Visit Hot Springs is encouraging members of Hot Springs' hospitality industry and the public to attend an Oct. 16 meeting to hear a report on the city's tourism from Longwoods International, a market research company.
The presentation by Brian Screptock, the director of Longwoods' client services, will be held at 3 p.m. in Room 208 in Hot Springs Convention Center.
"We do it about every five years," Steve Arrison, CEO of Visit Hot Springs, said. "I think we did it in '18 and 2013, so we waited just a little bit. And I think they'll combine '21 and '22 and come up with the numbers. It gives us a real in-depth look at who travels to Hot Springs and Garland County."
The report looks into many aspects of tourists -- whether those staying for several days or just "day-trippers." It reveals what people did while in Hot Springs, where they are from, how long they stayed, how they learned about the city and more.
"It'd be great for hotels, gift shops, restaurants, anybody who caters to our visitors, whether they be overnight or day visitors," Arrison said. "There'll be a lot of good information in there. (It will) help them evaluate their own marketing. I mean, it could help anybody in our community who wants to know who's visiting here, spending the night here."
While Visit Hot Springs will get the information in advance, Arrison said having Longwoods present the information is best.
"Longwoods will send somebody down to present the report, because it's not our research," he said. "I mean, we didn't do the report. So they'll be here to present it and then take any questions. We're looking forward to it."
Arrison said he expects a good crowd for the event since there are several new businesses in the city.
"We had about a full room last time, I think," he said. "It's mainly hoteliers and the same interested parties. ... I think we have a lot of new businesses in town that will be very interested in it, that are new that weren't here when we did this five years ago. So I think we'll have a better crowd than usual. I hope we do. I think everybody should really (attend), but those who can't make it, we'll be happy to email it to them when the report comes out in October."
Longwoods was established in 1978 and its research is "regularly cited" in the media, a news release said. Other clients of the company include the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority, the Los Angeles Tourism and Convention Board, the Oklahoma Tourism & Recreation Department, San Francisco Travel, the U.S. Travel Association, Visit Denver, Visit Dallas, Visit Orlando and Visit Tampa Bay.