April 2011 State Parks, Recreation & Travel Commission Summary

New State Parks Recreation and Travel Commissioners Barbara Harvel, LeRoy Dangeau, John Gill, Montine McNulty (Emeritus), and Jay Bunyard (reappointed) were sworn in by County Judge Marilyn Edwards before the Commission meeting.

Mr. Davies reviewed the 2011 legislative session acts that will affect the department.For additional information, contact Gloria Robins at 501.682.7614.

Claude Legris and Jennifer Boulden with the Fort Smith Convention and Visitors Bureau presented True Grit = True Tourism.For additional information, contact Claude Legris at 479.783.8888.

State Parks:

The Arkansas State Parks FY 2012 internet budget was approved to include a redesign of the Arkansas State Parks website, incorporating updates and improvements.For additional information, contact Joe Jacobs at 501.682.6923 or Joan Ellison at 501.682.2873.

The Arkansas State Parks FY 2012 advertising budget was approved to include various media applications promoting lodge parks and the new Village Creek Golf Course scheduled to open in late summer 2011.For additional information, contact Joe Jacobs at 501.682.6923 or Joan Ellison at 501.682.2873.

Results from Arkansassports360.com annual Reader’s Poll voted DeGray State Park Golf Course from 14th spot last year to 5th position in 2011 for “Best Public-Access Course.”For additional information, contact Park Superintendent Mike Wilson at 501.865.5811 or Greg Clark, Golf Course Manager at 501.865.2807.

Tourism Report:

Approximately 600 delegates attended the 37th Annual Governor’s Conference on Tourism. The Southeast Arkansas Geocaching event was organized in Desha and Chicot counties.The 120 caches were planted for the April 12 event and since, have been found over 10 times each. For additional information, contact Nancy Clark at 501.682.1120.

Tourism Development: Jefferson County completed a Tourism Attraction Feasibility Study and Planning Report for an “Outdoor Historical Drama—Saracen in Pine Bluff.”The feasibility study and request for payment for half of the project totaled $10,457.35. The City of Hot Springs completed a Tourism Attraction Feasibility Study for a “Sports Complex.”The feasibility study and request for payment for half of the project totaled $10,000.00. The Fall/Winter Calendar of Events forms were mailed in late March.Event sponsors have until April 29 to submit events that will occur between Labor Day weekend and February 29, 2012. For additional information, contact Donna Perrin at 501.682.1926.

Information Research/Welcome Centers: Consumer requests for travel information increased 7.8% in March compared to 2010. Focus group research evaluating the consumer reaction to proposed advertising was completed in Oklahoma City, Dallas and Houston. Welcome Center managers and staff attended the Spring FAM Tour in the Arkansas River Valley and Diamond Lakes regions. National Tourism Week will be observed at the Welcome Centers during the week of May 7 – 15th. A certificate of appreciation was awarded to the Bentonville Welcome Center Manager, Phyllis Spradlin, who is retiring after 19 years of service. For additional information, contact Joanne Hinson at 501.324.1520.

The winner of the Arkansas Family Fishing Sweepstakes was from Lindale, TEX.The Communications of Vacancy Emergency Response (COVER) program was activated on April 8.Sixty lodging properties participated in the COVER activation. Arkansas tourism and its partnership with Gowalla was mentioned in the book “Social Location Based Marketing” by Simon Salt.For additional information, contact Dena Woerner at 501.682.7606.

Group Travel:Sample RV itineraries were presented. Year-to-date inquiries are up slightly with 367 occurring in 2011 vs. 350 for 2010.For additional information, contact Renee Robison at 501.682.1219.

Aristotle provided web performance statistics and an update on the new look of Arkansas.com.The Commission approved the reinstatement of funds removed during a previous budget cut. For additional information, contact Marla Johnson Norris at 501.374.4638.

Cranford Johnson Robinson Woods provided a report on the findings of the recent focus groups.The agency provided an update on the Fall/winter 2010/2011 Post Buy Analysis Report and the Arkansas Fishing and Outdoors Guide. For additional information, contact Karen Mullikin at 501.975.7217.