It was supposed to be one of the most economically successful years yet for Bucks County. After seeing unprecedented numbers in 2019, including hotel room occupancy up 3 percent, this year was naturally expected to be even better.
At Visit Bucks County’s annual “What’s New” breakfast in January, president/COO Paul Bencivengo said, “Here in Bucks County, we have no plans of slowing down. Our momentum isn’t stopping and tourism in the county is truly booming.”
Unfortunately, the majority of the hospitality industry was forced to come to a screeching halt last month due to COVID-19. Hotels furloughed employees, key local attractions like Sesame Place remain dark, and most of the grand openings and new festivals/exhibits slated to take place have been pushed off.
With 84 percent of VBC partners in the hospitality and tourism industry reporting they’ve seen a loss in business and revenue, Bencivengo told The Times the tourism promotion agency is doing all it can to support these businesses that are so vital to the Bucks County economy and encompass 28,000 jobs.
“Hospitality really took the brunt of COVID-19 with this lockdown, with people not being able to go visit attractions, and then not staying overnight and not traveling. It’s been really devastating for our industry,” he said.
VBC paused its efforts creating marketing campaigns to drive visitors to the area and quickly shifted gears.
“We’ve pivoted to be a resource for everybody in the hospitality industry,” Bencivengo said, highlighting a COVID-19 page on VBC’s website that connects businesses with financial relief options, and lists eateries still in operation. “We’ve been focused on being able to support restaurants and takeout, as well as any other hospitality organization where you can support them online by gift cards, things of that nature.”
According to Bencivengo, Bucks County welcomes an average of 8 million visitors each year, which generates $1 billion in economic impact.
“We’re going to be ready as soon as the travel bans are lifted, welcome people back to Bucks County and get the residents out to visit everything that we have in our backyard,” he said. “We’re hopeful toward the future and ready to advertise and help generate that economic impact again once we come out of it.”
Post-pandemic advertising will be geared toward residents of Philadelphia and New York. Bencivengo’s prediction is that both inbound and outbound international travel will be down, so people will be looking to adventure close to home.
“We know that as soon as people are able to travel again, there’s going to be a cabin fever effect, that people are going to want to get out,” he said. “And that’s where we’re going to lean on the residents, work with the chambers and the other economic agencies in the county to encourage people to get out and visit our own attractions, parks and restaurants again.”
VBC is in weekly contact with the Bucks County Commissioners as well as the tourism agencies of Philadelphia, Montgomery and Delaware counties. Bencivengo said all are sharing information on how COVID-19 is impacting their respective communities, and penning a strategy on how they can work together after the pandemic to bring travel back to the region.
“We’re just trying to stay focused on the future and plan for when we come out of this. What’s the marketing message? What’s the tone of the message? What key points should we be hitting on?,” Bencivengo said. “But it’s important that we support the industry right now while being safe, and then as soon as the travel bans are lifted, that we encourage everybody to get out and travel within the county. We’re looking to weather this together with everybody here in the county and in the region, and just hope that it moves past us as soon as possible.”
Go to VisitBucksCounty.com for more information, including financial resources and children’s activities.
Samantha Bambino can be reached at sbambino@newspapermediagroup.com
