Home Tourism Bangor, Brewer companies put together for summer season of tourism uptick

Bangor, Brewer companies put together for summer season of tourism uptick

258
0

BANGOR, Maine (WABI) – Warmer weather means summer is approaching and many business owners hope the tourists will follow suit.

“The past year has felt like playing Whac-a-Mole,” said Sarah Morneault, co-owner of Tiller and Rye.

A year ago, many business owners were just hoping to make it through the week.

This year they are preparing for a summer season that could be the best they have seen in years.

“Many of our sales reps we shop with have told us it will be the best year in years,” said Rick Vigue, owner of Rebecca’s in Bangor. “We have often said that in the summer for June, July, August, and even into September, tourists really make up about 50% of our business.”

Morneault says when they opened Tiller and Rye in Brewer, they didn’t know that tourism would play such a big role in their business.

“This year we are very happy that tourists are coming back. We start talking about events. We really want to bring the tastings back, have the salespeople come in with samples and get to know the customers, ”said Morneault.

She says the support they received from the town of Brewer has helped them get through the past year.

“We found they had more time to think about marketing their business, so we offered a six-month free marketing course to many companies they could do online,” said Renee Doble, Deputy Director of Business Development for the City of Brewers.

Brewer will be foregoing the amusement fees this summer and giving people more opportunities to be outside on the water.

Across the river, Bangor is also helping by reducing the cost of outdoor dining.

“The city is trying to be as proactive as possible with our business community to say what they need?” Said Tanya Emery, director of community and economic development for Bangor City. “After the year that our business and our economy is behind them, it’s really important that people vote with their dollars and spend that money locally.”

Emery says they continue to offer COVID-19 relief funds to companies with five or fewer employees

Copyright 2021 WABI. All rights reserved.