The Pocono region continues to see strong growth in its hospitality and tourism industry.
That's according to the top executive of the Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau in Stroudsburg, the destination marketing organization that released its annual report at a luncheon at Skytop Lodge.
“Our revenue is growing by at least 10 percent per year,” said Chris Barrett, executive director of the organization. The report looks at the 2017-18 fiscal year. The bureau made $10.1 million in revenue in 2018, compared to $9.1 million in revenue in 2017.
In the four counties of the region, the Pocono tourism and hospitality market entertained about 26.6 million guests, he added.
“It's a combination of everything we have,” Barrett said. “We have great small towns, there's a lot of outdoor activities. We are a four-season destination. I think it's the strength of the attractions.”
Several new initiatives have helped bring an increase in revenue and tourists to the region, according to Barrett.
The Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau launched its own TV channel on the Blue Ridge cable network. Viewers can find it on Channel 734 on the new Pocono Television Network. The bureau had been working on the project for months. It features interviews with employees of Pocono attractions, weather updates and suggested things to do.
“We are going to try to get other networks to carry it,” Barrett said. “If we can get it live in a New York market, it would be incredibly valuable.”
Also contributing to the region's tourism growth is the bureau's Pick Up the Poconos anti-litter campaign, which began this spring. It helps make the area more attractive for guests and visitors, particularly along the highways, Barrett said.
The bureau hired a private company to help clean up those areas, he added.
The report outlined several activities and initiatives over the past fiscal year, including an increase in visits to the bureau's website, PoconoMountains.com and blog views.
Furthermore, the bureau started Pocono Mountains Magazine, a program that airs on local and regional stations during the evening newscasts and includes information about the area's amenities, attractions and culture.
The bureau worked with 22 publications to increase brand awareness and drove earned media placements up by 63 percent year over year.
Thursday's event also recognized the following for their efforts in supporting the bureau as well as general tourism in the region:
