The very first sentence of an Apr. 5 Branson Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce and CVB press release on the Gas Buster Program says, “Visitors will be rewarded with Gas Buster discount cards, accepted at more than 100 Branson area businesses.” The release goes on to point out that the Gas Busters card is “worth $50 in discounts at participating area shows, attractions, restaurants, lodging and retail businesses.”
“Seagull, what’s not to like about ‘100 Branson area businesses’ offering discounts to encourage people to come to Branson?”
“Nothing if in fact there were 100 businesses participating in the program on Apr. 5.”
The press release said, “For more information, log on to http://www.explorebranson.com/.” On the morning of Apr. 14, nine days after the date of the press release, the Ole Seagull did just that and clicked on the “Gas Buster” link. At the Gas Buster link there was another link to “a list of participating Branson area Gas Buster sponsors.” The list was conveniently set up in categories with the participants in each category listed by number. There were 7 attractions, 25 lodging establishments, 6 restaurants, 1 retail shop, and 14 shows listed.
“But Seagull, that wasn’t anywhere near 100.”
“Didn’t I just say that?”
“But why would they say they had a hundred if they didn’t?”
“Who really knows, perhaps someone was humming the song “Anticipation” when the release was being written and got a tad carried away.”
“Isn’t it kind of sad that out of the hundreds of attractions, shows, restaurants, and retail establishments in Branson that only a total of 28 of them are participating in the program?”
“Yes, but it’s even worse than that!”
An inspection of the list of participants documents the obvious, that the program does not currently have the participation or support of the vast majority of Branson’s shows, attractions, restaurants and retail establishments. Even more foreboding, is the fact that it does not enjoy the active support of some of Branson’s most popular and advertised attractions and shows such as but not limited to: Silver Dollar City, Celebration City, White Water, Ride the Ducks, Dixie Stampede, Show Boat Branson Bell, Presley’s, Andy Williams, Cirque, the Grand Palace, Shoji Tabuchi, Shepherd of the Hills, etc.(Editor’s Note: for update please see note #2 below.)
To an Ole Seagull, the lack of participation by Branson’s major shows and attractions indicates that the real purpose of the Gas Buster program is not to actually give Branson visitors $50 dollars worth of discounts that most of them would actually want to or be able to use. Its purpose, apparently relying on the media’s gullibility, was to use the program to get as much “free” publicity from newspapers, magazines, television etc. as possible.
Ironically, unless an Ole Seagull misses his guess, within a few months, the owners of a lot of these non-participating attractions and shows will be trying to convince the voters of Branson that they should vote a one percent retail tax on themselves to be used for the marketing of Branson. Why wouldn’t these same attractions and shows jump at the chance to show their public leadership and commitment to the marketing of Branson by participating, particularly when the program is originated and sponsored by the very organization that most of them want to market Branson?
At a minimum, one would hope that the attractions, shows, restaurants, and retail establishments represented by members of the Branson Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce and CVB’s Marketing Advisory Council and board of directors would participate in the program and, through their example, encourage others to participate.
(Note 1: As of 8:00 a.m., on Apr. 15 the number of attractions, shows, restaurants, and retail establishments participating in the program has grown from 28 to 36. The participation of the major attractions and shows listed in the column remains the same, non existent.)
(Note 2: As of 6:00 a.m. on May 1 the number of attractions, shows, restaurants and retail establishments has grown to at least 62. Of the organizations listed in the column Presleys’ , Ride the Ducks, Cirque (Remington), and the the Grand Palace are now part of the program. Counting lodging estabishments and the multiple shows at Grand Country the program now has over 100 participants. ) There will be no further updates on particpation.
