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Tower Hill
Botanic Garden, Boylston
April, 2021
Dear MOTT Partners,
Springtime renews our appreciation of Massachusetts
at its finest: a place filled with natural beauty and outdoor
treasures, rich history and culture, fresh farm products and
amazing cuisine. We welcome the warm weather coming our way
this month as we continue to balance public safety and health
priorities with restoring our local economies.
In this issue, we are re-introducing our monthly MA Spotlight,
which focuses on a leader from our travel and hospitality
community. What better person to start with than Cape Cod’s
own Wendy Northcross! For over three decades, Wendy has been
a stalwart leader in our state’s travel & tourism industry, and
is getting ready to retire after a distinguished career. Thank you,
Wendy, and please send us a postcard from your upcoming family
trips.
Thank you for supporting My Local MA, our statewide initiative to
promote local businesses, including farms and restaurants, art
galleries and cultural venues, Main Street retailers and
family-owned companies. Join the movement on social media using the
hashtag #MyLocalMA.
We appreciate your continued commitment to our industry and your
optimism throughout the past year. Please feel free to reach out if
we can be of assistance.
Sincerely,
Keiko Matsudo Orrall
Executive Director
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Massachusetts
Reopening News
- For the most up-to-date information on
Massachusetts, visit the COVID-19 daily update at mass.gov/covid19-updates.
- MOTT's website, VisitMA.com, has helpful FAQs
for visitors coming to Massachusetts.
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My
Local MA
My
Local MA Campaign on MassDOT Billboards
When you’re tuning into our hometown team The Boston Red Sox this
season, be on the lookout for My Local MA campaign messaging
featured at Fenway Park and throughout Red Sox channels! You
can find more information and resources at Lovemylocalma.com.
And please, don't forget to #MaskupMA!
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MA
Spotlight
Wendy Northcross
Loving
Cape Cod
Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce CEO
Wendy K. Northcross, CCE, retires in summer 2021 after a
distinguished career in travel and tourism and in building the Cape
Cod economy. We spoke to Wendy about tourism, the blue
economy and what retirement looks like...Read More
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International
Aer Lingus announced a new transatlantic
flight that will connect Manchester, United Kingdom to Boston,
Massachusetts. The flight is slated for 2022.
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Lessons on
Race and Racism: AAPI Voices in the Travel Industry
U.S. Travel Association recently sponsored an important discussion “Lessons on Race and
Racism: AAPI Voices in the Travel Industry” with AAPI
leaders in the travel industry. Hear personal perspectives on the
recent surge of hate crimes, the increase of xenophobia and the
actions we can take to create real change. Featured speakers
included Erin Francis-Cummings, president & CEO, Destination
Analysts, Layton Han, CEO, ADARA Inc, Keiko Matsudo Orrall, executive
director, Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism,
Greg Takehara, CEO, Tourism Cares, Boston. We encourage you to share
with your networks.
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THE BIG E
The BIG E Eastern States Exposition is excited to
announce that it’s back for 2021! Mark your calendars now for
September 17, 2021, for this unique 17-day, six-state New England
Fair. Visit with all of your favorites like Storrowton Village, the
Better Living Center and of course the Massachusetts Building along
the Avenue of States. For more information see here.
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MOTT
Opportunities
Media
Outreach
MOTT is preparing its media outreach on spring and early summer
activities. Please contact Michael Quinlin to share ideas or
to get more details.
Made in
Massachusetts
The phrase ‘Made in Massachusetts’ refers to a strong local brand
that embodies quality, uniqueness, popularity and very often,
iconic status. Do you have a product or company Made in
Massachusetts? If so, please send us details and we can
promote it in our marketing materials to residents and visitors
alike. Please send your submissions to Phyllis
M. Cahaly.
Call
for Photography
MOTT is always on the lookout for year-round stunning tourism
photography of Massachusetts to share on our social sites. If you
would like to submit some of your favorite royalty and copyright
free images, please send to Phyllis M. Cahaly for
consideration. Please include the name of the photo, the location
(city/town) and the photography credit.
Linking
to visitma.com
As a way to increase our link profile, we are asking businesses
that have an existing listing on vistma.com add a reciprocal link
to MOTT’s site on your homepage. Ideally it would look like this:
“For statewide travel information go to vistma.com.” If you have any
questions, please contact our Web
Manager.
50 Great
Things to do Under $50
MOTT is currently accepting listings for MOTT’s ’50 Under $50’ May/June and
July/August 2021 editions. Here’s the criteria: the offer
must be under $50 (so up to $49.99, tax included) and cover BOTH:
1.) admission for two adults and 2.) admission for two adults with
two children age 12 and under. Please send your submissions for
consideration to Phyllis M. Cahaly.
Regional
Tourism Council Bulletin
The April issue of the RTC’s monthly bulletin is available to read here.
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By the
Numbers
Massachusetts
Lodging Results: CYs 2020 vs. 2019 and January and February 2021
- The Lodging Industry in MA started off CY
2020 with substantial gains over 2019. Sharp declines
caused by the COVID-19 Pandemic followed for the remainder of
2020.
- For the months of January/February 2020,
Rooms Sold and Room Revenue increased by 7-8% compared to the
same two months in 2019.
- However, during the remaining 10 months
(March-December), Rooms Sold decreased by just over 59% and
Room Revenue decreased 71%.
- The much sharper decline in Room Revenue
was caused by a 30% decline in Room Rate for those 10 months
in 2020 compared to same period in 2019.
- January/February 2021 results for the
lodging industry in MA show a decline in Rooms Sold of 45%,
and a decline in Room Revenue of 61%, compared to
January/February 2020. The further decline in Room Revenue was
caused by a 30% decline in Room Rates.
MA,
U.S, & Northeastern States Lodging Results: Jan./Feb. 2021 vs.
Jan./Feb. 2020
- Lodging industry Room Revenue losses across
the U.S. totaled $11.3 Billion, a 48% decline.
- In MA, losses totaled $231 Million, a 61%
decline.
- In the other New England states combined,
losses totaled $135 Million, a 34% decline.
- In New Jersey, losses totaled $162 Million,
a 45% decline; in New York, losses totaled $850 Million, a 63%
decline; in Pennsylvania, losses totaled $204 Million, a 41%
decline.
- The higher percentage losses occurred in
states (MA & NY) where the largest concentration of Rooms
Revenue comes from urban areas.
- In MA & NY, between 60% and 70% of each
state’s Room Revenue originates in the Greater Boston and New
York City areas respectively.
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MOTT
Contacts
MA Office of Travel and Tourism staffers are working remotely.
Please see contact information:
John
Alzapiedi, Web Manager, john.alzapiedi@mass.gov
Phyllis
Cahaly, Director of Partnership Marketing, phyllis.cahaly@mass.gov
Tony
D’Agostino, Research Director, tony.dagostino@mass.gov
Daniela De
Caro-Heavey, Special Projects Manager, daniela.decaro@mass.gov
Keiko
Matsudo Orrall, Executive Director, keiko.m.orrall@mass.gov
Michael Quinlin,
Director, Commonwealth Marketing Office, michael.quinlin@mass.gov
Maria
Speridakos, Director of International PR, maria.speridakos@mass.gov
Marc
Zappulla, Grants Coordinator, marc.zappulla@mass.gov
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