Strategic Planning Process

Tourism in Erie County is a $1.2 billon industry. It supports more than 20,000 jobs and generates more than $350 million in direct labor income. An additional 10,000 jobs are created by suppliers of goods and services to businesses directly involved in tourism. In 2006 tourism in Erie County generated more than $70 million in local taxes, including more than $7 million dollars in bed tax on hotel rooms consumed by visitors to Erie County, and another $69 million in state taxes.

The Buffalo Niagara Convention & Visitors Bureau (BNCVB) has begun an undertaking vital to the entire Western New York community: drafting a strategic plan that will guide its sales and marketing efforts on behalf of the local tourism industry for the next five years. The plan, when complete, will serve to refine the BNCVB’s mission as a destination marketing organization and the official tourism promotion agency for Erie County.

The BNCVB has retained the services of facilitators Bob Martin and Jean Fonzi to oversee the process. Focus groups have been conducted with a variety of partner organizations representing the hotel, restaurant, retail, attraction, sports, cultural and philanthropic communities. In-person interviews with key stakeholders and written surveys will supplement the focus group data that has been collected.

The research phase of the planning process is part of a SWOT analysis designed to identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats to the hospitality industry and, in turn, evaluate and define the BNCVB’s role as an economic development agency.

The strategic planning process is being co-chaired by CVB Board members Jennifer Parker and Drew Cerza. The entire CVB board, consisting of 21 community volunteers, including appointees of Erie County Executive Chris Collins, representatives from the Erie County Legislature, and an appointee of Mayor Byron Brown, will participate in drafting the plan and approving its final recommendations. A draft plan is expected to be submitted by September 1, 2008.

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