Kent County Tourism sponsors packaging seminar for hospitality industry

Kent County Tourism and its Hoteliers Committee sponsored a free program on Creating Exciting Lodging Packages That Work Aug. 4 at the Kent County Tourism office in Dover. The program was part of the organization's continuing education series for the hospitality industry in Kent County.

"It's not 'business as usual' in the Kent County hospitality market, or anywhere in the world," said Kimberly Bailey-Thomas, director of sales for Kent County Tourism. "The days of 'build it and they will come' went down the tubes with the economy three years ago."

Speakers included Stephanie Barfield, sales director for Heritage Shores in Bridgeville and Chris Guidone, director of sales and marketing at the Atlantic Sands Hotel & Conference Center in Rehoboth Beach. Barfield was employed by Ruark Golf Properties 2002-07. She got her start in the golf packaging industry working with Starwood Hotels and Pam's Golf Packages in Ocean City, Md.

"Currently the [Atlantic Sands] hotel offers three different year-round packages," said Guidone. "In addition, the hotel packages special events such as the July Fourth event, Roof is on Fire, and uses social media as a way to reach consumers."

Guidone also discussed how the hotel positions, packages and promotes for special events as well as year-round visitation. The Atlantic Sands Hotel & Conference Center, Delaware’s landmark oceanfront convention hotel, features 180 rooms and more than 10,000 square feet of meeting space.

For more information, call Kent County Tourism at 302-734-8309.