The Beautification Awards program originated in 1967 and recognizes businesses and organizations who have demonstrated their dedication to Cape May County by improving the outer appearance of their properties in the following categories: New Construction, Renovations, Signage, Landscaping, Municipal Gateway/Special Project and Historic Preservation. Private homes are not eligible. Self nominations are encouraged. Digital photography submitted with nomination is preferred.

The following Beautification Award Nominations (in all categories) have been made to date: Avalon Hardware, Avalon; Banana Jack Murphy's, Wildwood; BathTime, Cape May; Borough of Wildwood Crest, Wildwood Crest; Cape May County Arc, South Dennis; Cape May Bridge Lighthouses, Cape May; Cape May County Wildwood Vietnam Memorial Wall, Wildwood; Cape Winds Florist, West Cape May; Capt. Jack's, Wildwood; Classic Sandwiches, Wildwood; Cape May County Zoo Bald Eagle Habitat, Cape May Court House; Crest Savings Bank, Wildwood; Diamond Liquor Store, Sea Isle City; Diving Horse, Avalon; Avalon Hardware, Edward Jones Investments, Cape May Court House; Fleur De Lis Motel, Wildwood Crest; Gary's Boards, Wildwood; Gleeson Liquors, Sea Isle City; Goodfish Grill, Wildwood; Holly Shores Camping Resort, Cape May; Joe's Fish Company, Wildwood; Lowe's Home Improvement, Rio Grande; Miss Demeanor, Cape May; Morey's Piers and Beachfront Waterparks Ghost Ship, Wildwood; Shoobie's Good Eats, Wildwood; Tisha's, Cape May; Vegas Diner, Wildwood; Verizon, Wildwood; and White Heron Grill, Stone Harbor.

Don't see your business nominated? Click here for the Nomination Form. Forms due by August 31!

The Conservation Awards program originated in 1992 and recognizes commercial prosperities whose conservation efforts have demonstrated energy or water conservation, recycling or community leadership to preserve Cape May County's environmentally sensitive natural surroundings. 

The following Conservation Award Nominations (in all categories) have been made to date: Beachcomber Camping Resort, Cape May; Carroll Villa Hotel and Mad Batter Restaurant, Cape May; Dan's Auto Body, Clermont; EarthTech Contracting, Seaville; Greater Wildwood Chamber of Commerce, Wildwood; Joe Canal's Plaza, Rio Grande; South Jersey Gas Co., Cape May Court House; Wetland's Institute, Stone Harbor; and Lowes Home Improvement, Rio Grande.  

Don't see your business nominated? Click here for the nomination form. Nominations due by Aug. 31!

On August 15, the Board of Directors approved the following position regarding collection of the Occupancy Tax:

The Cape May County Chamber of Commerce supports changes to the Occupancy Tax in order to correct the unfair situation that now exists requiring some - but not all - vacation lodging facilities to collect both the Occupancy Tax and New Jersey Sales Tax.  Currently, condominiums and whole house rentals are exempt from these taxes, clearly creating an inequitable tax advantage for some lodging businesses, to the direct detriment of others.

Under the existing structure, a definition of services is used to determine whether or not guests in a lodging facility are subject to the Occupancy Tax.  Selective collection of the Occupancy Tax has created unfair competition between segments of the lodging industry to the detriment of the entire state, but in particular to Cape May County where many rental units operate as a hotel properties, but are separately owned condominium units rented out as vacation lodging.  Condominiums and whole house rentals are exempt from collecting the Occupancy Tax and New Jersey Sales Tax.  A hotel, motel or bed & breakfast inn guest pays 12-15% sales and occupancy tax (depending on municipal taxes) while visitors staying in condominiums and houses pay zero taxes.  New Jersey is failing to fairly exercise these taxes and in turn, is creating hardships for hotels, motels, and bed & breakfast inns, fostering a loss of income, jobs and even causing many to close or sell.

The Cape May County Chamber of Commerce believes that all transient visitors, defined as those purchasing lodging for 90 days or less, should pay the same sales and occupancy taxes.  Correcting the definition of the current Occupancy Tax through the Division of Taxation would be the most expedient method to fix the problem.

The original intent of a lodging tax was to create a renewable source of funding for Tourism Promotion as well as NJ's non-profit Arts and History organizations: all are critical components of the state's highly important tourism industry.  Any changes to the current Occupancy Tax must also continue to support these programs; establishing competitive equity across the lodging industry while continuing a dedicated revenue stream for these key industry components.

LONG-TERM ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND LESSONS LEARNED
IN RESPONDING TO THE OIL SPILL

Dear Travel Colleague:

Since the oil well in the Gulf was capped, media attention has turned to other pressing stories. On one hand, this is a welcome shift because we are no longer seeing round-the-clock images of oily water and beaches, despite the fact that only a relatively small area of the Gulf and the coastline were actually affected. On the other hand, the media highlighting other crises will make it easier for our federal officials to be distracted from the task of protecting the livelihoods of the 400,000 travel and tourism employees along the Gulf Coast.

The opportunity that emerged from this particular crisis led to numerous accomplishments on the industry's behalf, including:

• Changing Gulf Coast claims administrator Kenneth Feinberg's understanding of the role perception plays in relation to the economic damage suffered during a crisis (more below) and the unique way U.S. Travel was able to insert research and introduce specific policy proposals that will be applicable to future disasters;

• Taking advantage of this emergency to work with policymakers in identifying an appropriate government response not only to assist travel and tourism workers along the Gulf Coast, but to create a plan to minimize the impact of future crises on our industry; and

• Identifying for the first time ever the consequences to tourism economies of natural and manmade disasters, based on analysis by Oxford Economics of 25 previous crises. These findings will enable us to instantly assess the potential damage from future disasters, and better educate media, opinion leaders and policymakers on the need for an effective response.

Lessons learned during the past several months include:

• Government needs to play an active role in minimizing panic while keeping the public safe;

• The impact of disasters and the timeline for recovery for the affected region is fairly predictable;

• Significant and substantial marketing and education funds are needed to help counter perceptions created by media attention in order to minimize the damage; and

• Establishing new policies is necessary to help inform public perceptions and incentivize travel to an affected region for a limited time to minimize the hardship.

President Obama's leisure trip to the Gulf on August 14 demonstrated his concern about the effects of the recent disaster on travel and tourism and sent an important signal to those considering a vacation in the Gulf region. Without a doubt, it was a major step in promoting travel to the region. We look forward to working closely with the White House and Congress to ensure our government continues to do all it can to relieve hardship for the travel community in the Gulf because this situation is a long way from being over.

If consistent with recovery times for the previous crises analyzed by Oxford Economics, the oil spill's impact on travel and tourism along the Gulf Coast will likely last three years and cost up to $22.7 billion in lost spending. Oxford Economics' study also reinforced the need for a substantial and significant marketing and education program of $500 million, which would cut that economic damage by one-third.

Perception Is The Problem

I have requested a meeting with BP's incoming chairman Bob Dudley, who has overseen the company's efforts in the Gulf, to urge a quick disbursement of significant and substantial funds to help attract visitors to the states and Gulf communities affected by the spill. One of the most cost-effective ways to save tens of thousands of jobs, reduce future unemployment claims and reduce lost tax revenue is to immediately fund strategic marketing to counter misperceptions and encourage travel to the region.

The Oxford Economics research also helped Kenneth Feinberg, administrator of the Gulf Coast Claims Facility, to change his initial views and finally accept that damage claims based on perceptions about travel to the Gulf were legitimate and should be reimbursed through the $20 billion escrow fund established by BP. I spoke with Mr. Feinberg about the challenges he faces in compensating businesses and individuals in the Gulf Coast. I conveyed to him our strong belief that broad categories of business and individuals should be eligible to receive compensation from the escrow account because any drop in travel and tourism can have a ripple effect throughout an entire economy. As Mr. Feinberg continues his important work, I urged him to use the U.S. Travel Association as a resource.

Preparing For Future Crises

To assist the Obama Administration and Congress in its effort to protect the Gulf Coast and prepare for future crisis situations, we've developed aRoadmap to Recovery, a 10-point plan for government to help communities in crisis by implementing specific action steps that inform public perceptions, incentivize travel to an affected area and make impacted businesses whole. If implemented, these initiatives can help to prevent billions of dollars in harm to the travel community.

Specific proposals for the federal government include:

• Develop a "one stop shop" online portal where consumers can obtain up-to-the-minute information about which areas are safe and open for travel and business;
• Intervene to provide increased access to capital, low interest loans and tax incentives which allow businesses to remain open and retain employees.

The proposals included in the Roadmap to Recovery will provide assistance during future emergencies by stimulating continued travel to affected regions. Travel and tourism is among the top 10 industries in terms of employment in nearly every state and serves as a powerful economic engine for local communities. Policymakers must do everything they can to ensure travel and tourism gets the support it needs to help spur recovery as quickly as possible in affected communities.

Government Must Focus On Four Key Areas

Regardless of the crisis, government's response needs to be focused on four key areas:

• Minimizing panic;
• Providing accurate and up-to-date information on the impacts of a disaster in order to counter misperceptions;
• Ensuring funds are provided to help businesses retain employees, rebuild damaged property and infrastructure, and mitigate disaster-related losses; and
• Assisting businesses and communities in returning travel to pre-disaster levels.

President and CEO

U.S. Travel Association