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Tourism & Recreation

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Feds award $2.5M to BigRock Mountain for new chairlift

Laurie Schreiber August 18, 2022

The existing lift is over 50 years old. The new lift will feature technology such as a touchscreen interface that eases system operations and maintenance. 

  • Nova Star ferry has slow start

    June 23, 2014

    The Nova Star ferry that travels between Portland and Nova Scotia has gotten off to a slow start for its inaugural season, but passenger traffic is starting to increase.

    June 23, 2014

  • Portland 'geek culture' convention continues to grow and support the local economy

    Dylan Martin June 20, 2014

    PortConMaine had humble beginnings as a “geek culture” convention, but you wouldn't know that now, with approximately 2,700 people expected to attend this weekend.

    Dylan Martin June 20, 2014

  • Portland expects 27% increase in cruise ships

    June 19, 2014

    Portland is expecting to host 74 cruise ships with more than 82,000 passengers this season — an increase that a city official attributes to Portland’s growing popularity and a recently completed dredging project.

    June 19, 2014

  • York motel manager faces drug trafficking charge

    June 18, 2014

    The manager of the Sea Turn Motel in York Beach was charged with unlawful trafficking after police discovered more than $22,000 worth of marijuana on the property.

    June 18, 2014

  • Cross Insurance buys Portland civic center naming rights in $2.5M deal

    Dylan Martin June 17, 2014

    The Cumberland County Civic Center will be renamed to Cross Insurance Arena after the Bangor-based company secured naming rights in a 10-year, $2.5 million deal.

    Dylan Martin June 17, 2014

  • Will Portland parks vote impact large-scale, outdoor concerts? Answer is unclear, for now

    Dylan Martin June 17, 2014

    The city of Portland’s vote last week to add extra protections for 60 parks has raised questions as to how the new rules will impact large-scale, outdoor concerts in the future.

    Dylan Martin June 17, 2014

  • Old Port Fest attendance over 30K

    June 9, 2014

    Organizers of the 41st annual Old Port Festival in Portland have deemed it a success after extending the festival to three days for the first time.

    June 9, 2014

  • Oxford Dragway faces uncertain future

    June 4, 2014

    Oxford Dragway, which has showcased drag racing since 1969, faces an uncertain future after canceling its 2014 season due to declining revenues and personnel issues.

    June 4, 2014

  • Maine ahead of curve on new carbon pollution limits: experts

    Lori Valigra June 3, 2014

    Maine has been a leader in clean energy and efficiency, and will use an existing program to further cut greenhouse gas emissions to meet the first national carbon emission limit proposal — released yesterday by the U.S.

    Lori Valigra June 3, 2014

  • $1.7M available for Maine conservation projects

    June 2, 2014

    The Nature Conservancy in Maine is providing $1.7 million in grants to individuals, nonprofit groups and public agencies for wetland and wildlife conservation projects.

    June 2, 2014

  • Lawsuit against chemical plant heads to federal court

    May 30, 2014

    A lawsuit filed against the owner of the defunct HoltraChem plant in Orrington over its pollution of the Penobscot River is heading to a federal court next week.

    May 30, 2014

  • Lodging official denounces Airbnb

    May 27, 2014

    Online lodging services like Airbnb are on the rise in Maine, providing visitors a way to rent rooms in apartments and houses, but not everyone is happy about their popularity.

    May 27, 2014

  • Maine tourism could break records this year

    May 27, 2014

    Maine’s tourism industry could be in for a good year — and a record-breaking one, at that — according to state tourism officials and the most recent forecast from AAA Northern New England.

    May 27, 2014

  • Drop in Canadian dollar could have small impact

    May 27, 2014

    The declining value of the Canadian dollar, currently worth 92 cents on the U.S. dollar, is not a major concern for Maine’s tourism industry, but it could lead to shorter stays at hotels and tighter spending by tourists.

    May 27, 2014

  • Mobile shower startup to aid perspiring cyclists

    May 27, 2014

    The coordinator of BikeMaine, one of the state’s largest trekking events, is starting a company to give cyclists a way to shower after finishing a long ride.

    May 27, 2014

  • Two upscale hotels open in Portland

    May 21, 2014

    Two hotels opened in Portland’s Old Port district this week, creating a total of 261 new rooms for business and leisure travelers.

    May 21, 2014

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Today's Poll

Does cruise ship season help your business?
Poll Description

Sponsored by Kennebunk Savings Bank

Maine's cruise ship season is in full swing, running from late September through early November. Thousands of passengers are expected to visit Portland, Bar Harbor, Eastport or Rockland.

This week alone, Portland is set to welcome around 16,000 cruise ship passengers.

But as the season ramps up, it's bringing mixed reviews. Some locals brace for the crowds and many business owners say cruise ship visitors don't spend much while in the port. Other business owners argue that, even if cruise ships don't benefit their own coffers, they still benefit the overall economy.

When we asked this question in 2023, Mainebiz respondents, 21% said the visits bring customers and revenue, while only 18% said the visits don't help their business.

More than half of the respondents, 53%, said cruise ships benefit the overall economy.

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