PARKERSBURG , WV (February 10, 2009) – The Greater Parkersburg Convention & Visitors Bureau Board of Directors recently endorsed the implementation of a new ad campaign promoting the area in 2009.

The new concept is a reflection of the rich history and heritage the region offers and features new photography along with a variety of colorful backdrops. Several different themes are being created to showcase dining, events, shopping, and outdoor recreation.

The history and heritage campaign is already being used on outdoor boards, the 2009 visitors guide, electronic marketing efforts and print advertisements.

“Recent travel research strongly indicates travelers are far more interested in experience oriented vacations filled with activities and adventures,” Greater Parkersburg CVB President Steve Nicely said. “That being said, history is a defining characteristic of Greater Parkersburg and plays into nearly every attraction we have to offer.”

Nicely also indicated that individual inquires were up in 2008.

“The CVB fulfilled 87.8% more individual inquires in 2008 from 2007,” Nicely said. “We answered 13,173 requests for information by mail in 2008 versus 7,014 in 2007. We also answered an additional 1,000 phone and email requests for information on the region.”

The increased number of inquiries could be attributed to two area’s - the bureau’s expanded 2008 marketing campaign and the increased funding by the local hotel tax supported by the Wood County Commission and cities of Parkersburg, Vienna and Williamstown, Nicely explained.

“What people are looking for is changing,” Nicely said. “However our geographic target markets remain the same. The top five states to visit the Welcome Center in the past five years are the same. The only difference is the sequence they fall in the ranking.

It is not too surprising either that the percentage of visitors for nearby states and within the state increased in 2008, which is indicative of people staying closer to home for vacations,”

To learn more about the area and upcoming events, visit www.GreaterParkersburg.com 

The Greater Parkersburg Convention and Visitors Bureau was organized in 1985 and is an independent, nonprofit corporation dedicated to strengthening the area's economy by marketing Greater Parkersburg as a destination for leisure travel, group tours, meetings and conventions. The Bureau is devoted to providing appropriate services for visitors and its partners.

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