Rural Tourism Development Fulfilled requests for Agritourism packets to individuals interested in starting a Farm/Ranch vacation business.

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1 MEMORANDUM TO: Governor M. Michael Rounds DATE: May 7, 2003 FROM: SUBJECT: Patricia Van Gerpen Tourism s April Monthly Status Report Rural Tourism Development Fulfilled requests for Agritourism packets to individuals interested in starting a Farm/Ranch vacation business. Public Relations Coordinated logo embroidery on polo shirts, which is one aspect of the Have You Been To? campaign to celebrate National Tourism Week (NTW), May Delivered shirts to contact at the South Dakota Women s Prison (low bid) for embroidery of South Dakota script and the Have You Been To..? logo. Shipped embroidered shirts and invoices to participating CVBs, per their order. Provided further information to CVBs regarding the campaign, and assisted with their newsletter copy and other miscellaneous information. Stamps for passport games have been completed and passport game booklets were ordered and received and sent to each CVB along with appropriate stamps. Designed template for the inside of the passport booklet to coordinate with the number of attractions (stamp boxes) in each city for the participating CVBs. Designed lapel buttons for the campaign for the CVBs and the Interstate Information Centers. Also for NTW, approved final radio spot and newspaper ad; sent completed TV spot to in-state stations; completed time frame to send press releases prior to start of NTW; and made appointments with Dakota Radio Group, KCCR, KSFY, KELO AM, SD Public Radio, KOOL 98, KORN, KJJQ, KWAT, KDLO, KIXX and KKSD. Will contact following media for appointments: Brookings Register, KBRK, Daily Republic, Capital Journal, KSOO, KELO FM, KELO TV, KDLT, Argus Leader, KSDR, KYNT and Public Opinion. Mailed 39 media teasers for NTW media blitz, consisting of a disposable camera and campaign information inserted into a South Dakota fanny pack. Designed eight different ad mock-ups and different ad sizes for the participating CVBs, after receiving ad copy. Sent to each for approval. Will finalize ads and place in designated newspapers in early May. Established a link on travelsd.com to Missouri River boat ramp information. Provided information on movie locations that are near hotels to a freelance writer completing a story for a number of publications, including the New York Daily Post; and general information to Fodor s Travel Guide and AAA South Dakota. Interviewed and/or provided information to RV ing in America, RV World, National Geographic Traveler, Elite Traveler, KFAN (Minneapolis) radio, Minnesota Monthly, Booth Newspapers (southern U.S.) regarding travel trends and camping in South Dakota, Rapid City Journal, Wayne Ortman of the Associated Press, Fedgazette, student from Augustana College on marketing, KNBN for 2003 inquiry numbers, and freelance writer for tidbits in upcoming publication of Unlimited. Checked South Dakota facts for the Highbury Columbus World Travel Guide. Compiled trivia and fun fact information for World Travel Guide.

2 Fulfilled requests for media kits to Dockery House Publishing, Texas; Midwest Living, Iowa; writers in Oklahoma, New Mexico, and South Carolina; Charleston Free Time, South Carolina; and Bunac Travel Guide, Washington DC. Lined up fall trip for Endless Vacations. Continued working with Fort Sisseton Historical Festival officials on satellite feed plan for June event. Reserved truck for Mount Rushmore National Memorial s fireworks in July. Assisted Children s Geography Series with South Dakota geography information and stock footage. Lined up itinerary and finalized rooms for the grand prize winner of a South Dakota trip as part of a Clear Channel Communications, Florida, promotion across that state. Worked on following media projects: Trailshead Adventures television on hiking and biking in the state; Kawasaki for Jet Ski the Trail hosting; and Sioux Falls on initial planning for the International Snowmobile Congress annual convention to be held in June Press hits with circulation and estimated ad equivalence include: Capital Journal (4,636) two articles for ad equivalence of $283; Sioux Falls Argus Leader (73,167) three articles for ad equivalence of $3,711; Rapid City Journal (35,465) two articles for ad equivalence of $992; Aberdeen American News (18,000) for ad equivalence of $734; and Watertown Public Opinion s web site. Total ad equivalence is $5,720. Group Tour Received delivery of 5,000 Group Tour Planning Guides, which is updated every two years. Thirty-six South Dakota businesses participated in the Rocky Mountain International (RMI) Roundup Marketplace and activities, which are held in one of the four RMI states each year. This year was South Dakota s turn to host the group and show off the state, which headquartered in Rapid City this year. Wrote and/or hosted eight familiarization (fam) tours and made arrangements with suppliers for RMI Roundup overseas attendees. There were 32 tour operators who attended from the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Benelux, and Italy markets. Many of the tour operators and overseas representatives attended pre- and post-fam tours: Tony Daly of Ranchrider, United Kingdom, who attended a personalized pre-fam of Custer State Park and ranches; Sissy Gibbs of America 4 You, California, an inbound receptive for Germany, who attended a personalized pre-fam of ranches and a post-fam of the Black Hills; Olga Mazzoni, Stephano Nannoni, and Patricia Pegalotti/UVET from Italy attended a personalized post-fam to ranches; Stefanie Empter of Pferde & Mehr, Germany, attended a personalized post-fam to ranches; Arjan Helle and Karin Gomes, our new representatives from the Benelux market, attended a pre-fam of Black Hills attractions; Jetset from France along with Isabelle Chartier with BACKROADS, Jean-Pierre Baille with CONTRASTE, and Leslie Brebion with VOYAGEURS DE MONDE attended a personalized post-fam to the Black Hills, Badlands, and Pine Ridge areas. Four attendees visited central and eastern South Dakota and Badlands National Park and nine attendees visited western South Dakota including the Black Hills, Badlands, and Pine Ridge visiting all attractions that participated in the RMI Marketplace. They were hosted by Tourism. Researched and selected appointment requests for tour operators from around the world for Travel Industry Association of America (TIA) Pow Wow to be held in May in St. Louis. Sent Pow Wow agenda and information to five South Dakota businesses that will attend and share the South Dakota booth. Revised 2Nation Tours maps and sent changes to designer. Fulfilled requests for tour helps from Emerald Vacations and Emerald Charters, North Dakota.

3 Leads from all international trade shows were sent to 605 South Dakota suppliers interested in marketing to international tour operators. This included 26 leads from RMI Roundup in Rapid City; 67 leads from ITB, Berlin; eight leads from the Paris reception; 53 leads from BIT, Italy; nine leads from the Benelux seminars; and 14 leads from the Irish Mission. Hosted two journalists with (ASTI), America Journal, Germany, who researched their magazine article on Lewis and Clark. Finalized fam for group tour operator who will be in South Dakota on behalf of Jetset Tours in May. Hosted Spring Group Tour Fam for 12 tour operators to the Lewis and Clark Trail and the Black Hills. Some of the tour operators are already working on tours for AAA/CAA Sent gifts, posters, videos, and vacation guides to AAA Minnesota/Iowa for their Minneapolis and Mankato offices for an open house highlighting South Dakota. Fulfilled requests for travel information to AAA/CAA offices and independent travel agencies from Colorado, Iowa, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio, and three offices in Canada. Outdoors Wrote, edited, and finalized the fall/winter 2003 Outdoor News. Stories include deer hunting, goose hunting, snowmobiling, smallmouth bass fishing, and bird watching. Scheduled to be mailed to 3,000 outdoor media contacts in May. Completed proofing copy changes for Adventure Travel Guide. Finalized itinerary and made arrangements in communities for Great Faces. Great Birding Places. hosting. Sent invitations to Krause Publications, Wildlife Art magazine, and various freelancers. Confirmed appointments with state parks, wildlife refuges, and other locations along the tour. Worked with media on travel arrangements. Worked with Alpen Outdoors for optics to be used on the trip. Met with committee to finalize site selection and discuss Glacial Lakes and Prairies Birding Trail guidebook layouts. Obtained maps from Department of Game, Fish and Parks for the guidebook and worked with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on other aspects of the booklet. Continued researching sources for photographs to use in guidebook. Trail materials, guidebook, and web site have a completion date in May. Provided information to Birder s World in regards to birding in South Dakota. Arranged media fishing trips on Lake Oahe for newspaper writers from the Argus Leader, Dakota Country, and Sioux City Journal; and for Outdoorsmen Adventures, Backroads with Ron and Raven, and North American Fisherman television shows. Hosted Wisconsin Outdoor News on a turkey hunt. Worked on following media projects: Grouse hunt for book entitled Sharptails by Krause Publications; Field and Stream Radio, live broadcast in South Dakota during pheasant season; pheasant hunts for television: Hunting with Hank, Upland Days with Dash and Dez, Dez Young s Wingshooter s Journal, North Country Adventures; pheasant/waterfowl for television: Benelli s American Safari, A Dog s Life, and Outdoor World; and turkey hunts for television: ESPN Outdoors in the Sturgis area, Cross Timbers Productions and Elk Country Journal both in May. Film Office

4 Completed preparations and attended the 2003 Association of Film Commissioners International s (AFCI) Location Expo trade show in Santa Monica, California. This show allows film offices from all over the world to market their areas to film makers, producers, location managers, and other decision makers in the entertainment industry. South Dakota shares a booth with the other Northern Plains and Rockies Consortium partners: Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming. The booth looks like an old west-town and receives much attention. Along with the trade show, the AFCI has a competition for all film office advertising, production guides, web sites, and other marketing tools, and the following are awards presented at the 2003 show: Notable Accomplishments: Awards and Honors The South Dakota Film Office won second place for the production guide, third place for direct mail, and third place for black-and-white full page ad in the state/province/region category at the annual AFCI marketing competition. Tourism did all the creative work on these pieces internally. Began follow-up from the Location Expo trade show. Attended the Independent Film Producers (IFP) Directors Series in Hollywood, California. The Northern Plains and Rockies Consortium helped sponsor this event. The Director s Series provides an opportunity for the IFP members to meet with more established directors, producers, and actors. Contacted by a filmmaker in Minnesota regarding his feature film. Have tentatively scheduled a scout in May. Contacted by a filmmaker in Washington regarding their film. They have narrowed locations either South Dakota or eastern Washington. Mailed the first of the filmsd.com postcards to Association of Independent Commercial Producers members. (Renegotiated price of postcards after delivery, due to errors in printing on an incorrect paper stock.) Sent production packets to filmmakers in California, New Jersey, Florida, New York, North Carolina, Illinois, and Ontario. Contacted by a production firm in California regarding the HBO Deadwood series. Sent them a production packet and discussed further promotion of this production. Scanned photos for filmsd.com by stitching them together with new software program, and gathered information on database formatting for photos. Continued to update crew and service listings on the film database. Drafted potential ipix (360 degree photo) schedule for web partners requesting this option for the travelsd.com web partnership. Information Centers Mailed 72 hire letters to applicants. One of the applicants will be a re-enactor at the Lewis and Clark Information Center in Chamberlain. Researched cost and types of Lewis and Clark uniforms for the re-enactor. Completed the Information Center training tour itinerary and contacted the hosts. Tour includes: Pierre, Ipswich, Aberdeen, Redfield, Clark, Watertown, De Smet, Carthage, Huron, Dell Rapids, Garretson, Sioux Falls, Chamberlain, Wall, Deadwood, Spearfish, Sturgis, Rapid City, and Hill City. Mailed confirmation letters to the hosts of the tour. Updated the 2003 Information Center Handbook. Held a supervisors meeting to discuss the upcoming season. Mailed letters and Information Center addresses to the 55 poster co-op partners. Still have space at Salem east bound, Wasta east bound, and Wilmot.

5 Ordered and received 1,050 CD case covers and 400 cassette case covers with the new design for the travel tape/cd series available at Information Centers. Ordered and received 2,250 revised maps for cases. Hospitality Recognized 112 individuals/businesses for giving outstanding hospitality by sending them the Governor s Certificate, 21 have received the foil star for a second recognition, and six have received a gold lapel pin for a third recognition. Confirmed details and attended the management training seminar at the Best Western Ramkota in Pierre. The speaker was Sergio Buth, HSA International, who trained 70 managers from across the state. Confirmed the co-op partners and dates for the front-line training seminars: Custer Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau on May 27, Rushmore Mall and Rapid City Convention and Visitors Bureau on May 28, Spearfish Convention and Visitors Bureau and Deadwood Chamber and Visitors Bureau on May 29, Corn Palace Convention and Visitors Bureau on June 2, Sioux Falls Convention and Visitors Bureau on June 3, Watertown Convention and Visitors Bureau and Huron Chamber and Visitors Bureau on June 4, and Pierre Chamber and Tourism Bureau on June 5. The theme for the front-line training is Have You Been To? campaign in conjunction with the National Tourism Week Have You Been To campaign. One person will win $1,000 in a random drawing that includes participants from all locations. There is a $5 per person fee, and space is on a first-come, first-served basis. Created tri-fold information/registration flyer that will be mailed to 1,900 visitor industry members in early May. Created separate flyer for the Rushmore Mall for their employees. Mall management office will print and distribute that information. Travel Shows Will send evaluation letters and survey for the 2003 season to travel show co-op partners in May. Inquiries Total FY2003 Inquiries through : Mail: 58,852 Internet ( ): 65,843 Phone: 19,305 Total: 144,000 Total FY2002 Inquiries through : Mail: 50,416 Internet ( ): 51,116 Phone: 35,354 Total: 136,886 This is an overall increase in inquiries of 5.2 percent over FY2002. (This does not include hits/visits to Tourism s Web site.) Calculated number of page views at 725,392 on Tourism s travelsd.com web site for the period of April 1-30, 2003, for a daily average of 24,180 over a 30-day period. This compares to calculated page views of 534,522 for the period of April 1-30, 2002, (missing three days) for a daily average of 19,797 over a 27-day period. This is an increase in daily average of page views of 22.1 percent over a comparable time period in Page views represents the number of times each and every page within the web site is accessed. Lewis and Clark Promotions Worked with staff on ideas and script for Lewis and Clark commercial, edited the spot, and digitized the video. Worked with consultant on voice talent. Distributed spot to in-station TV stations for airing in May as one aspect of in-state promotions on Lewis and Clark. Proofed copy for the Lewis and Clark Trail Guide that Tourism is producing along with Great Lakes and Southeast regional tourism offices. Sent services directory to the two regional tourism offices for review and approval. Completed revisions, per that input. Purchased images of Lewis pocket watch and telescope and Clark s compass to use in layout of guide. Received permission from Yale University to use images from the

6 Expedition s journals. Contacted printer and mailing house to determine schedules for delivery of guides into 185,000 homes in South Dakota in May as part of an in-state promotion on Lewis and Clark. Worked with South Dakota Public Television on the 2003 Lewis and Clark Minutes and sent new ideas and video footage. Fulfilled request from Empire Mall Marketing Office for copies of the Lewis and Clark interpretative panels for a Lewis and Clark display that will be set up in the old Scheels store display windows in the Empire Mall. Received 36 essays from fourth grade students for the Lewis and Clark essay contest. The top 10 received special prizes, and sent Lewis and Clark pencils and certificates to all participants. Wrote and sent a press release to the winner s hometown paper, placed it on travelsd.com and sdpb.org, and the essay will be read on South Dakota Public Radio. Set up and conducted the Lewis and Clark statewide meeting in Yankton for 35 people at the Riverfront Events Center. Speakers included Markie Scholz with Termesphere Gallery, Spearfish; Errol Medicine of Medicine Art, Wakpala; Jacquie Fuks from Southeast South Dakota Tourism Association; Diane Norton with LewisAndClarkTrail.com; Eldon Nygaard of Valiant Vineyards; and Dan Grewing with Game, Fish and Parks. Attendees traveled to the Lewis and Clark Visitor Center on the Nebraska side of Lewis and Clark Lake for a movie and tour. The next statewide Lewis and Clark meeting will be held August 7 in Mobridge. Attended a meeting to discuss plans for Spirit Mound s involvement in the Bicentennial. The Parks Division of the Department of Game, Fish and Parks will continue to work on planning. The next meeting will be in June. Attended part of the State Historical Society s annual meeting. Continued planning for the Signature Event, Oceti Sakowin Experience: Remembering and Educating. Obtaining financial assistance is a future goal. Worked on entertainment schedule. Fort Pierre is planning a Bad River Gathering event for the final weekend of the month-long commemoration. National Park Service s Lewis and Clark Cost Share Grants were announced. South Dakota applicants received a total of $87,000. Participated in a National Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Council conference call. The main focus of the call was the Hewlett Foundation grant of $2 million. Some of this money will be used for Signature Events. Attended the National Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Council workshop in Great Falls, Montana. Met with the Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation, the National Council, the Circle of Tribal Advisors, and the Circle of Signature Event Advisors, and chaired the Circle of State Advisors meeting. The National Park Service s Corps II traveling exhibit schedule for 2004 and 2005 has been tentatively set. The South Dakota exhibits for 2004 include: Chamberlain from August 26-30; Eagle Butte from September 2-12; Fort Pierre from September 18 - October 3; and in 2006: Yankton August Native American Tourism Development Continued working with the Alliance of Tribal Tourism Advocates (ATTA) on the Signature Event and other Tribal Tourism projects. They are in the process of selecting a logo. Ancestors, Inc., Rapid City, has been very helpful in getting informational pieces put together and printed. Will attend the next scenic byways Okiciapiye meeting in May in Fort Pierre. Attractions along the trail continue to prepare for the upcoming visitor season. Signs have been placed along the Native American Scenic Byway s southern section. The northern section still needs signs. Photo/Video

7 Fulfilled requests for photos/slides to the Department of Game, Fish and Parks, State Publishing, Black Hills Special Services Co-op, Comprehensive Media Group, Secretary of State s Office, and South Dakota Community Foundation, Pierre; Missouri River Sedimentation Council, Springfield; Discovery Tours, Spearfish; Rapid Net, Rapid City; U.S. Postal Service, Sioux Falls; Design Solutions and South Dakota magazine, Yankton; Kimberly Sarte and National Masonic Memorial, Virginia; and Retrieving Dog Journal, Michigan. Was guest lecturer at photography class at Black Hills State University. Fulfilled requests for video footage to ESPN (Sturgis Rally and Races footage) for sidebar in a hunting show and Boom Productions in New York City. Notable Accomplishment: Awards and Honors Senior photographer Chad Coppess has been invited to participate in the America 24-7 project as one of 1,000 photographers across the country shooting photos for one week, which will result in 53 separate books, a web site, traveling exhibit, and possibly a television documentary. Travel Market Advertising Placed ad in seven Iowa newspapers announcing the Great Getaways insert that will soon appear in their papers. Publications Finalized cover design for state highway map. File will be sent to printer in early May after completing design of the back side. Expected delivery date is early June. World Wide Web Have a total of 4,410 listings on the Visitor Services Directory, 28 vacation packages, and 35 coupons on travelsd.com. Sent package information to seeamerica.org. Added Here s the latest link to sdvisit.com with information and photos on the movie Head of State. Sent to the visitor industry regarding this new feature. Continued research of geocaching game a high-tech treasure hunt and planned the creation of geotokens to be mailed to members of geocaching associations in target market states. Contacted each association to determine interest, and received positive feedback. Continued working on the redesign of travelsd.com. Researched more terms for search engines for use in various pay-for-performance ad campaigns. Learned that Yahoo revamped their search engine, so searched for a number of South Dakota keywords and phrases. Worked with consultant to create a new data type for ipix images on filmsd.com that will allow for easy uploading of those images and to add a button that will allow Tourism staff to export the data from current databases. Worked on a plan that featured permission-based s and researched keywords and phrases for the pay-for-performance ads for the South Dakota/Yellowstone (Xanterra Parks and Resorts)/Yellowstone Country (Park County Travel Council) and added those to Google and Overture. Made new graphic for the South Dakota portal page and the Yellowstone page. Worked with representative from TargitInteractive to send the first to approximately 67,500 addresses. This co-op is solely focused on electronic marketing for FY03. Designed a Badlands themed for the April Travelsmart for vacation packages, coupons, and the link to the South Dakota/Yellowstone co-op to 80,796 addresses. Researched other marketing services.

8 Travel News Television Sent participation forms to potential partners in the visitor industry for the 2003 TNT video, Great Stories from South Dakotans. This program is produced by Tourism, and partners with in-house cable systems include lodging properties and local cable channels. Besides sending the video, Tourism will send tent cards for display in guest rooms. Community State Day Worked with vendor on give-aways for the event, per directions of organizers at Governor s Office and Department of Health. Mount Rushmore Independence Day Celebration Attended planning meeting for this July event with partners in the Black Hills. Great Events Yesterday s Tomorrows, March 18-April 19, Madison; April 29-May 31, Chamberlain; June 10-July 7, Belle Fourche; July 22-August 23, Hill City; September 2-October 4, Deadwood; October 14-November 15, Redfield, and November 25-December 23, Pierre: Will complete evaluation. Great Events for 2003 Siouxland Renaissance Festival, June 7-8, Sioux Falls: Updated promotion plan and budget. Event poster and magazine ad have been completed and were sent to local committee for review. Discussed media teasers and overall promotion plan with organizers. Placed ad with St. Paul Pioneer Press to run twice in early May. Wild Bill Hickok Days, June 13-15, Deadwood: Met with committee to finalize promotion and media teaser. Began writing radio spot. Indian Day Celebration Pow Wow, June 20-22, Wagner: Forwarded copy for poster design and information for travelsd.com. Crystal Springs Ranch Rodeo, June 27-29, Clear Lake: Drafted copy for media teasers and radio spots. Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant, July 11-13, 18-20, and 25-27, De Smet: Mailed 600 postcards to group tour companies in Minnesota, North Dakota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan, Nebraska, Colorado, Missouri, and South Dakota. Contacted Girl Scout councils to research interest in pageant for a potential mailing to scout leaders. Placed travel directory ad in the July/August issue of Midwest Living. Burke Stampede Rodeo, July 11-13, Burke: Wrote classified ad. Frontier Days, August 15-17, White River: Wrote classified ad, display ad, and radio copy. Forwarded schedule for posting on travelsd.com. Worked on design for rack card. Lewis and Clark Heritage Days, August and 22, Elk Point: Drafted marketing plan and budget. Placed travel directory ad in the July/August issue of Midwest Living. Harley Davidson s 100 th Anniversary Celebrations, Thunder Across Dakota, August 23-25, I-90 Corridor Sturgis, Pierre, and Sioux Falls: Held conference call with partners to finalize promotion plan. Worked on flyer/mailer. Wrote letter to be sent to the visitor industry regarding the event and online packages. Began acquiring supplies for media teaser. Finalized design for ad for August editions of Easy Riders and V-Twin magazines. Both have early July releases. Discussed sponsors logos for the flyer/mailer, which should be printed and shipped by June 3. The bandanna order should be done in early June. Great Black Hills Quilt Show and Sale, September 7-10, Hill City: Wrote copy for ad. Mailed 550 postcards to quilt guilds, shops, and clubs across the country. Mailing will be repeated in June and August. Placed travel directory ad in the July/August issue of Midwest Living.

9 Mickelson Trail Trek, September 19-21, Custer: Finalized marketing plan and budget. Wrote classified ad. Placed ad for June issue of Adventure Cyclist magazine. Corn Palace Polka Festival, September 19-21, Mitchell: Mailed 600 postcards to group tour companies in Minnesota, North Dakota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan, Nebraska, Wyoming, Montana, and South Dakota. (Negotiated printing costs with printer after delivery, due to poor quality, smudges, and inconsistent and dull colors.) Webster Area Pumpkin Festival, October 10-11, Webster: Drafted copy for media teasers, information for travelsd.com, postcard direct mail promotion, and magazine and newspaper ads. Working on logo design. Sacagawea Unity Fest, October 10-11, Mobridge: Have contacted committee to set up a meeting in May. Department Funding Deadwood gaming revenue deposited through March 2003 was down 1.4 percent at $163,999, as compared to $166,373 for March The tourism tax deposited for March 2003 was up 5.3 percent at $149,075, compared to $141,528 for March Revenue deposits for the Department for FY2003 are $5,479,652, as compared to $5,001,980 for FY2002. This is an increase in revenue of 9.5 percent when comparing the same time period in FY2002.