BROOKINGS INSTITUTION & GROWSMART MAINE RECOGNIZE HISTORIC INNS OF ROCKLAND AS A TOURISM SUCCESS STORY
Charting Maine’s Future Report spotlights four historic Rockland inn’s tourism success
Rockland, ME (9-27-12): In 2006, GrowSmart Maine brought the Brookings Institution, a nationally recognized, nonpartisan think tank, to Maine and called together people from across the state then asked “What do you love about this place?” Subsequent conversations gathered the information needed to define how Maine could grow its economy without losing those valued natural resources. Charting Maine’s Future: An Action Plan for Promoting Sustainable Prosperity and Quality Places resulted from these conversations including a research and action plan and a set of directives. Fast forward to 2012 and a follow up report checking in on progress was completed and announced today. Charting Maine’s Future – Making Headway, aptly summarizes the progress made over the past six years on many of Charting Maine’s Future’s goals and recommendations. Today’s report concludes that despite setbacks brought by the Great Recession of 2008, there are many success stories around the state to highlight, illustrating the depth of commitment and breadth of talent in the state. 
Historic Inns of Rockland, a consortium of four historic inns in Rockland, ME, including Berry Manor Inn, LimeRock Inn, Captain Lindsey House Inn, and Granite Inn, were spotlighted as THE success story for Maine’s tourism sector and identified as the shining star among Maine’s Tourism industry. The report stated “Working together to market the Rockland vacation experience, members of Historic Inns of Rockland, Maine, have put many of their individual marketing priorities aside to cooperatively attract attention to Rockland’s premier inns and vacation experiences.”
Charting Maine’s Future – Making Headway goes on to explain “the Historic Inns of Rockland, Maine, are working closely with local businesses and the Penobscot Bay Regional Chamber of Commerce to collectively attract vacationers through public relations campaigns, creative marketing, a wedding consortium, a central reservation line, enticing events, a collective eco-initiative, and an informative website. Businesses throughout the community have contributed to this effort. Many visitors have participated in packages offered by the Historic Inns of Rockland and many dollars have been spent within the community by people enjoying the shopping, restaurants, museums, and local attractions. This collaborative effort has helped many of the local businesses involved in tourism thrive during the turbulent past few years.” Restaurateur, Kerry Altiero, chef and owner at Rockland’s Café Miranda, calls the initiative “brilliant, selfless and absolutely one of the best things that’s happened to my business,” according to the report. “We are incredibly honored and humbled to be spotlighted as a tourism success story in Charting Maine’s Future – Making Headway,” said Cheryl Michaelsen, who was interviewed by GrowSmart Maine. “While we’re just four historic inns on Maine’s Midcoast, working cooperatively and with the community we’ve been able to make a difference in our communities with events like Pies On Parade, which has contributed more than $50,000 to the Area Interfaith Outreach Food Pantry and Fuel Assistance Program over its 8-year tenure,” finished Michaelsen. “It takes a village to make our promotions like Lobsterpalooza and our media outreach campaign work,” followed PJ Walter, co-owner of LimeRock Inn. “Without the enthusiasm of the community, it wouldn’t happen. We’re all in it together,” finished Walter.
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