PARKERSBURG, WV (August 17, 2009) – Greater Parkersburg Convention & Visitors Bureau President Steve Nicely recently reported on the bureau’s marketing efforts and accomplishments for the first six months of 2009.

“To paraphrase the saying ‘fish where the fish are,’ the CVB ‘markets where the visitors are,” Nicely said. “Throughout the year the bureau undertakes a wide variety of external marketing activities designed to increase visitation to the area. Our board of directors and staff work diligently to serve as good stewards of our funds in promoting Wood County as the wonderful vacation destination that it is.”

During the first six months of the year Nicely cited the bureau has published eight significant guides, brochures and maps that are being used for several different marketing and fulfillment purposes. Those pieces included a 68-page comprehensive visitors guide; hotel guide; restaurant guide; cultural guide; unique shops guide; outdoor recreation guide; major events guide and padded street maps.

The CVB also participated in six consumer travel shows where its visitors guide and other information were distributed to potential visitors. Shows attended include the Cincinnati Travel, Sports & Boat Show (January 16 – 25); Snowbird Extravaganza (January 27 – 28); Indianapolis Boat, Sport, Travel Show (February 20 – March 1); Pittsburgh Home & Garden Show (February 27 – March 8); Southern Spring Home & Garden Show (March 4 – 8); and Cleveland Sport, Travel & Outdoor Show (March 18 – 22).

The bureau attended two events for tour planners including the Heartland Travel Showcase (February 20 – 22) and Travel South Showcase (April 4 – 8). Bureau representatives also attended the Mid-Atlantic Tourism Public Relations Alliance (MATPRA) media marketplace in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware where they met with travel writers (May 18 - 21) to pitch story ideas and leads about Greater Parkersburg.

“As electronic marketing continues to grow, the CVB has worked on a number of online projects.

We enhanced our website GreaterParkersburg.com this summer, deployed multiple editions of our online travel magazine highlighting upcoming events and activities, and developed an e-mail blast with the Grand Central Mall to inform area residents about upcoming events,” Nicely said.

“The CVB also contracted with Madden Media to conduct a four-month (June-September)

comprehensive integrated online marketing campaign. This campaign involves an e-mail blast to 35,000 geo-targeted consumers, a sweepstakes on VacationFun.com and electronic fulfillment.”  

The bureau has placed a display or brochure section ad in the following publications:

USA Weekend; Country Roads Journal; Heritage & Cultural Guide insert; Travel Marketing Group newspaper insert; America’s Best Vacations newspaper insert; Ohio Magazine; Madden Media newspaper insert; Long Weekends; See Ya There! newspaper insert; GuestQuest newspaper insert; West Virginia Travel Guide; Civil War Traveler and Country Living Magazine.

“We have also worked to publish several direct mail campaigns to key audiences,” Nicely said. “A full-color flyer entitled ‘What’s New in 2009’ along with a packet of promotional materials was direct mailed to individuals requesting tourist information or whose names were acquired through a lead generation program. In June, a special full-color flyer along with a packet of brochures and special promotional materials was direct mailed to prior registrants for the Parkersburg Half-Marathon.”

Nicely noted the bureau has also worked with area sports leaders to help secure more than 17 different sport related events in the area, producing an economic impact of $1.2 for the region.

“The second six months of the year are proving to be just as busy and fruitful for the bureau,” Nicely said. “We are in the midst of producing the official 2010 visitors guide to Greater Parkersburg, a fall rack card printing co-op, and a Civil War celebration initiative that will extend through the sesquentanial festivities of 2013.”

To learn more about the region, visit www.GreaterParkersburg.com or call 304-428-1130.

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