Tourism Development Forum looks at financial benefits of festivals
The street party brought in visitors from more than 20 states for three days of great music, food and friendship. Business was doing its own moving and grooving.
So does good fun equal good economics? Could Columbia benefit from more festivals and cultural events? These were the topics for discussion at the Sept. 7 Columbia Business Times Tourism Development Forum held at Mojo’s live music venue. Attendees heard from a list of local event leaders who offered their ideas:
• Betsy Farris and Jessica Brown, representing Thumper Entertainment, gave the figures from the 2010 Roots N Blues Festival, which brought in visitors from 24 states and three Canadian provinces. Farris said that creating youth camps during school breaks and summer would be a good way to offer cultural education to children who currently receive only minimal exposure to arts and music in the school system.
• Brown suggested such cultural events wouldn’t have to be lengthy. Other communities have had success closing off roads for a day or even a few hours to draw crowds to a
certain area.
• Carrie Gartner, executive director of The District, spoke about the upcoming MEHA stroll on Sept. 20, which was created as part of The District’s Museum Entertainment History Art outreach program. She also spoke about continued support for various “micro-events” in Columbia, such as Dog Days and Artrageous Fridays. She suggested a new festival called the Brew Ha Ha, an event bringing together local microbreweries and comedians.
• Paula Elias and Kerri Yost, representing the Citizen Jane Film Festival at Stephens College, shared information about the Citizen Jane Film Academy, a pilot program for student films. The project includes work by 24 local ninth-grade girls and 10 exchange students from New York City. The academy worked with 350 EEE students on making films, some of which will be shown at the Citizen Jane Film Festival. In an effort to increase the regional and national buzz surrounding the film festival, they have had success reaching new audiences by partnering with Bust Magazine as well as using social media sites.
• Karen Ramey spoke about three festivals put on by Columbia’s Parks and Recreation Department: Fire in the Sky, the Black and White Ball and the Heritage Festival. The Heritage Festival, she said, is expected to draw record crowds this year. And the Black and White Ball, a three-year reunion for Douglass High School, has done well attracting large crowds to the new amphitheater at Stephens Lake Park. One way to encourage tourism, Ramey said, is to make use of smaller locations to host music, dance and art performances.
• Jane Accurso announced that this will be the 17th year for Columbia’s First Night. Twelve venues participate in the event, which includes a nationally certified 5K run, a children’s and people’s procession leading up the fireworks at the grand finale.
• Carrie Spicer spoke on behalf of the Courtyard Marriott and said the hotel works hard to share information with guests about area events and hot spots. When guests have ideas for entertainment, they’re more likely to stay longer and make a return visit.
• Beth Mead, with the Columbia Visitor’s Bureau, reminded guests about the Tourism Development Fund, which is available to assist with events and organization. One of its most useful components, she said, is the “signature series” survey, which measures guest satisfaction and helps provide information for improving their hotel stays.
