A proposal for Ocean City to offer its visitors free gas initially received a lukewarm reception from the City Council but squeaked by with enough votes to pass, after Councilman Doug Cymek made a bold move to tie it to another failed marketing venture.
Councilman Brent Ashley has led the push for the city to create some type of free gas promotion, with little response. During Tuesday’s council meeting, he brought up the idea one more time, and made a motion for the city to use $100,000 of its advertising dollars to spend on the promotion.
He suggested that Mayor Rick Meehan take the idea to the extreme by filling up people’s tanks with free gas when he visits the other side of the Bay Bridge on official business. The free media exposure such a stunt would generate would far outweigh the cost, Ashley said.
“It would be a PR bonanza. The whole idea is that we’re promoting Ocean City,” Ashley said.
I think it is a good idea to give away gas as media exposure for Ocean City but how does filling random tanks on the western shore make people come here? There has to be an incentive for the traveler to come to the beach and not drive to D.C. or Hershey Park etc...
ReplyDeleteAnon 0743 -
ReplyDeleteI understood this a little differently. I thought that they were going to give a way gas IN OC. However, I noted that a suggestion was made that Mayor Rick Meehan could fill up a few tanks when he was across the Bay on town business in order to get more media exposure.
I could be wrong.
G.A. You are right...While reading I skimmed over the part where it was suggested that Rick Meehan "take the idea to the extreme" by filling up people's tanks with free gas when he visits. Thanks for clarifying.
ReplyDeleteI do think it would get a lot of media attention and would bring vistors to Ocean City.
It's a stupid idea anyway!
ReplyDeleteHere's a better idea: get the Ocean City merchants and hostels to treat people better and stop gouging people at every opportunity.
ReplyDeleteI honestly don't know how men with families can afford to take the family to the beach these days. One week's vacation shouldn't cost one month's salary. -
David Hearne
Even with gas as high as it is that is not the big expense in going to Ocean City. It will cost people less for a tank of gas than it will to rent a hotel.
ReplyDeleteMany people used to go to Ocean City because was a nice weekend away that was affordable. That is not the case anymore. Hotel prices are sky high if you can find one and many don't want to rent a condo for a week. It's cheaper to rent a house in NC for a week and there are less people to have to deal with. That doesn't include the price of things that you want to do there for the weekend.
Anon 5:31 shh! Don't let the secret out. less people in nc and I like it that way! Leave tomorrow actually :)
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