Fayette Chamber hosts tourism roundtable
Muriel Nutall, executive director of the Fayette Chamber of Commerce, addresses executives from the local hospitality and tourism businesses and attractions during a roundtable discussion on how to bolster tourism in Fayette County.
Daniel Cox, executive director of the Fayette County Cultural Trust in Connellsville, talks about the need for central website devoted to available tourist activities that someone from outside the region could use. Cox and other executives from the local hospitality and tourism businesses and attractions gathered for a roundtable discussion on how to bolster tourism in Fayette County, hosted by the Fayette Chamber.
Executives from the local hospitality and tourism businesses and attractions gathered for a roundtable discussion on how to bolster tourism in Fayette County, hosted by the Fayette Chamber.
The ideas of how to bolster tourism in Fayette County, as well as the neighboring counties of Westmoreland and Somerset, were plentiful at a recent tourism roundtable hosted by the Fayette Chamber of Commerce.
“We changed the tourism (room) tax structure in December, going from 3 to 5 percent,” said Muriel Nutall, executive director of the chamber at a March 13 meeting. The additional 2 percent is earmarked for marketing the county as a tourist destination, she added.
“Tourism is the No. 1 industry in Fayette County,” Nutall said to the group, comprised mostly of executives from the local hospitality and tourism businesses and attractions.
Tourism and travel is indeed alive and well in Fayette County, as well as the most of the Laurel Highlands region. Based on the most recent economic studies by the Pennsylvania State Tourism Office, more than $677.5 million was spent in 2014 in Fayette County.
For the Laurel Highlands region, which includes Fayette, Westmoreland and Somerset counties, more than $1.83 billion was spent. It also accounts for 11.6 percent of the jobs in the region.
Those at the roundtable, held at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus, looked at four specific sectors within the industry — strengths, weakness, opportunities and threats.
Among the strengths cited by the audience was the growth of the Joseph H. Hardy Connellsville Airport, the county’s four seasons, the Great Allegheny Passage, and the fact there is an Amtrak station in Connellsville.
Others, however, said the lack of cellphone service in parts of the county has proven bothersome, especially when trying to transact business.
“That is probably the complaint we hear the most,” Nutall said.
There is also the perception the county suffers from a lack of infrastructure, such as sewerage and water, and even transportation options like taxis and Uber. There are also too many blighted areas in the county, attendees said.
Those at the roundtable also noted that there is no central website devoted to available tourist activities that someone from outside the region could use. Plus, the county lacks an identity and a brand, they said.
“There is an assumption we don’t have good stuff,” said Daniel Cox, executive director of the Fayette County Cultural Trust in Connellsville. “We need to collaborate with each other more.”
Ashli Mazer, director of marketing at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort in Farmington, said the county, as well as the region, needs to define itself.
“Travelers are accustomed to experiences,” she said. “What is our story?”
Vincent Vicites, chairman of the Fayette County Commission, said the county is in the process of putting together a new website and will look at promoting county attractions on it.
“We have a beautiful county and a lot to promote,” said Vicites, adding the county is in the process of accepting bids for the site.
Several in the audience pointed out to Nutall that the Laurel Highlands Visitors Bureau advertises in the Pittsburgh market, as well as other markets.
“Our job is to market in Fayette County,” Nutall said. “The Laurel Highlands Visitors Bureau markets outside of Fayette County.”
Nutall said she was pleased with the ideas presented and wants the same group to reconvene on a regular basis so a marketing plan — with input from everyone — can be developed.