Showing posts with label El Paso Heritage Tourism Summit. Show all posts
Showing posts with label El Paso Heritage Tourism Summit. Show all posts
Friday, March 21, 2014
Friday, February 14, 2014
Texas History Begins in El Paso
. . . but you wouldn't know that to read the El Paso Times.
This past Wednesday a joint conference of Visit El Paso (Convention and Visitor's Bureau), El Paso Heritage Alliance, Texas Senator Jose Rodriguez's office, the El Paso County Historical Commission and El Paso History Radio Show announced the upcoming Heritage Summit on Saturday, March 22. Bryan Crowe, the new head of the Visit El Paso (formerly CVB), Senator Rodriguez, Bernie Sargent and Jackson Polk each gave reasons why El Paso history is so rich and why heritage tourism will be a big economic boom for El Paso. Yet, the El Paso Times decided to run a poll decidedly biased against heritage tourism.
The Times asks whether "heritage tourism" could work in bringing more tourist dollars to El Paso. It suggests reading the story which says little about the historic treasures of our city as mentioned by the speakers nor about the reasons why heritage tourism will indeed be successful. (Do read Senator Rodriguez's remarks below wherein he enumerates our historic treasures.)
The Times offers three answers to choose from: "Yes, it's a great idea." "Maybe, but we would need more development at historic sites to make it happen." "No, I don't think there is much of a market for it."
The last answer should include in parentheses: "(And I have never thought El Paso has much to offer. We are a poor city any way and I haven't been outside of my neighborhood in years.)
Currently the responses (488 votes in all) are 19.46% yes; 36.27% maybe; 44.26% no.
I can just see the Jerry Rubin's of the city calling their friends and telling their workers to vote NO so they can continue their destruction of downtown historic treasures to build their parking lots and ticky-tacky buildings for national franchises. And, of course, all of these developers who hate history (and the natural outdoors also), never, ever advertise with the El Paso Times. Oh no, no.
The "maybe's" certainly should come to the Summit on March 22nd to learn about all of our historic sites or the fact that El Paso just by itself is historic in the words of documentary film producer, Jackson Polk.
Do four things:
Make plans now to come to the Summit and bring family and friends.
Visit the Times story online and vote.
See this short 18 minute video so you can see and hear what really happened at the press conference:
Read the text of the Senator's remarks (redacted):
The Heritage Tourism Summit coming up on March 22 promises to be a unique and important event for El Paso.
Heritage tourism is a sector that merits investment.
It is about developing a community-based enterprise that stimulates our regional economy, builds local pride, creates powerful educational experiences, preserves traditional crafts and skills, and creates jobs through spending by arts and culture organizations and their audiences.
Some figures to help illustrate that point include:
The Texas Historical Commission reported that, in 2011, over 200 million people traveled to experience heritage resources in Texas. They spent $6.3 billion in the process.
A study by the City of El Paso in 2007 provides the closest estimates we have regarding the impact of our local arts and culture industry. Although these figures don't relate exclusively to heritage tourism, they affirm our conviction that investments like this training summit aren't frivolous--they reap dividends.
Here's what the City found: a total economic impact of $91million, comprising: 2500 jobs, $5 million in transportation revenue, $6 million to our hotels, $25 million for our restaurants and bars, and over $4 million in local government revenue.
As you see, heritage tourism is serious business.
This Summit is the product of a commitment among stakeholders to convert competition to collaboration and capitalize on the creativity and business savvy of our heritage tourism stakeholders.
My office has directed resources to support the District 29 Heritage Tourism Advisory Committee since 2011, and I want to acknowledge the Committee for its consistent commitment to our mission.
Our monthly convenings enabled stakeholders from all over the County, including the sponsors of this important event, to advance our mission of: preserving and advocating for our collective heritage; and, building a heritage tourism sector.
I also want to congratulate the Visit El Paso (formerly the Convention & Visitors Bureau) for embracing the efforts of our committee members, specifically, the El Paso Heritage Alliance, Jackson Polk, and the El Paso County Historical Society.
When the El Paso Heritage Alliance first proposed the concept of collaborating on a groundbreaking training event, they incorporated the advice of their fellow Advisory Committee members. City Representative Lily Limon then brought our groups together with the Convention & Visitors Bureau, and their subsequent brainstorming resulted in the Heritage Tourism Summit.
We know that the Texas mystique is a powerful magnet that draws visitors from all over the world. Well, El Paso plays a huge role in that story. Through this collaboration, we have taken a giant leap forward on capitalizing on our rich heritage.
History lovers know that we have a profound cache of cultures and stories in our region:
Our citizens have recognized the merit of our cultural treasures and have made the investment, through bond projects like the Digital Wall, the Hispanic Cultural Center, Children's Museum, to strengthen the sites and cultural attractions that contribute to livability and build awareness for our residents and tourists about our great city.
Through mechanisms that combine the wisdom and values of our citizens with public agency skillsets and resources, I believe El Paso can emerge as a leader in citizen-driven initiatives that are inclusive, inspiring and which will continue to set us apart as a city of vision and entrepreneurship.
This past Wednesday a joint conference of Visit El Paso (Convention and Visitor's Bureau), El Paso Heritage Alliance, Texas Senator Jose Rodriguez's office, the El Paso County Historical Commission and El Paso History Radio Show announced the upcoming Heritage Summit on Saturday, March 22. Bryan Crowe, the new head of the Visit El Paso (formerly CVB), Senator Rodriguez, Bernie Sargent and Jackson Polk each gave reasons why El Paso history is so rich and why heritage tourism will be a big economic boom for El Paso. Yet, the El Paso Times decided to run a poll decidedly biased against heritage tourism.
The Times asks whether "heritage tourism" could work in bringing more tourist dollars to El Paso. It suggests reading the story which says little about the historic treasures of our city as mentioned by the speakers nor about the reasons why heritage tourism will indeed be successful. (Do read Senator Rodriguez's remarks below wherein he enumerates our historic treasures.)
The Times offers three answers to choose from: "Yes, it's a great idea." "Maybe, but we would need more development at historic sites to make it happen." "No, I don't think there is much of a market for it."
The last answer should include in parentheses: "(And I have never thought El Paso has much to offer. We are a poor city any way and I haven't been outside of my neighborhood in years.)
Currently the responses (488 votes in all) are 19.46% yes; 36.27% maybe; 44.26% no.
I can just see the Jerry Rubin's of the city calling their friends and telling their workers to vote NO so they can continue their destruction of downtown historic treasures to build their parking lots and ticky-tacky buildings for national franchises. And, of course, all of these developers who hate history (and the natural outdoors also), never, ever advertise with the El Paso Times. Oh no, no.
The "maybe's" certainly should come to the Summit on March 22nd to learn about all of our historic sites or the fact that El Paso just by itself is historic in the words of documentary film producer, Jackson Polk.
Do four things:
Make plans now to come to the Summit and bring family and friends.
Visit the Times story online and vote.
See this short 18 minute video so you can see and hear what really happened at the press conference:
Read the text of the Senator's remarks (redacted):
The Heritage Tourism Summit coming up on March 22 promises to be a unique and important event for El Paso.
Heritage tourism is a sector that merits investment.
It is about developing a community-based enterprise that stimulates our regional economy, builds local pride, creates powerful educational experiences, preserves traditional crafts and skills, and creates jobs through spending by arts and culture organizations and their audiences.
Some figures to help illustrate that point include:
The Texas Historical Commission reported that, in 2011, over 200 million people traveled to experience heritage resources in Texas. They spent $6.3 billion in the process.
A study by the City of El Paso in 2007 provides the closest estimates we have regarding the impact of our local arts and culture industry. Although these figures don't relate exclusively to heritage tourism, they affirm our conviction that investments like this training summit aren't frivolous--they reap dividends.
Here's what the City found: a total economic impact of $91million, comprising: 2500 jobs, $5 million in transportation revenue, $6 million to our hotels, $25 million for our restaurants and bars, and over $4 million in local government revenue.
As you see, heritage tourism is serious business.
This Summit is the product of a commitment among stakeholders to convert competition to collaboration and capitalize on the creativity and business savvy of our heritage tourism stakeholders.
My office has directed resources to support the District 29 Heritage Tourism Advisory Committee since 2011, and I want to acknowledge the Committee for its consistent commitment to our mission.
Our monthly convenings enabled stakeholders from all over the County, including the sponsors of this important event, to advance our mission of: preserving and advocating for our collective heritage; and, building a heritage tourism sector.
I also want to congratulate the Visit El Paso (formerly the Convention & Visitors Bureau) for embracing the efforts of our committee members, specifically, the El Paso Heritage Alliance, Jackson Polk, and the El Paso County Historical Society.
When the El Paso Heritage Alliance first proposed the concept of collaborating on a groundbreaking training event, they incorporated the advice of their fellow Advisory Committee members. City Representative Lily Limon then brought our groups together with the Convention & Visitors Bureau, and their subsequent brainstorming resulted in the Heritage Tourism Summit.
We know that the Texas mystique is a powerful magnet that draws visitors from all over the world. Well, El Paso plays a huge role in that story. Through this collaboration, we have taken a giant leap forward on capitalizing on our rich heritage.
History lovers know that we have a profound cache of cultures and stories in our region:
- indigenous people,
- Hueco Tanks,
- the earliest trails in the Southwest,
- the place where North America begins,
- the Camino Real,
- our important Mission Valley communities,
- railroad history,
- hundreds of years of military history,
- renowned architecture,
- our heroic patriots,
- the Mexican Revolution,
- international migration and Segundo Barrio,
- the history and impact of our five international bridges, and
- the beginnings of the movimiento for social justice in our state.
Our citizens have recognized the merit of our cultural treasures and have made the investment, through bond projects like the Digital Wall, the Hispanic Cultural Center, Children's Museum, to strengthen the sites and cultural attractions that contribute to livability and build awareness for our residents and tourists about our great city.
Through mechanisms that combine the wisdom and values of our citizens with public agency skillsets and resources, I believe El Paso can emerge as a leader in citizen-driven initiatives that are inclusive, inspiring and which will continue to set us apart as a city of vision and entrepreneurship.
Monday, February 10, 2014
50 Tucson Tourists Make Heritage Community's Point
In yesterday's post I announced arrangements for the El Paso Heritage Tourism Summit on March 22, 2014. There are some meetings leading up to the event and some opportunities for volunteering.
Over the weekend, the El Paso Inc published this story: A ‘historic’ architecture event - El Paso Inc.: Local News.
Read it. Pay attention the numbers and the money spent by the tourists. The El Paso Heritage Tourism people are right. We are looking at a billion dollar industry. Now if we can just keep the Jerry Rubins of the city from tearing down any more Trost or other treasured historic buildings, we might have something for people to see and spend their billion dollars annually on El Paso. Maybe with the sales tax collected for heritage tourism, we can roll back the property taxes that are now killing us.
Over the weekend, the El Paso Inc published this story: A ‘historic’ architecture event - El Paso Inc.: Local News.
Read it. Pay attention the numbers and the money spent by the tourists. The El Paso Heritage Tourism people are right. We are looking at a billion dollar industry. Now if we can just keep the Jerry Rubins of the city from tearing down any more Trost or other treasured historic buildings, we might have something for people to see and spend their billion dollars annually on El Paso. Maybe with the sales tax collected for heritage tourism, we can roll back the property taxes that are now killing us.
Sunday, February 9, 2014
El Paso Heritage Tourism Summit Seeks Sponsors and Volunteers
SAVE THIS DATE for The El Paso Heritage Tourism Summit
The first Summit event was on January 3, 2014 for the Party-Meeting-Mostly-Party to explain the Summit and ask for volunteers. El Paso Gold video recorded that meeting - all 19 minutes of it:
This coming Wednesday, February 12, 2014 at 10:30 a.m. there will be a NEWS CONFERENCE announcing the Summit, followed by a meeting of volunteers, at 11 a.m. The conference and meeting will be held at 400 W. San Antonio, the location of the historic Locomotive No. 1. Parking is at the same building. MAP
On March 11, 2014 at 8:30 a.m. City Council Meeting, 300 N. Campbell (MAP) City Council will declare a Proclamation for the El Paso Heritage Tourism Summit.
We Need Your Help!
We are looking for sponsors to help make El Paso’s Summit on Heritage Tourism happen. Hundreds of people turned out or tuned in online for the 2013 summit and town hall discussion on El Paso History Radio Show, and we plan to outdo ourselves this year. Your donations help make this event free and open to the public, as well as fund El Paso focused TV programs.
Last year’s summit on El Paso’s history made history itself in providing a forum for discussion among the public about concerns for our local landmarks. We were even able to stream the town hall live online so that El Paso’s history was available to the world.
Your sponsorship funds help make this all possible again so that the world will see the best of what El Paso has to offer: Our Heritage!
PLATINUM SPONSOR - $7,500 and beyond
Featured in the name of the event (The El Paso Heritage Tourism Summit, presented by ABC Company and XYZ Incorporated)
VIP treatment for up to FIVE people the day of the event, including lunch and a behind the scenes look at the production set-up the day before the event
Name and logo will appear on all materials related to event, including printed materials, signs, and website and in the credits of all TV programs originating at the event.
GOLD SPONSOR - $4,000-$7,499
VIP treatment for TWO people the day of the event, including lunch and a behind the scenes look at the production set-up the day before the event
Name and logo will appear on all materials related to event, including printed materials, signs, and website and in the credits of all TV programs originating at the event.
SILVER-LEVEL SPONSOR - $1,000-$3,999
Name and logo will appear on all materials related to event, including printed materials, signs, and website and in the credits of all TV programs originating at the event
BRONZE SPONSOR- $5-$999
Name and logo will appear on website and in the credits of all TV programs originating at the event
All funding arrangements will go through the El Paso County Historical Commission, which can issue tax documents for donations.
Please make checks payable to: El Paso County Historical Commission, c/o Bernie Sargent, 819 W Sunset Rd, El Paso, TX 79922; 915-581-7920.
For info contact Jackson Polk at 915-833-8700 or jpolk@elp.rr.com.
Volunteers please contact Shelley at 915-244-6487 or shelleysutherlandsss@gmail.com.
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