MILITARY VETERANS BRINGING BUSINESS to CORNING

Over 25 reunion planners from states such as Texas, Louisiana, Wisconsin, North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New Jersey will converge on Corning to participate in a military reunion conference and familiarization tour August 26 - 29. The conference is sponsored by the Steuben County Conference & Visitors Bureau in partnership with the Radisson Hotel Corning, Best Western Lodge on the Green and Holiday Inn Corning-Painted Post.

The Reunion Network (TRN), a national organization dedicated to educating veterans in planning successful reunions, will present an educational forum August 26 and 27. Reunion planners attending the conference will spend August 28 and 29 touring the Corning area. While enjoying tours of the Corning Museum of Glass, Rockwell Museum of Western Art, Glenn Curtiss Museum, Keuka Maid, Pleasant Valley Wine Company, Wings of Eagles Discovery Center and National Soaring Museum, the planners will be using the opportunity to size up the area for consideration as a location for their organization's next reunion.

The area stands to gain much economically from this combination conference/familiarization tour (frequently referred to as a Con/FAM). Pat White, Communications Manager at the Steuben County CVB said, "It's important to remember that each one of these planners represents a group ranging in size from 20 to 200 people who are looking for a location for their next reunion. This one conference has the potential of bringing in 25 more groups and over 2,000 people to the area in the next two years. Considering that, statistically, each reunion attendee spends $185/day and the average reunion lasts 4.7 days, we're talking about a significant amount of potential business. Conservatively, if only half the planners bring their group here, and even if the groups are small, we're still talking about an economic impact well over $500,000."

When considering where to hold their next reunion, planners take into consideration several factors, including lodging options and cost, location and accessibility of the area (airport service, proximity to Interstates, etc.) as well as the types of attractions and activities available for the group. They also seek destinations that they view as "Reunion Friendly"sm. According to Pat White, "This group looks for visible signs of support for the military. The degree to which they feel a city not only wants their reunion business, but also supports the military, will have a definite influence on their decision whether or not to bring their own group reunion to our fair city."

Businesses can project a reunion-friendly image by creating patriotic window displays and in-store displays, offering discounts to active duty military and veterans, displaying the popular yellow "Support our Troops" ribbons and flying the American flag outside their business. These visuals make a dramatic statement of appreciation for military service past and present. Local businesses may also show their support by offering door prize donations for the conference. Interested businesses should contact the Steuben County CVB at 936-6544 by Wednesday.

Statistics about the military reunion market: (supplied by The Reunion Network):
This niche market segment represents 6 million room nights/year
14,000- 15,000 reunions are held per year
45% of reunions have an attendance of 100 people or less (This is an appropriate group size for our Steuben County accommodations to adequately handle)
The average reunion attendee spends $185/day
The average length of stay is 4.7 days
Reunions are generally shoulder-season business

The Steuben County CVB and local hotels have enjoyed success working with the military reunion market. Organizations that have held their reunion in Corning in the past few years include:

Red Devil Reunions
1019th Engineers TWB Co. Reunion
USS LST 559
99th Infantry Division Association
28th Naval Construction Battalion
USS Kula Gulf Reunion
Army Otter Caribou Association
LST 1014 Reunion
USS Nelson Reunion
U.S. Army Constabulary
Pilots Class of 1944
SNAG - 56 Reunion
USS Missouri Assn.
NYS Amphibious Forces
American Ex-Prisoners of War- Department of New York
ASA Philippines - NYS
USS Tarawa
USS Butner Association

The Steuben County Conference & Visitors Bureau was established in 1994 to promote the tourism industry of Steuben County and stimulate economic growth by attracting visitors, groups, and conferences to the county. The CVB is funded primarily by an occupancy tax paid by overnight visitors staying in hotels, motels, and bed & breakfasts.