that same man was having a conversation with his neighbor – a member of a prominent family that owns and operates a well-known business in Bay County. He mentioned he was heading out for the day with his wife and she asked where they were going. Downtown, he told her.

"I haven't been downtown for 10 years," she replied. "What's down there now?"

These anecdotes illustrate the need to better tell the story in Bay County. And that's just what a group of community leaders hopes to do as it works to put the findings of the recently released Bay County Road Map to the Future into action.

The Road Map is a project launched two years ago by the Bay Area Community Foundation and the Bay Area Chamber of Commerce aimed at identifying the strengths, weaknesses, challenges and opportunities that this area faces as a community in the coming decade. With help from Saginaw Valley State University and input from hundreds of community partners, the Road Map identifies four avenues where the Bay Area must focus their attention – a robust and diverse economy, the presence of outstanding talent, the ability to meet basic human needs and developing a strong sense of place.

It is the last of these I'd like to focus on here because I believe Bay County, and in particular Bay City, is on the cusp of becoming Michigan's next great destination," said President of the Bay Area Chamber, Ryan Carley. "We have so much to offer, but as the stories above show us, some of the folks who call the Great Lakes Bay Region home, and even some of our very own residents, are not fully aware or may simply need a friendly reminder."

Bay City is located on Saginaw Bay and their natural resources are one of their greatest strengths and something they are working to establish as a calling card for tourists. Bay City features the amazing Rail Trail system, the new Michigan Sugar Trails, efforts to expand beach access at the Bay City State Recreation Area, hiking opportunities at Tobico Marsh, the Saginaw Bay Birding Trail and Pinconning Park, which is among one of the nicest outdoor recreation facilities you'll find anywhere in the state.

It's all right if you aren't much of an outdoorsy person, Bay City still has something for you.

Entertainment venues, including the beautifully restored State Theatre and the Bay City Players, Michigan's oldest, continuously operating community theater, is located in Bay City. Events such as the Tall Ship Celebration, River Roar, St. Stan's Polish Festival and free outdoor concerts and movies take place all summer along a striking riverfront.

If you are looking for family-fun, Bay City has that too.

The Bay County Historical Museum and the Saginaw Valley Naval Ship Museum aboard the USS Edson are education destinations. The Antique Toy and Firehouse Museum will be sure to entertain your children. You can even take a cruise up the Saginaw River aboard the Princess Wenonah or the Appledore IV tall ship. Bay City is also putting forth efforts to construct a new Imagination Station playground and community tennis complex.

Come for the weekend, and experience the unique shopping opportunities, which include one of the world's largest antique malls, an old-fashioned candy store, art galleries, an antique automobile showroom and many unique boutiques. Bay City is home to unique and delicious independently owned restaurants where you can find fresh cuisine to appease your hunger. In addition to the existing Doubletree hotel, Bay City will soon have a Quality Inn and Courtyard by Marriott located riverside.

Bay City has a new gem rising from the banks of the Saginaw River unmatched by any other in the region and, perhaps, the Midwest. Bay City is deeply rooted in its amazing history of lumber mills, shipyards and auto parts manufacturers, the Uptown Bay City development is the bedrock of the city's future. This mixed-use facility sits on more than 40 acres of prime real estate and features offices for Dow Corning Corp., McLaren Bay Region hospital and Chemical Bank, as well as restaurants, town houses and condominium living. Bay City is focused on the future and Uptown is the evidence.

All of these amazing qualities Bay County offers are perfect for anyone looking to live, work or play in a progressive area.

Spread the word about Bay City and the Bay Area; then the man from Saginaw County, the woman from Midland County and the Bay County resident will pass it on and the story of Bay County will begin to weave itself into conversations both near and far.