BI Tourism: Covid Update

Team Bainbridge,

As the COVID-19 situation continues to evolve, we would like to update you on the latest news in tourism from the past week.

COMMUNICATION AND PRESS RELEASES

●  The Port of Seattle now expects the launch of the cruise season will be delayed until the resolution of the public health emergency. This will have a significant impact on visitor spending on Bainbridge this summer. Each homeport sailing creates approximately $4 million in regional business activity, with a full cruise season generating nearly $900 million statewide and supporting 5,500 jobs.

●  WSF has temporarily reduced service on several routes, include Bainbridge, due to a significant decline in ridership. These changes are currently in effect through April 25th.

●  For those who have participated in the Spring Concierge Trade Show with Visit Bainbridge, the show has been canceled. TBD whether or not it will be rescheduled.

●  Gov. Inslee’s Stay Home Stay Healthy proclamation identifies lodging as an essential business, but most lodging operators on the Island have seen a 75%+ drop in bookings. The larger hotel and inns and manyvacation rentals are open as a resource for guests who need to be near family or for essential work.

COMMUNITY RESOURCES

Bainbridge Island Downtown Association (BIDA) and the Bainbridge Chamber continue to consolidate information on the state of Bainbridge businesses (business hours, promotions, delivery and shipping options, and temporary closures, etc.) to help keep our small business community thriving and residents informed. They are also gathering information on employee, worker, and small business assistance as they develop.

Bainbridge Island Lodging Association is consolidating information on lodging availability and sharing with BIDA.

Arts & Humanities is tracking the status of local events and COVID-19 community resources, including home-based education, blogs, articles, links, videos, podcasts, etc.

New this week, we are adding the Greater Seattle Business Association (GSBA) to our emergency resource list and Bainbridge Business Connection (BBC), now hosting virtual networking every Friday at 8:00 AM.

ACTIONS:

●   Sign up for e-blasts from Arts and Humanities with curated resources.

Shared Resources:

BIDA    Chamber

BILA    GSBA

Bainbridge Currents

BBC

CONNECT AND COLLABORATE

As we mentioned last week, we are focused on developing marketing strategies to connect with our key audiences during this time through social media. How are we doing this?

●      On social media, we are posting positive messages, virtual tours, vicarious travel, putting a spotlight on local businesses.

●      Initiating a marketing campaign with the theme “Postcards from Bainbridge.” Stay tuned for moredetails.

●      Building a comprehensive list of advertising and promotional resources to deploy when the time is right. Initially, we will focus on the regional drive market.

●      Creating Bainbridge-centric hashtags: #visitbainbridgelater #seeyousoon #localrespite #momentsofbeauty#nextvacation #lookingforward #lovebainbridgeisland #bookmarkbainbridge #postcardsfrombainbridge #wegotthisbainbridge #bainbridgestrong #bainbridgepostcard

●      Creating Facebook frames and Instagram filters to distribute to partners to use on social media platforms to create unity and support.

ACTIONS:
●      Please support your local tourism businesses by “following” and/or “liking” Bainbridge businesses, museums, attractions, and Destination Bainbridge and Visit Bainbridge Island (VisitBainbridgeIslandWa onIG) on Facebook and Instagram. This will help amplify our voices on social media.

●      Use relevant hashtags in your social media posts. #visitbainbridgelater #seeyousoon #localrespite #momentsofbeauty #nextvacation #lookingforward #lovebainbridgeisland #bookmarkbainbridge#postcardsfrombainbridge #bainbridgepostcard #wegotthisbainbridge #bainbridgestrong

●   Send your suggestions for print and digital publications and sites you think will be a good fit for building awareness for Bainbridge Island as a regional travel destination.

INNOVATION
Do you have an innovation story or a best practice story to share on how your business is responding to the current economic crisis? We’d love to hear from you. Send us your ideas.

For example, the Wine Alliance is hosting wine tasting on Instagram Live with great success for their wineries. Both of our local distilleries are now making hand sanitizer. Tour Bainbridge is launching a grocery delivery service, and Bainbridge Museum of Art is launching virtual art programs #BIMAfromHome Programs.

Stay healthy, stay strong, stay positive…#WeGotThisBainbridge.

Chris Mueller
Visit Bainbridge Island 206-227-3612
chris@visitbainbridge.com

Claire Donahue
Bainbridge Island Lodging Association. 760-468-2425
claire@bainbridgelodging.com