FEBRUARY 4, 2010 ISSUE
Blowing Rock TDA Annual Tourism Review—Tough Times, Aggressive Response
Blowing Rock Tourism Development Authority Chair Kent Tarbutton expressed optimism about the future of tourism in Blowing Rock and praised Executive Director Tracy Brown for his leadership during an annual report to Blowing Rock Town Council last week. Photo by Sam Calhoun
Blowing Rock hosted the start of Cycle N.C. in September, welcoming more than 1,000 cyclists from across the state and around the world. The Blowing Rock TDA supported the event. Last year was a challenging year for tourism in Blowing Rock, but the Tourism Development Authority (TDA) moved aggressively during the year to assure future success in attracting visitors to the town, TDA leadership said in its annual report to Town Council last week.
In the report, TDA Chair Kent Tarbutton expressed optimism about the future of tourism in Blowing Rock and praised Executive Director Tracy Brown for his leadership.
“In looking forward to a tougher tourism market and global economy in 2010, I am happy to be in Blowing Rock, where good opportunities still exist, where a long held tradition of tourism has somewhat sheltered this market more than most. We will certainly see a more difficult fight for the consumer and tourist dollars this year, but at least we begin on higher ground than many tourism based economies. Tracy has provided outstanding leadership in moving forward with TDA goals and objectives,” said Tarbutton.
Tarbutton highlighted the following accomplishments in 2009:
• The new parking facility was completed with substantial funds provided by the TDA, and signage continues to be updated, from longer parking limits to directional wayfinding.
• A visitor guide listing all businesses in Blowing Rock was produced and made available to all visitors; nearly 50,000 were distributed. The current visitor map listing all Blowing Rock businesses continues to be produced with more than 25,000 being distributed.
• The TDA sponsored all major events in town through media placement, public relations and event support such as sound reinforcement or funding for parades and holiday activities. The town hosted the start of Cycle N.C. in September, welcoming more than 1,000 cyclists from across the state and around the world.
• The TDA worked closely with the N.C. Division of Tourism and all regional destination marketing organizations on co-op advertising opportunities to maintain a cost-effective outreach presence.
• There is a new “signature” look for all creative collateral material in place and “Crown of the Blue Ridge” has been re-incorporated as a tagline.
• The TDA helped to spearhead the Retail Strategy Committee suggested by the Hyett Palma Retail Study. The group continues to meet on a regular basis with all key stakeholders.
• The TDA continued to use public relations outreach to tell the Blowing Rock story successfully in the editorial content of media. In addition to many significant editorial placements, this outreach was key to Blowing Rock recently being named the “Prettiest Small Town in North Carolina.”
“Despite the ongoing challenges of a down economy and unpredictable weather, compounded by closures and rockslides on Highway 321, 2009 was an acceptable year for tourism in a challenging economy, and the future holds great promise for increasing success,” Tarbutton said.
The Blowing Rock Tourism Development Authority is a division of the Town of Blowing Rock, and the Blowing Rock Town Council appoints TDA Board members. The TDA’s mission is to promote, solicit and encourage tourism, and to provide tourism-related services. Blowing Rock Tourism Development Authority owns and operates the Blowing Rock Visitor Center and leases office space to the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce.
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