Greater Wilmington, DE - CVB was awarded a Transportation Incentive - 1:1 Matching Tourism Grant through the Delaware Tourism Office, (which is a part of the Delaware Economic Development Office) for the 2008-2009 fiscal year.  Partnering with the Wilmington Renaissance Corporation, City of Wilmington and the Riverfront Development Corporation, the GWCVB has been able to increase the available funds to $20,000.

Grant Project Description: Create a transportation incentive, (either through partnership with other local organizations that benefit from economic impact or entirely through the GWCVB), to entice and help planners place a meeting, event, reunion or sporting event in the Greater Wilmington area - that results in achieving the overall goal of generating $200,000 in estimated economic impact.

Amount Awarded:

$6,500 out of $10,000 goal from DEDO
GWCVB is committed to $13,000 through the 1:1 match
Budget Goal - $20,000
 

The incentive will be designed to:

Offer $5,000 in travel assistance to four different groups placing NEW (not already contracted) overnight business in the Greater Wilmington area 
Offer $20,000 in travel assistance to one large group placing NEW (not already contracted) overnight business in the Greater Wilmington area
 

To generate the estimated economic impact goal of $200,000- a planner must place an event that:

Generates a minimum of 190 room nights to be eligible to receive a $5,000 incentive
Generates a minimum of 750 room nights to be eligible to receive the full $20,000 incentive
 

The incentive will encompass:

Transporting attendees to and from the Airport
Transporting attendees around the area to off-site events
Transporting attendees to a central meeting location from different hotel
Transporting attendees by bus to our destination and back again
 

Please Note: Economic Impact Numbers are based on DMAI's (Destination Management Association International's) formula for our area which is: $266 in economic impact is generated per room night booked in our area.

http://www.visitwilmingtonde.com/Transportation-Incentive