Roaming Gnome gets lost in Montana

Statewide tourism got a boost Sept. 14 when Travelocity announced at the Montana Economic Development Summit, in Butte, that it was investing $500,000 promoting Montana. The global travel company also said it would give $10,000 to the Montana Folk Festival, also in Butte.

Tourism has long played a major role of the state economy. More than 10 million tourists came to Montana in 2009 and spent $3 billion — an important contribution considering the impacts of the current recession on the housing and manufacturing sectors.

According to Travelocity CEO Sam Gilliland, the company’s four-month long campaign to promote Montana began two months ago when it began showcasing the state on its Web site. Since then, hotels that advertise with Travelocity have seen a 40 percent increase in bookings, Gilliland said, while featured bookings have seen an 80 percent increase.

As part of the campaign, Travelocity’s Roaming Gnome, a Santa Claus-like lawn ornament figure, spent eight days in early September traveling to out-of-the-way locations across the Treasure State.

Besides riding Whitefish Mountain Resort’s alpine slide and donning a winter ski pass for Big Mountain, the Roaming Gnome dined at Eugene’s Pizza in Glasgow, ran the Kickin’ 10K in Great Falls, built a hay sculpture of his likeness in Utica and made appearances at the Magic City Blues Festival in Billings, the Bucking Horse Sale in Miles City, the Blues & Brews Festival in Great Falls and the Apsaalooke Nation’s 92 annual Crow Fair in Crow Agency.

It wasn’t all play for the clay-fired figurine. The Roaming Gnome joined 10 Travelocity employees in celebrating Glacier National Park’s centennial with two days of volunteer trail maintenance work.

Full Story: http://www.flatheadnewgroup.com/articles/2010/09/23/whitefishpilot/news/news_8714823106_01.txt