PASSENGER VESSEL ASSOCIATION tel: 1 (800) 807-8360 • fax: (703) 518-5151 • pvainfo@passengervessel.com JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018 • FOGHORN 3 Volume 17, Number 01 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018 FOGHORN (USPS Number 023-702) is published monthly except combined January/February by Philips Publishing LLC, 4257 24th Avenue W, Seattle WA 98199. Periodicals postage paid at Seattle, WA and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to FOGHORN, c/o Passenger Vessel Association, 103 Oronoco Street, Suite 200, Alexandria, VA 22314. Copyright 2018 by the Passenger Vessel Association. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written consent of the Passenger Vessel Association. PRINTED WITH SOY INK FOGHORN is a monthly publication of the Passenger Vessel Association. Copyright 2018. All rights reserved. President – Jeff Whitaker, Hudson River Cruises, Inc., Kingston, NY Vice President – Gus Gaspardo, Padelford Packet Boat Co., Saint Paul, MN Secretary/Treasurer – Bob Lawler, Boston Duck Tours, Boston, MA Board Members Bob Bijur, Island Queen Cruises, Miami, FL Chip Collopy, Shoreline Marine Company, Chicago, IL Richard Davison, Star of Honolulu Cruises and Events, Honolulu, HI Jim DeSimone, Staten Island Ferry, Staten Island, NY Alison Nolan, Boston Harbor Cruises, Boston, MA Hoyt Purinton, Washington Island Ferry Line, Washington Island, WI Bob Scribner, Charleston Harbor Tours/Schooner Pride, Charleston, SC Colleen Stephens, Stan Stephens Glacier and Wildlife Cruises, Valdez, AK Jim Swindler, Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District, San Francisco, CA Associate Member Representative Carl J. Micu, John Deere Power Systems, Waterloo, IA Past Presidents Margo Marks, Beaver Island Boat Company, Charlevoix, MI Dave Anderson, Fire Island Ferries, Bay Shore, NY Terri Bernstein, B.B. Riverboats, Newport, KY Executive Director John R. Groundwater Legislative Director Edmund Welch Regulatory Affairs Consultant Peter Lauridsen Director of Finance Leslie Kagarise Director, Public Affairs and Development Jennifer Wilk Director of Regulatory Affairs and Risk Management Eric Christensen General Counsel Steven Bers, Whiteford, Taylor and Preston Editorial Offices Managing Editor: Karen Rainbolt pvafoghorn@aol.com 2771 Houston Dr. Los Osos, CA 93402 tel: (571) 388-7752 Contributing Editor: Richard Purinton richard@wisferry.com Washington Island Ferry Line Washington Island, WI Advertising and Business Offices Publisher: Peter Philips peter@philipspublishing.com Advertising Sales: Bill Forslund bill@ philipspublishing.com 4257 24th Avenue W, Seattle, WA 98199 tel: (206) 284-8285 fax: (206) 284-0391 www.philipspublishing.com FOGHORN Focus: SALES & MARKETING 6 What’s Hiding in Your Ridership Data? Will Moon encourages vessel operators to look at their ridership data to discover important details that could change the way the operation plans for the future. 12 Water Taxis Area Growing Market: Q&A with Andrew Sargis Water taxis are all the rage in numerous cities across the United States. Andrew Sargis explains why. 18 Digital Marketing May Cost Small Businesses What will the end the of “net neutrality” mean for small businesses that rely on digital marketing to grow sales? 22 Industry Training LCDR Amanda Fahrig shares her perspective on the value of Coast Guard officers in the industry training program. About the Cover Georgia Queen, operated by Savannah Riverboat Cruises, also known as River Street Riverboat Company, will carry attendees of the PVA Annual Convention at MariTrends 2018 in Savannah, GA, the host city for this year’s biggest educational event for the passenger vessel industry. Columns 4 President’s Letter 5 Executive Director’s Letter 24 Business Matters 26 Regulatory Report 29 Safety Matters 32 Legislative Report 34 How PVA Benefits You 37 Member News 40 New Members 40 PVA Calendar 43 Newswire 46 Advertisers’ Index