Change my location
Local
BACVA anticipates lagging tourism industry
LATEST ON THIS STORYRelated Topics: BALTIMORE
BALTIMORE (Map, News) - Downtown Baltimore’s hotel business is in trouble.
“We looked at the numbers and saw they’re down,” said Nancy Hinds, the vice president of public affairs for the Baltimore Area Convention and Visitors Association. “We could have an issue if we don’t, as an industry, a community and BACVA, act.”
In new numbers released Friday by Tom Noonan, president and chief executive officer of BACVA, the number of large groups coming into the city is expected to decline in 2008, 2009 and 2010.
With BACVA reporting that visitors who stay overnight in Charm City contribute $2.17 billion to the economy, this becomes a huge issue.
After analyzing the data, Noonan met with more than a dozen Baltimore hotel general managers Friday morning to discuss how to address the issue.
For 2008, only 10 large groups — those with 1,200 hotel rooms — booked during peak nights. The number dips to nine in 2009 and 2010.
This is down from the 20 large groups in 2006 and the 19 in 2007.
Noonan has unveiled a multifaceted attack.
The crux is to target corporations and pharmaceutical companies that bring medium-sized groups for quick gatherings, and are often scheduled only a few weeks in advance. To cater to this market, Noonan will be setting up a one-man BACVA satellite office in New York City to complement the other national offices in Washington and Chicago.
Noonan’s plan also calls for the implementation of a monthly trend, analysis and projections report conducted by a third-party expert who will analyze Baltimore on 48 variables. Once completed, the report will tell BACVA and local hotels their strengths, weaknesses, how they stack up against other cities, and exactly the kind of business they should be doing.
The TAP report, which costs about $25,000 for the first year, is conducted in 35 other cities in North America.
All of these initiatives by Noonan will be unsuccessful, however, unless hotels, business and BACVA can work as a team to make Baltimore a destination spot.
“It was great because we sat down with all the general managers today,” Noonan said. “They were all supportive and they are doing this because it's a chance to do it right.”
Comments from Examiner Readers
10:42 AM MST on Tue., Aug. 5, 2008 re: "Area may make history, again"
Report as inappropriate
1:57 PM MST on Mon., Aug. 4, 2008
re: "Area may make history, again"
Report as inappropriate
1:40 PM MST on Mon., Aug. 4, 2008
re: "Area may make history, again"
Report as inappropriate
1:27 PM MST on Mon., Aug. 4, 2008
re: "Area may make history, again"
Report as inappropriate
11:35 AM MST on Mon., Aug. 4, 2008
re: "Area may make history, again"
Report as inappropriate
8:43 AM MST on Mon., Aug. 4, 2008
re: "Area may make history, again"
Report as inappropriate
10:34 AM MST on Wed., Jul. 9, 2008
re: "Harborplace vacancies open door for national chains"
Report as inappropriate
11:15 PM MST on Wed., Jun. 25, 2008
re: "Harborplace vacancies open door for national chains"
Report as inappropriate
11:00 PM MST on Wed., Jun. 25, 2008
re: "Harborplace vacancies open door for national chains"
Report as inappropriate
12:57 PM MST on Wed., Jun. 25, 2008
re: "Harborplace vacancies open door for national chains"
Report as inappropriate
10:40 AM MST on Mon., Jun. 16, 2008
re: "Ocean City hopes for average numbers in tough economic season for tourism"
Report as inappropriate
10:05 AM MST on Thu., Apr. 19, 2007
re: "Study: City needs more tourist attractions"
Report as inappropriate
Examiner Reader said:
The 2000 census recorded 8.5% of the Tenderloin population as youth (under 18 years of age). Where did the over 500 additional youth come from?
2 agree | 0 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader for the laughs said:
Yes, if we can finally get a Tenderloin supermarket and get rid of some of the corner liquor stores that would be more of an accomplishment for the residents. Having a museum helps those who would make money off of it. The residents need quality food and hope for a brighter future. If the property owners are looking for a boost in their value of property they should work with the community and not hide behind limited partnerships and incompetent property managers.
7 agree | 0 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader for the laughs said:
Here is another story about the Tenderloin were paid employees are contacted by the media to discuss the exact same issues they are making a living on. Again, another news article that disempowers residents into mere statistics. So, who exactly going to make some money related to this article?
8 agree | 0 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
Many of the tenderloin's residents live there because they can AFFORD to. Immigrants can get a start there and its a place where people on fixed incomes can make something of a home. What I'm hearing here is a call for gentrification in search of increased rents. Where are the current residents going to move? Its not like San Francisco needs one more costly neighborhood to live in.
0 agree | 1 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
they should have an oral history of prostitution in the tenderloin museum. heh, i know that gal!
0 agree | 7 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
""As it stands, the neighborhood has dozens of empty storefronts and one of the highest crime rates in The City — though only about 15 percent of that crime is perpetrated by people who live there, said Tenderloin Police Station Capt. Gary Jimenez. As of July, the Tenderloin had seen about 3,500 arrests. The area is one of five San Francisco neighborhoods where police have boosted manpower to curb violent crime."" Can anyone please confirm that Supervisor Daly is moving from his condo on Stevenson Street to Eddy so he will oversee the non-gentrification of his District 6. Remember the Supervisor does not want any trees planted on Eddy since that will beautify the area and bring in the white yuppies....yeah right typical Karl Rove technique..yeah its all the white yuppies fault. While your at it why not throw in the guppies and families with children.
0 agree | 3 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Sean from Baltimore said:
Remember the original variety, quirkiness and charm of the Pavilions? It's GONE. The interior layout has been hacked up and blocked off, restaurants keep closing, and the remaining high-quality specialty shops are leaving one by one. The upper floor of the Light Street Pavilion is a WASTELAND beyond the food court. General Growth Properties has done a HORRIBLE job.
4 agree | 2 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
rouse, then owner, said this about horrible place 10 years ago, hat in hand for city $. do your homework. some figures and perspective might make your business stories relevant to somebody.
3 agree | 4 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
journalism -- or press release, which some construe and present to the world as journalism on the cheap. it shows.
4 agree | 2 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Bill said:
um...Fire & Ice *is* a national chain. Ok, so fill the empty space with 'upscale national retailers'. What have you got? TowsonTown Center South. BFD.
4 agree | 3 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Rocko said:
I was in OC this past weekend and it was VERY quiet down there. Much fewer people than I am used to seeing this time of year. I have been going to OC at least8 times per year over the past 20 years, and it was much quieter than usual.
2 agree | 3 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
mike johnson said:
As a native born Baltimorean, I have always had an inferiority complex next to Philly and Washington DC. There have been places that are must-sees for people coming into town, like the architecture around Mount Vernon, the restaurants of Little Italy and Inner Harbor East, the wineries in Carroll and Harford County (in season), and the world class gems of the Walters and BMA. Historically, Philadelphia shined in the colonial period and has been lovingly restored. Washington is the home of a thousand federally funded tourist attractions. Baltimore became a major city in that period of time after the powdered wig era and before Washington became capital of the world. Americans have lost track of how much of the US of today would not exist without the sailing ships, steam locomotives, warehouseman and factory workers that met here. Show me the last time one of the conventioneers was murdered in Baltimore. Baltimore is a city, not Disneyland, but I like it.
280 agree | 286 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree