QUARTERLY REPORT // 2020 JULY • AUGUST • SEPTEMBER A LETTER FROM THE CEO
SAVE THE DATES
Six months ago, I would have never predicted that in October we would still be battling the current level of economic hardships associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Our county businesses are still notably impacted by the virus and the associated state mandates and restrictions. Our hospitality industry also continues to experience the significant impacts from the state public health emergency. Restaurants are still not allowed to have full-capacity indoor dining, our museums and family attractions have yet to open, youth and collegiate sports are on pause, and hotel group and corporate business is absent. For those who have been able to operate during the crisis, we have been humbled by their resilience and creativity. We know this is frustrating. We also know this won’t last forever. There is some positive news. On September 29, San Joaquin county was moved into tier 2 (red) of the state’s blueprint for reopening the economy. This means businesses in several sectors have been given the green light to open indoor operations with modifications on occupancy. We have also been encouraged by the numbers we are seeing from our hotel partners. Occupancy in August was down just 0.7%, and Average Daily Rate (ADR) was up 9.7% year over year. September shows similar optimism with these metrics holding steady. It has been difficult to pinpoint the factors behind the relief the local hotel community is experiencing, but factors such as interstate travel and increased distribution center activity are possible factors. We are also hearing about a significant number of locals staying in our hotels – a trend not unique to Stockton that is also happening throughout the Central Valley region. While this may not be normal traffic for the hotels, it helps, and we look forward to welcoming back business travelers and our youth sports teams soon. While Visit Stockton has always made our local business community a priority, at the onset of the crisis our organization made the quick pivot from a destination marketing organization to a local community information and business support organization. The Visit Stockton team continues to step up to support the local community and our partners. Our most significant ongoing efforts are below (more details on these topics are available on the following pages): Stockton Healthy Pledge – Launched in May, the voluntary pledge is now 250 businesses strong and growing. stocktonhealthypledge.com City of Stockton Small Business Relief Grant Program – Visit Stockton has partnered with the City’s Economic Development Department to administer this program for our business community. Stockton Sports Unite – A Visit Stockton led effort focused on giving back and supporting those in need that has brought together our local professional sports teams, the Stockton Kings, the Stockton Heat, the Stockton Ports and our friends at University of the Pacific Athletics. visitstockton.org/sports-unite LocalHood – Stockton is proud to be one of three pilot cities (along with Toronto and Indianapolis) for the new digital platform that combines storytelling and business listings to support our local small businesses. localhood.com/stockton Local Business Support – We continue to grow our Stockton Savings Pass (stocktonsavingspass.com) to allow local businesses a free marketing opportunity to promote their business. We have also created blog content and listings supporting a variety of different business segments. visitstockton.org If there is one thing we have taken away from this pandemic, it is our organization’s ability to rapidly adapt to the needs of our partners and the greater Stockton business community. We are so very proud of our business support efforts, our newfound and strengthened partnerships, and our team’s ability to be nimble and adapt to the needs of our community in a crisis. We are here for you. If there is an effort, project, idea, or cause that you believe we should focus on, please do not hesitate to share. While we cannot take on every project, we know the needs and gaps in our community may allow us to pass the torch to another great community organization. Recovery is a team effort, and we are all truly in this together. Stay well and continue to be #StocktonTrue
Wes Rhea, CTA, CDME Chief Executive Office
CURRENT EFFORTS
RESOURCES
Stockton Healthy Pledge In the last three months we have provided window clings, floor decals, and significant marketing support to the businesses who have shown commitment to the health and safety of our community. In addition, we were able to distribute nearly 200 boxes of PPE from the City of Stockton to our SHP businesses. The PPE included masks, hand sanitizer in two sizes, and disinfectant. Promotional videos were created in August to help promote the program and included content captured at 8 businesses across the city. Learn more at StocktonHealthyPledge.com Note: Visit Stockton applied for and was awarded a City of Stockton COVID-19 Support Fund
STOCKTONHEALTHYPLEDGE.COM Stockton's local business commitment to creating a clean, safe, and healthy environment for their guests following COVID-19 restrictions.
Grant in the amount of $29,750 to support additional marketing for the program along with the purchase of additional PPE for businesses. City of Stockton Small Business Relief Grant Program Visit Stockton team members are administering this program by providing assistance in reviewing grant applications, processing grant payments to the local business recipients, and completing the future tax and program reporting requirements. To date, our team has processed over one million dollars in grant funds directly to the Stockton small business community. This program is funded by the City through the state and federal CARES Act dollars allocated for COVID-19 relief.
STOCKTONSAVINGSPASS.COM
Stockton Sports Unite Continuing our COVID-19 Relief partnership with
A free mobile coupon book containing hundreds in savings at local businesses across the city.
Stockton Kings Basketball, Stockton Heat Hockey, Stockton Ports Baseball, and University of the Pacific Athletics, Visit Stockton scheduled two additional food drives to benefit the Emergency Food Bank of Stockton/San Joaquin. The first took place on September 25th and the second is scheduled for October 2. On August 3, we announced that Tom Van De Pol was our Stockton Sports Unite Ultimate Ticket Raffle winner. Tom received a prize pack of season passes to each of the participating teams, along with a swag bag from Visit Stockton that included VIP tickets to the 2021 Stockton Brew Fest. Monies raised from the raffle went to the United Way of San Joaquin’s COVID-19 Relief Fund. For more info go online to visitstockton.org/sports-unite
VISITSTOCKTON.US/LOCALHOOD Explore businesses in the city through the eyes of other locals!
Localhood Working with local creators, the goal of this new platform is to share information about local businesses through creative video and photos. Each posting directs consumers on how they can support the small business being featured and highlights the things that locals love most about the business. Favorite items, introductions to the owners, and tips for making the most of your visit make the stories personal and valuable to potential customers. The creator community continues to grow and expand. Learn more and become a creator at visitstockton.us/localhood
Continued on back cover.
VISITSTOCKTON.US/ CORONAVIRUSINFO A hub for information, updates, and resources relating to COVID-19.
LATEST BLOGS ON VISITSTOCKTON.ORG
SPORTS AND EVENTS
THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF COVID-19 MAJOR EVENTS IMPACTED: • NCAA Women's Water Polo Championhip Est. Room Nights Lost: 720 | Economic Impact (Lost): $762,498 • NCAA Women's Water Polo Opening Round Est. Room Nights Lost: 60 | Economic Impact (Lost): $49,116 • Too Hot For Ice Roller Hockey Tournament Est. Room Nights Lost: 280 | Economic Impact (Lost): $98,112 • US Baton Twirling National Championships Est. Room Nights Lost: 1500 | Economic Impact (Lost): $947,308 • West Coast Conference Baseball Championships Est. Room Nights Lost: 490 | Economic Impact (Lost): $385,743
A LOCAL'S GUIDE TO THE BEST PICNIC IN STOCKTON, CALIFORNIA Check out some of the best places to snag delicious bites and the most ideal spots to have a picnic while enjoying the beauty of Stockton.
• USA Water Polo Golden State Invitational Est. Room Nights Lost: 208 | Economic Impact (Lost): $197,743
TOTAL ECONOMIC IMPACT:
$2.44 MILLION LOST
WEBSITE STATS | VISITSTOCKTON.ORG
JUL.
SESSIONS: 41,260 Down 62.53% from 110,102 in July 2019
PAGEVIEWS: 60,247 Down 62.99% from 162,766 in July 2019
AUG.
SESSIONS: 41,466 Down 53.00% from 88,222 in August 2019
PAGEVIEWS: 58,148 Down 59.10% from 142,183 in August 2019
SEP.
SESSIONS: 43,446 Down 40.80% from 73,392 in September 2019
PAGEVIEWS: 60,923 Down 45.27% from 111,308 in September 2019
TOTAL
SESSIONS: 126,172 Down 53.56% from 271,716 in July-September 2019
PAGEVIEWS: 179,318 Down 56.92% from 416,257 in July-September 2019
SOCIAL MEDIA
VISIT STOCKTON
@STOCKTON_CA
@VISITSTOCKTON
57,432 likes as of 9/30/2020
9,864 followers as of 9/30/2020
20,242 followers as of 9/30/2020
Up 103 from 6/30/2020
Up 18 from 6/30/2020
Up 218 from 6/30/2020
QUARTERLY REPORT // 2020 JULY • AUGUST • SEPTEMBER
SHOP SMALL TO SUPPORT LOCAL IN STOCKTON, CALIFORNIA Check out what your neighborhood shops and restaurants are offering and remember that your dollars have a HUGE impact on their ability to survive our current economic situation.
EXPERIENCE THE TOP BREWERIES IN AND AROUND STOCKTON, CALIFORNIA If you love an IPA, Sour, Blonde, Stout, or Pilsner, this list will surely lead you to the best flavors around.
5 WAYS TO EMBRACE FALL IN STOCKTON, CALIFORNIA The perfect guide for you and your family regarding all things Fall in Stockton, California!
MEET THE TEAM
CURRENT EFFORTS Local Business Support The Stockton Savings Pass (stocktonsavingspass.com) continues to be a valuable tool to promote local businesses at no cost to them. New retail shops, restaurants, and professional services are joining the pass and established businesses are reviewing and revamping their deals to give the best savings and get customers in the door. We have also created blog content and listings supporting outdoor dining and services, black owned businesses, the local makers community, regional breweries, and more in order to best promote different businesses across the city. Links to these efforts can be found on our homepage at visitstockton.org
Wes Rhea, CTA CDME, Chief Executive Officer wes@visitstockton.org | 209.938.1555 Christa Griffith, CTA Office Manager & CTA Program Coordinator christa@visitstockton.org | 209.938.1555 Special Events Rebecca Scharmann, CTA Events & Community Engagement Manager rebecca@visitstockton.org | 209-851-3096 Sports & Tourism Tim Pasisz, CTA CMP, CSEE, & Director of Sports & Tourism tim@visitstockton.org | 209.938.1556
Note: Visit Stockton applied for and was awarded a City of Stockton COVID-19 Support Fund Grant in the amount of $32,500 to support our Tourism Recovery Planning Project. The
Courtney Phelps, CTA Events Administrative Coordinator courtney@visitstockton.org | 209.938.1552
funds will help Visit Stockton analyze data and use industry expertise to best navigate a
Marketing Robyn F. Cheshire, CTA Director of Marketing & Communications robyn@visitstockton.org | 209.636.4348
speedy recovery for our local hotels, restaurants, attractions, special events, and retail partners.
IN REVIEW Stockton Beer Week Unable to host a traditional Stockton Beer Week this year, Visit Stockton concentrated on promoting local venues that serve craft beer during the week of September 11-20. A beer blog was also created and distributed, featuring the breweries we have in San Joaquin County. 2021 dates are as follows: Stockton Brew Fest August 7; Stockton Beer Week August 6-15. Learn more at StocktonBeerWeek.com.
UPCOMING DATES
Kalena Fields, CTA Graphic Designer kalena@visitstockton.org | 209.938.1557 Our offices in Downtown Stockton are currently closed. Our team is working remotely to best serve you. Messages will be returned during business hours: M-F 8am to 4pm.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS George Kaplanis, CTA President Hilton Stockton
Rhona Miles, CTA University Plaza Waterfront Hotel
Wes Yourth, CTA Vice President University of the Pacific
Isadora Harness, CTA Marriott Properties
Susan Obert, CTA Treasurer, Haggin Museum
RUN & WALK AGAINST HUNGER 2020 STOCKTON RESTURANT WEEK January 15-24, 2021
STOCKTONRESTAURANTWEEK.COM
VIRTUAL RUN & WALK AGAINST HUNGER November 26, 2020
RUNAGAINSTHUNGER.ORG
John Cammack Immediate Past President, Attorney
Jai Patel Red Roof Inn Christina Fugazi Council Appointee Councilmember, District 5, City of Stockton
VISIT STOCKTON BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETINGS The October 15 board meeting will happen as scheduled. Email wes@visitstockton.org for a link to join the zoom meeting.
CTA CTA renewal season is upon us! The
Sign up for weekly updates from Visit Stockton:
deadline for renewal is October 31, 2020.
VISITSTOCKTON.US/EVENTSEMAIL
Due to COVID-19 the cost for renewal has been decreased to $10. Please reach out
Follow us on Social Media!
to christa@visitstockton.org with
#visitstockton
any questions. @CelebrateStockton
@Stockton_CA
@visitstockton
QUARTERLY REPORT // 2020 JULY • AUGUST • SEPTEMBER
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