1. Ports-to-
Ports-to-Plains
Alliance Conference
Attractions…
The Black Hills
Nort Johnson, Black Hills, Badlands and Lakes Association
September 9th, 2010
Rapid City, SD

2. Today
• Black Hills, Badlands and Lakes
Association – Who Are We?
• Ports to Plains and BHB&L
• Road Trip!
• Tourism, Transportation and Economic
Development
• Black Hills Attractions

3. Tourism Notes
• $2.1 TRILLION Spent in Recreation
Industries World Wide
– Largest Industry
• $962 Million in South Dakota
(#2 Economic Engine)
• $565 Million in Black Hills Region
– (.000269 of the world spend)

4. • 500+ Member Destination Marketing
Organization Serving Black Hills Tourism
for 70 Years
• Organized as a Nonprofit
• 19 Chambers are Members
• Partners include State of SD Tourism
• Publishing proceeds are re-invested into
Destination Marketing Campaigns

5. BHB&L Products
• Vacation Guide
– 485,000 pieces, 268 Pages
• Exploring
– 275,000 pieces, 80 Pages
• Romancing the Snow
– Winter Vacation Guide
• The Map
– 1 million pieces

6. BHB&L Products
continued
• Travel Agent Guide and Program
– Very Specialized Pub, Travel Agents
Only
• blackhillsbadlands.com
– Over 800,000 visitors last year
• NEW! Downloadable Publications and
Map for Handhelds
• Black Hills VIC
• Tourism Business Advocacy

7. Ports to Plains and BHB&L
• 1989 Resolution Promoting the “Western
Expressway”
• Advocating for Heartland Expressway Every
Year Since
• Why?
– 94% of Vacationing Americans Travel by Car
– 94% of our $565 Million Industry = $531
Million
– Colorado in top 6 markets with
5.6 Million Residents

8. Great American Road Trip
• Branding Black Hills Tourism
• Our driving market is by far the strongest
• “The Red Lines Carry the Traffic!”

9. Tourism, Transportation and
Economic Development
• Tourism Infrastructure is Development Ammunition
– Roads
– Restaurants
– Lodging
• Tourism Experience is a Recruitment Tool
– The Creative Class…
• Entrepreneurial Development
• Bottom Line –
Tourism is Economic Development

10. Black Hills Attractions

11. Black Hills Attractions

12. Black Hills Attractions

13. Black Hills Attractions

14. Black Hills Attractions

15. Thank You!
Enjoy The Black Hills
and Badlands While
You Are Here!