What a Great Governor

Some people are upset about our governor’s budget cutting tactics, but let me assure you that our economy is scheduled to grow with more heritage preservation as a result. When hearing Governor Haley Barbour’s radio address to the taxpayers, I felt that my message through the Mississippi Economic Council, (State Chamber) was well delivered.

After the last MEC Caucus meeting, I was asked in a phone survey of at least 10 different ways to justify a tax increase on cigarettes, beer, alcohol, tourism, etc. As an experienced salesman, I listened to every kind of emotional justification for the increase in taxes, but I knew of simply too much waste. The Governor apparently agrees with my positions.

I need your help however, to convince his new management of tourism that we must do away with Traveler Discount Coupon Magazine which cross-markets and quotes prices of out of state tourism destinations. For over ten years, I have scratched my bald head as I read a magazine with a better sales presentation for our competition, handed out by our state government.

Go to your State Welcome Center today and ask for hotel coupons. You will be directed to a magazine that hosts a picture of New Orleans on the front cover. View a message and picture on the back cover page from Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco, 800-33GUMBO. I counted 65 Mississippi coupons and 82 Louisiana coupons inside.

While a coupon hungry tourist may initially want to use a coupon to book a Mississippi room, they can easily be tempted to re-use the same book to split their vacation to another destination Since this magazine crossmarkets New Orleans. Picking up a zoo brochure or racetrack brochure on the MS Coast can encourage a tourist to see value in splitting the vacation and utilize this coupon book to travel to New Orleans.

This is exactly what has happened since the enthusiastic introduction of “Where Magazine of New Orleans” into our hotel rooms beginning in April of 1999. As the most hospitable Mississippians shared a magazine with over 90% Louisiana advertisements, New Orleans convention hoteliers blacklisted Mississippi advertisements. Paul Buckley, GM of Hilton Riverside (New Orleans area largest hotel), was quoted in the Times Picayune, “I don’t think it’s something we want to be involved with, you don’t bite the hand that feeds you.”

As a result, the average length of stay shortened in Mississippi and the repeat visitation rate reduced. Louisiana’s politicians and tourism leaders have had a good laugh at our ignorance all the way to the bank. This had a direct economic effect to every independent artist and business owner in the hospitality industry. Over the next three years New Orleans saw an 18% growth in the construction of hotel rooms, as the value of a non casino room in Mississippi fell rapidly. By 2004, the New Orleans momentum was measured at 226% increase in family tourism as Mississippi reports stagnation.

Every time these cross-marketing channels are successful, our economy loses money. For your government and local hoteliers to recommend your community’s competition has been a complete disaster.

In the fall of 1996, I began applying some of my research and marketed Bay St. Louis and Ocean Springs downtowns, just as I had for Pass Christian merchants since 1994. I could never have accomplished so much without the absolute cooperation of the state welcome center employees and exceptional donations and endorsements by Grand Casinos and over 300 front line employees throughout the MS Gulf Coast.

I’ve designed a strategic plan which involves greater cooperation with the State Welcome Centers. My plan includes breathing more life into every downtown from Pascagoula to Waveland at little or no cost to the state taxpayers. The removal of all cross-marketing channels in our State Welcome Centers is vital! Please show your support.

Contact your governor today to support my projects in restoring greater economy to South Mississippi @ Governor Haley Barbour, P.O. Box 139, Jackson, MS 39205, Ph. 601-359-3150 or fax 601-359-3741.