Susan Hodder Susan Hodder, Chamber Board of Directors, provides an overview of the Chamber's marketing program's accomplishments and plans. Hodder stands behind a poster depicting the Chamber's advertising campaign in Yankee Magazine. (Photo Sue Mello)

The Boothbay Harbor Region Chamber of Commerce held its second Fall Forum at the Spruce Point Inn on Wednesday, September 26. As promised, the forum provided updates on some important local economic issues, recent economic and tourism trends, and what the Chamber is doing to meet the challenges of the current business climate. The agenda was jam-packed with presentations and was followed by a short, but spirited, audience participation session.

Susan Morris, an energetic woman with a perpetual smile, served as the evening's facilitator. Morris presented an overview in national trends in the leisure/vacation industry that are useful for business owners to bear in mind. Morris pointed out that in today's "time-deprived society" more and more vacation/leisure time occurs in snippets. People often extend business trips to include vacations, vacation around major life events, such as weddings and reunions, or take short impromptu getaways with little planning. Vacationers are also often looking to be pampered and for "package vacations" where a variety of activities are available at or near lodging. With today's extended and non-traditional families, event travel often means accommodating large groups of people and providing activities to suit varied interests. Traveling with pets has also been on the rise so pet-friendly lodging and facilities are more frequently sought. Perhaps the most notable trend that a businessperson virtually must consider is the increasing use of the Internet for shopping and planning vacations.

The Chamber Board of Directors then presented an update on local business observations for 2007. The overall picture presented seemed to be moderately upbeat. One of the consistent themes was a need for a concerted effort among merchants to both promote the region and to connect consumers with area businesses.

From the retail sector, Dianne Gimbel, on behalf of herself and Audrey Curtis, reported a slow start and good finish for the 2007 tourist season and stressed a need for more merchants to become involved in the Chamber. Curtis also raised concerns about stores closing early, stores closing, and the attractiveness of storefronts downtown.

For the lodging sector, Susan Hodder and Ron Brann reported similar seasonal business trends but a good season overall. Brann's comments echoed Morris' observations. He reported that his business has improved as he has pursued the "rustic upscale" market and focused on destination weddings/functions, larger groups, outdoor adventure seekers, and serving as a concierge to the region. Brann said that finding enough seasonal employees remains a challenge. Lori Bailey reported that cottage rentals were down slightly this year and that it is difficult to identify the specific factors that affect bookings. Rick Prose reported that business at Harborfields was flat in 2007 and that their guest population is aging.

Brann also presented Mitch Weiss's comments on the dining sector. Weiss reported that the closing of four downtown restaurants had a positive effect on those that remained. He also commented that parking availability and stores closing early present challenges, but that special events, positive press and being "pet-friendly" had all paid off this year.

Laura Francis reported that her catering business, which depends primarily on residents, has exceeded expectations.

Rick Prose reported that he can "do as much boat rental business as I can stand." Dan Miller indicated that the marine service business has been very strong with most major yards in the area looking to expand. Boat sales, particularly over $10,000, have been sluggish this year. Miller reported that the biggest limiting factors for the industry are the lack of qualified employees and the increasing costs of healthcare and government regulation.

Val Coolong, Knickerbocker Home Services, stated that demand exceeds worker supply in the home service sector, as well. She reported that local contractors were disappointed that big construction projects in the area are not going to local companies.

Nan Davison provided an update on the non-profit sector. Davison said that although the increase in non-profit organizations translates to increased requests for donations from area businesses and residents, local non-profits enhance the quality of life and attract both visitors and new residents to the region. The Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens logged 35,000 visitors in 2007; Boothbay Region Land Trust estimates at least 30,000 people hiked BRLT trails; at least 10,000 people attended events at the Opera House; and about 30,000 people visited the Railway Village in 2007.

Mary Ripley presented an optimistic forecast for the real estate sector despite lower sales in residential, land and commercial properties in 2007. Ripley noted that sales have been slower and that there is more inventory on the market than usual. She anticipates that this "correction period" will subside over the next 12 months and anticipates a return to a more active real estate market.

Jaimie Logan, Executive Director, provided an update on Chamber activities. Logan detailed the many ways in which the Chamber serves as a resource to tourists, area businesses and the community. "We are in the information business," said Logan. "We want to make a difference. We want people to feel that they have come to the right place and that they have a friend in the Boothbay Harbor Region." Some examples of resources provided by the Chamber include the Region Guide (distribution about 200,000), walking map (80,000), wedding information package, motor coach package, relocation package, member brochure display, visitor centers (about 26,000 visitors yearly), events calendar, chamber Web site, legislative alerts, business referrals, Chamber news and e-news, and non-profit assistance. A new Chamber Service Directory will be produced and distributed this fall. Logan said that the Chamber also plans to develop a volunteer program so volunteers can help staff in the Chamber office during the peak visitor season.

Hodder updated members on the Chamber's marketing program, an area of great interest to participants in the 2005 Chamber Forum. At the 2005 forum, members were introduced to the Chamber's Web site. Since the Internet has become the major planning tool for travelers, Hodder reported that more of the Chamber's advertising budget has been diverted to the Web site. Hodder said that the Chamber's Web site has received a lot of traffic, and that Internet traffic to the Web site is being tracked. Efforts to make the site more likely to come up in Internet searches are ongoing and the Chamber has also purchased some pay-per-click ads to increase visits to the Web site. Expansion of the Chamber's Web site is planned for 2008.

Hodder said that the Chamber's marketing budget has been increased for 2008. Print advertising has shifted to targeting key markets to support the new slogan, "Boothbay Harbor: The Soul of the Coast." This new marketing approach is intended to convey a more sophisticated travel message that focuses on the strengths of the region. Hodder said that although public relations can have a big impact, it is cost and labor intensive. The Chamber has participated in a travel writers' familiarization trip and offers travel publicity leads. Hodder stressed, "One thing we all can do is guerrilla marketing. Especially with the Internet, you should be not only promoting your own business, but also our whole region . . . that benefits everyone."

Updates on the Chamber's task forces were next on the agenda, Lori Bailey reported that the governmental affairs task force, formed as a result of comments received at the 2005 Forum, had been disbanded. Members are asked to report any governmental/advocacy issues to the board, who will notify members through email.

Nan Davison reported on the Chamber Consolidation Task Force, which began work in January 2006 to pursue consolidation of Boothbay and Boothbay Harbor Chambers. Davison said that the task force attended a Boothbay Chamber board meeting in March 2006 and that the Boothbay Chamber did not see a need to explore consolidation. Boothbay considers itself more of an information center than a chamber of commerce and has since changed its name to reflect this status. A survey of 400 local businesses showed that the majority of respondents favored exploring consolidation, but those opposed were strongly opposed. Because of the opposition, the task force now is working to build trust between the two organizations and to work together on common issues, such as the Route 1 bypass.

Logan provided an update on activities of the Route 1 Bypass Task Force. Logan said that the Route 1 problem is a regional problem, influencing traffic, congestion, tourism, supplies and workforce. The draft environmental impact statement for the project is due to be released in November. Task force members will review the DEIS. Logan said that with limited federal funding, community consensus and interest could be important factors in whether a project is funded or not. She encouraged business owners to "take part, pay attention, and do what you can" to "work as a community to exact pressure to get this project done."

Morris then opened the meeting up for discussion asking members to identify issues of concern, ways to address those issues and to define what the Chamber should focus on in 2008.

Michael Feldmann, Welch House, applauded all the Chamber's media and advertising efforts but said, "I'd like to see us go one step further. We are all the Chamber . . . we should all be focused on what we want this town to be in 5-10 years. There are groups out there who, with or without the Chamber's help, are making great strides to make the Boothbay region into something more than just a tourist stop. We're building boats in town; we're teaching school; we're teaching crafts … that's what we should focus on; that's what we should market." After the meeting, Feldmann said that he would have liked to have seen the Forum discuss the Boat Building School and Ocean Classroom ventures. "These can make significant shifts in what kind of town we become, in a positive way," he said.

Feldmann continued, "We need to look around the town and look at all the empty holes in the town and make a concerted effort to fill those holes. I'd like to see a task force to solicit the kind of businesses that would be good for the town, something that we don't have." A quick tally with others at my table came up with nine downtown businesses that had closed or were planning to close at the end of this season. Although mentioned by Curtis and Weiss, Feldmann was the first at the Forum to propose a response to the "holes." Feldmann emphasized that he wasn't proposing limiting business ownership, but suggesting the Chamber take a more active role in attracting businesses that help to expand the town's offerings. Feldmann also suggested after the forum that another role of the Chamber might be to "talk to `angels' who would be willing to assist with funding for good ideas," who could promote business in the town. Feldmann's comments were well received by the audience.

Dan Moody, Hodgdon Island Inn, pointed out that the proposed coal plant in Wiscasset could have serious ramifications for the Boothbay peninsula as well. "The Wiscasset coal gasification plant proposal to dump mercury in the air, disturb the lobster fishery, and truck 6,000 tons of coal a day up Back River doesn't sound like a good idea to me, but the people of Wiscasset are driving that bus. And I'm not sure that they ought to be. I point that out. We are all going to be impacted by that."

Marty Gleason, Gleason Fine Art, suggested that the Chamber needed to hire a Public Relations Director so "that we can get our quality out there." Larry Brown, Linekin Bay Bed and Breakfast, thanked the Boothbay Region Land Trust and Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens for their contributions to the region and to attracting visitors.

Jim Taliana, Boothbay Region Art Foundation, suggested that "we need to have stories going out all time to the national media." Taliana emphasized that greater promotion of the working waterfront and artist colony would serve the entire region. He also recommended that the information center on Route 1 needs to be more inviting and serve as a more attractive gateway to the Boothbay region.

Although the discussion could probably have continued for hours, the formal program concluded and members adjourned to the bar.