People upset with Sen. Susan Collins’ support for now-Justice Brett Kavanaugh are calling for a boycott of Maine products and tourism. “Dear Susan Collins — I really struggled with this but my tourist $ just voted against ever visiting Maine while you remain in office,” actor and comedian John Fugelsang tweeted out to his 413,000 […]
tourism
Posted inMaine, sj-web
High gas prices not expected to lessen Labor Day weekend traffic
Despite relatively high gas prices, transportation officials are expecting record vehicle traffic in Maine over the Labor Day weekend. They’re also expecting a large number of breakdowns and accidents, and they warned motorists to check vehicles for safety, stay sober and put down the smartphones. “There’s no reason not to believe that this will be […]
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Posted inBusiness
Airbnb bookings in Maine rise 45% this summer
The online home-sharing service Airbnb is continuing its rapid growth in Maine even as some communities rethink their regulatory approaches to short-term rentals like those offered by the company. The number of guests staying at private Maine properties hosted through Airbnb grew by 45 percent this summer, to 229,000 from 158,000 in the same period […]
Posted inAdvertiser Democrat
Oxford hears about area tourism
OXFORD — A total of 4.8 million visitors came to this region last year bringing in $670 million, Dina Jackson, marketing coordinator for tourism for the Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments told the Oxford Board of Selectmen. Jackson, who was asked to come to the meeting after officials expressed interest in promoting local tourism as an […]
Posted inBusiness
Canadians still visiting US despite trade flap
OLD ORCHARD BEACH, Maine (AP) — The United States and Canada are engaged in a trade dispute, angering Canadians, but it doesn’t seem to be having an impact on tourism. Not yet, anyway. In Old Orchard Beach, popular with Quebecers, innkeepers report that Canadian tourism remains strong despite the harsh words last month when Prime […]
Posted inMaine, News
Helicopter tour company expands to Portland to offer tours of Casco Bay
The first service to offer regular helicopter tours of Casco Bay is expected to launch at the Portland International Jetport this month. “We were looking for ways to grow the business and Portland came to mind,” said Bruce Cultrera, president and CEO of Portsmouth-based Seacoast Helicopters. “It’s beautiful, it’s gorgeous, it is a population center […]
Posted inBusiness
Long-touted economic benefits of cruise ships far overstated
Second of three parts When the Maasdam, Grandeur of the Seas and Victory I docked nearly simultaneously in Portland on Mother’s Day morning, eastern Commercial Street was a hive of activity. Together the cruise ships had nearly 2,700 passengers aboard. By standard accounting, they supposedly spent a total of nearly $300,000 that day eating, drinking, […]
Posted inBusiness, sj-web
Maine gets $5.3 million as its cut of 284,500 Airbnb guest stays
Online lodging service Airbnb counted 4,500 host properties in Maine and 284,500 guest stays in 2017. But the largest number released by the vacation rental giant on Tuesday: $5.3 million paid in state sales tax in the past year. Airbnb reached an agreement with Maine on April 1, 2017, to start collecting lodging taxes on […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Visa woes have summer businesses looking to Puerto Ricans
PHIPPSBURG — Frustrated by red tape and visa limits on foreign workers, tourism businesses from Maine to Missouri are turning to Puerto Ricans who are fleeing a shattered economy and devastation caused by Hurricane Maria. Bob Smith, owner of Sebasco Harbor Resort in Phippsburg, hired a half-dozen Puerto Ricans last summer for housekeeping, landscaping and […]
Posted inBusiness, sj-web
Maine tourism industry has a sunny outlook as critical summer season kicks off
Visitors started flooding into Maine on Thursday to enjoy the long Memorial Day weekend, the unofficial start to the state’s tourism season. The next few months are critical for Maine’s tourism industry and state officials are optimistic more people will visit the state in 2018, continuing a five-year growth trend. “Two-thirds of our business does come during […]