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ANNUAL REPORT 2020
The Chincoteague Chamber of Commerce is an organization whereby many differentbusiness interests have joined together in a combined manner to maximize theirability to attract and increase the number of visitors to Chincoteague Island.The ultimate goal of the organization is to communicate the message that Chincoteague,the "Beautiful Land Across the Water," is the most desirable location to visit and/orvacation with family or friends.MISSION STATEMENT
REGIONAL OVERVIEWECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY 2019*According to Virginia Tourism Corporation,"every 1 VA invests in tourism marketinggenerates 7 in tax revenue for theCommonwealth. That's a 7:1 Return onInvestment."*Eastern Shore of Virginia saw a growth rate of5.0% for 2019/2018. Accomack County grew5.6%. The Commonwealth as a whole grew 3.4%2015-2019 Travel Economic Impacts-Accomack Co: 222 Million (2019) in domestic travelexpenditures (5.6% increase) 6.5 Million (2019) Local tax receipts(5.5% increase) 10.5 Million (2019) in State tax receipts(6.6% increase) 2,223 jobs (2019) (0.2% increase) 47 Million in Payroll (2019)(4.3% increase)*Chincoteague’s diverse tourism products andthe Chincoteague Chamber’s strategicmarketing plan combine to drive tourismdollars to our area in a significant way.Source: VTC-Virginia Tourism Corporation 2019 EconomicImpact of Domestic Travel on Virginia Counties
STRATEGIC ACTION PLANADOPTED FEBRUARY 2018*MARKETING- Earned Media- Paid Media- Organic Marketing - SocialMedia Sharing*BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT- Cultivate Entrepreneurs- Advocate for Business- Relocation to Chincoteague*BUSINESS RETENTION- Support through assistancewith planning, marketing,finances, resiliency, insurance,other services*MEMBER SERVICES- Awards, networking,receptions, website,newsletters
STRATEGIC PLANGOALS ATTAINED 2020Marketing- Received Marketing Leverage Grantfrom VTC to assist in Travel Guideproduction/development- Received VTC WanderLOVE marketinggrant- Scheduled press releases to almost 400regional/national media- 27 press releases sent in 2020- Assisted 3 Bus Tours- Social Media Engagement Growth- Facebook – 6,746 new likes- Instagram – 713 new followers- Twitter – 102 new followers- YouTube – 34 new followersBusiness Development- Attract New Businesses- Entrepreneurial web page- Economic Development web page- Business Resources web page- Review Gaps Assessment regularlyBusiness Retention- Received EDA Grant for COVID-19recovery assistance to businesses- Economic Development web page- Business Resources web page- Monthly Networking LuncheonsMember Services- Attract New Chamber Members- 37 new members since July 1, 2019- New member first year discount
COVID-19 RESPONSE March 13: Began regular email correspondence to membership updating on local/state/federal and CDCrecommendations, restrictions & guidelines (ongoing)RESOURCES Began Social Media and Press Release campaigns for same messaging (ongoing) Developed Resources pages on chincoteaguechamber.com for rapid release of informationto residents and visitors iness-resources/ Developed “What’s Open on CI” webpage to direct the public to businesses who were open during the very fluid earlydays with Social Media messaging to mirror same Created Shop Local Logo and shared with membership to help stimulate local economyMARKETING Mirrored Virginia Tourism Corporation (VTC) marketing campaigns with our own videos:(Chamber President Benjy Holloway, producer) “We’ll be Waiting for You” “We’re Open” Presented membership with “The Path Forward” Marketing Plan to drive tourism back to Chincoteague as restrictions lifted Attended weekly Zoom meetings and conference calls with VTC, VACCE, US Travel, VA Chamber, local, state, and federalagencies to gather information to be dispersed to membership Reached out to state & federal legislators to be a voice for the Eastern Shore and Chincoteague for recovery dollarsRECOVERY Bid on and was awarded EDA Grant for COVID-19 Recovery funds. Continue to build/improve resource pages as part ofgrant fulfillment. Will also offer workshops, seminars, training to membership in 2021/2022 for continuing recoveryassistance. www.chincoteaguechamber.com/economic-development/ Applied for and received VTC WanderLOVE grant for marketing Applied for and received VTC Marketing Leverage Program Recovery Grant
COVID-19 RESPONSESTATISTICSTo keep island residents, businessowners & guests educated withfast-changing and developingresources, marketing efforts &recovery opportunities, thechamber disseminated timesensitive information & pressreleases through the followingoutlets:*EMAIL- 80 emails sent- 71,715 reachedCOVID-19 ResponseCOVID-19 Related Reach Compared to Total 2020 Reach100%90%*WEBSITEIncludes COVID-19Updates, BusinessResources & EconomicDevelopment Pages- 48,751page OCIAL MEDIAIncludes Facebook,Instagram & Twitter- 999,865 reach74,44371,715999,86510%48,7510%Email ReachWebsite Page ViewsCOVID-19 ReachNon COVID-19 ReachSocial Media Reach
EARNED MEDIA*Articles appeared in these outlets due to chamberassistance or direct pitch to media outlets (VTC leads)- ReadersDigest.com- Cronkite News Arizona PBS- Deseret News: Salt Lake City- RVA Traveler (Richmond)- Delmarva Life (TV)- Atlanta Journal Constitution- DelmarvaNow.com (from PR’s)- Eastern Shore Post (from PR’s)- Recreation News- WESR Radio (from PR’s & taping)- Shore Daily News- TripAdvisor Member- Going on Faith Magazine- Group Travel Leader Magazine- Chincoteague/Assateague Thanksgiving SeasideAdventure(children’s book)- AAA Mid-Atlantic Magazine- Wall Street Journal- Island Foods (videos play in store)- GoWorldTravel.com- Plain Communities Business Exchange- Lynchburg Living Magazine- French TV Channel TF1- Stanford University- Forbes.com- The Connection (Chicago)- ChesaDelCrier- Cooperative Living- TravelMag.com: Michael Upton blog- USA TODAY- OnlyInYourState- WDLR Radio (Ohio)- VA Living Magazine- Matador Network (VTC/Airstream)- Insider.com- Fateandchaos.com- WBOC- WCTG- Florida Times-Union- Numerous blog posts and websitesBest Coastal Small Town
PAID MEDIA:A SAMPLING .*Southern Travel & Lifestyles- 3 Full Page Spread- 75 Word Editorial- Digital for 6 Months- Cost 1,400 / Value 7,470*Travel South- Full Page- Digital for 3 Months- Social Media Boost- Cost 1,500 / Value 16,495*Adventure Outdoors- Pg. 5 Full Page- Premium Social Media & DigitalPackage- Cost 1,500 / Value 5,000*Sandmarks--OC/DE & Coastal VA- 2 Page Center Spread- Cost 2,400 / Value 12,600*Coastal Virginia Magazine- 1/3 Page- Cost 1,480 / Value 2,210*Virginia Travel Guide- 1/4 Page- Cost 4,500
Total Reach by YearIncludes Phone Calls, Office Visitors, Emails Received, and Website Hits350,000Through staffing efforts, websitemanagement, and Search Engine Optimization,there has been steady growth. Continuedgrowth post-pandemic is anticipated.300,000Total ReachIn response to marketing efforts throughearned, paid, and social media, theChincoteague Chamber of Commerce &Certified Visitor Center answers questions andprovides information and tourism resources tovisitors year-round.250,000200,000150,000100,00050,0000Year
CHAMBER SPONSOREDEVENTSIn response to traditionalshoulder season events, like theChincoteague Oyster Festival &Chincoteague Old-FashionedChristmas Parade beingcanceled due to pandemicrestrictions, these new Chambersponsored events were createdto stimulate the economy,engage social media followers,and foster community morale.*DIY CHINCOTEAGUEOYSTER FESTIVAL- 197 orders- 180 bags (50 oysters)- 325 pints oysters- 70,000 social media reach*CHINCOTEAGUEBUSINESS DECORATINGCONTEST- Included Shop Localcampaign to support businesscommunity & stimulateholiday shopping- 11 participant businesses- 445 votes- 19,850 social media reach
WANDERLOVEVIRGINIA TOURISM CORPORATION* 10,000 marketinggrant to promote roadtrips around Virginia.DISCOVER YOUR LOVE OFCHINCOTEAGUE ISLAND Hub &Spoke featuring itinerariesfocused on:- Oysters/Coastal Cuisine- Small Town Charm- Misty & the ChincoteaguePonies- History- Nature Trails- On the -itineraries/
MEMBERSHIP SERVICES& BENEFITS*Active membership of 313 paidmembers and 11 Board Membersrepresenting various industry sectors*Annual General Membership Meeting*Publish Yearly Visitor Guide &Membership Directory*Networking luncheons monthly Jan, Feb& Sep (in person), Nov & Dec (online)*Professional seminars and trainingopportunities*Business Person & Citizen of Year*Ribbon Cuttings*Business After Hours*Partners: Eastern Shore of VA TourismCommission; VA Tourism Corporation;VA Restaurant, Lodging & TravelAssociation; Wallops Island RegionalAlliance, A-NPDC, NASA, EasternShore of VA Chamber, NorthamptonCounty Chamber, CNWR, NPS .*Strengthening economic developmentopportunities with shared goals andobjectives.
2021 GLIMPSES*2021 Chincoteague Visitor’sGuide & Membership Directoryin Print & Digital Version atwww.chincoteaguechamber.com*WanderLOVE Grant fulfillmentPress Releases, Blogs, Itineraries*EDA Grant fulfillment businessassistance/resources forCOVID-19 Recovery- Resiliency Workshops inpartnership withChincoteague EmergencyOperations Center- Leadership Conference inpartnership with EasternShore Community College*Renewed focus on digitalmarketing & website SEO tocapture higher marketaudience & maximize memberbenefits
Town of ChincoteagueAccomack County Board of SupervisorsAccomack-Northampton Planning DistrictCommissionVirginia Tourism CorporationChamber MembershipChincoteague Volunteer Fire CompanyChincoteague Police DepartmentAccomack Sherriff’s DepartmentVirginia State PoliceAccomack County Public SchoolsUS Coast GuardUS NavyKiwanis Club of ChincoteagueChincoteague Island LibraryAmerican Legion Post #159Festival VolunteersTHANK YOU FOR YOURCONTINUED SUPPORT
- ReadersDigest.com - Cronkite News Arizona PBS - Deseret News: Salt Lake City - RVA Traveler (Richmond) - Delmarva Life (TV) - Atlanta Journal Constitution - DelmarvaNow.com (from PR's) - Eastern Shore Post (from PR's) - Recreation News - WESR Radio (from PR's & taping) - Shore Daily News - TripAdvisor Member - Going on Faith Magazine
