| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Brian E. Logan, brian.logan@seeplymouth.com, 508-965-5375
Attached photo: Keiko Matsudo Orrall and Lea Filson. Additional photos available upon request.
SEE PLYMOUTH AWARDED $1,000,000
TOURISM PROMOTION GRANT
Grant to promote shoulder season will include ‘South Shore Secrets’ campaign for Plymouth and Bristol counties as well as national promotion for America’s Hometown Thanksgiving Events
Plymouth, MA – (April 3, 2023) – See Plymouth, the official tourism promotion organization for the town and county of Plymouth will use a $1 million grant administrated by the MA Office of Travel & Tourism (MOTT) and funded by the Economic Development Administration (EDA) through the Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development to promote the shoulder seasons in Plymouth and Bristol counties. In addition, the popular parade, American’s Hometown Thanksgiving Celebration, in Plymouth, as well as activities at Plimoth Patuxet Museums will be promoted nationally. The boost to winter tourism is because the period from November 1 to April 30 has historically seen fewer tourists than the tourism season between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
In a news conference held in Plymouth at Town Hall on April 3, MOTT Executive Director Keiko Orrall talked about the federal tourism grants being awarded.
“The Travel and Tourism Season Extension (TTSE) grants support regional marketing projects that promote travel and tourism attractions between the months of November through April, known as the ‘shoulder season,’” said Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism Executive Director Keiko Matsudo Orrall. “We have an amazing state to showcase, and these funds will enhance tourism recovery during this important part of the year.”
Also attending the news conference was the See Plymouth staff, a representative from Southeast MA Visitors Bureau, and organizers of the America’s Hometown Thanksgiving Celebration and Plimoth Patuxet Museums.
“See Plymouth is excited to work together with Bristol County to explore all the tourism venues open during the off-season,” said Lea Filson, President/CEO of See Plymouth. “For the town of Plymouth, we will use a part of the funding to promote, on a broader scale, the ability to view the America’s Hometown Thanksgiving Celebration parade that rolls annually the weekend before Thanksgiving.”
Thanksgiving activities at Plimoth Patuxet Museums will also be promoted.
“We are delighted about this funding and the dynamic marketing campaigns it will support to increase awareness of all that our region has to offer,” said Ellie Donovan, Executive Director of Plimoth Patuxet Museums. “With its focus on extending the shoulder seasons, this grant will further enrich the vibrant tourism economy that our communities depend on.”
While some businesses and attractions in the region close or cut back on their hours during the colder months, there is still plenty of opportunity to enjoy restaurants, entertainment venues, museums, and hotels/inns throughout the winter. Plymouth and Bristol counties will join together to advertise these South Shore Secrets to extend the length of the tourism season on the South Shore.
“Southeastern Massachusetts Visitors Bureau is pleased and proud to partner with See Plymouth on marketing and attraction initiatives that can bring visitors to the region, particularly during the ‘shoulder season,’” said Rick Kidder, CEO of One South Coast. “While summer may always be the most popular time to visit our destinations, our regions have remarkable assets available to visitors in every season of the year.”
Large-scale events like the long-running America’s Hometown Thanksgiving Celebration will also benefit. The Town of Plymouth, where the American Thanksgiving holiday began, is the location of the popular annual parade, held the weekend prior to Thanksgiving. The America’s Hometown Thanksgiving Celebration parade and other Thanksgiving events already add a welcome late-year boon to area businesses but promoting the event to a larger audience will increase attendance and further promote Plymouth’s Thanksgiving brand.
“On behalf of America’s Hometown Thanksgiving Celebration committee, I want to thank Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism and See Plymouth for believing in our vision for an event that is beloved both locally and nationally,” said Executive Director Olly DeMacedo. “This increased funding will allow us to expand our story of historic moments in America and share it with so many more around the country.”
See Plymouth will award a contract to an ad agency to help with the execution of the South Shore Secrets campaign and will work internally with the America’s Hometown Thanksgiving Celebration and Plimoth Patuxet Museums in promoting Thanksgiving events.
###
For more info on See Plymouth, visit SeePlymouth.com.
For more info on MOTT, visit https://www.visitma.com/.
For more info on One South Coast, visit http://visitsemass.com.
For more info on America’s Hometown Thanksgiving Celebration, visit www.usathanksgiving.com.
For more info on Plimoth Patuxet Museums, visit www.Plimoth.org.
|
