VisitErie is basking in the glow of a heavenly event, and a well-executed plan to welcome and host visitors at dozens of venues across the Erie region. "In my opinion it was better for all of us to be over prepared than underprepared and this is exactly the way we wanted it to happen," said Christine Temple, communications director for VisitErie, adding, "it couldn't have been part more perfect."

Visitor Alaina Winters from Pittsburgh said she could tell that things were well planned. "You could tell people had planned and you know we didn't have any problems at all, and we got the hotel room with the balcony so that made it really easy to not have to get into a crowd or anything because I'm handicapped and it was quite beautiful." 

Feedback to VisitErie staff members across some of the 50 venues where people took in the eclipse was positive and indicates that many visitors new to Erie will be back. "The majority of people that we spoke to were all out of towners, and it was their first time here and they were so impressed.  A lot of them didn't realize that we had beaches, they were so impressed with the shoreline and they want to come back and that that's all we wanted to hear," Temple said.

Visitors and locals alike captured totality over Erie in their memories and with their cameras, including some amazing shots from the EDDC's Corey Cook who said it was tricky to watch the event and capture the photos. "Part of the time I'm looking at the the event that's going on but I'm also looking at my settings, so I I knew I wanted to capture it so it was just as important to capture it as it was to be in the moment. It was a balancing act, of course I had the kids right next to me they're asking questions, so trying to talk to them but it was just a great experience and I'm glad I was able to capture it," Cook said.

And as visitors take their memories, eclipse pictures and positive Erie experiences home Cook said, " The better it will be that people will want to come here, that this will be a destination and that's that's the goal AND the plan."

And speaking of planning with a little humor on post eclipse morning VisitErie put out a graphic indicated that they're already planning for Erie's next total solar eclipse in 2144.

Data from a couple of platforms VisitErie hired should be available in about three weeks.  That should be able to track who came for hotel stays, and who made day trips, where they spent their time and where they spend their money.