Dutchess Tourism, Inc. (DTI) announced the promotion of Dawn Hopper to managing director, tourism market development. Hopper has been with DTI for almost 15 years and will continue to grow the non-profit’s international visitor attraction program as well as reinvigorate its group tour business with new experiential tour offerings and business support efforts.
As managing director, Hopper will develop strategic marketing campaigns, conduct sales missions and agent trainings, as well as attend travel trade conventions to promote the county as a premier destination for international travelers. She’ll also organize and host press and trade familiarization tours from Europe, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, working with Brand USA, the U.S. Travel Association and the New York State Division of Tourism (I Love New York) to showcase Dutchess’ world-class attractions to drive visitors and their travel dollars to the county.
In 2022, international visitors to DTI’s website made up 22% of the total 1,342,915 visitors to DutchessTourism.com. According to the U.S. Travel Association, international travelers are essential to our economy because they stay longer and spend more. In 2019, average spending was nearly $4,000 per overseas traveler and pre-pandemic they contributed approximately 15% to total spending despite making up less than 5% of all trips.
DTI President & CEO Melaine Rottkamp praised Hopper, stating, “Dawn has been an integral part of our success, building strong relationships and sharing her extensive knowledge with our local tourism attractions, restaurants and hotels.” She added, “She has really helped our partners learn how to stand out in a crowded marketplace which in turn has helped increase overnight stays and visitor spending.”
According to Rottkamp, some of Hopper’s successful collaborations to promote the county to international visitors include the bookable self-drive itineraries “9 Days in New York State” with Visit Buffalo-Niagara and Visit Syracuse and “Beyond the Big Apple” with the eight-county Central NY Vacation Region and the Sullivan-Catskills Visitors Association. The “Beyond the Big Apple” partnership was recently awarded a three-year New York State Economic Development Administration (EDA) Tourism Partner Sub-Awards Grant to support the state’s tourism industry as it recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic. This project is supported by a grant awarded to Dutchess Tourism, Inc., Central NY Vacation Region and the Sullivan-Catskills Visitors Association from Empire State Development and the New York State Division of Tourism / I LOVE NY through the New York State EDA Tourism Partner Sub-Award Grant Program, funded through the federal American Rescue Plan.
Through DTI’s membership with the American Bus Association (ABA), Hopper also works extensively with the group tour market. According to 2019 research from the ABA Foundation, bus groups spent more than $18,000 per 24-hour period in Dutchess in 2018 with an economic impact of $147.8 million in direct spending. Hopper assists tour operators, receptive operators, and niche market specialists with itinerary planning to promote the many group-friendly offerings in Dutchess County. Recently, she initiated a new group tour program to expand experiences with new and existing group tour attractions.
Hopper has worked in the tourism industry for over 25 years, beginning with Dodger Theatricals as the director of sales for the preeminent Broadway producers of “Jersey Boys,” “Titanic,” “Music Man,” “42nd Street,” “Urinetown” and “Into the Woods.” After a move to the Hudson Valley, Hopper served as director of business development for Eisenhower Hall Theater at the United States Military Academy at West Point. For over 20 years prior, she was a professional actor and director in theatre, film and TV. In 2011, she earned the Tourism Excellence Award for Cultural Heritage from the New York State Travel & Vacation Association on behalf of Dutchess Tourism for her strategic marketing program and video production for the county’s experiential tour program featuring Dutchess County historic sites.
