Get to Know Robyn Cummings
Q: What is the Bradford County Tourism Promotion Agency (BCTPA) and where are you located?
A: The Tourism Promotion Agency oversees the hotel occupancy tax revenue that is collected each quarter and uses it to promote the great assets and events occurring in Bradford County to attract guests and visitors from outside our area. Essentially, we’re like a Visitors Bureau. We are conveniently located in the Weigh Station at 1 Washington Street in Towanda.
Q: What are the 3 main goals of BCTPA:
A: The first goal is to highlight all there is to see and do in Bradford County to those living outside our area in hopes they’ll want to travel here and spend time experiencing Bradford County. The second goal is to share with residents what we have happening in their own backyard. The third goal is to continue to operate the Room Tax Grant program which gives 30% of collected revenues back to our 501 c(3) and c(6) non-profit organizations to assist them with event advertising, new exhibits, and way-finding aides.
Q: When is the Room Tax Grant Program and how can one apply:
A: The Room Tax Grant Program is an annual grant opening the Tuesday after Labor Day and closing 6 weeks later at the close of business that Friday. An overview of the grant can be found at www.visitbradfordcounty.com and the application is able to be downloaded once the cycle opens in September.
Q: How does one become a member of BCTPA:
A: Great news—BCTPA is a non-member based organization designed to promote everyone and everything being offered in our County. And because we are non-member based, the services we provide are FREE!
Q: What services does BCTPA provide:
A: We offering many avenues to assist in promoting your business, organization, event, or exhibit and utilize a large network of partners to share the county’s happenings. We encourage everyone to post events to our website making it easy for those planning vacations to our region. Finally, we create a 68 page annual digest called “Experience Bradford County” which highlights everything in the County from events, museums, wineries, parks, lodging, restaurants and so much more.
Q: How is the “Experience Bradford County” Guide utilized:
A: This 70k piece guide is distributed throughout Bradford County and PA, but also all along the Mid-Atlantic Region of the US. Further, it is used at the many tradeshows we attend throughout the year promoting Bradford County.
Q: Who is the current Executive Director and can you share the contact information to learn more about the grants, how to be in the guide, and how to be listed on the website?
A: Robyn Cummings is entering her 9th year as the inaugural director of BCTPA. Feel free to call the office at 570.265.8687, email her at bctourism@bradfordcountypa.gov or visit the website at www.visitbradfordcounty.com to add your business or event directly