The Schuylkill County Visitors Bureau has suffered financial strain in recent years, but its membership is growing, Donna Setlock, the bureau's office manager, said Thursday.
Based in Pottsville, the bureau is conducting its annual membership drive from August to the end of October. President Patrick M. "Porcupine Pat" McKinney hopes the numbers continue to rise.
"We want to increase the momentum to encourage businesses to take advantage of our professional services to promote them," McKinney said.
The bureau's membership statistics for the past five years are: in 2008, 148 members; 2009, 158 members; 2010, 173 members; 2011, 200 members; and 2012, 226 members.
"I think it says something about our communities and our county. There are businesses out there. And they're doing their best to have good, solid offerings and visitors help keep their doors open. And we couldn't grow out membership if our businesses weren't good, our amenities weren't good, if our parks weren't good and our restaurants weren't fabulous," said Regina Gargano, the bureau's executive director.
The visitors bureau's 2012 budget is $248,000. And 90 percent of the revenue comes from the "Hotel Occupancy Tax," a tax on hotels and motels, Gargano said.
"It makes sense, since tourism is paying for tourism," she said.
The visitors bureau used to receive state funding through the state Department of Community and Economic Development, but hasn't since 2010, Gargano said.
"The funding's gone. They took it away," she said.
The other 10 percent of the bureau's budget revenues comes from memberships and advertising with its members, Gargano said.
"Membership includes a free listing in the annual visitors guide, published in January," Gargano said.
The visitors bureau published 100,000 copies of its 52-page 2012 visitors guide in January. It includes more than 10 local photos. A scene from the annual Schuylkill County Sojourn graces the cover.
The guide cost $32,890 to publish. Advertising brought in $28,725 and the $4,165 balance was covered from visitors bureau funds, Gargano said previously.
The guide is distributed to sites across the county and at state welcome centers and visitors bureaus in counties including Dauphin, Cumberland, Susquehanna, Luzerne, Lehigh, Chester, Centre, Pike, Bucks, Columbia, Montour, Allegheny and Erie, Gargano said.
To be listed, individuals and businesses must become members by the end of October.
"That's the deadline if they want to be in this year's guide. We have to finish making it and get it to print," Gargano said. For more information, contact the visitors bureau at 570-622-7700.
Formed in 1963 as the Schuylkill County Tourist Promotion Agency, the visitors bureau had its first offices at the home of its first executive director, Clarence Hess, Tamaqua.
In 1983, the visitors bureau moved into the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce building in the 200 block of East Laurel Boulevard, Pottsville. Then in 1991, when the chamber moved to 91 S. Progress Ave., the visitors bureau moved there, too, Vanessa Mihoda, the chamber's communications director, said previously.
In 1994, the visitors bureau moved to the Schuylkill County Council of the Arts at 1440 Mahantongo St. for 10 months.
In 2003, the bureau moved to a former doctor's office at 200 E. Arch St.
In March 2011, the visitors bureau moved its headquarters to Union Station. It opened there in April 2011.
The visitors bureau has a three-member, full-time staff, which includes Gargano, Setlock and Keri Johnson, the bureau's communications coordinator.