July 7, 2025 • 30 mins
Part 2 - “With decades of promoting the local economy and hosting our largest events, Central PA’s top cheerleader, Sharon Seitz Myers heads Visit Hershey /Harrisburg."
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hi, I'm Sylvia Moss.
Speaker 2 (00:01):
This is Insight where we are talking to sharing from
Sharon sites Myers. She is the new president and CEO
visit Hershey Harrisburg dot org. And with her with Sharon
is Alison Roarbrok. She's the voice. She's the director of
communications for this organization. And we were just talking earlier
(00:22):
about why this area is perfect for anybody. We've got
it coming and going all kinds of activities for individuals
or especially for the whole family, and also that this
is not something that goes on once a year.
Speaker 1 (00:37):
We got it going on all year round.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
And one of the best parts that comes out of
that is the fact that it's brought so much to
the economy. We're talking megabucks to the economy. Also talked
about why agriculture and tourism are so big, but caught
us right in the middle of talking about some of
the things going on in Hershey. Listen to one if
(01:00):
you want to hear what's going on in Harrisburg area
at this time. But in Hershey we have the wonderful
Harrisburg or Hershey Park. And learned a little bit from
Sharon about the impact that Milton Hershey had on this area.
Sharon tell us about the historical society. Is that all
about Milton Hershey or what is that all about?
Speaker 3 (01:21):
Yeah, so there is the first of all, there's Founder's
Hall in Hershey. Hershey has so many different Yeah, Hershey
has so many different historical assets. And you know, they
love to tell the story. There's actually a movie coming
out very shortly, so we're really excited about that. It's
going to tell the whole story. Yeah, and so yeah,
(01:42):
they do a really good job of telling the story
in Hershey and making sure that it's correct and that everyone,
you know, everyone gets to know the real hymn, why
it started, where it's gone, and the and the you know,
the way he set it up so that it could
go long after he was gone as well.
Speaker 1 (01:58):
Else.
Speaker 3 (01:59):
I don't know if you have anything to add on
the history of Hershey itself, but it's definitely they do
a great job there.
Speaker 1 (02:06):
Tell me about the shatles, the shuttles, the trolley's.
Speaker 4 (02:12):
Yes, so there are there are two different entities that
have trolley services. There's Trolley Works, which is staged right
outside of Chocolate World, and that is something where you
can go and have these historical tours, so they'll take
you around Hershey. They'll stop at all of the spots
like Sharon mentioned up at Milton Hershey School and all
of the important areas around Hershey to really tell that
(02:35):
story so you can see where some of these things started.
And hear that they do some themed things around the
holidays as well. So that's when people say, what should
I do? I only have, you know, a limited time.
We tell them that that that trolley tour is something
that they should really try to do because it really
gives you a sense of the space. It gives you
a sense of the destination along with the museum that
(02:57):
Sharon mentioned earlier as well. And then there's a new
organization Yokel Yokal trolley Service, and they're doing things really
to highlight small businesses and tours and foods and things
of that nature. So that's separate from Hershey Company, but
it's it's something that has taken off really in the
last couple of months. As a as a business, you know,
(03:18):
we're certainly partnered with them, so really need to look
into and something that's a great way to support a
lot of the smaller businesses around.
Speaker 2 (03:25):
Hershey and you can help but see when you drive
around as far as the artistic side of Hershe's because
there's beautiful murals all over the place.
Speaker 1 (03:34):
Anything you want to share with.
Speaker 4 (03:35):
This about that Hershey in general, you know something that
there's a there's a beauty and a nostalgia when you
walk down Chocolate Avenue and you have the street lights
that are shaped like the Hershey kisses. Something that we
run across when you talk about living in a place
and not really sometimes taking for granted what's in your
backyard when I work with journalists or even when we
talk to people who call on the phone. So there
(03:57):
are people who don't know that Hershey has a destination.
They know it's a company, but there are people who
don't know that it's a place that you can come
and a place that you can visit and a place
that you can experience, let alone experience for days or
a week. Again, we're enticing people to come here for meetings,
we're enticing people to come here for sports and events,
and we're enticing people to come here for long weekends
with the spa and for the getaways of all kinds.
(04:21):
So Hershey is a place that is a destination and
that's part of our job to tell that story and
let people know it's happy.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
You won't find a place cleaner than you're constantly. In fact,
my grandson got a job there the last couple of summers,
and when he does, and he could have been out,
you know, selling soda or whatever, he picked up trash
and clean bathrooms. I said, how come you don't do that?
Speaker 1 (04:46):
Right?
Speaker 2 (04:47):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (04:47):
I mean her, she did a study years ago where
they I mean, they have trash cans placed every so
many feet and that number is because they know people
will only hang onto their trash for a limited time
before they'll drop it. So yeah, it's beautiful. It's one
of the goodness things we have to sell here as well.
Speaker 2 (05:01):
One of the things I want Sharon had mentioned is
the Auto Museum. That is beautiful. There's been a lot
of really cool things in there. Talking that was, how
old is that now? The Auto Museum I remember when
I first opened.
Speaker 3 (05:12):
I want to say, is at least ten maybe fifteen,
I think fifteen what we're pushing. But they actually change
out their exhibits every six months. And it's run with
some fabulous staff, with the majority of them being volunteers,
people that just absolutely love antique autos.
Speaker 2 (05:28):
Oh, when we do in this area, there's a lot
of antique auto shows, yeah, and volunteers.
Speaker 1 (05:33):
That really surprises me.
Speaker 2 (05:35):
Everybody from out of the area that I talked to
asked me about, do you know where there's an escape room?
Speaker 1 (05:40):
And I didn't even know what the heckround was, but
I looked at there's one in Hershing, No, kidd, what
is it?
Speaker 4 (05:47):
So escape rooms are they're puzzles. They're indoor puzzles, right,
So in one place you might have four different rooms
that are set up with clues and you can go
in with a set of people and you're given one
that unlocks the next clue that unlocks the next next clue,
and eventually if you get that final clue, then you're
allowed out.
Speaker 1 (06:07):
Oh my gosh.
Speaker 4 (06:08):
I believe there are many escape rooms also out at
adventure sports. So in adventure of sports might be better
known for it's go karts, and it's bumper boats, and
it's arcade and things of that nature, but they've got
a lot of different opportunities out there for different kinds
of adventure, and I believe that they've got some as well.
Speaker 2 (06:26):
One of the most beautiful places I've been to in
Hershey has been the Hershey Theater, and now they're doing
that all over again. Right I remember, Oh my goodness,
it was years and years ago. My then husband, who's
not my excess and of course took me. He knew
I loved tamil lot. I got the chance to see
(06:47):
and the best seats in the house. I saw Richard
Harris at the Hershey Theater. Ain't tamilot Oh my god.
I still think about that all the time.
Speaker 1 (06:57):
But what are they doing? You know, it's beautiful to
begin with.
Speaker 4 (07:02):
Well, it's not a full blown renovation, so when you
walk in, you're still going to see all of those
historic you know, looking up into the ceiling and all
of those you know, the architecture, it all the project
a little bit is is behind the scenes things that
the visitor might not see but will be impacted. They
are changing out the seats they have been. You know,
you could kind of buy a piece of Hershey Theater
(07:25):
things of that nature. But it's still going to be
an absolute beautiful, stunning place. So from the visitor experience side,
you'll still see all that gorgeous architecture. It'll just be
a little bit of an updated experience for things that
need to be done as time goes on and buildings
need some need some work in that regard.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
Well, it's not just the musicals or the you know,
the place that are there. It's a lot of other
kind of entertainment. But I'm sure you guys have been there.
What have you enjoyed going to see at the hersheyt Theater.
Speaker 1 (07:53):
All of it.
Speaker 4 (07:55):
I have a favorite Hamilton I saw last year which
was phenomenal. Everything that comes through is a touring group
and you know, it's all it's all Broadway level, right,
just beautiful things that come through, and it is you
have an intimate kind of experience there. You're never really
far away from the stage with how the seating is
(08:17):
set up and how you can experience things. And again,
you know that theater space goes back to the story
of Milton Hershey. He wanted it's it's you know, the
theater and the community center, all of those things that
he built as part of the community. So, you know,
I get that sense of nostalgia walking in knowing that
that was a vision that he had as well.
Speaker 2 (08:36):
Well, all you have to do is is take a
spin down town and all you smell is Hershey Chocolate.
Speaker 1 (08:41):
It's wonderful. I love I tell people that stuff.
Speaker 2 (08:45):
The Giant Center, Hockey, Hershey Bears hockey, the Champions, the Champions.
Speaker 1 (08:52):
Art knows all about that, don't you Art? But he
is over there.
Speaker 2 (08:57):
They have an all a lot of awesome concerts going.
Do you have any idea what's coming up the next
couple months or who's coming next couple months?
Speaker 4 (09:05):
Well, giants for Giant Center specifically, sometimes in the summer
they take a more over at the stadium. Brian is
here on the I'm not sure when this airs. I apologize, Luke.
Brian will be here on the twelfth, and then there are,
you know, a summer series full of other concerts coming
up as well.
Speaker 1 (09:23):
What's been the best concert you've been.
Speaker 4 (09:24):
To at Hershey part Stadium. So this is nostalgic too.
This was years ago. My one of my best friends
in the world is a Justin Timberlake fan. So we
went to Justin Timberlake and jay Z years ago and
kind of relived our youth that way. It was a
phenomenal show. My daughter is going to Hosier coming up
(09:47):
this fall. She's got tickets to that, so she's very
excited to go into the Hosier concert.
Speaker 1 (09:52):
How about you sharing.
Speaker 3 (09:53):
Well, I'm trying to remember. I took my daughters and
it's a boy band, and I can't remember the name
you're making.
Speaker 1 (09:59):
I know, I'm so old.
Speaker 4 (10:00):
Jonas Brothers.
Speaker 3 (10:01):
It was Jonah's Brothers to the Jonahs Brothers, and they
absolutely loved it. It was they had a really good time.
In fact, my youngest fell asleep, you know. And now
my youngest is married, so it's been a while.
Speaker 1 (10:12):
But yeah, that's funny.
Speaker 3 (10:14):
But you know, I've been at the farm Shore for
the last ten years, so i haven't been out about
quite as much as I'd like to be. But that's
all going to change now.
Speaker 2 (10:20):
So you know, I mentioned a little bit earlier, a
lot of people are big time into antiquing. There's a
lot of antiquing antique shops around there. And as I said,
Opie or this, well the last couple of generations would
know him is kind of yeah, Ron Howard, he's been there.
Speaker 1 (10:38):
You know what, It's surprising who you see.
Speaker 2 (10:41):
You never know who you're going to see at Hershey Park.
I mean I heard that Taylor Swift was there recently.
Speaker 1 (10:48):
You never know.
Speaker 2 (10:48):
That's really cool too. But some of the things that
I wanted to talk about are even in the Hemrisburg area.
All the really cool places there are to find, like
the little shops, the quaint chops, and the places where
you can pick up things that have to do with
chocolate or Milton Hershey or the farmer's market and the
wonderful restaurants Jump on girls.
Speaker 3 (11:12):
I think farmers markets are one of the amazing little
tourism assets that people never really think about as a
tourism asset. You know, there's and there's farmers markets spread
all across Duffin County as well as up into Perry County.
I was up there a couple of weeks ago for
an opening of one, and you can always find great
little unique whether it be gifts or you know, a
(11:35):
fresh loaf of bread or you know, a special dip
that somebody's making, jams and jellies and what a You know,
there's no better place to buy your produce. So it's
definitely one of the things that we're really proud of
because you know, there's one that's in the parking lot
at the farm show complex, and there's you know, there
is one right over it Hershey, right out in front
of the cocoa beanery. It's you know, they're great and
(11:57):
you can always find you know, those little gifts or
you know, dinner.
Speaker 2 (12:01):
You know what else is funny. And I couldn't believe this.
My son's girlfriend, she's some part and they were here
not too long ago.
Speaker 1 (12:07):
What it was the dog's.
Speaker 2 (12:09):
I think six or seventh birthday? And she said, where
can I get Henry's birthday cake? I said, and she goes, Oh,
my gosh, I remember I was saw this place in
Hershey where that's all they do is they make treats
and birthday cakes and thinks for your dog. Who would
have thought that?
Speaker 1 (12:23):
Who? Yeah, I mean, it's amazing.
Speaker 4 (12:24):
There are a lot of specialty places within a fresh
market at Hershey, and that is one of them. I
forget the exact name of the vendor who's there, but
certainly Dodd treats and things of that nature, also flowers
and fresh produce and treats and all sorts of food
and kind of piggybacking on the farmer's market idea. When
people travel, they really love to relax and get to
(12:46):
know a place. And when you stop at a farmer's
market and you talk to that person who is growing
and who is baking and who is making. It's a
wonderful way to connect to someone who's here. And then
that's how you learn a little bit more about a
place as well. And those are front face impacts that
you make and make you want to come back and
learn more.
Speaker 2 (13:02):
Sharon, this fifth anniversary and beer, talk to me about that.
I mean, that is so awesome. I mean it's like
you took a picture of the people in central Pennsylvania.
Speaker 1 (13:13):
What are they gonna win? They're gonna win this.
Speaker 2 (13:16):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (13:16):
So this is the fifth anniversary for our brew Barren's
Beer Trail. So we've been out and about this year.
The team prior to me getting there, they did all
the work and you know, put together. First of all,
there's about twenty five twenty anywhere from twenty to twenty
five breweries on our beer trail. It does extend outside
(13:37):
of Dauphin County. We do have some in the surrounding counties.
But breweries are big business now. It's far from what
it used to be. You know, it's not just you
go and get a beer. There's family activities, there's cornhole
and there's good food and again, and they're all they
all speak to the region in which they exist. You know,
(13:57):
they're really unique and and you know, invite everyone. So yeah,
so it's five years since visit Hershey Harrisburg started the
Beer Trail, and I'll let Alison talk a little bit
more about that, but I do want to mention that
they did this year put together some collaboration among the
breweries to brew some special beers for the fifth anniversary.
(14:19):
Cool and they've all been very good. So a, do
you want to talk a little bit about how it
started and what the vision was?
Speaker 1 (14:25):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (14:26):
Sure, you know, with craft brewing, we did research and
we knew from things bursting across the country. Again, like
Sharon mentioned, craft beer is big business and people love
to put together tours. They love when they're in a spot.
They want to see and taste those things that are
available because it's unique. It's something they can't get where
(14:46):
they live. That that idea of a craft beer is
truly you neique to a region, which is wonderful. So
with the Beer Trail, you put all of these things
in one spot, in a free mobile app that you
can download at brew barons dot com. And again you
can see where those breweries are and make a plan
for how you want to visit, and then check in
along the way. So as you check in, you accumulate
check ins, and then that gets you to a point
(15:07):
where we're sending you prizes every time you accumulate eight
or fifteen or twenty, depending on the year and how
things are set up. So it's a great way for
people to engage with it. And with this fifth year anniversary,
all new prizes this year, you know, different than we've
had in the past.
Speaker 1 (15:24):
What are these prizes like?
Speaker 4 (15:25):
So the first set is a set of coasters, and
then the second set is it's a really durable plastic cup,
all logoed with the fifth anniversary logos and things like that.
And then when you reach Brubern status, it's a cooler
so a cooler bag. Yeah, and everything gets shipped straight
to you don't have to stop in and pick it
(15:47):
up anywhere, which is fantastic.
Speaker 2 (15:48):
You know, tell us how successful this has been and
what does it say. Did it say we're all a
bunch of boozers?
Speaker 1 (15:55):
No, not at all.
Speaker 4 (15:56):
It's something you know, and breweries too are all non
alcoholic beverages are starting to take off. As well, because
people go to breweries not just to drink. They go
to breweries to connect. They go to breweries to support
special events. Breweries are fantastic supporters of a lot of local,
really good causes, whether it's an event or something that
they want to raise money for because they are rooted
(16:17):
in the community. They're small business owners. A lot of
times their husband and wife brothers in the event of tropes,
So all of these stories come out through these beers
and collaborations that breweries have and food. They are wonderful
kitchens in breweries, so they're a spot to take the
family at Trogues. They love to welcome families that are
(16:40):
coming in for sports events or other special entertainment that's
going on in the region, and they see families grow
up there.
Speaker 1 (16:46):
I think that's terrific.
Speaker 2 (16:47):
I want to switch gears to something that it's another
addiction we have, and it's sports. Talk to us about
what's going on in sports in central Pennsylvania, especially in
our area, Hapercrshey.
Speaker 3 (17:00):
So we have a division within Visit Hershey Harsburg called
Krushey Harrisburg Sports and Events, and they are our primary
sales team for sporting events. Across the county. We knew
really early on, and this this goes back, you know,
fifteen plus years that sports was going to help us
(17:20):
create even greater success than what we were already seeing.
Parents spend money on their kids and kids love sports, so,
you know, establishing this group, which which came to be
just about I think nine years ago when we actually
created this division, but we knew earlier on that you know, again,
getting those sporting events to come, whether it be you know,
(17:41):
Keystone Regional Volleyball, whether it be State Games of America,
which is when we you know, first got Allison to
come on board, whether it be you know, the US
Junior Nationals basketball tournaments, the basketball like the youth sporting
events drive economic impact. They come, they bring their grandparents,
their parents, They stay in the hotels, they eat in
the restaurants. You know, grandparents are buying. They're going to
(18:03):
go to a little bit nicer places. So it's a
division that really focuses on sporting events. But they don't
just focus on youth sporting as well. They do collegiate.
They're looking for professional and so they're working with a
number of rights holders and sporting events planners across you know,
across the US and outside of the US. Actually, we're
(18:23):
really excited this August we have coming special Olympics softball
which we're hosting over at in the Net just outside
of Hershey. Really something that we're real proud of. We
also do have Big twenty six coming up the end
of this month, and Allison's very heavily involved in the
Buddy Game. She can tell you a little bit about that.
Speaker 1 (18:43):
Oh that's part of Big thirty three, isn't it? Or
Big twenty Big twenty six cord is that?
Speaker 4 (18:47):
So Big thirty three is the football side, and several
years ago, when the gentleman who ran Big thirty three
unexpectedly and tragically passed away, there was an our organize
started to do the baseball side of things. So Big
twenty six baseball is something that Hershey Harrisburg Sports and
Events Authority does. And with that there is also a
(19:08):
Buddy game and it's fantastic. We invite them to play
with the players at FNB Field as an introduction and
a picnic to the whole event. So the buddies are
individuals with special needs. So there's a wide range generally
ages about fifteen to twenty one because the Big twenty
six athletes are high school athletes, so we try and
(19:29):
make sure that there's an appropriate match to size and
to age and things of that nature, which is fantastic
and it's beautiful because they make connections. We have stories
where they stay in touch throughout the year, and they're
also there, they're introduced during pregame introductions with their buddies,
and they make lifelong friendships. So it's not just about
(19:51):
the sport. It's about that connection, and it's about really
understanding when you're an athlete who has all of the
physical talents in the world and when you are matched
with someone who does struggle in some way, to see
how special that is. That everybody can be an athlete,
and that everybody can and should be able to have
(20:11):
access to sports and athletics, and that those relationships that
are made on a field are wonderful.
Speaker 1 (20:17):
And will continue out of the ability about it. Yeah,
I love that.
Speaker 2 (20:21):
I want to talk about in general, Sharon, what, and
of course Allison, what in general are the challenges that
visitors or that these bureaus are facing nowadays.
Speaker 3 (20:35):
Yeah, our greatest, our greatest challenge is funding. We are
a little unique here in Dauphin County. First of all,
there's a five percent hotel tax that is collected across
the commonwealth in most counties. Not every county has a
hotel tax, but it's those counties that don't necessarily have hotels.
But we here in Doulphin County have a five percent
(20:55):
hotel tax. That hotel tax was created to support the
Destination Marketing Organization a d m O or a tourism
bureau as we are known, and it gives us the
tools to market, to promote, to create the sales teams,
to get out there and meet people. And you know,
unfortunately a lot of people don't understand that. First of all,
(21:16):
they hear the word tax and so they think that,
you know, oh, it's a tax, and so we're taxing residents.
We're not. We only tax visitors. Visitors that come and
stay in a hotel pay the five percent. That's how
we're funded. And a lot of counties across the state
people don't realize that and they are trying to take
(21:37):
some of that funding and do other things with it,
use it for budget gaps. We here in Dauphin County,
we do have a good relationship with our County commissioners.
Speaker 1 (21:49):
The county.
Speaker 3 (21:50):
The county is divided, so the five percent doesn't solely
come to us, it is, it goes to the County Commissioners,
It goes to the City of Harrisburg. Some of it
goes to fund Giant Center when that was first created,
the Dairy Township Municipal Authority and so and hershey does
a great job. So, you know, so our funds then
are a little less than what they could be if
(22:12):
we were if you use Pocono's for example, Pocono the
Pocono Destination Marketing Organization gets ninety six percent of the
hotel tax. So they're budget's about fifteen million. Ours is
about four So and we have this, you know, same
number of hotels, similar to Valley Fords, Valley Forge, you know.
But again we're we're working on that. We again have
(22:33):
a good relationship. We have a marketing arrangement with the
City of Harrisburg, so we work with them on some
of the dollars that they receive. Again working with the
County commissioners. The County commissioners did just give us a
million dollars of what they receive for us to use
for marketing and We have a good relationship with Hershey
Entertainment Resorts, So we're real happy again. Partnerships. That's what
you started the conversation out with, right. If you don't
(22:55):
have partnerships, if you can't work collaboratively with the stakeholders
in your region, you're really going to struggle. And so
I'm really proud of the team because we do work
really well with our partners.
Speaker 2 (23:05):
Do have memberships for people like say, I own a
restaurant there, I don't see why anybody want to be
a part of that. It's a lot pretty much, I
would imagine a lot of free advertising.
Speaker 1 (23:15):
You guys take care of right I.
Speaker 3 (23:17):
Do we do? You know, we do social media, We
have a website. We do a visitor guide that we
put out every year, and if you're a member, you
know there's you have access to that and it's any
We went anything from restaurants to hotels again, to the
tourist entities, to the antique shops to you know, the
pet friendly establishments. Because you know, anyone can really be
a member because when people come here to visit, you know,
(23:40):
they they aren't just looking for vacation type items. You know,
sometimes you know things happen when you're on vacation. You know,
you run out of dog food or whatever. So you know,
knowing what we have here and is it, you know
in its entirety, you know, we'll just you know, allow
you to have a little bit better vacation.
Speaker 2 (23:58):
So all partners are welcome, Are people in general like
maybe because I'm in this business, I don't know, But
do people get the word out people who live here?
Do you think they spread the word about, Oh my god,
you won't believe what we have here.
Speaker 4 (24:13):
I do think we have wonderful partners when we have
partner events all the time.
Speaker 1 (24:18):
Or not just your partners.
Speaker 2 (24:19):
I'm talking about the lady lives next door to me
who's got two kids that are even fourteen.
Speaker 4 (24:25):
I think when they're hosting their family and when they're
hosting their friends, no question, they are utilizing those assets
that we have in our backyard. And that's the way
things spread and people talk about everything that they that
they had here.
Speaker 2 (24:39):
So, girls, I'm gonna ask individual, what's the best part
about what you do and the toughest part about what
you do.
Speaker 4 (24:47):
I'll start with the best part that the best part
of what I do. I love finding stories that I
didn't know right when we go and we talk to
small business owners and we hear where they came from.
One ca point is Gino who works over at Sweet
Tea and Greens in Hershey. He's got to stand at
Hershey fresh Market, and we went and we talked to him,
(25:08):
and he's a person who grew up in Virginia and
his family always vacationed here. So he saw the street
lights and he said, one day I'm going to own
a business there, and he did. That was part of
his life's plan and life's goal to come here, and
now he does have it. So his roots were growing
up wanting to be part of this and experience it
as a visitor and then understanding that this is a
(25:29):
place that offered things to live and work, and now
he's here.
Speaker 2 (25:32):
Okay, I'm going to have to cut that question because
there's a couple of things I want to get to
as far as you share him. But Gavin County's going
to be two hundred fifty years old next year.
Speaker 1 (25:41):
What's going on?
Speaker 3 (25:43):
So you know, the nation's going to be two hundred
and fifty years all next year, So we're going to
celebrate America's too.
Speaker 1 (25:48):
Fifty.
Speaker 3 (25:49):
Lots of things happening. We do have We're hosting the
county list of events on our website. We do have
a special website set up just for all the America's
two fifty events because it's going to be big business.
You know, anything from special parades to you know, new
ice creams coming out with old historical recipes, beer recipes
(26:10):
coming out, and you know, festivals. There's a number of
things that are coming out just specifically for the two fifties.
We do expect at farm Show again, they are going
to have some competitive events specific to the two fifty celebrations.
So it's going to be a you know, it's going
to start the year's going to start out right in January.
Speaker 2 (26:29):
Okay, I got to ask you, you alone, why did
you ever get in this business? Because I mean, you're
known for I say that you know you're the biggest cheerer.
Speaker 1 (26:38):
You absolutely are.
Speaker 3 (26:40):
You know, I've got into it by accident. I had,
I did. I had long a lifetime ago. I was
taking care of special needs kids and I realized I
couldn't do it emotionally for my entire life.
Speaker 1 (26:52):
It's going to kill me.
Speaker 3 (26:54):
And I love to travel and so I started as
a travel agent, got into it, and my career just evolved,
and now I do it because I love it. I
love what it does. Tourism matters. We generate jobs, we
generate money, we generate we help cities become livable, and
what we do matters. And so it's not you know,
people say, oh, you're not doing it's not a big deal.
(27:16):
It's tourism.
Speaker 1 (27:17):
I'm like, it is a big deal.
Speaker 3 (27:18):
Oh what we do matters, and it's very important to
get that message out there. So every time I've had
the opportunity to grow and tell my message to someone
new or a little bit louder, I've been able to
take that opportunity.
Speaker 2 (27:30):
Well, anybody out there who's in Harrisburg, Kershey, anywhere around
this area, who wants to be a partner, get a
hold of sharing. It's real easy if you have any
ideas that you want to partner with her about, or
if you're from out of the area.
Speaker 1 (27:44):
Or from here in central Pennsylvania. You're saying with the
kids Sunday.
Speaker 2 (27:47):
Afternoon, the United kids are there's nothing to do alone.
Get on that website and what is it Dallas in
your website? Find out what's going on.
Speaker 4 (27:56):
It's awesome visit Hershey Harrisburg dot org.
Speaker 2 (27:59):
Oh another thing you also, I forgot to say, you
also put out a newsletter where you have people are
looking for jobs. I mean, it's yourself contained.
Speaker 1 (28:08):
I love it, love it, love it.
Speaker 2 (28:10):
I would like to thank you again for coming in.
And you don't have any surprises you want to share?
Speaker 3 (28:15):
Do you no real surprises? I don't think so, but
always something new. So definitely check out our website because
we do keep it fresh. Okay, subscribe to the newsletters
because you'll learn there as well.
Speaker 2 (28:25):
There is no better place to visit or to live
in Central Pennsylvania if you're a person who's considering living here.
We've got great schools, we've got great colleges. We're a
hub a couple hours from New York, Maryland DC. Lots
of incredible things growing in this area as far as businesses,
and to wrap it all up and keep it going,
we have, of course, as Sharon knows all about this,
(28:48):
the agriculture and the tourism industries, and as I said,
we have everything when it comes to tourism. So don't
go out run around looking spending all your money sitting
in the car, I almost said a word I shouldn't say,
but whinding about the traffic, turn around and look out
the window and get on that website for Hershey Harrisburg.
(29:10):
Is it visit Hersheyharrisburg dot org. Thank you again to
Sharon Sitesmeyer, the president CEO visit Hershey Harrisburg dot org.
You guys rock, and also Alison Roorba, Director of Communication,
and a reminder catch insight every weekend on one of
our iHeart stages or anytime on your favorite podcast s app.
Speaker 1 (29:29):
I'm Sylvia Moss.
Speaker 2 (29:30):
This has been insight. Thanks so much for listening. See
you next week.
Hi, I'm Sylvia Moss.
Speaker 2 (00:01):
This is Insight where we are talking to sharing from
Sharon sites Myers. She is the new president and CEO
visit Hershey Harrisburg dot org. And with her with Sharon
is Alison Roarbrok. She's the voice. She's the director of
communications for this organization. And we were just talking earlier
(00:22):
about why this area is perfect for anybody. We've got
it coming and going all kinds of activities for individuals
or especially for the whole family, and also that this
is not something that goes on once a year.
Speaker 1 (00:37):
We got it going on all year round.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
And one of the best parts that comes out of
that is the fact that it's brought so much to
the economy. We're talking megabucks to the economy. Also talked
about why agriculture and tourism are so big, but caught
us right in the middle of talking about some of
the things going on in Hershey. Listen to one if
(01:00):
you want to hear what's going on in Harrisburg area
at this time. But in Hershey we have the wonderful
Harrisburg or Hershey Park. And learned a little bit from
Sharon about the impact that Milton Hershey had on this area.
Sharon tell us about the historical society. Is that all
about Milton Hershey or what is that all about?
Speaker 3 (01:21):
Yeah, so there is the first of all, there's Founder's
Hall in Hershey. Hershey has so many different Yeah, Hershey
has so many different historical assets. And you know, they
love to tell the story. There's actually a movie coming
out very shortly, so we're really excited about that. It's
going to tell the whole story. Yeah, and so yeah,
(01:42):
they do a really good job of telling the story
in Hershey and making sure that it's correct and that everyone,
you know, everyone gets to know the real hymn, why
it started, where it's gone, and the and the you know,
the way he set it up so that it could
go long after he was gone as well.
Speaker 1 (01:58):
Else.
Speaker 3 (01:59):
I don't know if you have anything to add on
the history of Hershey itself, but it's definitely they do
a great job there.
Speaker 1 (02:06):
Tell me about the shatles, the shuttles, the trolley's.
Speaker 4 (02:12):
Yes, so there are there are two different entities that
have trolley services. There's Trolley Works, which is staged right
outside of Chocolate World, and that is something where you
can go and have these historical tours, so they'll take
you around Hershey. They'll stop at all of the spots
like Sharon mentioned up at Milton Hershey School and all
of the important areas around Hershey to really tell that
(02:35):
story so you can see where some of these things started.
And hear that they do some themed things around the
holidays as well. So that's when people say, what should
I do? I only have, you know, a limited time.
We tell them that that that trolley tour is something
that they should really try to do because it really
gives you a sense of the space. It gives you
a sense of the destination along with the museum that
(02:57):
Sharon mentioned earlier as well. And then there's a new
organization Yokel Yokal trolley Service, and they're doing things really
to highlight small businesses and tours and foods and things
of that nature. So that's separate from Hershey Company, but
it's it's something that has taken off really in the
last couple of months. As a as a business, you know,
(03:18):
we're certainly partnered with them, so really need to look
into and something that's a great way to support a
lot of the smaller businesses around.
Speaker 2 (03:25):
Hershey and you can help but see when you drive
around as far as the artistic side of Hershe's because
there's beautiful murals all over the place.
Speaker 1 (03:34):
Anything you want to share with.
Speaker 4 (03:35):
This about that Hershey in general, you know something that
there's a there's a beauty and a nostalgia when you
walk down Chocolate Avenue and you have the street lights
that are shaped like the Hershey kisses. Something that we
run across when you talk about living in a place
and not really sometimes taking for granted what's in your
backyard when I work with journalists or even when we
talk to people who call on the phone. So there
(03:57):
are people who don't know that Hershey has a destination.
They know it's a company, but there are people who
don't know that it's a place that you can come
and a place that you can visit and a place
that you can experience, let alone experience for days or
a week. Again, we're enticing people to come here for meetings,
we're enticing people to come here for sports and events,
and we're enticing people to come here for long weekends
with the spa and for the getaways of all kinds.
(04:21):
So Hershey is a place that is a destination and
that's part of our job to tell that story and
let people know it's happy.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
You won't find a place cleaner than you're constantly. In fact,
my grandson got a job there the last couple of summers,
and when he does, and he could have been out,
you know, selling soda or whatever, he picked up trash
and clean bathrooms. I said, how come you don't do that?
Speaker 1 (04:46):
Right?
Speaker 2 (04:47):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (04:47):
I mean her, she did a study years ago where
they I mean, they have trash cans placed every so
many feet and that number is because they know people
will only hang onto their trash for a limited time
before they'll drop it. So yeah, it's beautiful. It's one
of the goodness things we have to sell here as well.
Speaker 2 (05:01):
One of the things I want Sharon had mentioned is
the Auto Museum. That is beautiful. There's been a lot
of really cool things in there. Talking that was, how
old is that now? The Auto Museum I remember when
I first opened.
Speaker 3 (05:12):
I want to say, is at least ten maybe fifteen,
I think fifteen what we're pushing. But they actually change
out their exhibits every six months. And it's run with
some fabulous staff, with the majority of them being volunteers,
people that just absolutely love antique autos.
Speaker 2 (05:28):
Oh, when we do in this area, there's a lot
of antique auto shows, yeah, and volunteers.
Speaker 1 (05:33):
That really surprises me.
Speaker 2 (05:35):
Everybody from out of the area that I talked to
asked me about, do you know where there's an escape room?
Speaker 1 (05:40):
And I didn't even know what the heckround was, but
I looked at there's one in Hershing, No, kidd, what
is it?
Speaker 4 (05:47):
So escape rooms are they're puzzles. They're indoor puzzles, right,
So in one place you might have four different rooms
that are set up with clues and you can go
in with a set of people and you're given one
that unlocks the next clue that unlocks the next next clue,
and eventually if you get that final clue, then you're
allowed out.
Speaker 1 (06:07):
Oh my gosh.
Speaker 4 (06:08):
I believe there are many escape rooms also out at
adventure sports. So in adventure of sports might be better
known for it's go karts, and it's bumper boats, and
it's arcade and things of that nature, but they've got
a lot of different opportunities out there for different kinds
of adventure, and I believe that they've got some as well.
Speaker 2 (06:26):
One of the most beautiful places I've been to in
Hershey has been the Hershey Theater, and now they're doing
that all over again. Right I remember, Oh my goodness,
it was years and years ago. My then husband, who's
not my excess and of course took me. He knew
I loved tamil lot. I got the chance to see
(06:47):
and the best seats in the house. I saw Richard
Harris at the Hershey Theater. Ain't tamilot Oh my god.
I still think about that all the time.
Speaker 1 (06:57):
But what are they doing? You know, it's beautiful to
begin with.
Speaker 4 (07:02):
Well, it's not a full blown renovation, so when you
walk in, you're still going to see all of those
historic you know, looking up into the ceiling and all
of those you know, the architecture, it all the project
a little bit is is behind the scenes things that
the visitor might not see but will be impacted. They
are changing out the seats they have been. You know,
you could kind of buy a piece of Hershey Theater
(07:25):
things of that nature. But it's still going to be
an absolute beautiful, stunning place. So from the visitor experience side,
you'll still see all that gorgeous architecture. It'll just be
a little bit of an updated experience for things that
need to be done as time goes on and buildings
need some need some work in that regard.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
Well, it's not just the musicals or the you know,
the place that are there. It's a lot of other
kind of entertainment. But I'm sure you guys have been there.
What have you enjoyed going to see at the hersheyt Theater.
Speaker 1 (07:53):
All of it.
Speaker 4 (07:55):
I have a favorite Hamilton I saw last year which
was phenomenal. Everything that comes through is a touring group
and you know, it's all it's all Broadway level, right,
just beautiful things that come through, and it is you
have an intimate kind of experience there. You're never really
far away from the stage with how the seating is
(08:17):
set up and how you can experience things. And again,
you know that theater space goes back to the story
of Milton Hershey. He wanted it's it's you know, the
theater and the community center, all of those things that
he built as part of the community. So, you know,
I get that sense of nostalgia walking in knowing that
that was a vision that he had as well.
Speaker 2 (08:36):
Well, all you have to do is is take a
spin down town and all you smell is Hershey Chocolate.
Speaker 1 (08:41):
It's wonderful. I love I tell people that stuff.
Speaker 2 (08:45):
The Giant Center, Hockey, Hershey Bears hockey, the Champions, the Champions.
Speaker 1 (08:52):
Art knows all about that, don't you Art? But he
is over there.
Speaker 2 (08:57):
They have an all a lot of awesome concerts going.
Do you have any idea what's coming up the next
couple months or who's coming next couple months?
Speaker 4 (09:05):
Well, giants for Giant Center specifically, sometimes in the summer
they take a more over at the stadium. Brian is
here on the I'm not sure when this airs. I apologize, Luke.
Brian will be here on the twelfth, and then there are,
you know, a summer series full of other concerts coming
up as well.
Speaker 1 (09:23):
What's been the best concert you've been.
Speaker 4 (09:24):
To at Hershey part Stadium. So this is nostalgic too.
This was years ago. My one of my best friends
in the world is a Justin Timberlake fan. So we
went to Justin Timberlake and jay Z years ago and
kind of relived our youth that way. It was a
phenomenal show. My daughter is going to Hosier coming up
(09:47):
this fall. She's got tickets to that, so she's very
excited to go into the Hosier concert.
Speaker 1 (09:52):
How about you sharing.
Speaker 3 (09:53):
Well, I'm trying to remember. I took my daughters and
it's a boy band, and I can't remember the name
you're making.
Speaker 1 (09:59):
I know, I'm so old.
Speaker 4 (10:00):
Jonas Brothers.
Speaker 3 (10:01):
It was Jonah's Brothers to the Jonahs Brothers, and they
absolutely loved it. It was they had a really good time.
In fact, my youngest fell asleep, you know. And now
my youngest is married, so it's been a while.
Speaker 1 (10:12):
But yeah, that's funny.
Speaker 3 (10:14):
But you know, I've been at the farm Shore for
the last ten years, so i haven't been out about
quite as much as I'd like to be. But that's
all going to change now.
Speaker 2 (10:20):
So you know, I mentioned a little bit earlier, a
lot of people are big time into antiquing. There's a
lot of antiquing antique shops around there. And as I said,
Opie or this, well the last couple of generations would
know him is kind of yeah, Ron Howard, he's been there.
Speaker 1 (10:38):
You know what, It's surprising who you see.
Speaker 2 (10:41):
You never know who you're going to see at Hershey Park.
I mean I heard that Taylor Swift was there recently.
Speaker 1 (10:48):
You never know.
Speaker 2 (10:48):
That's really cool too. But some of the things that
I wanted to talk about are even in the Hemrisburg area.
All the really cool places there are to find, like
the little shops, the quaint chops, and the places where
you can pick up things that have to do with
chocolate or Milton Hershey or the farmer's market and the
wonderful restaurants Jump on girls.
Speaker 3 (11:12):
I think farmers markets are one of the amazing little
tourism assets that people never really think about as a
tourism asset. You know, there's and there's farmers markets spread
all across Duffin County as well as up into Perry County.
I was up there a couple of weeks ago for
an opening of one, and you can always find great
little unique whether it be gifts or you know, a
(11:35):
fresh loaf of bread or you know, a special dip
that somebody's making, jams and jellies and what a You know,
there's no better place to buy your produce. So it's
definitely one of the things that we're really proud of
because you know, there's one that's in the parking lot
at the farm show complex, and there's you know, there
is one right over it Hershey, right out in front
of the cocoa beanery. It's you know, they're great and
(11:57):
you can always find you know, those little gifts or
you know, dinner.
Speaker 2 (12:01):
You know what else is funny. And I couldn't believe this.
My son's girlfriend, she's some part and they were here
not too long ago.
Speaker 1 (12:07):
What it was the dog's.
Speaker 2 (12:09):
I think six or seventh birthday? And she said, where
can I get Henry's birthday cake? I said, and she goes, Oh,
my gosh, I remember I was saw this place in
Hershey where that's all they do is they make treats
and birthday cakes and thinks for your dog. Who would
have thought that?
Speaker 1 (12:23):
Who? Yeah, I mean, it's amazing.
Speaker 4 (12:24):
There are a lot of specialty places within a fresh
market at Hershey, and that is one of them. I
forget the exact name of the vendor who's there, but
certainly Dodd treats and things of that nature, also flowers
and fresh produce and treats and all sorts of food
and kind of piggybacking on the farmer's market idea. When
people travel, they really love to relax and get to
(12:46):
know a place. And when you stop at a farmer's
market and you talk to that person who is growing
and who is baking and who is making. It's a
wonderful way to connect to someone who's here. And then
that's how you learn a little bit more about a
place as well. And those are front face impacts that
you make and make you want to come back and
learn more.
Speaker 2 (13:02):
Sharon, this fifth anniversary and beer, talk to me about that.
I mean, that is so awesome. I mean it's like
you took a picture of the people in central Pennsylvania.
Speaker 1 (13:13):
What are they gonna win? They're gonna win this.
Speaker 2 (13:16):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (13:16):
So this is the fifth anniversary for our brew Barren's
Beer Trail. So we've been out and about this year.
The team prior to me getting there, they did all
the work and you know, put together. First of all,
there's about twenty five twenty anywhere from twenty to twenty
five breweries on our beer trail. It does extend outside
(13:37):
of Dauphin County. We do have some in the surrounding counties.
But breweries are big business now. It's far from what
it used to be. You know, it's not just you
go and get a beer. There's family activities, there's cornhole
and there's good food and again, and they're all they
all speak to the region in which they exist. You know,
(13:57):
they're really unique and and you know, invite everyone. So yeah,
so it's five years since visit Hershey Harrisburg started the
Beer Trail, and I'll let Alison talk a little bit
more about that, but I do want to mention that
they did this year put together some collaboration among the
breweries to brew some special beers for the fifth anniversary.
(14:19):
Cool and they've all been very good. So a, do
you want to talk a little bit about how it
started and what the vision was?
Speaker 1 (14:25):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (14:26):
Sure, you know, with craft brewing, we did research and
we knew from things bursting across the country. Again, like
Sharon mentioned, craft beer is big business and people love
to put together tours. They love when they're in a spot.
They want to see and taste those things that are
available because it's unique. It's something they can't get where
(14:46):
they live. That that idea of a craft beer is
truly you neique to a region, which is wonderful. So
with the Beer Trail, you put all of these things
in one spot, in a free mobile app that you
can download at brew barons dot com. And again you
can see where those breweries are and make a plan
for how you want to visit, and then check in
along the way. So as you check in, you accumulate
check ins, and then that gets you to a point
(15:07):
where we're sending you prizes every time you accumulate eight
or fifteen or twenty, depending on the year and how
things are set up. So it's a great way for
people to engage with it. And with this fifth year anniversary,
all new prizes this year, you know, different than we've
had in the past.
Speaker 1 (15:24):
What are these prizes like?
Speaker 4 (15:25):
So the first set is a set of coasters, and
then the second set is it's a really durable plastic cup,
all logoed with the fifth anniversary logos and things like that.
And then when you reach Brubern status, it's a cooler
so a cooler bag. Yeah, and everything gets shipped straight
to you don't have to stop in and pick it
(15:47):
up anywhere, which is fantastic.
Speaker 2 (15:48):
You know, tell us how successful this has been and
what does it say. Did it say we're all a
bunch of boozers?
Speaker 1 (15:55):
No, not at all.
Speaker 4 (15:56):
It's something you know, and breweries too are all non
alcoholic beverages are starting to take off. As well, because
people go to breweries not just to drink. They go
to breweries to connect. They go to breweries to support
special events. Breweries are fantastic supporters of a lot of local,
really good causes, whether it's an event or something that
they want to raise money for because they are rooted
(16:17):
in the community. They're small business owners. A lot of
times their husband and wife brothers in the event of tropes,
So all of these stories come out through these beers
and collaborations that breweries have and food. They are wonderful
kitchens in breweries, so they're a spot to take the
family at Trogues. They love to welcome families that are
(16:40):
coming in for sports events or other special entertainment that's
going on in the region, and they see families grow
up there.
Speaker 1 (16:46):
I think that's terrific.
Speaker 2 (16:47):
I want to switch gears to something that it's another
addiction we have, and it's sports. Talk to us about
what's going on in sports in central Pennsylvania, especially in
our area, Hapercrshey.
Speaker 3 (17:00):
So we have a division within Visit Hershey Harsburg called
Krushey Harrisburg Sports and Events, and they are our primary
sales team for sporting events. Across the county. We knew
really early on, and this this goes back, you know,
fifteen plus years that sports was going to help us
(17:20):
create even greater success than what we were already seeing.
Parents spend money on their kids and kids love sports, so,
you know, establishing this group, which which came to be
just about I think nine years ago when we actually
created this division, but we knew earlier on that you know, again,
getting those sporting events to come, whether it be you know,
(17:41):
Keystone Regional Volleyball, whether it be State Games of America,
which is when we you know, first got Allison to
come on board, whether it be you know, the US
Junior Nationals basketball tournaments, the basketball like the youth sporting
events drive economic impact. They come, they bring their grandparents,
their parents, They stay in the hotels, they eat in
the restaurants. You know, grandparents are buying. They're going to
(18:03):
go to a little bit nicer places. So it's a
division that really focuses on sporting events. But they don't
just focus on youth sporting as well. They do collegiate.
They're looking for professional and so they're working with a
number of rights holders and sporting events planners across you know,
across the US and outside of the US. Actually, we're
(18:23):
really excited this August we have coming special Olympics softball
which we're hosting over at in the Net just outside
of Hershey. Really something that we're real proud of. We
also do have Big twenty six coming up the end
of this month, and Allison's very heavily involved in the
Buddy Game. She can tell you a little bit about that.
Speaker 1 (18:43):
Oh that's part of Big thirty three, isn't it? Or
Big twenty Big twenty six cord is that?
Speaker 4 (18:47):
So Big thirty three is the football side, and several
years ago, when the gentleman who ran Big thirty three
unexpectedly and tragically passed away, there was an our organize
started to do the baseball side of things. So Big
twenty six baseball is something that Hershey Harrisburg Sports and
Events Authority does. And with that there is also a
(19:08):
Buddy game and it's fantastic. We invite them to play
with the players at FNB Field as an introduction and
a picnic to the whole event. So the buddies are
individuals with special needs. So there's a wide range generally
ages about fifteen to twenty one because the Big twenty
six athletes are high school athletes, so we try and
(19:29):
make sure that there's an appropriate match to size and
to age and things of that nature, which is fantastic
and it's beautiful because they make connections. We have stories
where they stay in touch throughout the year, and they're
also there, they're introduced during pregame introductions with their buddies,
and they make lifelong friendships. So it's not just about
(19:51):
the sport. It's about that connection, and it's about really
understanding when you're an athlete who has all of the
physical talents in the world and when you are matched
with someone who does struggle in some way, to see
how special that is. That everybody can be an athlete,
and that everybody can and should be able to have
(20:11):
access to sports and athletics, and that those relationships that
are made on a field are wonderful.
Speaker 1 (20:17):
And will continue out of the ability about it. Yeah,
I love that.
Speaker 2 (20:21):
I want to talk about in general, Sharon, what, and
of course Allison, what in general are the challenges that
visitors or that these bureaus are facing nowadays.
Speaker 3 (20:35):
Yeah, our greatest, our greatest challenge is funding. We are
a little unique here in Dauphin County. First of all,
there's a five percent hotel tax that is collected across
the commonwealth in most counties. Not every county has a
hotel tax, but it's those counties that don't necessarily have hotels.
But we here in Doulphin County have a five percent
(20:55):
hotel tax. That hotel tax was created to support the
Destination Marketing Organization a d m O or a tourism
bureau as we are known, and it gives us the
tools to market, to promote, to create the sales teams,
to get out there and meet people. And you know,
unfortunately a lot of people don't understand that. First of all,
(21:16):
they hear the word tax and so they think that,
you know, oh, it's a tax, and so we're taxing residents.
We're not. We only tax visitors. Visitors that come and
stay in a hotel pay the five percent. That's how
we're funded. And a lot of counties across the state
people don't realize that and they are trying to take
(21:37):
some of that funding and do other things with it,
use it for budget gaps. We here in Dauphin County,
we do have a good relationship with our County commissioners.
Speaker 1 (21:49):
The county.
Speaker 3 (21:50):
The county is divided, so the five percent doesn't solely
come to us, it is, it goes to the County Commissioners,
It goes to the City of Harrisburg. Some of it
goes to fund Giant Center when that was first created,
the Dairy Township Municipal Authority and so and hershey does
a great job. So, you know, so our funds then
are a little less than what they could be if
(22:12):
we were if you use Pocono's for example, Pocono the
Pocono Destination Marketing Organization gets ninety six percent of the
hotel tax. So they're budget's about fifteen million. Ours is
about four So and we have this, you know, same
number of hotels, similar to Valley Fords, Valley Forge, you know.
But again we're we're working on that. We again have
(22:33):
a good relationship. We have a marketing arrangement with the
City of Harrisburg, so we work with them on some
of the dollars that they receive. Again working with the
County commissioners. The County commissioners did just give us a
million dollars of what they receive for us to use
for marketing and We have a good relationship with Hershey
Entertainment Resorts, So we're real happy again. Partnerships. That's what
you started the conversation out with, right. If you don't
(22:55):
have partnerships, if you can't work collaboratively with the stakeholders
in your region, you're really going to struggle. And so
I'm really proud of the team because we do work
really well with our partners.
Speaker 2 (23:05):
Do have memberships for people like say, I own a
restaurant there, I don't see why anybody want to be
a part of that. It's a lot pretty much, I
would imagine a lot of free advertising.
Speaker 1 (23:15):
You guys take care of right I.
Speaker 3 (23:17):
Do we do? You know, we do social media, We
have a website. We do a visitor guide that we
put out every year, and if you're a member, you
know there's you have access to that and it's any
We went anything from restaurants to hotels again, to the
tourist entities, to the antique shops to you know, the
pet friendly establishments. Because you know, anyone can really be
a member because when people come here to visit, you know,
(23:40):
they they aren't just looking for vacation type items. You know,
sometimes you know things happen when you're on vacation. You know,
you run out of dog food or whatever. So you know,
knowing what we have here and is it, you know
in its entirety, you know, we'll just you know, allow
you to have a little bit better vacation.
Speaker 2 (23:58):
So all partners are welcome, Are people in general like
maybe because I'm in this business, I don't know, But
do people get the word out people who live here?
Do you think they spread the word about, Oh my god,
you won't believe what we have here.
Speaker 4 (24:13):
I do think we have wonderful partners when we have
partner events all the time.
Speaker 1 (24:18):
Or not just your partners.
Speaker 2 (24:19):
I'm talking about the lady lives next door to me
who's got two kids that are even fourteen.
Speaker 4 (24:25):
I think when they're hosting their family and when they're
hosting their friends, no question, they are utilizing those assets
that we have in our backyard. And that's the way
things spread and people talk about everything that they that
they had here.
Speaker 2 (24:39):
So, girls, I'm gonna ask individual, what's the best part
about what you do and the toughest part about what
you do.
Speaker 4 (24:47):
I'll start with the best part that the best part
of what I do. I love finding stories that I
didn't know right when we go and we talk to
small business owners and we hear where they came from.
One ca point is Gino who works over at Sweet
Tea and Greens in Hershey. He's got to stand at
Hershey fresh Market, and we went and we talked to him,
(25:08):
and he's a person who grew up in Virginia and
his family always vacationed here. So he saw the street
lights and he said, one day I'm going to own
a business there, and he did. That was part of
his life's plan and life's goal to come here, and
now he does have it. So his roots were growing
up wanting to be part of this and experience it
as a visitor and then understanding that this is a
(25:29):
place that offered things to live and work, and now
he's here.
Speaker 2 (25:32):
Okay, I'm going to have to cut that question because
there's a couple of things I want to get to
as far as you share him. But Gavin County's going
to be two hundred fifty years old next year.
Speaker 1 (25:41):
What's going on?
Speaker 3 (25:43):
So you know, the nation's going to be two hundred
and fifty years all next year, So we're going to
celebrate America's too.
Speaker 1 (25:48):
Fifty.
Speaker 3 (25:49):
Lots of things happening. We do have We're hosting the
county list of events on our website. We do have
a special website set up just for all the America's
two fifty events because it's going to be big business.
You know, anything from special parades to you know, new
ice creams coming out with old historical recipes, beer recipes
(26:10):
coming out, and you know, festivals. There's a number of
things that are coming out just specifically for the two fifties.
We do expect at farm Show again, they are going
to have some competitive events specific to the two fifty celebrations.
So it's going to be a you know, it's going
to start the year's going to start out right in January.
Speaker 2 (26:29):
Okay, I got to ask you, you alone, why did
you ever get in this business? Because I mean, you're
known for I say that you know you're the biggest cheerer.
Speaker 1 (26:38):
You absolutely are.
Speaker 3 (26:40):
You know, I've got into it by accident. I had,
I did. I had long a lifetime ago. I was
taking care of special needs kids and I realized I
couldn't do it emotionally for my entire life.
Speaker 1 (26:52):
It's going to kill me.
Speaker 3 (26:54):
And I love to travel and so I started as
a travel agent, got into it, and my career just evolved,
and now I do it because I love it. I
love what it does. Tourism matters. We generate jobs, we
generate money, we generate we help cities become livable, and
what we do matters. And so it's not you know,
people say, oh, you're not doing it's not a big deal.
(27:16):
It's tourism.
Speaker 1 (27:17):
I'm like, it is a big deal.
Speaker 3 (27:18):
Oh what we do matters, and it's very important to
get that message out there. So every time I've had
the opportunity to grow and tell my message to someone
new or a little bit louder, I've been able to
take that opportunity.
Speaker 2 (27:30):
Well, anybody out there who's in Harrisburg, Kershey, anywhere around
this area, who wants to be a partner, get a
hold of sharing. It's real easy if you have any
ideas that you want to partner with her about, or
if you're from out of the area.
Speaker 1 (27:44):
Or from here in central Pennsylvania. You're saying with the
kids Sunday.
Speaker 2 (27:47):
Afternoon, the United kids are there's nothing to do alone.
Get on that website and what is it Dallas in
your website? Find out what's going on.
Speaker 4 (27:56):
It's awesome visit Hershey Harrisburg dot org.
Speaker 2 (27:59):
Oh another thing you also, I forgot to say, you
also put out a newsletter where you have people are
looking for jobs. I mean, it's yourself contained.
Speaker 1 (28:08):
I love it, love it, love it.
Speaker 2 (28:10):
I would like to thank you again for coming in.
And you don't have any surprises you want to share?
Speaker 3 (28:15):
Do you no real surprises? I don't think so, but
always something new. So definitely check out our website because
we do keep it fresh. Okay, subscribe to the newsletters
because you'll learn there as well.
Speaker 2 (28:25):
There is no better place to visit or to live
in Central Pennsylvania if you're a person who's considering living here.
We've got great schools, we've got great colleges. We're a
hub a couple hours from New York, Maryland DC. Lots
of incredible things growing in this area as far as businesses,
and to wrap it all up and keep it going,
we have, of course, as Sharon knows all about this,
(28:48):
the agriculture and the tourism industries, and as I said,
we have everything when it comes to tourism. So don't
go out run around looking spending all your money sitting
in the car, I almost said a word I shouldn't say,
but whinding about the traffic, turn around and look out
the window and get on that website for Hershey Harrisburg.
(29:10):
Is it visit Hersheyharrisburg dot org. Thank you again to
Sharon Sitesmeyer, the president CEO visit Hershey Harrisburg dot org.
You guys rock, and also Alison Roorba, Director of Communication,
and a reminder catch insight every weekend on one of
our iHeart stages or anytime on your favorite podcast s app.
Speaker 1 (29:29):
I'm Sylvia Moss.
Speaker 2 (29:30):
This has been insight. Thanks so much for listening. See
you next week.
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