Area Lacks Housing for Business Travelers, Trumbull Tourism Agency Says

WARREN, Ohio – The region has seen a sharp rise in business travelers because of the growth of Foxconn, Ultium Cell, Vallourec and other large corporations here.

But these travelers – who often stay for extended periods – face an acute shortage of housing accommodations, according to Trumbull County Tourism.

Another significant segment of the county tourism market comes from visitors who are here for weddings and other family events. Several Trumbull County hotels, resorts and inns reported hosting more than 100 such events apiece last year, with an average of 200 guests at each, according to a press release from Trumbull Tourism.

The agency will continue to study the market and expects to reveal its findings next year. The study is funded by a grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration.

Assisting in the study are Eutopia Strategy and OCO Global, says Beth Carmichael, executive director of the agency. Judith O’Doherty, founder of Eutopia Strategy, is leading the Trumbull project.

O’Doherty is meeting with local businesses, economic development representatives, and other stakeholders to get a profile of the travel industry in Trumbull County.

“I see three distinct user groups,” O’Doherty said. “They are, visiting family and friends, older experience-seekers, and the business traveler. We want to understand how well [Trumbull’s tourism infrastructure] serves these groups.” Another goal, according to O’Doherty, is to identify and develop other tourism segments that remain untapped, such as  millennials, young families and people from out of state.

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