Feeling effects of COVID-19

The Carbon County Visitors Council (CCVC) met by teleconference at 10 a.m. on April 15 for their monthly meeting. The meeting had been scheduled to be held in Hanna but, due to social distancing, the meeting was held by phone and online.

The agenda, minutes and financials were approved in a timely manner. It was noted that the downturn in lodging tax had not been felt in all municipalities in March’s figures. Carbon County and Medicine Bow were ahead of last year’s numbers collected. Rawlins and Saratoga showed a decrease compared to the time frame of the year before. After the financial review, the board approved the distribution of funds to the municipalities. Each town that collects lodging tax is reimbursed 10 percent to spend on how the entity sees fit. Carbon County also receives disbursement.

The board reviewed the final report submitted by Leslie Jefferson, CEO of CCVC. She said the Governor’s Conference during February 23-25 in Cheyenne was a success. She said the conference did address COVID-19 and the possible impact for the summer. Jefferson said that she has attended weekly teleconferencing meetings given by the Wyoming Office of Tourism, Wyoming Lodging and Restaurant Association and Wyoming Travel Industry Coalition regarding COVID-19. She sent in editorials to the local newspapers in Carbon County concerning the crisis of COVID-19 and what could be done during this time. She sent out the new radio ad to the board members.

Jefferson said she received correspondence that said the Woodchoppers Jamboree may be canceled this summer.

People looking at videos on Wyoming were up this month. Request for print media was down. Jefferson said that was partly due to the Madden Media newspaper insert holding off on running the insert until the current national COVID-19 restrictions are eased.

Saratoga representative Danny Burau went over a proposed partnership with Koolany on bringing bikes that can be rented by visitors to the towns of Saratoga and Rawlins.

“The reason I thought this would be valuable, I felt bikes would be a good way to get people outside and enjoy the town versus trying to drive around in a vehicle,” Burau said. “It gives people a chance to be surprised and delighted, to be able to get around Saratoga and see how beautiful this place is.”

Burau said that people visiting Saratoga and Rawlins can slow down their experience and not rush. He said it gives them a chance to smell and feel the outside.

“A bike is a great mechanism to get around and enjoy the environment,” Burau pointed out. “Bikes are a trigger for people to know something must be special about the town if they are available to rent. A visitor starts asking questions of locals about what there is to do around town and why they should use a bike. This gives the town an opportunity to explain what to see. For instance, in Saratoga, we can say, there is a brewery across the river; then they can go across Veterans Island and see the hot pools and then come back downtown.”

Burau said more research is needed, but felt it could even be a source of revenue for a town that implemented the program after a year or two.

A draft on a Crisis Communications Plan for the Carbon County Visitors’ Council was tabled so that board members could review it and be ready for recommendations at the next meeting.

The discussion on appointing member at large seat for the CCVC was tabled after board members decided to reach out to their perspective communities to see if there were individuals interested in the position.

The first reading of the fiscal 2020-2021 budget was approved. Jefferson said she was projecting it to be less than the year before because of the shutdown to lodging. She hoped next month more understanding of the impact of COVID-19 would be available.

The board is tentatively set to meet in Hanna next month at 10 a.m. on May 20. If meeting restrictions are still in place, the board will teleconference.