>>> FUNDING FOR "NJ BUSINESS BEAT" PROVIDED BY NEW JERSEY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, WORKING TO KEEP NEW JERSEY IN BUSINESS.

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>>> THIS WEEK ON "NJ BUSINESS BEAT."

EMPLOYERS WRESTLE WITH HOW TO RETURN TO WORK SAFELY AS MORE NEW JERSEYIANS GET VACCINATED AND MORE OFFICES REOPEN.

PLUS LOOKING INTO THE FINANCIAL FUTURE.

ADVOCATES PUSH FOR MULTI-YEAR BUDGET REFORMS AS THE PUBLIC WEIGHS IN.

>>> AND WITH SUMMER AROUND THE CORNER, WE PUT TOURISM IN FOCUS, INCLUDING NEW OFFERINGS ALONG THE SHORE, THE RETURN OF LARGE SCALE EVENTS AND WHAT VISITORS CAN EXPERIENCE BEYOND THE BEACH.

THAT'S AHEAD ON "NJ BUSINESS BEAT."

>> Announcer: THIS IS "NJ BUSINESS BEAT" WITH RHONDA SCHAFFLER.

>>> HELLO I'M RHONDA SCHAFFLER.

THANKS FOR JOINING US ON "NJ BUSINESS BEAT."

IF YOU'RE WATCHING ON YOUTUBE, MAKE SURE YOU SUBSCRIBE TO YOUR SPOTLIGHT NEWS YOUTUBE CHANNEL TO GET ALERTED WHEN WE POST NEW EPISODES AND CLIPS.

NEW JERSEY BUSINESSES MAY SOON SEE THE REMOVAL OF SOME COVID RELATED RESTRICTIONS.

THE GOVERNOR MURPHY SAID IN THE COMING WEEKS HE'LL ISSUE GUIDELINES FOR HOW TOURISM BUSINESSES CAN OPERATE THIS SUMMER.

THE GOVERNOR HAS ALSO SUGGESTED AN INCREMENTAL REOPENING IF OUR COVID NUMBERS CONTINUE TO MOVE IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

MANY BUSINESS LEADERS AND SOME LAWMAKERS HAVE ARGUED THAT CURRENT CAPACITY LIMITS SHOULD BE EXPANDED.

THE GOVERNOR'S COMMENTS COME AS MANY OTHER NEW JERSEY BUSINESSES ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHEN TO BRING THEIR WORKERS BACK TO THE OFFICE.

REMOTE WORK HAS BEEN THE NORM OVER THE PAST YEAR FOR COUNTLESS COMPANIES.

BUT AS MORE AND MORE PEOPLE ARE VACCINATED, BUSINESS LEADERS ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT COMES NEXT.

THIS WEEK I MODERATED A VIRTUAL ROUND TABLE FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS ON HOW EMPLOYERS ARE TRANSITIONING TO A POST-COVID WORK PLACE.

I ASKED MICHELLE, THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE NEW JERSEY BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION IF COMPANIES CAN REQUIRE THEIR WORKERS TO GET COVID-19 VACCINES.

>> BOTTOM LINE, BUSINESS CAN MANDATE THE VACCINE.

HOWEVER, THE QUESTION IS, SHOULD THEY?

AND WHAT POLICIES SHOULD THEY FOLLOW IN DOING SO OR NOT DOING SO TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE NOT RUNNING AFOUL OF ANY ANTI-DISCRIMINATION LAWS.

BUT THE AMERICAN WITH DISABILITIES ACT IS PRESENT, PARTICULARLY MORE SO NOW WITH ISSUES SUCH AS THE HEALTH PANDEMIC THAT WE'RE EXPERIENCING, AND THE RULES ARE CHANGING EACH AND EVERY DAY.

>> THE NJBIA IS A FUNDER OF "NJ BUSINESS BEAT."

FOR THE PAST FEW WEEKS THE STATE LEGISLATURE HAS BEEN HOLDING HEARING ON THE NEW BUDGET PROPOSED BY THE MURPHY ADMINISTRATION THOSE HEARINGS WILL GO ON FOR SEVERAL MORE WEEKS BUT ONE THINK TANK THINKS IT'S TIME TO SHAKE THINGS UP.

THEY'VE COME UP WITH A BLUEPRINT TO MAKE THE ANNUAL BUDGET PROCESS MORE TRANSPARENT AND WOULD IMPROVE THE LONG-TERM FISCAL HEALTH OF NEW JERSEY.

I SPOKE WITH SHEILA, THE THINK TANK SENIOR POLICY ANALYST.

>> LET'S FOCUS ON, YOU KNOW, WHAT DOESN'T WORK WITH NEW JERSEY'S BUDGET PROCESS.

>> RIGHT NOW NEW JERSEY LOOKS AT JUST THE NEXT YEAR WHEN IT'S FORECASTING REVENUE, THINKING ABOUT PRIORITIES, SPENDING PRIORITIES.

SO ALL IT NEEDS TO DO IS MAKE A DECISION ABOUT HOW MUCH REVENUE IT'S GOING TO NEED JUST FOR THE NEXT YEAR.

AND REALLY YOU WANT THE BEST INFORMATION IN YOUR HANDS FOR THE STATE'S FISCAL HEALTH IN ORDER TO HAVE A REALLY HEALTHY DEBATE ABOUT NEXT YEAR'S PRIORITIES, OF COURSE.

BUT ALSO LONG-TERM POLICY PRIORITIES.

>> SO THERE'S ALSO, I KNOW, CONCERN THAT YOU RAISED ABOUT KIND OF AS -- THERE'S ALL THESE HEARINGS BUT THEN AT THE VERY END THE BUDGET PROCESS GETS VERY NARROW FOCUSED WITH SEVERAL POLITICAL LEADERS REALLY JUST GETTING TOGETHER -- >> RIGHT.

>> -- TO FINALIZE.

>> RIGHT.

USUALLY THE BUDGET PROCESS ENTAILS PUBLIC PROCESS WHERE PEOPLE COME AND CAN TESTIFY BEFORE THE BUDGET COMMITTEE HEARINGS.

AND THEN WE HAVE THE COMMISSIONERS OF ALL DEPARTMENTS COME AND DO THE SAME.

BUT THEN RIGHT BEFORE THE LAST MONTH, RIGHT BEFORE THE BUDGET HAS TO BE PASSED, THE LAST MONTH IS ABOUT THE LEADERSHIP AND THE GOVERNOR COMING TOGETHER TO MAKE THESE VITAL DECISIONS ABOUT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO FOR SPENDING PRIORITIES AND REVENUE -- THE REVENUE SOURCES THAT WE'LL NEED FOR THE NEXT YEAR.

SO IT BECOMES A VERY CLOSED DOOR PROCESS.

SO SOME OF THE PRACTICES THAT WE ADVOCATE IN THIS REPORT BRINGS TRANSPARENCY TO THE PROCESS.

>> TELL ME WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE DONE DIFFERENTLY AND WHAT YOU RECOMMEND.

>> THE METHODS WE PROVIDE IN THIS REPORT BASICALLY GIVE THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR A REALLY COMPLETE PICTURE OF THE TRUE COSTS OF OBLIGATIONS AND INVESTMENTS THAT ARE GOING TO BE IN THE -- AND THE RESOURCES THAT ARE GOING TO BE NECESSARY TO FUND THEM WHEN YOU TAKE A MULTI-YEAR LOOK AT THEM.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MULTI-YEAR REVENUE FORECASTING.

IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE ACCURATE, IT JUST NEEDS TO PAINT A PICTURE OF WHAT THE NEEDS ARE GOING TO BE IN NEW JERSEY IN A THREE TO FOUR YEAR, FIVE YEAR LENS.

SAME WITH THE SPENDING.

WE WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE MOST IMPORTANT -- THE DEPARTMENTS ARE GOING TO NEED IN A LONG-TERM SO WE'RE KEEPING UP WITH INFLATION, WITH INCREASED COSTS.

AND THEN, OF COURSE, THE SURPLUS.

WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO BUILD UP A SURPLUS THAT'S RESPONSIBLY HEALTHY TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE WHAT IT TAKES IN CASE OF AN ECONOMIC DOWNTURN, IN CASE OF AN CLIMATE EVENT THAT IS UNEXPECTED, WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO SMOOTH OUT THE EDGES AND BE ABLE TO PROVIDE SERVICES NEEDED DURING SUCH DIFFICULT TIMES WITHOUT FACING A FISCAL CLIFF.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANKS, RHONDA.

>>> AS BUSINESSES ALONG THE SHORE AWAIT THAT NEW GUIDANCE FROM THE GOVERNOR, THEY'RE STILL MOVING FORWARD WITH THE SUMMER PLANS AND THAT INCLUDES HIRING.

THE HARD ROCK HOTEL AND CASINO HELD A JOB FAIR THIS WEEK TO FILL 700 SEASONAL POSITIONS WITH THE SUMMER TOURISM SEASON FAST APPROACHING, THE CASINO'S BOB ELLIS IS SOUNDING HOPEFUL.

>> HARD ROCK HAS EXPERIENCED GAMING REVENUE GROWTH EACH AND EVERY MONTH THE LAST SEVEN MONTHS.

YOU CAN FEEL THE VOLUMES PICKING UP.

IT FEELS LIKE IT'S GETTING BUSIER.

>> WE'RE PUTTING THE TOURISM INDUSTRY IN FOCUS THIS WEEK AS THEY GET READY FOR WHAT'S EXPECTED TO BE A BUSY SEASON.

TOURISM IS AN ECONOMIC ENGINE FOR NEW JERSEY.

IN 2019, A RECORD BREAKING NUMBER OF VISITORS CAME HERE, 116 MILLION IN ALL, AND THEY SPENT MORE THAN $46 BILLION WHILE THEY WERE IN NEW JERSEY.

WE DON'T YET HAVE THE NUMBERS FOR 2020, SO THE PANDEMIC'S EFFECT ON THE INDUSTRY LAST YEAR ISN'T FULLY KNOWN.

BUT STATE OFFICIALS ARE EXPECTING LOTS OF GOOD THINGS TO COME THIS YEAR AND THEY'RE POISED TO LAUNCH A NEW MARKETING CAMPAIGN TO GET VISITORS BACK TO THE GARDEN STATE.

JEFF IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE NEW JERSEY TRAVEL AND TOURISM DIVISION AND HE GAVE US THE INSIDE SCOOP ON THAT.

OBVIOUSLY COVID IS STILL A CONCERN BUT I WOULD THINK THE OUTLOOK IS BETTER THIS YEAR.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE WERE ENCOURAGED BY LAST YEAR'S RESULTS AND I THINK IT WAS BECAUSE THERE WAS A LOT OF PENTUP DEMAND FROM PEOPLE THAT WANTED TO GET OUTSIDE AND BE WITH PEOPLE, AND THE FEELING IS THAT OUTSIDE AND OUTDOORS, THE BEACHES, THE BOARDWALKS, THE OUTDOOR RESTAURANTS, THOSE ARE MUCH SAFER THAN BEING INDOORS.

AND THIS YEAR WE DO EXPECT TO BE MUCH BETTER BECAUSE OF THE VACCINES.

ALSO BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE A YEAR'S EXPERIENCE OF MASKS AND BEING SAFE.

AND THEN, FINALLY, ATLANTIC CITY, FOR INSTANCE, WHICH IS PROBABLY OUR TOP DRAW, LAST YEAR THEIR CASINOS DIDN'T OPEN UNTIL EARLY JULY.

SO WE HAVE A FULL SEASON OF THE CASINOS, RESTAURANT CAPACITY IS UP TO 50% COMPARED TO ONLY 10% LAST SUMMER.

SO AS LONG AS THE WEATHER HOLDS OUT, I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A VERY STRONG SUMMER.

>> JEFF, CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT THE MARKETING SPEND?

IS THE STATE INCREASING MONEY SPENT ON MARKETING?

ARE YOU TRYING TO MARKET NEW JERSEY TO OUR NEIGHBORS IN NEARBY STATES?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

OUR PRIMARY MARKET FOR THE SHORE IS INSTATE RESIDENTS AS WELL AS NEW YORK, PENNSYLVANIA, DELAWARE, AND THIS YEAR -- AND OUR BUDGETS HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED BUT THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE HAVE PROVIDED FOR INCREASED FUNDING FOR US AND WHAT WE PLAN TO DO IS EXPAND OUR MARKET INTO NEW ENGLAND, WEST INTO OHIO, AND SOUTH AS FAR AS VIRGINIA FOR RIGHT NOW.

IT'S GOING TO BE PRIMARILY A DIGITAL CAMPAIGN BUT ULTIMATELY WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING TO GET TO THE INTERNATIONAL MARKETS AS WELL.

BUT EVERYBODY RECOGNIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF TOURISM AND WHAT A GREAT ECONOMIC IMPACT DRIVER IT IS.

WE ARE THE FIFTH LARGEST EMPLOYER AS AN INDUSTRY IN THE STATE.

ONE OUT OF EVERY TEN JOBS IS IN THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY.

SO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT, AND THE LEDGE SLAWTURE AND THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE HAVE PROPOSED IN NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET A MUCH HIGHER LEVEL OF SPENDING FOR TOURISM MARKETING.

>> YOU MENTIONED THE SHORE AND YOU MENTIONED ATLANTIC CITY AND A LOT OF PEOPLE EQUATE THAT WITH NEW JERSEY TOURISM BUT THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER PARTS OF TOURISM IN NEW JERSEY.

AND I'VE SEEN A LOT OF DIFFERENT EVENTS JUST KIND OF POP UP, EVEN ON YOUR WEBSITE YOU FEATURE SOME OF THEM.

HOW HAS TOURISM OR OUR IDEA OF TOURISM CHANGED IN NEW JERSEY?

>> THAT'S A GREAT POINT, RHONDA, BECAUSE SECRETARY OF STATE WHEI WHO OVERSEES TOURISM HER CHALLENGE TO ME WAS MAKE THE OTHER TOURISM ASSETS IN IN THE STATE AS ICONIC AS THE JERSEY SHORE.

THE THING IS, THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH ADVERTISING YOU CAN DO IN THE SUMMER BECAUSE THERE'S ONLY SO MANY PEOPLE YOU CAN FIT ON A BEACH ON A SATURDAY IN AUGUST.

BUT WHAT PEOPLE DON'T KNOW IS THE ARTS AND CULTURE, THE ECHO TOURISM OPPORTUNITIES, THE CULINARY TOURISM OPPORTUNITIES.

SO MANY GREAT THINGS THAT THE STATE HAS TO OFFER, WE'RE TRYING TO GET FOLKS TO UNDERSTAND AND APPRECIATE THE MOUNTAINS THIS TIME OF YEAR AND INTO THE FALL, OPPORTUNITIES FOR, YOU KNOW, GOING INTO, YOU KNOW, FARM-TO-TABLE RESTAURANTS, AND LOOK AT THE GREAT WINES BEING PRODUCED NOW.

AND THE CRAFT BEERS THAT ARE BEING PRODUCED IN NEW JERSEY.

AND THE PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN THE FARMS AND THE RESTAURANTS, AND THE HOTELS.

IT'S GIVING US A LOT MORE SYNERGY TO BE ABLE TO INCLUDE OTHER ASPECTS OF TOURISM IN A VISIT THAT WOULD TYPICALLY, YEARS AGO, JUST HAVE BEEN TO THE BEACH.

>> JEFF, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR GETTING US CAUGHT UP ON EVERYTHING HAPPENING.

IT WAS GOOD TO TALK TO YOU.

>> YOU TOO.

GREAT TO BE HERE.

>> IF THE SHORE IS NUMBER ONE ON YOUR LIST OF PLACES TO VISIT, YOU KNOW IT'S WISE TO BOOK YOUR RENTAL EARLY AND ALL SIGNS POINT TO SHORE RENTALS FILLING UP FASTER THAN USUAL AS MORE FAMILIES LOOK TO ESCAPE THE HOUSE.

WE CAUGHT UP WITH A REALTOR TO FIND OUT WHAT'S GOING ON DOWN THE SHORE.

TELL US HOW THE SUMMER AT THE JERSEY SHORE IS SHAPING UP SO FAR FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE.

>> I ACTUALLY THINK THAT THE JERSEY SHORE IS DOING PHENOMENAL.

DUE TO ALL THAT WE'VE BEEN THROUGH OVER THE LAST YEAR.

TOURISM IS DEFINITELY UP.

WE ARE A TOURISM TOWN.

AND WE'VE HAD A LOT OF SURROUNDING STATES COME TO OUR LOCATION RECENTLY.

SO I'M EXPECTING AN AWESOME SUMMER, ACTUALLY, IN OUR AREA AS WELL.

>> WHAT ARE YOU SEEING AT THIS POINT IN TERMS OF RENTALS?

HOUSE RENTALS?

>> HOUSE RENTALS ARE DOING WELL.

ESPECIALLY SUMMER RENTALS.

AIRBNB IS UP TREMENDOUSLY IN OUR TOWN.

AS WELL AS WEEKLY RENTALS AND MONTHLY RENTALS, THE HOMES THAT ARE CLOSE IN PROXIMITY TO THE BOARDWALK AND THE BEACH.

>> YOU KNOW, LAST YEAR WAS ACTUALLY A PRETTY DECENT SUMMER AT THE SHORE.

HOW DO THINGS LOOK THIS YEAR COMPARED TO LAST WOULD YOU SAY?

>> I WOULD SAY IT'S GOING TO BE EVEN BETTER.

I WAS PLEASANTLY SURPRISED LAST SUMMER AT THE TRAFFIC THAT WE HAD IN OUR TOWN.

WAS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING.

AND I'M VERY EXCITED AS TO THE CROWD THAT I'M EXPECTING TO COME THIS SUMMER.

>> HOW IMPORTANT IS IT FOR THOSE CASINOS TO CONTINUE TO EXPAND THEIR REOPENING OR ARE THERE OTHER ATTRACTIONS THAT DRAW TOURISTS TO THE ATLANTIC CITY AREA?

>> A LOT OF THEORIES ARE PEOPLE JUST COME HERE FOR THE CASINOS AND WE HAVE NOTHING ELSE BUT THE CASINOS.

OUR PRIMARY ATTRACTION IS THE CAS CASINOS, NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT.

HOWEVER, THERE ARE OTHER THINGS THAT YOU CAN DO IN ATLANTIC CITY.

WE HAVE PHENOMENAL RESTAURANTS IN OUR AREA, WE ALSO HAVE THE BOARDWALK, WHICH IS ENDLESS.

YOU WOULD -- COULDN'T IMAGINE HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE BUY CYCLING IN THE MORNING, STILL WALKING THE BOARDWALK, ENJOYING THE BEACH, AND ENJOYING THE SUN AND IT REALLY DOES DRAW A LOT OF PEOPLE.

I'M A BIG FAN OF THE SAND, OF COURSE, AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S AN AWESOME PLACE TO BE IN THE SUMMER, YOU KNOW.

>> GIVEN WHAT YOU'RE SEEING WITH DEMAND, HOW ARE PRICES FARING?

ARE SOME OF THE LANDLORDS ABLE TO CHARGE MORE FOR WEEKLY RENTALS, FOR INSTANCE?

>> YES.

THE PRICES DO GO UP IN OUR AREA FOR WEEKLY, FOR AIRBNB, EVEN FOR MONTHLY.

THERE ARE SOME HOMES THAT DO SELL SUMMER RENTALS AS WELL.

SO YOU CAN ACTUALLY GET THE WHOLE SEASON FOR THE YEAR.

SO THOSE PRICES DO TEND TO GO UP, DEPENDING ON WHEN YOU'RE COMING IF YOU'RE COMING ON LABOR DAY, FOURTH OF JULY.

SO YES, THOSE THINGS ARE STILL FACTORS IN OUR AREA.

>> ARE YOU GETTING ANY FALL BOOKINGS ALREADY?

>> NOT YET.

WE'RE MOSTLY GETTING SPRING, THE BEGINNING OF THE SUMMER.

BUT THAT'S SOON TO CLOSE AS WELL.

PEOPLE DON'T WAIT, BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT COME LABOR DAY, IT'S GOING TO BE VERY BUSY AND OUR SEASON HAS EXPANDED.

IT'S DUE TO OUR GOOD WEATHER, REALLY.

WE DO TEND TO HAVE VERY GOOD WEATHER DOWN HERE.

>> FINGERS CROSSED ABOUT THE WEATHER THIS YEAR.

WE'LL SEE.

>> YES.

>> VERY GOOD TO SPEAK WITH YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> NOW WE LOOK BEYOND THE BEACH.

THERE ARE PLENTY OF TOURISM BUSINESSES ACROSS OUR STATE.

WE DECIDED TO CHECK OUT ONE INDUSTRY THAT'S REALLY EXPANDING.

WHEN YOU THINK WINE, YOU LIKELY THINK CALIFORNIA FIRST BUT NEW JERSEY'S WINE GROWERS MAY BE FLIPPING THE SCRIPT.

TOM IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE GARDEN STATE WINE GROWERS' ASSOCIATION.

IT SEEMS THE WINE INDUSTRY IN NEW JERSEY HAS TAKEN OFF OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

TELL ME ABOUT THE GROWTH WE'RE SEEING.

>> RIGHT NOW WE'RE OVER 50 WINERIES OPEN IN THE STATE AND THERE'S ABOUT A HALF A DOZEN THAT SHOULD BE OPENING WITHIN THE NEXT YEAR, NEW WINERIES.

AND IT HAS BEEN AN INFLUX OF NEW WINERIES, IT'S JUST YOUNG VIN NORS COMING INTO THE BUSINESS AND THERE'S GREAT LAND IN NEW JERSEY AVAILABLE FOR THIS.

AND ITS PROOF IN THE PUDDING IS THE SALE OF NEW JERSEY WINE HAS GROAN EXPONENTIALLY EACH YEAR AND PEOPLE ARE DISCOVERING OUR WINERIES AS THE PERFECT EXPERIENCE.

>> HOW IS THE WINERY BUSINESS IMPACTING TOURISM OVERALL IN THE STATE?

>> I THINK IT'S HELPED LOCAL TOURISM, ESPECIALLY DURING THE COVID ERA.

WHEN OUR WINERIES WERE ALLOWED TO REOPEN LAST JUNE, JUNE 15th, WE HAD THE OUTDOOR LAND.

EACH WINERY BY LAW HAS 3 ACRES OF LAND AVAILABLE TO THEM TO GROW GRAPES.

SO THE PUBLIC FOUND OUR WINERIES TO BE THE EXPERIENCE THAT THEY CAN HAVE IN A SAFE MANNER.

WE HAD WORKED WITH THE STATE ON A REOPENING PLAN WITH RULES AND SPACING PEOPLE OUT, AND I THINK WHAT HAPPENED, TOO, AND MANY WINERY OWNERS HAVE TOLD ME THIS, IS A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE PENNSYLVANIA REGION DISCOVERED OUR SOUTH JERRY WINERIES.

A LOT OF PEOPLE IN NEW YORK DISCOVERED THAT NEW JERSEY HAD WINERIES.

WE WERE THE ONLY GAME IN TOWN FOR A WHILE.

AND IT'S LED TO MORE AND MORE NEW CUSTOMERS FOR OUR WINERIES.

BUT I THINK ULTIMATELY WE HAVE SIX WINE REGIONS IN THE STATE.

AND WE BELIEVE THAT EACH ONE OF THOSE REGIONS, SOME ARE LOCATED UP NORTH, THERE'S CENTRAL NEW JERSEY, THE SHORE REGION, AND THEN SOUTH JERSEY, ALL PLAY A ROLE IN BUILDING LOCAL TOURISM BECAUSE PEOPLE COME INTO THOSE REGIONS TO VISIT OUR WINERIES, THEY'RE STOPPING AT BNBs, STOPPING AT LOCAL RESTAURANTS AND OTHER BUSINESSES, WHICH IS WHAT WE'VE BEEN PREACHING FOR YEARS THAT WINE TOURISM CAN DRIVE TROUFRM.

>> HOW MUCH ROOM IS THERE FOR GROWTH GIVEN THE EXPLOSION IN GROWTH WE'VE SEEN.

>> RUTGERS A WHILE BACK DID A STUDY THAT NEW JERSEY COULD EASILY HANDLE ABOUT 200 WINERIES.

WE'RE GOING TO BE NEAR 60 WITHIN THE NEXT YEAR.

SO WE HAVE PLENTY OF ROOM TO GROW.

AND WHAT'S HAPPENED OVER THE LAST 30 YEARS IS WINE MAKERS HAVE LEARNED EXACTLY WHAT TYPES OF GRAPES GROW IN THE DIFFERENT REGIONS OF THE STATE.

WE HAVE SO MANY DIFFERENT MICROCLIMATES IN NEW JERSEY SO THERE'S CERTAIN GRAPES, THEY WERE TRIED UP NORTH BUT THEY DON'T WORK, THE GROWING SEASON IS NOT LONG ENOUGH.

SO THEY TRIED OTHER THINGS.

AND, THEREFORE, I THINK THE INNOVATION AND THE LEARNING HAS BROUGHT US TO ANOTHER LEVEL WHERE OUR WINES NOW ARE WINNING MAJOR MEDALS IN INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIONS AND IN DOMESTIC COMPETITIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, BEATING CALIFORNIA WINES AND OTHER WINES FROM MAJOR WINE REGIONS.

>> IT'S B BEEN GREAT TO HEAR WHAT'S HAPPENING IN YOUR INDUSTRY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

CHEERS.

>> THANK YOU, RHONDA.

>>> THERE IS ONE BIG, BRIGHT COLORFUL TOURIST EVENT IN NEW JERSEY THAT IN 2019 ATTRACTED NEARLY 170,000 PEOPLE IT'S THE FESTIVAL OF BALLOONING, WHICH WAS CANCELLED LAST YEAR DUE TO COVID BUT THE WEEKEND FESTIVAL RETURNS THIS JULY, IN REDDINGTON TOWNSHIP.

I SAT DOWN WITH THE EXECUTIVE PRODUCER TO LEARN ABOUT THE PLANNING UNDER WAY FOR THIS YEAR.

HOWARD, FOR ANYONE IN THE TOURISM BUSINESS, THIS YEAR DOING ANY SORT OF PLANNING HAS BEEN VERY DIFFICULT.

HOW HAVE YOU APPROACHED WORKING AHEAD TO A BIG EVENT IN THE SUMMER WHEN SO MUCH HAS BEEN UNCERTAIN?

>> THAT'S A VERY GOOD QUESTION AND TOPIC OF THE DAY, RHONDA.

YOU KNOW, FORTUNATELY WE'VE HAD ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF TO PREPARE FOR THIS BECAUSE WE WERE NOT ABLE TO DO ANY KIND OF FESTIVALS LAST YEAR.

SO WE RAN THROUGH A NUMBER OF SCENARIOS LAST YEAR THAT WE WERE GOING TO DO.

WE COULDN'T DO THEM BUT AS WE GET CLOSER THIS YEAR WE'RE LOOKING AT THE BEST PRACTICES OF PEOPLE WHO DID THEIR DRIVE-IN CONCERTS AND EVENTS AND FESTIVALS, AND WE'RE USING THOSE BEST PRACTICES WORKING WITH A HOSPITAL GROUP TO GET CSP COVID SAFETY PROTOCOLS DOWN.

AND WHAT WE'RE FINDING AFTER THIS TIME IS LIKE THE PANDEMIC OF 1918, THAT WAS FOLLOWED WITH THE ROARING '20s.

SO THE DEMAND WE'RE FINDING OUT THERE IS INCREDIBLE.

>> IN TERMS OF THE EVENT ITSELF, DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE OUTDOOR CAPACITY LIMITS WILL BE THEN?

>> WE HAVE 744 ACRES AT THE AIRPORT IN REDDINGTON, OF WHICH IN THE PAST WE ONLY USED 250 ACRES OR SO.

WE HAD YEARS WE HAD 175,000 PEOPLE AND REALLY HASN'T BEEN THAT CROWDED WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE COUPLE HOURS ON SATURDAY NIGHT AND WE HAVE A THREE-DAY FESTIVAL.

SO THE BIG QUESTION I THINK IS WHAT THE CAPACITY REALLY IS.

IT MIGHT BE 500,000 TO A MILLION.

AND IF WE HAVE TO GO IN SEGMENTS, FRIDAY NIGHT, SATURDAY MORNING, SATURDAY NIGHT, SUNDAY MORNING, SUNDAY NIGHT AND STILL DO THE 50% CAPACITY AND THE SOCIAL DISTANCING.

WHEN YOU HAVE ACREAGE, PEOPLE 6 FEET APART, OUTSIDE IS NO PROBLEM.

>> WHAT'S THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE FOR THE TOURISM INDUSTRY RIGHT NOW AS WE HEAD INTO THE IMPORTANT SUMMER SEASON?

>> THE PERCEPTION VERSUS REALITY.

REALITY ISN'T ALWAYS REAL.

PERCEPTION IS.

I THINK THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE THAT THE TOURISM INDUSTRY FACED WITH A CERTAIN SEGMENT OF THE POPULATION WAS THE PERCEPTION IT WASN'T SAFE AND INDEED MUCH OF THAT TIME LAST YEAR IT WASN'T.

BUT AS PEOPLE GO OUTDOORS, SOCIAL DISTANCE, HAVING A MASK, WASHING HANDS DOING ALL THE THINGS THE CDC SAYS, I THINK WE'RE OPTIMISTIC THAT BY THE SUMMER THINGS WILL BE A LITTLE MORE TOWARD NORMAL.

>> WHAT IS THE ECONOMIC IMPACT FROM YOUR EVENT?

>> OUR EVENT TRADITIONALLY IS OVER $53.4 MILLION.

WE'VE RAISED OVER $3 MILLION FOR NON-PROFITS IN THE LAST 27 YEARS.

WE HIRE PROBABLY 2,500 TICKET TAKERS, CONCESSIONERS, PEOPLE WHO WORK THE THREE DAYS OR MANY PEOPLE WORK THE WEEK SETTING IT UP IN ADVANCE.

LET'S PUT IT THIS WAY.

IN 2018, THEN PRESIDENT TRUMP WAS IN RESIDENCE AT BED MINISTER, WHICH IS LESS THAN 10 MILES FROM THE FESTIVAL GROUNDS.

SO THERE WAS A NO FLY ZONE AND IN ORDER TO GET A WAIVER, WE HAD TO MEET FREQUENTLY WITH THE SECRET SERVICE IN ORDER FOR OUR BALLOONS TO FLY SAFELY AND HAVE THE PROTOCOLS SAFE WITH THE PRESIDENT SO CLOSE NEARBY.

THAT TO ME SAID IT'S A BIG DEAL FOR THE SATE AND INDUSTRY AND ECONOMIC IMPACT.

SO COME OUT, SEE BARE NAKED LADIES, STICKS, SEE 100 BALLOONS GO UP, UP AND AWAY.

>> THANK YOU, HOWARD.

>> THANK YOU, RHONDA.

>>> AND THAT WRAPS UP OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEEK.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

I'M RHONDA SCHAFFLER.

I'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

>>> FUNDING FOR "NJ BUSINESS BEAT" PROVIDED BY, NEW JERSEY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

WORKING TO KEEP NEW JERSEY IN BUSINESS.

ONLINE AT NJCHAMBER.COM.

CGI, A GLOBAL I.T.

AND BUSINESS CONSULTING SERVICES FIRM.

WE HAVE BEEN HELPING GOVERNMENTS AND PRIVATE SECTOR CLIENTS IN NEW JERSEY WITH THEIR EVOLVING TECHNOLOGY NEEDS FOR 30 YEARS.

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR SERVICES AT CGI.COM.

NJBIA HAS BEEN THE VOICE OF BUSINESS FOR MORE THAN 110 YEARS AND IS BUILT TO SERVE OUR MEMBERS IN TODAY'S NEW NORMAL.

NJCU SCHOOL OF BUSINESS, A GAME CHANGING FORCE OFFERING PROGRAMS LIKE FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY, WHERE BUSINESS ANALYTICS AND DATA SCIENCE.

STEPS AWAY FROM THE EXCHANGE PLACE PATH TRAIN IN JERSEY CITY AND MINUTES FROM WALL STREET.

LEARN MORE AT NJCU.EDU/GAMECHANGER.

AND IBEW LOCAL 102, PROUDLY SERVING NEW JERSEY'S BUSINESS COMMUNITY SINCE 1900.

LOCAL 102, LIGHTING THE PATH, LEADING THE WAY.

VISIT IBEW102.ORG.

♪ ♪