1. FY 18 TRIPP Program Tourism Reinvestment In Promotion & Product
Tourism Advertising Awards
& Development Grants
Tourism Council of Frederick County, Inc.

2. “TRIPP” is Tourism Reinvestment in Promotion & Product
A program through which TCFC partners with non-profit attractions and events to bring residents of other areas to visit Frederick County.
$260,000 allocated from the Tourism Council of Frederick County budget for FY18 TRIPP awards.

3. GOALS of the TRIPP Program
Increase the number of visitors to Frederick County and the amount of money they spend while visiting.
Increase overnight stays in Frederick County hotels, thereby replenishing and increasing the hotel tax revenue that is used to fund this program.
Enhance the overall attractiveness and marketability of Frederick County as a destination.

4. Use of TRIPP GRANTs Tourism Advertising Award
Placing advertising exposing non-local audiences to local non-profit attractions and events.
Tourism Development Grant
Development of tourism product through non-profit attractions, events and activities.

5. Other TRIPP Components
Group Overnight Incentive Program
Reimbursement of $10 per room night generated to organizations generating a quantity of overnight hotel stays.
Unanticipated Opportunity Fund
Advertising or Development opportunities which could not have been anticipated prior to March 31.

6. TRIPP Funds Available
$260,000 for FY18 to be allocated as follows: $ 26,000 combined for the Group Overnight Incentive Program and Unanticipated Opportunity Fund
$164,000 for the Advertising Awards
$ 70,000 for Development Grants

7. TRIPP Tips Successful applicants…
Identify attributes of their attraction or event that would motivate residents of areas outside of Frederick County to visit/attend.
Demonstrate the ability to attract and measure visitors from outside of Frederick County.
Ideas for measuring out of town visitors:
Ask for zip codes of attendees as they enter attraction/event.
Count out-of-state license plates at your site or event
Ask merchants to collect zip codes throughout the year
Have a raffle where participants must fill out a survey capturing demographics to enter
Post a map and have participants mark their hometown

8. TRIPP TIPS Tips for Success
At the end of the grant, the applicant should be able to measure successes tied to the funding and information about visitors.
Compared to last year, sales during the festival increased 20%
38% of attendees were from outside of Frederick County
90% of survey respondents spent over $50 at the event
For Example

9. TRIPP Tips
Complement TCFC’s goals of increasing the number of visitors, visitor spending and
length-of-stay
Partner with other entities to achieve goals
Partners do not need to be non-profits
Partners cannot include hotel, motel or other lodging businesses located outside of Frederick County

10. Application Deadline
FY18 TRIPP Applications are due no later than 5pm, Friday, March 31, 2017

11. %
If not promoting a
year-round attraction, events that will drive overnight stays during nonpeak times have the next greatest appeal.
Frederick County Hotel Occupancy– consistent peaks & valleys over multiple years
Tourism Council of Frederick County

12. AWARD LIMITS: Advertising
Minimum request is $1,500 (total media schedule of $3,000)
Maximum mixed local & non-local request is $10,000* (total schedule of $20,000 or more).
Cash match is 50%.
*If submitting an all non-local media schedule maximum request is $30,000 (total schedule of $50,000).
Cash match is 40%.

13. AWARD LIMITS Development GRANT
Minimum request is $1,500 (total project of $3,000)
Maximum request is $15,000 (total project of $30,000 or more).

14. Project Timeframe
Advertising must run in FY18 (July 1, – June 30, 2018).
Development Grant projects must begin in FY18. It is recognized that some projects may require more than a year to complete. Up to 24 months will be allowed, after which no TRIPP funds will be released for the project without TCFC approval of a timely written request for a project extension.

15. Match For Advertising Awards, match must be all cash.
Cash match for mixed local/non-local media schedule is 50%.
Cash match for all non-local media schedule is 40%.
For Development Grants, 25% of the match can be in-kind (documented donations of goods or services for the project, but not staff or volunteer time).

16. Advertising AWARD
$164,000 available for FY18 TRIPP Advertising awards.

17. FY18 APPlication
One application to apply for either Advertising Award and/or Development Grant.
You may submit 2 separate applications (one Advertising and one Development) if your proposed projects are not closely related.
Applicants submitting for an Advertising award proposing an all non-local media schedule may apply for up to $30,000.

18. ADVERTISING Media Selection
New for FY18
All Non-Local media
Maximum request is $30,000
Cash match is 40%
Submit media schedule “N” with application. The media schedule budget must be placed with only non- local media outlets that can demonstrate at least half of their audience resides outside Frederick County.

19. ADVERTISING Media Selection
Mixed media (local and non-local)
Maximum request is $10,000 (at least half of the schedule’s budget must be placed with media outlets that can demonstrate that at least half of their audience resides outside of Frederick County)
Cash match is 50%
Submit media schedule “M” with application.

20. Digital and online advertising
In addition to banner ads or skyscraper ads placed on websites, digital advertising includes paid social media advertising, paid video placement, native/ sponsored content on relevant web channels, mobile advertising, etc.
All paid digital content and online advertising funded through TRIPP must include a link to a page with related content on the awardee’s website. That landing page on the awardee’s website must include the TRIPP “Visit Frederick City & County” logo graphic with a live link to the VisitFrederick.org website.
Proof of performance for paid social advertising must include a detailed invoice, screenshot of the post while it is live, and a campaign performance report broken down by region. Visit Frederick’s applicable social media channel must be tagged in the post.

21. SUBMIT “M” Mixed media SCHEDULE
File is formula driven, no need to enter data in Total Cost columns

22. SUBMIT “M” Mixed MEDIA SCHEDULE
File is formula driven, no need to enter data in Total Cost columns

23. Submit “n” non-local media schedule
File is formula driven, no need to enter data in Total Cost column

24. Logo Requirement IN ADS
TRIPP logo should occupy at least 10% of print ad space (or 2” minimum width, whichever is larger).
TRIPP logo incorporates State logo.
Required logo size is based on the State requirement for minimum size of Maryland’s “crown logo” in ads using State marketing grant funds, which include TRIPP ads.
Sample ad

25. Advertising Award note
Those awarded $10,000 or more may be subject to a minimum ad size and preapproval requirements to comply with State Tourism marketing grant guidelines.

26. TRIPP Advertising
Applicant places the ads. TCFC must directly pay the media outlet. The awardee will submit a Request for Payment form, media outlet invoice(s), proof of performance (original tear-sheet, radio spot audio file, etc.) and 50% (mixed media award) or 40% (all non-local award) of total invoice amount* as cash match to TCFC.
* until TRIPP award is expended, then awardee pays match plus remainder.

27. TRIPP Advertising
It is important to properly submit request for payment (request for payment form, invoice, cash match and actual size tear sheet) to TCFC at least 10 days prior to the due date of the invoice.

28. TRIPP Development Grant
Destination Development Grants are available to non-profit organizations (potentially in partnership with for-profit organizations) to assist with up to 50% of the cost of tourism projects in Frederick County, to include: exhibits, events, activities, festivals, conferences, or programs in order to develop new tourism products for TCFC to promote.

29. TRIPP Development Grant
Funding in FY18 - The program has $70,000 to award TRIPP Destination Development Grants.

30. TRIPP Development Grant
The preferred use of funds is for one-time or start-up project costs. Applicants proposing ongoing activities are encouraged to work toward becoming self-sustaining.
Create new reasons for residents of other areas to want to visit Frederick County. A new or enhanced attraction, exhibit, or a major event (those attracting at least 500 attendees).

31. TRIPP Development Grant
Capital projects (construction, acquisition or renovation of fixed assets), particularly those that directly improve the visitor experience, will also be considered.

32. TRIPP Development Grant
All printed materials printed with TRIPP Program funds must include the Tourism Council’s logo that is included in TRIPP agreements and the “For information…” phrase

33. TRIPP Development Grant
Previous grants - Applicants must close out all projects awarded prior to FY16 on or before by the application deadline. No applicant can have more than two Product Development Grants open at one time.

34. TRIPP Group Overnight Incentive Program
Provides a cash incentive for local non- profit organizations and events that generate a quantity of overnight hotel stays in Frederick County during FY18.
At least ten hotel room nights per hotel must be sold within a single month as a result of the applicant’s efforts on behalf of visitors to their attraction or event.

35. TRIPP Group Overnight Incentive Program
Maximum cash payment to a single organization is $4,000 in a single calendar month, beginning with July, (May apply for additional funds in future months if funding remains in the incentive pool.)
First-come basis until the pool is depleted. If multiple organizations involved with the same tour group or room block submit for the same hotel room nights, the incentive will be shared among the organizations.
The General Manager or Sales Manager of the hotel(s) where the group stayed will need to sign certification documentation to validate that the room nights were sold and used, prior to the organization receiving the incentive payment.

36. TRIPP Unanticipated Opportunities Fund
Funds to be awarded in FY18 for marketing or development opportunities that could not have been anticipated at the time of the TRIPP application deadline.

37. TRIPP Unanticipated Opportunities Fund
Use FY18 Grant application.
Explain in a cover letter why the opportunity could not have been anticipated prior to the regular TRIPP program deadline.
Applications may be submitted after the regular TRIPP application deadline, for opportunities in FY18.

38. TRIPP Timeline
March Deadline for applications to be submitted to TCFC
First week in April - Copies of applications with scoring sheets distributed to Selection Committee
First week in May - Committee meets for Selection Day
May - TCFC Board consideration of recommendations
Mid-May - Announcement of TRIPP awards

39. Questions? Patsy Ensminger 301-600-4043 John Fieseler 301-600-4041
TRIPP Info
Questions?
Patsy Ensminger
John Fieseler

40. TRIPP