State-Journal.com - City plans to show off hospitality

The Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Lexington are 942 days away and Frankfort tourism officials are planning for its projected $150 million statewide economic impact.

More than 600,000 spectators are expected to attend the 16-day competition at the Kentucky Horse Park from Sept. 25 to Oct. 10 in 2010.

The games are held every four years and 2010 will be the first time they'll be held outside of Europe.

"I'm not sure Kentucky fully realizes yet that the world is coming here," said Joy Jeffries, executive director of the Frankfort/Franklin County Tourist Commission, in last week's regular monthly meeting.

"We are all going to look really good or we're going to blow it. And Frankfort is not going to blow it."
A tour group of 150 from Australia has already reserved 85 hotel rooms in Frankfort for three weeks, Jeffries said.

"Their tour leader came and spent three days here last summer, and she has taken people to World Equestrian Games two or three times," Jeffries said.

"Lexington knows they can't handle this all by themselves. They've said that all along. We're working as a region, which is great. Our local hotel folks have caught the message that they really need to be involved."

She expects Frankfort's hotels to be full longer than the 16-day event, and restaurants to be busy.

"Visitors are going to be coming early and staying late," she said. "Unlike the way we take vacations, people in Europe take six to eight-week vacations. They know how to take a vacation or holiday."
Kentuckians are naturally hospitable, Jeffries said. "And to me, the most exciting thing is that we have an opportunity to show our Kentucky hospitality to the world," she said. "That's the best advertising we could ever get, and it could ripple out for at least a decade."

Local garden clubs will be working "to spruce up all of our public space, particularly all the entrances into Frankfort," Jeffries said. "We all would like to have a prettier state and capital city and I'm thrilled to death we have this excuse with a deadline." A lot of floral plantings will need to be done in the next six months to be mature by 2010, she said.

One part of beautification plans is to get the Singing Bridge repainted, Jeffries said.
In the entertainment area, the downtown Grand Theatre on St. Clair and West Main is undergoing a $3 million renovation. When completed in the summer of 2009, it will be a 414-seat community arts center.

"We will be a venue for Alltech's Fortnight Festival in Fall 2009 and in 2010 for the festival during the games and in years thereafter," said Bill Cull, president of the Grand Theatre. "Centre College and its Norton Center for the Arts manage the festival's bookings.

"We are looking at performers like Steve Tyrell, Melissa Manchester, Taj Mahal and KebMo for 2009 and hope to explore possibilities of Bonnie Raitt, Van Morrison or Norah Jones for the games year, to name only a few. Other suggestions are welcomed. We hope to show Kentucky's visitors the charm of Frankfort's downtown and help build tourism while enriching our own lives through the arts."

City Commissioner Doug Howard, a member of a local task force making plans for Frankfort's role in the games, said he'd love to see a passenger train from Lexington to Frankfort for the games.

"Europeans are so used to hopping on a train," he said.

The 2010 games will be the world championships of eight equestrian disciplines recognized by the Fdration Equestre Internationale.

18.	Posted by trying February 26, 2008
	No, not the 70s, I wasn't barely even born in that decade. But I assumed that was when you were there. Nice for you and your co-workers in France to be able to take that vacation time all at once. It's still not the norm. And may I ask, since you are so much on the bandwagon for the Equestrian Games and everything surrounding it, what are you doing to get tourists here? Are you personally willing to shell out more money to make that happen? I pay taxes on my hard-earned money. I don't want it thrown out the window. As I stated, I would like to see the town spruced up, but not because of such a bogus reason and uninformed statements. But if it is that what it takes, go ahead, at least we'll live in a nicer environment. But mark my words, the eyes of the world won't be on Kentucky just because we are hosting the Equestrian Games. Horses might be important for many in this area, but other than in prime horse areas, only a few people are interested in these kinds of events. KYCat, I hope you have your tickets already for all the events related to the Equestrian Games. Somebody has to support it, ROFL.

17.	Posted by KYCat February 26, 2008
	When did you live there, the 70's? Workers get those days mandated plus bank holidays (for a total of over 40) and the majority of my coworkers when I was living there took that block of 30 all at once. My coworkers' kids didn't work in the summer, they went on holiday with their families. It is not an exaggeration to assume that these people will come for an extended stay. And furthermore, how about a little optimism about this opportunity to raise Kentucky and Frankfort's profile around the world instead of the same old whines about how everything costs too much and our government and business leaders are liars? A positive outlook goes a long way. We should embrace this chance we have instead of decrying it from Day 1. If it doesn't go as expected, the critics and naysayers such as yourself will have their day. But in the meantime, you should probably be doing something proactive to be a positive influence instead of booing from the sidelines if you're so dismayed about how the preparation is going.

14.	Posted by trying February 26, 2008
	KYCat, nice that you have been in France. I have been there many times and all over Europe for that matter. I grew up there, btw, and lived an worked in several countries. And yes, while Europeans tend to get more vacation days, they are not allowed to take it all at once like Jeffries through her statement indicates has happening on a regular basis. I already stated this in my previous post. You need to learn to read more thoroughly. Three weeks at most, often getting two weeks is difficult enough for Europeans to get. The rest has to be taken here and there, same as here. Few Europeans take six or eight week vacations. Those, who can are retired or high school grads, just like here. SO, YES, I KNOW VERY WELL WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT! Thank you very much. I'm merely stating that if she is wrong or at the very least exaggerating on this point, how can we believe the rest? From my personal experience from such events, and yes before you jump in again, I have attended Equestrian Games in Europe, the expectations are set too high in regards to the number of Europeans interested in such events, much less willing to travel such a long distance to watch such an event. It's not the Olympics and not a soccer world cup. And do you really believe that road construction from Louisville all the way to Lexington, renovating the Horse Park and surrounding area costs less than the figure mentioned in the article in regards to the ecomonic impact? You have not been building much lately! I have nothing against cleaning and sprucing up Frankfort. That is long overdue. But I don't like to be dazzled with facts and figures, which I know to be wrong. Don't get me wrong, I would love Frankfort to be overrun by tourists who would bring thousands of dollars to the local economy. I just don't see it happen. If the monetary benefits for Frankfort greatly outweight the investment that will be made to achieve a major improvement in the city's appearance, I'll applaud. We should not spruce up the place because of one event. We should spruce up the place because we love living here and we want more tourists in general to come and visit Frankfort. I am however glad that they finally do something, no matter what the reason.