Tourism in the Time of COVID-19

Issue 6.30

July 24, 2020

DSCC Hosts its First

Full-Day, Virtual Conference

Did you miss the conference? You can still access and watch all speaker presentations, download resources and further reading, and network with attendees! Contact Helana Rodriguez to get access.

The Delaware State Chamber was excited to host its first interactive, virtual conference this past Tuesday. Titled Putting Delawareans Back to Work: Economic Recovery in the First State, the event attracted more than 300 attendees who tuned in to watch 24 speakers present on important topics such as:

Workforce development
Broadband access and closing the digital divide
The state of manufacturing
Office redesign
Permitting and site readiness
Establishing Delaware as a regional leader

Here is one presentation we think you should see. Watch video >

TOURISM IN THE TIME

OF COVID-19

Tourism has, for all intents and purposes, come to a standstill in Southern Delaware, as it has everywhere else. That doesn’t mean the team at Southern Delaware Tourism hasn’t remained very busy. As the fourth largest employer in the state and the second largest in Sussex County, Delaware’s tourism industry matters. It matters to every household in Delaware that pays about $1,600 less in taxes each year as a result of it. It matters to the over 44,000 people in the state whose livelihoods rely on it (nearly 19,000 of those jobs are in Sussex County, making up over 16% of the county’s workforce). It matters to the hard-working business owners whose employees rely on them to support their families in a challenging seasonal economy. Read more >

Local Communities Welcome Back Visitors

Summer 2020 with the Lewes Chamber of Commerce

Lewes this summer will be a very different experience for visitors and locals who have

been sheltering in place since March because of

the pandemic. One thing that hasn’t changed

though is our small-town friendliness. The Chamber has developed a branding campaign that reflects how business owners and residents feel about living and working in Lewes.

Read about the Love, Lewes campaign >

Standing Ready to Welcome Tourists Back to Delaware’s Quaint Villages

Kent County’s proximity to major cities within the Mid-Atlantic region makes Delaware’s Quaint Villages a regional drive-to destination with a strong position to capitalize on their tourism assets including unique attractions, museums, festivals, casino fun, outdoor activities, local libations, restaurants, and much more! This September, Kent County Tourism will be hosting vetted travel media and journalists. Read more >

Bethany-Fenwick Area Chamber of Commerce

Sees Thawing of an Extended ‘Winter’

The tourism industry which includes so many family-owned, seasonal, and visitor-based businesses has had to play a guessing game with opening dates, procedures, regulations, consumer confidence, employee safety and the ultimate question of returned cash flow. We should take a moment to be humbled and inspired by the resilience of the small business community.

Team Building Through

Kayaking Adventures

Navigating the Waterways of

the First State

The need for a rewarding escape has become significantly more important than ever as we move forward in our recovery efforts from the COVID-19 pandemic. Throughout the pandemic, businesses have endured and adapted to constant changes to stay afloat in a world facing a “new normal.” What better time to take a business retreat and explore the natural waterways of Delaware? What better opportunity to bond with your staff and embrace new adventures together? Read more >

WHO WILL WATCH THE KIDS?

The majority of child care in this country is provided by small businesses. The nearly 700,000 child care businesses across the country are experiencing significant financial stress as a result of COVID-19 and are at risk of closing permanently. Watch this video by the US Chamber of Commerce Foundation's Center for Education and Workforce. Watch >