Shared service initiative saves taxpayers money and enhances tourism promotion
KINGSTON, N.Y. (May 24, 2012) – Ulster County Executive Mike Hein, City of Kingston Mayor Shayne Gallo, Ulster County Legislators and tourism and economic development professionals gathered at the new Ulster County Tourism/Kingston Area Visitors’ Center this afternoon to officially open the County’s new tourism office. From inception to finish, this plan was completed in less than five months.
“The Kingston Area Visitors’ Center is an ideal location for the County’s tourism operations. This is great for tourists and a great example of governments working together. It is highly visible to tourists seeking information about activities and events in Ulster County and is a tremendous resource that will continue to get better,” said County Executive Hein. “By entering into this shared services agreement with the City of Kingston, we are leveraging the strengths of the City and the County to best serve our taxpayers and to best promote the City of Kingston and all of Ulster County. I want to thank Mayor Gallo for his vision and acknowledge the Ulster County Legislature and the Kingston Common Council for their partnership.”
“I am impressed with how quickly County Executive Hein was able to implement this tourism shared services plan,” said Jeanette Provenzano, an Ulster County Legislator representing the City of Kingston. “The cooperation between the County Executive and the Mayor must be commended. The City has so much to offer tourists and the County Executive’s efforts will help to promote it all. It is a win/win for the City of Kingston and the County.”
“Kingston is an incredible year-round destination with a beautiful waterfront, world-class festivals, amazing restaurants, wonderful places to stay and a proud historical heritage,” said City of Kingston Mayor Shayne Gallo. “Now, because of the County Executive’s forward thinking, the City and its venues will be promoted much better and it will save tax money as well.”
“I was pleased to sign the agreement between the City and County,” said Chairman of the Ulster County Legislature Terry Bernardo. “As a small business owner myself, I know that every dollar we can direct into marketing, instead of staffing, can help grow the Ulster County economy. Legislators from across the County are united in making smart investments and entering into smart partnerships to grow jobs in Ulster County.”
The County of Ulster and the City of Kingston have entered into an agreement so that the County could lease the Visitors’ Center from the City in exchange for the County’s help with City of Kingston tourism promotion. By doing so, the City of Kingston is gaining dedicated promotion of its businesses, tourist attractions and festivals, the County is gaining use of a beautiful Visitor Center and the taxpayers are saving money.
Specifically, the City will pay the County $30,000 annually to professionally augment its tourism efforts. This will enable the County to:
• Dedicate $30,000 to City of Kingston tourism promotion
• Expand promotion of the City’s festivals
• Enhance Visitors’ Center experience/Improve Tourism Department visibility
• Boost professional planning of Kingston’s tourism efforts with use of the newest technology, such as Google Analytics
• Better coordinate City and County tourism campaigns
The City will realize $40,000 in savings annualized while the County will save almost $15,000 in Tourism Department rent annually. In addition, the Mayor of Kingston gained an appointment on the County Executive’s Tourism Advisory Board.
“This Tourism Shared Services Agreement is another example of County Executive Hein’s forward-thinking reforms,” said Ulster County Tourism Director Richard J. Remsnyder. “We now have a beautiful, highly visible location which will increase tourist visitation into our office, plus additional resources to enhance our efforts to promote the beautiful City of Kingston. Because of this agreement we can bolster both tourism and economic development in the City and the County.”
