County Tourism Expenditures Exceeded $1 Billion in '11

Editor's Note: The following is a news release issued by the Princeton Regional Chamber of Commerce.

The Princeton Regional Convention and Visitors Bureau (PRCVB), a program of the Princeton Regional Chamber of Commerce (PRCC), is proud to announce that tourism expenditures in Mercer County were $1.08 billion in 2011, an all-time high.

This record for Mercer County marks a 10 percent increase compared to 2010’s expenditures, according to the recent release of the 2011 Economic Impact Study of Tourism in New Jersey, conducted by the State’s Division of Travel & Tourism.

“The PRCVB is thrilled to be the only state-accredited destination travel organization in Mercer County promoting the many assets of the Princeton Region and Mercer County,” says Lori Rabon, chairwoman of the PRCVB Steering Committee. “Our primary focus continues to be showcasing the Region as a destination for both the leisure and business travelers.”

Adam Perle, vice president of the PRCC, says that tourism is an essential contributor to economic development in Mercer County, the Princeton Region, as well as the rest of Central New Jersey.

“The Princeton Region welcomes nearly two million visitors each year, which positively impacts the collection of sales and occupancy taxes,” says Perle. “In New Jersey, tourism is the third-largest business sector and employs one of every 10 residents.”

Jack Morrison, president of JM Group, which includes Nassau Street Seafood, Blue Point Grill, Witherspoon Grill and Princeton Farmers’ Market, says that growth in tourism and economic success inevitably go hand-in-hand.

“We continue to see a direct correlation of growth in our business and growth in tourism,” says Morrison. “These two goals, which we strive to fulfill within our target location in the Princeton Region, are undeniably linked together.”

The PRCVB aims to increase the economic impact of tourism in the area by marketing the Princeton Region as a vibrant destination for all travelers, and the PRCVB team is “proud to represent our stakeholders and all other business members across the Princeton Region,” says Perle.

Coby Green-Rifkin, director of marketing at Grounds for Sculpture, a world-renown sculpture garden in Hamilton, says that the PRCVB is a strong voice for their continued success.

“The PRCVB is always seeking opportunities for us to promote our services to the region’s travelers and visitors,” says Green-Rifkin. “These opportunities have helped us extend our outreach in new and exciting ways, and we are pleased to have such a dedicated and proactive destination marketing organization supporting us.”

As a program of the Princeton Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Princeton Regional Convention and Visitors Bureau is the official destination marketing organization for an 18-municipality area that includes of all of Mercer County as well as parts of Middlesex and Somerset County.

The PRCVB’s mission is to create strategic alliances in an effort to drive tourism, enhance economic development, and increase economic growth and impact for the Princeton Region. Funding for these efforts is provided by a grant from the New Jersey Division of Travel & Tourism.

Herbert K. Ames, president of the Devin Group and member of the PRCC Board of Directors, says that the PRCVB makes a broad effort to reach out to regional partners.

“We actively work to create alliances with various regional organizations, like the County of Mercer, Princeton Merchants Association, Trenton Downtown Association and local colleges and universities to expand our initiatives with tourism and economic growth” says Ames.

The Princeton Regional Chamber of Commerce, founded in 1960, is one of the premier business organizations in the State of New Jersey, with nearly 900 members and more than 1,700 individual business contacts.

For more information about the PRCC or PRCVB, please visit www.princetonchamber.org or call President & CEO Peter Crowley at (609) 924-1776.

Follow Lawrenceville Patch on Facebook, Twitter and sign up for the daily newsletter.