Tourism summit focuses on impact of PGA event
FARMINGTON – Joe Hardy said the PGA tournament scheduled for September at his Nemacolin Woodlands Resort & Spa should be a boon not only to the resort but to many other businesses in Fayette County. Speaking at the third annual Fayette County Tourism Summit Monday at Nemacolin Woodlands, Hardy urged local business owners to fix up their buildings for the influx of tourists at the golf tournament and even offered to provide paint for business owners who can’t afford it.
“If they want to do the work and can’t afford the paint, I’ll provide it,” said Hardy. “This is an opportunity to put our best foot forward and to show visitors to the area what we have to offer right her in Fayette County.”
Several other business and government leaders agreed that the 84 Lumber Golf Classic set for Sept. 15-21, should provide a unique opportunity for the area to attract tourists.
Hardy suggested that new signage and banners be bought welcoming the PGA golfers to the area and County Commissioner Sean M. Cavanagh agreed saying, “We could blanket the area with signs saying “Welcome PGA” for under $5,000.”
Cavanagh also suggested that visitor’s booths be set up so that tourists can stop by and get information on other things to do in the area while they are here for the golf tournament.
Annie Urban, president of the Laurel Highlands Visitors Bureau, Deborah Corll, project managers for the War for Empire Consortium, Keith Newlin, acting superintendent at Fort Necessity and Muriel J. Nuttall, executive director of the Fayette Chamber of Commerce said plans are under way for the printing of a leaflet-type flyer to be handed out to business owners explaining the county’s rich history and a calendar of events.
“We all need to be educated,” said Urban “and this is something that business owners can give to their employees so when a visitor asks ‘What else is there to do in this area’ they can answer.”
Several other attendees were concerned with litter along the highways and byways and a suggestion was made that local groups engage Boy and Girl Scout Troops and civic organizations to start a cleanup campaign.
County Commissioner Vincent Vicities offered to help out with public transportation during the PGA Tour and Ron Cadrette, general manager for Nemacolin Woodlands, said that numerous other businesses in the area would benefit from the influx of people.
“We can’t accommodate everyone who will be coming in for the Tour,” said Cadrette. “That means arrangements will have to be made for overnight accommodations at other hotels, motels and bed and breakfast facilities.”
Cadrette reminded everyone that all 70,000 of the expected people will also have to eat and said that area restaurants, gas stations, and grocery stores will all benefit from tourists dollars.
Hardy also offered to give a $1,000 to anyone who can come up with an international/national idea for a yearly marathon using the 20 miles of roadway at Nemacolin and another $1,000 for anyone who can come up with an idea on building some kind of a Hall of Fame in the area.
Speaker Valencia Crisifulli, senior program associate for the National Trust’s Main Street Center, said it should be easy for someone to come up with a Hall of Fame idea with over 300 National Historic sites in the area.
“You’ve got it all right hear,” said Crisifulli. “Fayette County needs to be marketed as a whole experience. You have great accommodations, restaurants, local stores and yes even gas stations. People need to buy fuel, eat food and they want to see what makes you different from other places.”
Newlin said one of the biggest attractions in the area right now is in Somerset where Flight 97 crashed in September 2001.
“They are getting over 300,000 visitors a year at the crash site,” said Newlin. “The are attracting national and international visitors and if we market it right we could see many of those visitors come our way.”
Cadrette said 50 committees have been set up with 1,200 volunteers for the PGA Tour. He also said for each $20 bill that each of the 70,000 visitors spends the area will receive $1.4 million.
“These people are fearless and they like to explore outdoor activities,” said Cadrette. “The chamber is putting together a package for the sponsors telling them about white water rafting and the many, many other activities in the area.”
Cadrette said Nemacolin is only planning on housing the media, players and sponsors so the rest of the people will have to be housed somewhere else.
“We need to reach out to the community and make this the Super Bowl of Fayette County,” said Hardy. “And remember this is an ongoing event for the next four years.”
In closing, Nuttall reminded guests that tourism is the second largest industry in Fayette County and in the state. Crisifulli, after spending Sunday and Monday at Nemacolin and visiting the Uniontown area on Sunday, said although she has been to a lot of places she was really impressed with what this area has to offer.