Post by ferryfast admin on Mar 26, 2005 19:31:49 GMT -5
Jet to run from Sandusky
By KRISTINA SMITH
Staff writer
www.portclintonnewsherald.com/
SANDUSKY -- The Jet Express owners' hope to tap into a new customer base with trips from downtown Sandusky to Put-in-Bay starting May 27.
Service from downtown Port Clinton to Put-in-Bay, however, will remain the bulk of the boat line's business, said Todd Blumensaadt, vice president of the Jet Express' parent company, Put-in-Bay Boat Line.
"We haven't increased our business at all in Port Clinton, so we thought we'd put (a ferry) in Sandusky," Blumensaadt said.
Sandusky is filled with visitors to Cedar Point who stay overnight in hotels, Blumensaadt said. With the new ferry route, it would be convenient for them to add a South Bass Island trip to their vacation, he said.
The Sandusky to Put-in-Bay trip will cost the company an estimated $496,533 and bring in a projected $1.66 million in revenue, according to the company's business proposal.
The boat line will offer service from the dock owned by Cedar Point at the edge of Columbus Avenue until Sept. 5 with trips every two hours daily. Round-trip tickets for the 35-minute boat ride cost $30 for adults and $14 for children ages 5 to 12. Children ages 4 and younger ride for free.
The boat line, Cedar Point and the city are finalizing a three-year lease agreement, Blumensaadt said. He would not disclose how much the company will pay Cedar Point to rent the dock annually.
Sandusky will use a $50,000 grant it received to help the Jet advertise its new route, Blumensaadt said.The Jet will match the grant with $15,000.
"It seems we're off to a good start with Sandusky, having a good working relationship with them," Blumensaadt said. "We're optimistic."
The Jet originally negotiated leasing the city's dock at the Jackson Street pier, but it preferred Cedar Point's dock.
"It was better access," he said, noting there were scheduling conflicts with other boats docking at the Jackson Street Pier.
The Jet put its least-used ferry, Jet III, in Sandusky. The ferry holds 149 passengers and is the smallest of the company's three boats, Blumensaadt said.
In the past, the boat line has mainly used its Jet I, which holds 300 people, and Jet II, which holds 400, he said. Jet III helped make some extra trips during the peak of the tourist season.
"We used Jet III in the early and late season, and it kind of sat there in the summer," he said. "We'll use it in Port Clinton in the early spring and fall."
The boat line begins trips from Port Clinton May 6 and will continue Port Clinton service for two months more than its operation in Sandusky, he said.
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FerryFast Links ::
Jet Express (Passenger)
www.jet-express.com/
Miller Ferry (Car/Truck)
www.millerferry.com/
Port Clinton Chamber of Commerce
www.portclintonchamber.com/
Put-In-Bay / Bass Islands-Lake Erie
www.put-in-bay.com/
By KRISTINA SMITH
Staff writer
www.portclintonnewsherald.com/
SANDUSKY -- The Jet Express owners' hope to tap into a new customer base with trips from downtown Sandusky to Put-in-Bay starting May 27.
Service from downtown Port Clinton to Put-in-Bay, however, will remain the bulk of the boat line's business, said Todd Blumensaadt, vice president of the Jet Express' parent company, Put-in-Bay Boat Line.
"We haven't increased our business at all in Port Clinton, so we thought we'd put (a ferry) in Sandusky," Blumensaadt said.
Sandusky is filled with visitors to Cedar Point who stay overnight in hotels, Blumensaadt said. With the new ferry route, it would be convenient for them to add a South Bass Island trip to their vacation, he said.
The Sandusky to Put-in-Bay trip will cost the company an estimated $496,533 and bring in a projected $1.66 million in revenue, according to the company's business proposal.
The boat line will offer service from the dock owned by Cedar Point at the edge of Columbus Avenue until Sept. 5 with trips every two hours daily. Round-trip tickets for the 35-minute boat ride cost $30 for adults and $14 for children ages 5 to 12. Children ages 4 and younger ride for free.
The boat line, Cedar Point and the city are finalizing a three-year lease agreement, Blumensaadt said. He would not disclose how much the company will pay Cedar Point to rent the dock annually.
Sandusky will use a $50,000 grant it received to help the Jet advertise its new route, Blumensaadt said.The Jet will match the grant with $15,000.
"It seems we're off to a good start with Sandusky, having a good working relationship with them," Blumensaadt said. "We're optimistic."
The Jet originally negotiated leasing the city's dock at the Jackson Street pier, but it preferred Cedar Point's dock.
"It was better access," he said, noting there were scheduling conflicts with other boats docking at the Jackson Street Pier.
The Jet put its least-used ferry, Jet III, in Sandusky. The ferry holds 149 passengers and is the smallest of the company's three boats, Blumensaadt said.
In the past, the boat line has mainly used its Jet I, which holds 300 people, and Jet II, which holds 400, he said. Jet III helped make some extra trips during the peak of the tourist season.
"We used Jet III in the early and late season, and it kind of sat there in the summer," he said. "We'll use it in Port Clinton in the early spring and fall."
The boat line begins trips from Port Clinton May 6 and will continue Port Clinton service for two months more than its operation in Sandusky, he said.
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
FerryFast Links ::
Jet Express (Passenger)
www.jet-express.com/
Miller Ferry (Car/Truck)
www.millerferry.com/
Port Clinton Chamber of Commerce
www.portclintonchamber.com/
Put-In-Bay / Bass Islands-Lake Erie
www.put-in-bay.com/