Great Lakes Chamber reports successful summer season

(Photos submitted) Winter weather and family fun come together for the 29th annual University of Okoboji Winter Games, scheduled for Jan. 23-25, 2009. The first planning meeting was held Monday evening

Despite soaring gasoline prices and an obvious economic downturn, representatives of the Iowa Great Lakes Chamber of Commerce are reporting a fairly successful summer for businesses in relation to the tourism industry.

"We've had an opportunity to talk to a lot of hotel and resort owners, and they were worried at the beginning of the season but full later on in the summer," said Okoboji Tourism Director Stacy Rosemore. "Gas prices and flooding in the state didn't affect us as much as we originally thought they would, but people shortened their trips to a three- or four-day vacation instead of a week."

Area restaurants reported noticing a slight decrease in activity, but still had a good year.

"A lot of what we base our success on is the hotel/motel tax dollars, but we don't have any of the numbers in for July, August and September yet," Rosemore said. "But what we have for April, May and June indicate that (numbers were) up from last year."

Rosemore also reported grocery stores showing an increase this tourist season.

"Grocery store managers have said they had great numbers this summer," she said. "Instead of dining out, tourists were staying in the resorts and hotels and grilling out or having picnics."

Based on traffic in and out of the Welcome Center this fall, the Lakes area is seeing quite a few visitors coming for the changing of the leaves along with the usual fishermen and hunters.

"This has been my first year as tourism director, and I'm really happy with what I've seen," Rosemore said. "Things looked a little bleak at the beginning of June, but tourism recovered. If not for the local businesses, we would not have the kind of support and opportunities we do in the Lakes area."

Rosemore said the Chamber is already gearing up for the 2009 Vacation Guide and planning to expand markets.

"We did a test market in Chicago last year, and we're moving into the Minneapolis market this year a lot heavier than before," she said. "We had a huge success in direct mail pieces last year, so we're trying that again."

The Chamber will be promoting the Iowa Great Lakes area in several publications, including "AAA Living," USA Weekend," "Midwest Living," "Better Homes and Gardens," "Family Circle" and more.