In the first quarter of 2013, the city of Dana Point has brought in an extra half million dollars in hotel taxes and is well on its way to developing new events and a new tourism website.
The city in 2012 hired the ad firm Agency 51 to promote the city, and the Dana Point City Council will be hearing their progress report at Tuesday's city council meeting.
Agency 51 says in its report that it has allowed the city's four major resorts to book an additional 2,100 room nights in just the first three months of 2013. Their strategy, they say, involves targeting professional meetings and third party meeting planners to market spots like the Doubletree, St. Regis, Laguna Cliffs and the Ritz Carlton. The effort has thus far brought in $500,000 in transient occupancy taxes, according to the report.
Also, Agency 51 is gearing up for the Labor Day kickoff of the Elephant Parade. In coordination with the Asian Elephant Foundation, the festival will coordinate 14 different junior high schools in the Capistrano Unified School District to paint blank, white elephant sculptures to place around town, according to the report.
The event will not only help local business, but the proceeds will go to the elephant foundation, Agency 51 states in its report.
The Agency has also set up myDanaPoint.com, a portal for all sorts of marketing and tourist information that will help the city extend its digital reach through social media and other platforms, the report states.
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