Historic Hotel Bethlehem urges restoration and expansion of HBMS tour‑guide funding
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Summary
Managing partner Bruce Haines thanked council for past marketing support and asked the county to restore a $10,000 cut to Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites tour‑guide funding and consider adding $10,000–$20,000 to meet rising visitor demand tied to recent marketing efforts.
Bruce Haines, managing partner of Historic Hotel Bethlehem, addressed the finance committee during courtesy of the floor to request restoration and expansion of funding for Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites (HBMS) tour guides. Haines said a recent county-funded marketing campaign—linked to the community—s UNESCO World Heritage designation—drove increased web traffic and visitors, and that grant support for marketing ended in May; the hotel has since helped underwrite marketing costs.
Haines asked council to restore a $10,000 reduction in HBMS—s tour-guide line item and, if possible, add an additional $10,000–$20,000 to support increased tour staffing and the visitor experience. He noted that tour guides are essential to the hospitality and heritage visitor experience and emphasized the partnership between HBMS and the hotel in leveraging the World Heritage designation to attract out-of-state visitors.
Council members did not take formal action during the meeting; Haines— request was entered into the public record for the budgetary process and committee consideration.