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Posted: April 1, 2005
The East Texas Tourism Association (ETTA) has accorded Plano a number of
awards, announced during the 42nd Annual ETTA Conference held in Lufkin,
Texas earlier this month.
As part of a seven-day, six-night “Walz Across East Texas” excursion, a
40-member group of tour leaders and independent tour operators from five
states served as judges to determine the 2005 ETTA winners from among
visited locations.
Out of 20 East Texas cities visited during the January 2005 excursion, ETTA
accorded Plano’s Convention and Visitor’s Bureau (CVB) a second place nod
for hospitality and gave Plano a second place slot in the “Best City
Visited” category. Plano’s CVB Director, Mark Thompson, received a first
place award for best “Step-on Guide,” with the Southfork Ranch receiving
third place in the “Best Attraction” category and Plano’s Southfork Hotel
receiving a second place acknowledgement for “Best Lodging.”
Plano was the final stop on the 20-city ETTA tour, which annually opens up
the region to tour buyers who are members of the American Bus Association,
the National Tour Association, independent operators and group leaders from
Texas and other states.
“The Association (ETTA) brings the buyers together who then look at Plano,
and other locations, and return to their companies to begin putting tours
together to offer to their customers,” said Mr. Thompson.
While in Plano, the CVB hosted the ETTA Marketplace at Plano Centre,
pictured above. “During this part of the tour, the Motorcoach Operators sat
down one-on-one with each of the participating cities on the seven-day
tour,” said Mr. Thompson. “Each city had seven minutes to talk with the
buyers to try to convince them to bring a tour to their location. Based on
this trip, I would say we have several buyers who will be bringing some
trips back to Plano within the next two years.”
Thanks to aggressive marketing efforts by Plano’s CVB, Plano has become
known as a “destination,” not just a “stop over.” Attesting to successful
marketing efforts, hotel/motel receipts, which fund CVB activities, were
$3,076,824 in 2004. A total of 38,068 room nights were booked by the CVB in
2004, having an estimated economic impact of $6.5 million on Plano and the
surrounding area.
According to the American Bus Association, a fully loaded motorcoach (46
passengers on average) on a charter or tour, contributes an average of
$5,000 - $7,500 per day to the local economy, through meals, lodging,
shopping, admission fees, souvenirs and local tax revenues, during just one
overnight stay.
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