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October 2021
Dear MOTT Partners,
Massachusetts is glorious in October, the season of Halloween fun and outdoor fairs, fresh farm produce and indoor dining delights, performing arts and historical activities, plus plenty of foliage and crisp air.
MOTT is working with Expedia to launch a statewide campaign to support our hotel industry, and our #MyLocalMA campaign continues into the fall. We appreciate your support of our hotels and restaurants, family-run businesses, Main Street retailers and seasonal tourism businesses in Massachusetts.
And finally, don’t forget the 2021 Boston Marathon takes place on October 11 and the Head of the Charles Regatta is October 22-24. And good luck to the Red Sox in the playoffs.
Thank you as always for your valued partnership.
Best Regards,
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My Local MA Campaign
Seen and Heard: #mylocalMA on Instagram- 16,000 Uses and Counting
Join the #mylocalMA movement on Instagram. Massachusetts has amazing places for everyone to enjoy. Take a photo at your favorite spot celebrating some fun fall activities! Use the #mylocalMA hashtag, just like Creative Collective Markets @hauntedhappeningsmarket did, highlighting @salemmainstreets return of the physical Howl-o-ween Pet Parade! We invite you to like, support and follow @VisitMA.
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International News
The U.S. to Reopen International Travel
Beginning in November, the White House has announced that it would reopen the United States to international air travel for vaccinated travelers worldwide. Read FAQs.
Delta Airlines Expands in Boston
Delta Airlines just announced new service from Boston’s Logan International Airport to Athens, Tel Aviv, Baltimore, Denver and San Diego! Details here.
UK Discover New England Webinar
Join Discover New England (DNE), Delta Air Lines, Flight Centre and Wanderlust, as they provide the New England tourism industry with the latest trends in travel from the UK and what the future may hold for the New England region. DNE will present this free webinar titled UK Travel Experts Weigh In on the Future of Travel to the U.S on Wednesday, October 20 at 9:00 a.m. Registration is now open. Please contact Chris Jennings with questions, by October 15.
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Industry News
MOTT Launches Statewide Expedia Campaign
MOTT launched a six-month campaign with Expedia this week. With the theme, “Surprise yourself with new adventures in Massachusetts all year-round," the campaign highlights all 16 regional tourism councils of Massachusetts, in addition to the numerous activities that can be enjoyed by visitors to the Bay State. Check out the Massachusetts gallery spotlight page on Expedia, and the booking landing pages across Expedia, Travelocity and Hotels.com.
1Berkshire Announces #BeKindBerkshires: A Kindness Campaign
1Berkshire, in collaboration with Norman Rockwell Museum, has launched an illustrated public service campaign entitled Be Kind Berkshires. The campaign features three original illustrations by noted regional illustrators, Leo Quiles, Marc Rosenthal, and Nicole Tadgell. Each commissioned image was created to inspire patrons to take a moment and reflect on how their actions can make the world a better place by extending kindness and empathy to workers who are doing their very best. Learn more about the Be Kind Berkshires Campaign here.
Big News from the Big E
Governor Baker and Lt. Governor Polito visited MOTT’s Information Booth on Massachusetts Day, Thursday, September 23, to view the new Massachusetts Travel Guide, the Historic Women Trailblazers of Massachusetts Guide, and all of the beautiful visitor brochures supplied by our Regional Tourism Councils. MOTT’s newly-constructed booth was built by our friends at MassCOR, and has been relocated front and center of the Massachusetts Building. The Big E returned this year with some record-breaking days, a stacked list of live performances and their daily Mardi Gras Reveler Experience Parade. Thank you to all of our wonderful volunteers for helping this year! Save the date for next year’s Big E: September 16 to October 2, 2022.
AAA Webinar
MOTT is partnering with AAA East Central of Pittsburgh, PA to host a special AAA Webinar for AAA agents on Thursday, October 7. This webinar will be conducted by MOTT staff member Phyllis M. Cahaly, and provide an overview of MOTT, the 16 tourism regions in Massachusetts, as well as fall offerings of interest for AAA members. Please contact Phyllis with any questions.
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MOTT Opportunities
Media Outreach
MOTT is preparing its media outreach on fall foliage, agritourism, Halloween, and Thanksgiving activities. Please contact Michael Quinlin to share ideas or to get more details.
Holiday Listings: 50 Great Things to do Under $50
MOTT’s ’50 Under $50’ special deals page is consistently ranked as one of our Top 5 visited web pages each month. To list a special deal offered by your organization, the offer must be under $50 (so up to $49.99, tax included) and cover BOTH CATEGORIES: 1.) admission for two adults and 2.) admission for two adults with two children age 12 and under. With all of the exciting holiday events on the horizon, we will have a separate ’50 Under $50’ listing for the month of November and a separate listing for the month of December. Please send your submissions for consideration to Phyllis M. Cahaly.
FREE means FREE!
With so many amazing FREE things to do in Massachusetts, we’ve created a FREE category listing in our online calendar of events on visitma.com. Be sure to add your organization’s cost-free events to MOTT’s year-round calendars. Get listed here.
Regional Tourism Council Bulletin
The October issue of the RTC’s monthly bulletin is available to read here.
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MA Film Office
Film Festivals
October 7 – 17
Boston Women’s Film Festival
October 8 – 17
Boston Palestine Film Festival
October 13 – 17
The GlobeDocs Film Festival
October 20 -24
Boston Asian American Film Festival
For a schedule of film festivals in Massachusetts this month and throughout the year, visit MAfilm.org/.
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By the Numbers
Massachusetts Lodging Results: CYs 2020 vs. 2019 & CY 2021 Qs 1 & 2, and August
- The Lodging Industry in MA started off Calendar Year (CY) 2020 with substantial gains over CY 2019. However, ultimately for CY 2020, Rooms Sold decreased 48% and Room Revenue dropped 65% compared to CY 2019.
- For Q1 of CY 2021 Q1 when compared to Q1 of CY 2020, the lodging industry in MA saw a decline in Rooms Sold of 31.1% to 2.4 M from 3.5 M, and a decline in Room Revenue of 50.5%, to $240 Million from $486 Million. The further decline in Room Revenue was caused by a 28.2% decrease in Room Rates across Massachusetts.
- For Q2 of CY 2021, the lodging industry in MA showed significant increases over the same period in CY 2020. Rooms Sold increased 160% to 3.9 M from 1.5 M and Room Revenue increased 279% to $573 Million from $151 Million. The additional increase in Room Revenue was caused by a 29% increase in Room Rates.
- For August 2021, the lodging industry in MA continued its upward trend compared to August 2020. Rooms Sold were up 74% to 1.9 M from 1.1 M and Room Revenue increased 106% to $424 Million from $206 Million. The larger increase in Room Revenue was caused by an 18% increase in Room Rates across the Commonwealth.
United States, Massachusetts, & Northeastern States - Room Revenue Increases: CYTD 2021 vs 2020 through August
- Across the United States, Lodging industry Room Revenue gains in CYTD 2021 through August totaled just under $90 Billion, a 52% increase compared to the same period in CY 2020 total of $59 Billion.
- In Massachusetts, Room Revenue gains totaled $645 Million to $1.6 Billion, a 64% increase.
- In the other New England states combined, there was a 79% increase of $998 Million to $2.3 Billion.
- In New Jersey, gains totaled $490 Million, a 41% increase to $1.7 Billion.
- In New York, Room Revenue was up 32% ($998 Million) to $4.1 Billion; in Pennsylvania Room Revenue increased 61% ($831 Million) to $2.2 Billion.
- In all of the Regions noted above, the Room Revenue increases were driven by increases in both Rooms Sold and Room Rates. However, the percentage increases in Rooms Sold were substantially higher than the Room Rate increases.
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MOTT Contacts
MA Office of Travel and Tourism staffers are working remotely. Please see contact information:
Phyllis Cahaly, Director of Partnership Marketing, [email protected]
Tony D’Agostino, Research Director, [email protected]
Daniela De Caro-Heavey, Special Projects Manager, [email protected]
Keiko Matsudo Orrall, Executive Director, [email protected]
Michael Quinlin, Director, Commonwealth Marketing Office, [email protected]
Maria Speridakos, Director of International PR, [email protected]
Marc Zappulla, Grants Coordinator, [email protected]
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