News for the Hospitality Executive |
Survey Reports on the Effects on the Local Hospitality
Industry Following
the Jimmy Buffett Gulf Coast, Alabama Concert Held July
1, 2010
Hoteliers Surveyed Show High
Rates of Room Occupancy,
McLean, VA, 07/21/10 � The Knowland Group, the world�s largest data firm in the global meetings and conventions industry, today released a survey on the effects of the Jimmy Buffett Gulf Coast Benefit Concert on the local hospitality industry. The survey, conducted two weeks after the concert was completed, found many hotels within 75 miles of Gulf Shores, AL were booked, but future reservations failed to materialize. Specifically, of the hotels surveyed, 49% reported that more than half
of their guests who stayed at their hotel attended the concert. In addition,
45% of responding hotels stated that less than half of their guests attended
the concert. Of those concert attendees, 41% stayed one night and 53% stayed
two nights; making up for the evaporation of the usual weekend vacationers
following the oil spill.
The increase in room bookings was welcomed by the surveyed hoteliers,
with 89% claiming the event was very helpful to their business and 11%
stating it was somewhat helpful. None of the survey�s respondents stated
that the concert had any ill effect.
Despite the influx of concert goers, future vacationers still are avoiding the Gulf Coast. 59% of hoteliers stated they have seen a decrease in future room bookings. None of the hotels surveyed have seen an increase in future room bookings after the concert had been completed. As for additional efforts to draw tourists to the region, concerts have been the most successful attraction according to 53% of hoteliers surveyed. Advertising campaigns conducted by state and local tourism bureaus aimed at attracting in-state and out-of-state tourists were seen as effective by 15% and 17% of hoteliers respectively. There is one group hoteliers universally agree that is not helpful to their efforts to attract visitors - the news media. 89% of respondents stated that the media has been very hurtful to generating business and 11% replied that the media was somewhat hurtful. This sentiment is best summarized by one Gulf Shores hotelier who stated: �The media has damaged our area and what they fail to state is [that] our beaches are still as beautiful as they�ve always been.� This Knowland survey was conducted over a two day period from July 19-20, 2010. The full survey results can be found below. 1. What proportion of guests did you have at stay your hotel for the recent Jimmy Buffet Gulf Coast Benefit Concert? a. All of my guests attended the concert � 11%
2. How many nights did those guests who attended the concert stay at your hotel? a. 1 nights � 41%
3. Since the concert has been held, what has been the effect on your hotels bookings? a. Large increase in future bookings � 0%
4. In your opinion, how helpful was the Gulf Coast benefit concert to your business? a. Very helpful to my hotel�s business � 89%
5. What actions that outside groups are undertaking are most helpful to your hotel? a. Benefit concerts � 53%
6. How has media coverage of the beach conditions near your hotel affected your business? a. Very helpful to generating business � 0%
About The Knowland Group The Knowland Group is a proven innovator, developing intuitive marketing products and services that streamline and support event and group sales in the hospitality industry. The company, headquartered in McLean, VA serves over 2,000 hotel clients and 17,000 users globally. Recently featured on the Inc. Fast 500 List, The Knowland Group is the second fastest growing company in the travel industry. For more information, visit www.KnowlandGroup.com, call 410-860-2270 or follow us on Twitter @knowlandgroup. |
Contact:
Tom Crosson, Communications Manager
|