Posted under General
This is one of my favorite times of year in Ocean City, Maryland. Every day, you see summer unfold before you. A morning walk on the boardwalk yields a glimpse into the way that the resort polishes up for its expected summer guests. The fences that hold back beach erosion in the winter are removed to make way for boarded walkways to the beach. Lifeguard stands and umbrella boxes appear ready for work and shops and concessions are waking up from hibernation.
This summer brings a level of concern among resort area business owners. The threat of recession, skyrocketing gas prices and the real estate collapse has put a level of doubt in minds as to what to expect in profits.
This is where creative marketing needs to be implemented. While Ocean City still advertises that its “more fun here,” other area resorts are taking measures to point out their budget friendly assets. Virginia Beach encourages visitors to spend their economic stimulus checks with area hotels offering packages that come right under the expected refund a typical family can expect. Avoiding airline delays and overpriced tickets is another benefit of vacationing close to home. Cheaper gas prices on the shore compared to the city are another plus of visiting.
Using the Web is a smart way of spreading this news. It is cheaper, always updateable and widely used by travelers. I am seeing a major jump in Web marketing efforts this year because people are realizing that it casts a wide net without a lot of advertising dollars at stake.
We all know that Americans feel entitled to their vacations so presenting them reasons to move forward with summer getaway plans shouldn’t be a tough sell. I would advise business owners to come together to develop packages that will appeal to hesitant vacationers. Offer incentives and spread the word on the Web. Summer 2008 may very well suprise us.