tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723709701684173708.post3097867819576671984..comments2024-03-28T17:55:31.180-04:00Comments on The Gossips of Rivertown: Tourism and Development: Part 1Carole Osterinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16010623982526286408noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723709701684173708.post-73298470391891819672019-02-28T09:57:44.876-05:002019-02-28T09:57:44.876-05:00I think we would all benefit from a responsible di...I think we would all benefit from a responsible discussion about how marketing can benefit the City of Hudson, and how to measure that success. <br /><br />I am wiling to be wrong. But I have not heard anyone make the economic argument. <br /><br />As far as I know, the only reason for the Tourism Board was as a political concession to B&B’s who were concerned that the Lodging Tax would hurt their business. <br /><br />(There is no evidence that it does, and more evidence that it does not.)<br /><br />This board is a runaway train.<br /><br />An unnecessary political concession from 4 years ago has created a de fact Tourism Marketing Department with the 4th largest budget in the City. (If fully funded, the Tourism Board would have more money than the Fire Department.)<br /><br />Is this where our priorities lie?<br />Do we let B&B owners set our destiny?<br />Do we need marketing more than planning? <br /><br />My view is known: urban planning is the only form of marketing the City needs. <br /><br />I think we, as a City, suffer because the way we make decisions doesn’t work anymore. I believe the City of Hudson needs more community planning & urban design.<br /> This money is an opportunity to change the processes underneath our decision-making to include everyone in our decision-making to create more resilient outcomes.PETER SPEARhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04377970654469835056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723709701684173708.post-13974289579781604602019-02-28T08:22:02.365-05:002019-02-28T08:22:02.365-05:00Fun things to see and do both benefit the people w...Fun things to see and do both benefit the people who live and work here and draw in those who visit. There is no point in marketing to promote tourism if there's nothing to offer once the tourists get here. Let's focus on organization and support of festivals, parades and activities in Hudson, and the marketing and promotion will take care of itself. As the proverb says, build a better mousetrap and the world will beat a path to your door. White Whale Limitedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07600048500466092214noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723709701684173708.post-10407588575046468862019-02-27T17:41:59.114-05:002019-02-27T17:41:59.114-05:00I chaired Artswalk in 2099, produced the Hudson Mu...I chaired Artswalk in 2099, produced the Hudson Music Festival from 2011-2014 and produced the Hudson Summerfest in 2017. It is very difficult to raise funding. County Tourism has a very small budget and a typical award can be about $250. I firmly believe that public events can attract a lot of people to Hudson. The Hudson Music Festival always got great press and became New York State's largest free music festival, but it was expensive to produce and the City did help to fund it. Why people think festival organizers can find loads of money for a free event is beyond me.Chad Wecklerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15721057452000779552noreply@blogger.com