JOINT HEARING
Senate Community, Economic & Recreational Development Committee
AND House Tourism & Recreational Development
Wednesday, March 16, 2016
9 a.m.
Hearing Room 1, North Office Building
Purpose & Format
Purpose: The focus of this joint hearing on PA Tourism is as follows:
- {Impact} Economic impact of PA Tourism and the related report titled, “Comprehensive Analysis of Pennsylvania’s Tourism Budget” (Dec. 2015) by Tourism Economics.
- The ideal and/or minimum level of state tourism funding and how such would be utilized to effectively market and promote PA tourism and travel.
- Impact of Local Hotel Room Taxes.
- {Budget (FY 16-17)} – An overview and rationale of the proposed Budget (FY 16-17) for PA tourism.
- {PA Branding} Rational and efforts related to establishing a PA brand.
- {Update} PA Tourism Partnership (PTP) Steering Committee and the transition to the Pennsylvania Travel and Tourism Partnership (per Act 189 of 2002).
- {Overview} Heritage Areas Program and its impact on PA tourism [under Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR)].
Format: This hearing will conducted via panel format with all testifiers sitting together and available for questions following each subject section.
Agenda
[9:00 A.M.] – Introductory Remarks – By Committee Chairs
[9:05 A.M.]
- Economic Impact of PA Tourism – “Comprehensive Analysis of Pennsylvania’s Tourism Budget” (Dec. 2015) by Tourism Economics – State Tourism Funding – Impact of Local Hotel Room Taxes
- John Longstreet, President & CEO, Pennsylvania Restaurant and Lodging Association (PRLA)
- Matthew [Matt] Price, Chairman, Pennsylvania Association of Travel and Tourism (PATT) & Executive Director, Huntingdon County Visitors Bureau
- Adam Sacks, President (founder), Tourism Economics | Attachment
[9:45 A.M.]
- PA Tourism Proposed Budget (FY 16-17) – PA Branding – PTP Steering Committee & the transition to the PA Travel and Tourism Partnership (per Act 189 of 2002)
- Carrie Lepore, Deputy Secretary for Marketing Tourism and Film, Department of Community, Economic and Recreational Development (DCED)
- John Longstreet, President & CEO, Pennsylvania Restaurant and Lodging Association (PRLA)
- Matthew [Matt] Price, Chairman, Pennsylvania Association of Travel and Tourism (PATT) & Executive Director, Huntingdon County Visitors Bureau
[10:25 A.M.]
- Heritage Areas Program and its impact on PA tourism
- Jane Sheffield, President, Heritage PA & Executive Director, Allegheny Ridge Corporation
{Handouts}
- {Report} Comprehensive Analysis of Pennsylvania’s Tourism Budget, Tourism Economics (Dec. 2015)
- Act 189 of 2002, known as the Travel and Tourism Act established the Pennsylvania Travel and Tourism Partnership
- Why Tourism, IMPACT – PATT publication (Fall 2015)
- Heritage PA: Program History & Purpose and Economic Benefits of the Heritage Areas Program, IMPACT – PATT publication (Fall 2015)
- Testimonies and Other Related Materials