Tourist Association Merges With Les Cheneaux Chamber
By Amy Polk

The Les Cheneaux Islands Tourist Association elected Wednesday night, December 20, to become a committee of the Les Cheneaux Chamber of Commerce and abandon its status as an independent organization. Both organizations believe the move will give the Tourist Association the time and support it needs to reinvigorate itself in the face of a sustained, state-wide economic slump.

“We have an opportunity now to get back on our feet,” said Amy Ross, the interim president of the Tourist Association. “We all need the help, and we might as well help each other help the community.”

The move will also help financially. The cost of printing maps and paying this year’s bills exceed the anticipated revenues from a two-percent room assessment and dues. The Tourist Association has $14,000 in operating expenses and another $5,000 will be required to reprint its area tourism map, said Bud Lowers, the coordinator for Les Cheneaux Chamber of Commerce and Tourist Association. The map also lists area lodging, activities, and other information. It is the Tourist Association’s key promotional tool, and the organization is almost out of copies.

The Tourist Association has also lost members, and simply does not have enough people to run the organization, according to Ms. Ross. A letter in November appealed to people to join the organization and bring fresh ideas for promoting the community. Two people have come forward, but the group was seeking at least five to fill the empty seats.

“I think the two of us working together will demonstrate to the community that we are working together and making the best effort we can,” Ms. Ross said. “If we’re able to get back on our feet, we’ll be able to do what we’re supposed to do, which is promote the community. But right now, we just can’t do that. We’re barely existing as it is.”

Motels and housekeeping resorts in the Les Cheneaux Islands lodging assessment district collect a two percent tax on room rentals for the Tourist Association, which in the past generated up to $20,000. That revenue has declined in recent years as fewer people visit northern Michigan and resorts are closed. There are only 12 lodging members left in the district, Mr. Lowers said.

Expenses run about $14,000 for rent, utilities, and half of the Tourist Association and Chamber of Commerce coordinator’s salary. The balance of the assessment money is spent to advertise the area.

Mr. Lowers attributed the decline in tourists to a weak economy and high gasoline prices, as both seem to be discouraging travel.

“I was expecting the downward spiral to stop sometime soon, then the price of gas hit,” Mr. Lowers. “Everyone you talk to, not just here, says its down. When you don’t have what we call ‘drive-through’ traffic, it tells me the gas prices are still slowing things down.”

He cited a Travel Michigan report that claims tourists are now more likely to be destination travelers, who go to one place and stay there, and tend not to wander out on the kinds of driving trips that lead them to places like the Les Cheneaux Islands.

“People all over have told me walk-in business is down 40 percent,” Mr. Lowers said.

Representing two area motels, Ms. Ross, who manages Cedarville Inn, and Margaret Dingman, who owns and operates Islands Inn in Cedarville, said business has been sluggish, particularly among the transient or “walk-in” customers.

“If it wasn’t for my Web site, I wouldn’t have had much business this year,” Mrs. Dingman. “I didn’t have any walk-ins off the street. All I had were people who saw the Web site and made reservations from there.”

“At this point, we’re doing what we can to survive, and we need to work on what we can do to bring people here,” Ms. Ross said. “We need to find what people want.”

The Tourist Association has 42 lodging and associate members, and all will remain members of the organization despite its committee status.

As a committee, the Tourist Association will be able to keep its Web site, members, and control of the two percent assessment levied by lodging establishments. Without a local Tourist Association, Ms. Ross and Mr. Lowers said the assessment money would be absorbed by the State of Michigan for Travel Michigan, the state counterpart to local tourist associations.

“I do not want to see that money go anywhere but to this area, for promoting tourism here,” Ms. Ross said. “The only thing I can think of is to stress that anyone can come forward to serve on the committee. They don't have to own a business. We're looking for anyone who is interested in bettering the Les Cheneaux area’s tourism.”

The agreement between the Chamber of Commerce and Tourist Association will also allow the association to break away and become an independent group at any time. Both organizations believe the new relationship will make it easier to obtain grants or other financial assistance for the Tourist Association. Both groups will continue to share space at the Les Cheneaux Welcome Center in Cedarville.

People who want to serve on the new committee should contact the Les Cheneaux Islands Area Tourist Association at (906) 484-3935, P.O. Box 422, Cedarville Michigan 49719, or send a fax to (906) 484- 9941. E-mail inquiries can be sent to welcomecenter @lescheneaux. org. The committee will have the same promotional mission as the former Tourist Association.