Motorcoach Industry Focus Group Re-Cap
January 25, 26, 28 2005

Industry partners were invited to provide feedback to the Asheville Convention & Visitors Bureau in advance of the strategic planning sessions with the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority in March.

TTDC Meetings

• Be aware of state association meetings (TMCA, NCMA, etc) when scheduling future TTDC meeting dates.
• Preferred meeting time is 3:00 p.m. versus 8:15 a.m.

Motorcoach – Overall Comments

• Competition remains keen for motorcoach groups – Asheville has no new product to offer.
• We must continue our motorcoach sales efforts – if we do not, we will loose ground to destinations who do market to these groups.
• Most partners are still seeing flat numbers for motorcoach travel, but seem to be staying busy during November and December with coach groups (Biltmore Christmas).
• Our sales success will be tied to our ability to partner with other regional destinations like Charleston, SC. We need to do more work on this approach.

Student Groups / Rock Your Classroom Field Trip Planner

• Attraction partners noted that school group visitations continue to trend downward. Unless an attraction offers a full day of programming, they are overlooked. This is further complicated by the fact that focus is on math and science curriculum – if you do not have a curriculum based program, your site is not a competitor.
• With respect to the school groups, it is critical to partner with other attractions and to partner with other communities to develop a saleable product – RYC allowed for this.
• Disappointment was expressed with how the project ended in 2004. Since the CVB cannot dedicate the resources of time needed to fully develop RYC, the CVB will allow access to RYC resources to allow continued work on the project by interested partners.
• Performance venues seem to be a key in attracting student groups. Once Pack Square is finished, there might be some new opportunities that arise.

Communications

• The marketing plan document is invaluable for our partners to determine who the best contact is given a specific project – keep it up.
• When you factor in all of the email and mailings sent by the entire chamber, it is very difficult for our partners to determine who does what and whether or not they really need to participate in that project/meeting.
• The group tour and AAA e-mail newsletters represent a way to generate free publicity – partners would like a list at the beginning of the year indicating all submission due dates.
• Reporting of motorcoach groups needs to be better defined – for example, ski groups – are they SMERFE or motorcoach?
• Remain sensitive on getting leads out quickly to allow for all partners the chance to bid on groups.
• Recommended the CVB spell out in the e-mail where a group booked when notifying industry of a confirmed booking - that way no one wastes time downloading an attachment.
• Questions persist in our own industry as to how room tax revenues can be used.

Sales Activities

• The partners sense the CVB is even handed with respect to sales lead distribution.
• Given the new changes at TravelSouth, partners suggest we look at it for future inclusion in the plan of work.
• Continue with CrossSphere and ABA.
• Would like to see more theme oriented itineraries.
• Continue to attend one regional show, with Pennsylvania Bus being the favorite.
• The industry would support one sales mission styled after Explore Asheville! Destination Training to take place in fall 2005. Areas of interest included Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Florida.
• CVB should focus more on high-end coach groups and finding more “off-season” business.
• Industry is appreciative of projects such as Cavalcade of Comedy welcoming committee.
• Partners appreciate getting to provide input on tradeshow/marketplace appointments requests.
• CVB should contact regional welcome centers to capture the number of coaches stopping in and determining whether or not they are staying in our area or just passing through.
• Partners would like CVB to attend state bus association meetings and sponsor an education session for operators with a breakout session that would involve a tradeshow like table – suggest CVB try it out at a regional meeting (Georgia).

AAA / Welcome Centers / Travel Agent Groups

• CVB will schedule Explore Asheville! Destination Training for Indiana in September.
• A second training should be scheduled for spring in a core market like Atlanta.
• Areas of interest for future trainings include Connecticut and Virginia.
• Host a FAM every other year for AAA auto travel counselors – next in 2007.

Motorcoach Service

• Overall comments indicate that partners think the servicing department is extremely beneficial as a resource.

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