Capital City/Lake Murray Country Regional Tourism Office Wins Prestigious Governor’s Cup Award
February 26, 2009
COLUMBIA, SC – February 20, 2009 – The South Carolina tourism industry presented several prestigious awards Wednesday, February 18, 2009, the second day of the Annual S.C. Governor’s Conference on Tourism & Travel in Hilton Head, SC.
This year’s Governor’s Cup Award was presented to the Capital City/Lake Murray Country Regional Tourism Board for hosting the Forrest Wood Cup event in August 2008. The Forrest Wood Cup is the final fishing event in the FLW Outdoors series and is considered the super bowl of fishing. The event had a 46 million dollar economic impact on the community and occupied nine venues while in the area, including The Colonial Life Arena. When travel was declining due to high gas prices, this event contributed a 6% increase in room occupancy in Columbia in August, 2008.
“Our organization is honored to receive this prestigious award. This event would not have happened without the support of our state and local governments who contributed dollars allowing us to host the event,” said Miriam Atria, President/CEO, Capital City/Lake Murray Country Regional Tourism Board.
The Governor’s Cup Award is presented annually by the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism (PRT) to an outstanding organization that has demonstrated a significant tourism-related economic impact on the state and local community and which has markedly improved the quality of life for South Carolinians. This award originates from entries received from industry professionals.
Capital City/Lake Murray Country is one of the state’s eleven regional tourism offices recognized by the South Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism (PRT), promoting tourism in Lexington, Newberry, Richland and Saluda Counties. The Visitors Center is located on Highway 6, 2184 North Lake Drive in Columbia.
Without a doubt, fishing is big business, but the economic impact and national exposure of the recent Forrest Wood Cup broke records providing more than double the media exposure of any other FLW Outdoors™ event.
National media coverage exposed Lake Murray and Columbia to 81 million FSN (Fox Sports Net) subscribers in the United States when the show aired over a two week period on September 28, 2008 and October 5, 2008. “FLW Outdoors™” the television program broadcasted in Canada on WFN (World Fishing Network) and to more than 429 million households in the Europe, Africa, and Asia making it the most widely distributed fishing program in the world. This provided recording breaking media impressions totaling 113,670,570 for a total of $12,993,000 in advertising exposure and media impression value for the region.
What many people in our local community may not realize was the true economic impact, spin-offs and facility usage the Forrest Wood Cup provided throughout our region. Close to 45,890 fans, families, spectators, staff and media were in attendance at the Forrest Wood Cup at the various venues, accounting for $16,112,957 in new money coming into our community.
In addition to the FLW Outdoors™ show being live at The Colonial Life Arena, the Outdoor Show and Family Fun Zone being held inside and outside of the Convention Center, the Junior World Championship at Lake Monticello, the “Best Damn Sports Show Period” was also taped at The Colonial Life Arena as part of this event.
The Palmetto Mastersingers and several local youth programs were a part of the show and received donations from FLW Outdoors™ for their time and participation. A “Regional Leader Series” mini-tournament also generated over $5,000 for fishing conservation on Lake Murray.
Finally, even the SC State Museum benefited from the families coming to the Forrest Wood Cup. SKY-Cannon US, a California based company, which was on hand for the Cup donated a free laser light show to the SC State’s Museums 20th Anniversary Event.
“We hope that our organization partnering with SC Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism and various other state and local governments will enable us to attract this large, revenue generating event again in 2012. This tournament, combined with others we have produced in the last couple of years have provided an overall economic impact to our region of over $62 million dollars,” said Atria.
No doubt fishing is putting Lake Murray and Columbia on the world stage.
