Transcript 2015 TRIPP FACTS

Tourism Reinvestment In Promotion & Product
Tourism Advertising & Development Grants
Tourism Council of
Frederick County, Inc.
TRIPP
Program
Workshop
A
program through which TCFC
partners with non-profit attractions
and events to bring residents of other
areas to visit Frederick County
 $175,000
allocated from the Tourism
Council of Frederick County budget
for FY16 TRIPP awards
TRIPP
Program
Workshop
 Increase
the number of visitors to Frederick
County and the amount of money they
spend while visiting
 Increase
overnight stays in Frederick County
hotels, thereby replenishing and increasing
the hotel tax revenue that is used to fund
this program
 Enhance
the overall attractiveness and
marketability of Frederick County as a
destination
TRIPP
Program
Workshop
Tourism Advertising Award
 Placing advertising exposing non-local
audiences to local non-profit
attractions and events
Tourism Development Grant
 Development of tourism product
through non-profit attractions, events
and activities
TRIPP
Program
Workshop
Group Overnight Incentive Program
 Reimbursement of $10 per room night
generated to organizations generating a
quantity of overnight hotel stays
Unanticipated Opportunity Fund
 Advertising or Development opportunities
which could not have been anticipated prior
to March 31
TRIPP
Program
Workshop
 $175,000
follows:
for FY16 to be allocated as
$ 20,000 combined for the
Group Overnight Incentive Program
and Unanticipated Opportunity Fund
$108,000 for the Advertising Grant
$ 47,000 for Development Grants
TRIPP
Successful applicants…

Identify attributes of their attraction or event that would
motivate residents of areas outside of Frederick County to
visit/attend.

Demonstrate the ability to attract and measure visitors from
outside of Frederick County.
Ideas for measuring out of town visitors:
 Ask for zip codes of attendees as they enter
attraction/event.
 Count out-of-state license plates at your site or event
 Ask merchants to collect zip codes throughout the year
 Have a raffle where participants must fill out a survey
capturing demographics to enter
 Post a map and have participants mark their hometown
Program
Workshop
TRIPP
Program
Workshop
Tips for Success

At the end of the grant, the applicant should be able to
measure successes tied to the funding and information
about visitors.



Compared to last year, sales during the festival increased 20%
38% of attendees were from outside of Frederick County
90% of survey respondents spent over $50 at the event
TRIPP
Program
Workshop
 Complement
TCFC’s goals of increasing the
number of visitors, visitor spending and lengthof-stay
 Partner
with other entities to achieve goals
Partners do not need to be non-profits
 Partners cannot include hotel, motel or other lodging
businesses located outside of Frederick County

TRIPP
Program
Workshop
FY
16 TRIPP Applications are
due no later than 5pm,
Tuesday, March 31, 2015
90.0
%
80.0
70.0
60.0
If not promoting a
year-round attraction, events
that will drive overnight stays
during nonpeak times have the
next greatest appeal.
50.0
40.0
30.0
20.0
Frederick County Hotel Occupancy–
consistent peaks & valleys over multiple years
10.0
0.0
Jan
Feb
Tourism
Mar Council
Apr of Frederick
May County
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
TRIPP
Program
Workshop
 Minimum
request is $1,500
(total media schedule of $3,000)
 Maximum
request is $10,000*
(total schedule of $20,000 or
more).
 *If submitting an all nonlocal
media schedule maximum
request is $20,000 (total
schedule of $40,000)
TRIPP
Program
Workshop
 Minimum
request is $1,500
(total project of $3,000)
 Maximum
request is $15,000
(total project of $30,000 or
more).
TRIPP
Program
Workshop
 Advertising
must run in FY16 (July 1,
2015 – June 30, 2016)
 Development
Grant projects must begin
in FY16. It is recognized that some
projects may require more than a year
to complete. Up to 24 months will be
allowed, after which no TRIPP funds will
be released for the project without
TCFC approval of a timely written
request for a project extension
TRIPP
Program
Workshop
 Cash
match is dollar for dollar
 For
Advertising Grants, match must
be all cash
 For
Development Grants, 25% of the
match can be in-kind (documented
donations of goods or services for the
project, but not staff or volunteer time)
TRIPP
Program
Workshop
 $108,000
available for FY16 TRIPP
Advertising Grant awards
TRIPP
Program
Workshop
 One
application to apply for either
Advertising and/or Development
Grants
 Applicants
submitting for an
Advertising Grant proposing an all
nonlocal media schedule may
apply for up to $20,000.
TRIPP
Program
Workshop
 At
least half of the media schedule
budget must be placed with media
outlets that can demonstrate at least
half of their audience resides outside
Frederick County
TRIPP
 TRIPP
logo should occupy at least
10% of print ad space (or 2”
minimum width, whichever is larger)
 TRIPP logo incorporates State logo
Required logo size
is based on the
State requirement
for minimum size of
Maryland’s “crown
logo” in ads using
State marketing
grant funds, which
include TRIPP ads.
Program
Workshop
TRIPP
Program
Workshop
 Those
awarded $10,000 or more will
be subject to a minimum ad size and
preapproval requirements to comply
with State Tourism marketing grant
guidelines.
TRIPP
 Applicant
places the ads.
TCFC must directly pay the media
outlet. The awardee will submit a
Request for Payment form, media
outlet invoice(s), proof of
performance (actual size tearsheet, radio spot audio file, etc.)
and 50% of total invoice amount*
as cash match to TCFC.
* until TRIPP award is expended, then
awardee pays match plus remainder.
Program
Workshop
TRIPP
Program
Workshop
 Destination
Development Grants are
available to non-profit organizations
(potentially in partnership with for-profit
organizations) to assist with up to 50% of
the cost of tourism projects in Frederick
County, to include: exhibits, events,
activities, festivals, conferences, or
programs in order to develop new tourism
products for TCFC to promote
TRIPP
Program
Workshop
 Funding
in FY16 - The program has
$47,000 to award TRIPP Destination
Development Grants
TRIPP
Program
Workshop
 The
preferred use of funds is for onetime or start-up project costs. Applicants
proposing ongoing activities are
encouraged to work toward becoming
self-sustaining.
 Create
new reasons for residents of other
areas to want to visit Frederick County. A
new or enhanced attraction, exhibit, or a
major event (those attracting at least 500
attendees).
TRIPP
Program
Workshop
 Capital
projects (construction,
acquisition or renovation of fixed assets),
particularly those that directly improve
the visitor experience, will also be
considered
TRIPP
Program
Workshop
 All
printed materials printed with TRIPP
Program funds must include the Tourism
Council’s logo that is included in TRIPP
agreements and the “For information…”
phrase
TRIPP
Program
Workshop

A portion of the grant will be paid at the
beginning of the project, and the remainder
will be disbursed in accordance with the
individual grant agreement
TRIPP
Program
Workshop
 Previous
grants - Applicants must close
out all projects awarded prior to FY14
on or before by the application
deadline. No applicant can have more
than two Product Development Grants
open at one time
TRIPP
Program
Workshop
 Provides
a cash incentive for local nonprofit organizations and events that
generate a quantity of overnight hotel
stays in Frederick County during FY16
 At
least ten hotel room nights must be
sold within a single month as a result
of the applicant’s efforts on behalf of
visitors to their attraction or event
TRIPP

Maximum cash payment to a single organization is
$4,000 in a single calendar month, beginning with
July, 2015. (May apply for additional funds in
future months if funding remains in the incentive
pool. )

First-come basis until the pool is depleted. If
multiple organizations involved with the same
tour group or room block submit for the same
hotel room nights, the incentive will be shared
among the organizations.

The General Manager or Sales Manager of the
hotel(s) where the group stayed will need to sign
certification documentation to validate that the
room nights were sold and used, prior to the
organization receiving the incentive payment.
Program
Workshop
TRIPP
Program
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Funds
to be awarded in FY16 for
marketing or development
opportunities that could not have
been anticipated at the time of
the TRIPP application deadline.
TRIPP
Program
Workshop
 Use
FY16 Grant application
 Explain
why the opportunity could
not have been anticipated prior to
the regular TRIPP program deadline
 Applications
may be submitted after
the regular TRIPP application
deadline, for opportunities in FY16
TRIPP
Program
Workshop

March 31 -
Deadline for applications to be
submitted to TCFC

First week in April - Copies of applications with scoring
sheets distributed to Selection
Committee

End of April -
Committee meets for Selection
Day

May 8 -
TCFC Board consideration of
recommendations

Week of May 11 -
Announcement of TRIPP awards
Questions?
Patsy Ensminger
301-600-4043
John Fieseler
301-600-4041
TRIPP
Program
Workshop