GULF SHORES AND ORANGE BEACH, ALA. – According to data released today by Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism (CVB), Alabama’s beaches set a new spring record that surpassed the previous benchmark year of 2007. More than $64.9 million was spent in lodging rentals for spring 2011 (March – May), which is 12.7 percent higher than spring 2007 ($57.6 million). Incidentally, May 2011 finished 22.2 percent ahead of 2007. When comparing year-to-date figures, the area is currently 14 percent above the same period for 2007.
“These lodging figures show that the area is continuing to recover in a strong manner as lodging revenue is the best indicator of tourism growth,” said Herb Malone, president/CEO of the CVB. “To have figures that are outpacing our previous banner year speaks volume for the area’s resiliency, the loyalty of our consumer base and the synergistic effort of our entire tourism and hospitality industry.”
Gross retail sales for spring 2011 finished at $167.7 million.
These lodging and retail figures contribute to the income of more than 40,000 Baldwin County residents, who are employed in travel-related jobs.
June lodging and retail tax figures are expected to be released in the coming weeks.
(Orange Beach)
ORANGE BEACH, AL – With economic recovery still slow, unemployment at 9.1 percent and last year marking the lowest total of property home sales since before 1963, Heritage Motor Coach Resort and Marina has managed to beat the odds. Despite the economic challenges facing our nation as well as the devastating Gulf oil spill, which affected Alabama beaches, the luxury waterfront Class A resort has seen continued sales and rental growth in 2011.
The resort, opened in late 2009, features 79 units, each with its own customizable Coach House, as well as 42 boat slips. In the last 18 months, nearly 60 percent of its available property has sold – 46 units and 24 boat slips have been sold. The average price point per unit is $225,000 with boat slips sold separately. The resort founder attributes the success to the resort’s unique location and its focus on providing owners and visitors with special events and opportunities.
“Events are the key to success, especially with RVers being such a social crowd,” said Duke Gibbs, owner and founder, Heritage Motor Coach Resort and Marina. “We focus the core of our marketing efforts on providing owners and visitors with complimentary special events from onsite pool parties and BBQs to area attractions including sunset cruises and concerts.”
During the recent Memorial Day holiday, Heritage Motor Coach Resort and Marina planned a special weekend for owners and visitors with complimentary events, including more than 100 people from the resort going to see these the ZZ Top/Lynard Skynard concert. Thanks to partnership with Prevost & Liberty Coach, the resort provided free transportation to and from the concert in a luxury Prevost Motor Coach. This resulted in the resort being 100 percent booked and selling 7 units.
“Orange Beach is a growing beach community with white sand beaches, great restaurants and nightlife, but not over commercialized,” added Gibbs. “Our great location coupled with Southern hospitality helps make the area and our resort a unique experience.”
The resort’s rental program is also enjoying massive growth. From February to May 2011, rentals grew by 400 percent. The remainder of summer is booking up fast with 4th of July weekend almost sold out.
“We have about 10 units left for the Independence Day weekend,” said Gibbs. “Last summer we were dealing with the oil spill, so it is very exciting to know that there is renewed interest in our area. We are looking forward to being full and providing owners and visitors with a memorable summer vacation.”
Heritage Motor Coach Resort and Marina is planning a fun-filled summer for its owners and guests with special events happening throughout the next few months. Events include Saturday Night Live on the Gulf, featuring live music and food from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. every Saturday, catered pool parties and BBQs. Additionally, through a partnership with Wild Hearts Catamaran, the resort will be offering monthly 2-hour sunset cruises with capacity for 60 guests. The resort is providing the first 20 people to register with two complimentary tickets each.
All of the events are free for resort owners and visitors along with first class amenities including beautifully landscaped grounds, marina, a stunning clubhouse with infinity pool, hot tub and second story fire pit with a view of the Gulf.
About Heritage Motor Coach Resort and Marina
Heritage, a coastal, Class A motor coach resort, offers waterfront property with all of the first class amenities and features of a luxury beach resort. Located in Orange Beach, AL on Bayou St. John between Gulf Shores, AL and Pensacola, FL the resort’s private marina offers easy boat access to the Gulf and to the Intracoastal Waterway. Each individually-owned motorcoach site has its own custom Coach House and boat slip. For more information visit: www.heritageorangebeach.com or call 1-800-730-7032.
GULF SHORES AND ORANGE BEACH, ALA. – Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism (CVB) announced on Friday that the area has been awarded the opportunity to host two prestigious travel writer conferences.
“Both the Midwest Travel Writers Association (MTWA) and the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) are outstanding organizations with top-notch professionals,” said Herb Malone, president/CEO of the CVB. “By hosting these two groups within six months of each other, we will take our public relations efforts to the next plateau. We are honored to have been entrusted with these tasks as we make plans to host the crème-de-la-crème of travel writers.”
Malone added that “after seeing the list of other destinations that have previously hosted these groups, we feel our family-orientated destination has been placed in very humbling company. These groups will generate a significant amount of positive press coverage as well bringing prestige to our destination, and I am proud of our Public Relations Manager Kim Chapman for her hard work on these two conferences.”
Set for October 12-16, 2011, the MTWA conference will provide approximately 40 journalists who live in the Midwest with the opportunity to explore the area’s family-oriented beach destination during the 40th Annual National Shrimp Festival.
"Our members are looking forward to experiencing Alabama's white-sand beaches," said Mary Lu Laffey, MTWA president. "And we're eager to discover all the other wonderful sites and attractions in the area."
Founded 60 years ago in Chicago, MTWA is America's oldest professional travel journalist organization. While all the members live and work in 13 Midwest states, their stories and publications span the globe. This meeting will be the organization's second visit to Alabama; it met in Huntsville in 2000.
Then in the spring, the area will welcome 25 members of the SATW for its mid-year board meeting from April 11-14, 2012.
"The SATW Board of Directors looks forward to meeting at Gulf Shores and Orange Beach," said SATW President-Elect Betsa Marsh. "After we conduct SATW business, we will explore the region for story and photo opportunities and bring our keen travelers' eyes and insights to help promote this amazing destination."
Along the same lines, Barbara Ware, board manager for SATW President-Elect Marsh, added that “I am thrilled to bring our esteemed group of travel writers to Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. I had never been to this area and on the site visit, I knew after the first few hours, this is a great place for our SATW Board of Directors to meet. The beautiful white sand, the fabulous array of restaurants, and the awesome Gulf Shores and Orange Beach staff won us over. We are excited to be coming to the area."
The Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) promotes responsible journalism, provides professional development for its members, and en¬courages the conservation and preservation of travel resources worldwide. The Society’s more than 1,200 members include journalists, photographers, editors, electronic media specialists, film lecturers, television and film producers, and travel industry public relations representatives. SATW members maintain the industry’s highest professional and ethical standards, and their dedication and experi¬ence represent the Society’s commitment to journalistic integrity and credibility. SATW truly comprises “Travel’s Most Trusted Voices.”
“Through these two meetings, we will show the writers unique story ideas along the Alabama Gulf Coast, which will ultimately be included in articles covering our target markets across the Southeast and Midwest,” Malone said. “It’s a win-win situation times two.”
GULF SHORES AND ORANGE BEACH, ALA. – According to tax data released today by Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism (CVB), April was the seventh consecutive month in a recent trend of increased taxable lodging and retail sales figures for the Pleasure Island area. April 2011 lodging figures reached $19.2 million, which is an 8.4 percent increase over $17.7 million in April 2010. Similar growth was seen in the retail sales figures, which were 19.7 percent higher in April 2010 than the previous year.
“The figures show just how loyal our customer base is,” said Herb Malone, president/CEO of the CVB. “They supported us in full force during the tough times, and thanks to their loyalty and an intense marketing campaign, we saw October 2010 numbers come in on the positive side, a trend that we can happily say continued for the next seven months.”
On Lodging Figures
Winter season (December through February) finished 5.1 percent higher than the previous year, and with two months (March and April) reporting for the spring season, the area is currently 9 percent ahead of last spring.
“It’s important to point out that our winter season reached $20.7 million, which is higher than the winter season of our previous benchmark year of 2007, which was $17.5 million,” Malone said. “To beat our previous benchmark year, even if it’s only for one season, is a testament to the synergism of this island.”
On Retail Sales Figures
Retail sales figures for the seven month period included several noticeable spikes such as February’s 16.9 percent increase and April’s 19.7 percent increase.
“These numbers show that both our winter guests and families on spring break supported our restaurants and attractions across the area and took advantage of the great value that our destination offers,” Malone said.
May lodging and retail tax figures are expected to be released next month.
