PortsPorts--toto--Plains Plains Alliance ConferenceAlliance Conference

Nort Johnson, Black Hills, Badlands and Lakes AssociationNort Johnson, Black Hills, Badlands and Lakes AssociationSeptember 9September 9thth, 2010, 2010

Rapid City, SDRapid City, SD

Attractions… Attractions… The Black HillsThe Black Hills

TodayToday• Black Hills, Badlands and Lakes

Association – Who Are We?• Ports to Plains and BHB&L• Road Trip!• Tourism, Transportation and Economic

Development• Black Hills Attractions

Tourism NotesTourism Notes

• $2.1 TRILLION Spent in Recreation Industries World Wide– Largest Industry

• $962 Million in South Dakota (#2 Economic Engine)

• $565 Million in Black Hills Region– (.000269 of the world spend)

• 500+ Member Destination Marketing Organization Serving Black Hills Tourism for 70 Years

• Organized as a Nonprofit• 19 Chambers are Members• Partners include State of SD Tourism• Publishing proceeds are re-invested into

Destination Marketing Campaigns

• Vacation Guide– 485,000 pieces, 268 Pages

• Exploring– 275,000 pieces, 80 Pages

• Romancing the Snow– Winter Vacation Guide

• The Map– 1 million pieces

BHB&L ProductsBHB&L Products

• Travel Agent Guide and Program– Very Specialized Pub, Travel Agents

Only• blackhillsbadlands.com

– Over 800,000 visitors last year • NEW! Downloadable Publications and

Map for Handhelds• Black Hills VIC• Tourism Business Advocacy

BHB&L ProductsBHB&L Productscontinuedcontinued

Ports to Plains and BHB&L Ports to Plains and BHB&L • 1989 Resolution Promoting the “Western

Expressway”• Advocating for Heartland Expressway Every

Year Since• Why?

– 94% of Vacationing Americans Travel by Car – 94% of our $565 Million Industry = $531

Million– Colorado in top 6 markets with

5.6 Million Residents

Great American Road TripGreat American Road Trip

• Branding Black Hills Tourism• Our driving market is by far the strongest• “The Red Lines Carry the Traffic!”

Tourism, Transportation and Tourism, Transportation and Economic DevelopmentEconomic Development

• Tourism Infrastructure is Development Ammunition– Roads– Restaurants– Lodging

• Tourism Experience is a Recruitment Tool– The Creative Class…

• Entrepreneurial Development • Bottom Line –

Tourism is Economic Development

Black Hills AttractionsBlack Hills Attractions

Black Hills AttractionsBlack Hills Attractions

Black Hills AttractionsBlack Hills Attractions

Black Hills AttractionsBlack Hills Attractions

Black Hills AttractionsBlack Hills Attractions

Thank You!Thank You!Enjoy The Black Hills Enjoy The Black Hills and Badlands While and Badlands While

You Are Here!You Are Here!