York rolls out promotion: Stay here, get chance for free gas

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BY JOANIE CRADICK / For the Lincoln Journal Star

YORK — Some travelers are going to be mighty happy they stayed in York in the coming days.

Tapping into high fuel prices, the tightening economy and ethanol concerns, the York County Visitors Bureau has announced its 2008 promotion: York Has Gas 4 U!

Partnering with the Nebraska Corn Growers and the York County Corn Growers, the York Visitors Bureau is giving away gas cards to 10 travelers or families who stay overnight in York County.

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York's downtown. (Robert Becker)

York's downtown. (Robert Becker)

The promotion touts the benefits of ethanol and rewards visitors for choosing York County as an overnight destination, said Bob Sautter, tourism director for the York County Visitors Bureau.

Working with front-line lodging and campground staff to help identify the lucky folks, Sautter said he may dispense all the cards in a week’s time.

The $50 gas cards, to be redeemed at Sapp Brothers Travel Center near the I-80 exit in York, are free. “There are no catches, no gimmicks, no strings,” says Sautter.

Sapp Brothers also is getting into the act and donating a gas card, Sautter said.

The York County promotion, which a flier deems “The customer service capital of Nebraska,” is expected to not only enhance York’s visibility but encourage visitors to return to York and to spread the word to relatives and friends about how well they were treated in the town with a hot air balloon water tower and the county which boasts nearly 50 eating establishments.

All that is asked of the recipients is that they return the stamped, self-addressed postcard they’re given and tell about their stay in York, Sautter said.

“We want to hit the travelers before school starts. Normally, we do this in May during Tourism Week but we opted to do this a little later,” Sautter said.

“This is also intended to give ethanol a little promotion.”

Clark Pickrel, president of the York County Corn Growers, says this is the first time they have partnered with the Visitors Bureau.

“Positive press is our main goal,” said Pickrel, who is aware the benefits of ethanol have been clouded by rising food prices.

Pickrel noted the random give-away is designed to get folks to remember York and to realize ethanol is a homegrown bio-renewable resource.

Sautter — who dreamed up “Suite Dreams” last year, which gave out-of-towners free lodging, and a “Lift-Your-Fork in York” that gave visitors free meals in area restaurants the year before — initiated a fuel giveaway program three years ago. That time, $25 vouchers were given in a “Tanks-A-Lot promotion.

With the probability of gas prices staying high in coming years, Sautter says, “We are looking at doing this more than once.”

Reach Joanie Cradick at dc34702@alltel.net.