image courtesy of Galena Country Tourism
There are several avenues used to promote your venue in addition to your venue listing on UniqueVenues.com! You can use a variety of digital advertising strategies, open house events for planners, and more. If you haven’t considered working with your local Tourism Bureau in the past, though, it’s a great partnership to implement moving forward.
First, let’s clarify some jargon. Local Tourism Bureaus can go by many distinct names. For example, a CVB, a DMO, a Tourism Bureau and even a Chamber of Commerce. So what’s the difference? Truthfully, there isn’t that much of a difference, it just depends on the location and what the focus of the destination is.
CVB stands for Convention and Visitors Bureau – they work to bring business events and leisure travellers to the destination.
DMO stands for Destination Management Organization – they are responsible for promoting visitors to the area. They may or may not be involved in bringing business events to the area depending on appropriate meeting facilities.
Local bureaus focused on promoting leisure travel may use the term “Tourism Bureau,” while the responsibility of promoting a destination to increase tourism and visitor spending may fall on the local Chamber of Commerce.
Regardless of the name, these bureaus are typically not-for-profit organizations staffed by local experts who are actively involved in developing the area’s tourism industry. Meeting and event planners can take advantage of their complimentary services.
Tourism is an important industry, which is why many destinations are investing in local bureaus to attract more visitors. Destination Marketing Organizations (DMOs) and Convention and Visitor Bureaus (CVBs), are funded through destination taxes, government support, and membership dues. By working with your local bureau, your venue can gain valuable exposure to meeting planners who may not be familiar with your offerings. These planners rely on bureaus as destination experts who know everything about the local area, venues, hotels, and group activities. The DMO or CVB can simplify the decision-making process and save planners’ valuable time. In light of recovery efforts post-pandemic, many new planners are seeking out the extensive knowledge that the DMO and CVB have to offer.
Here are just some of the benefits to consider when working with your local visitor’s bureau:
- Create an extensive networking platform with other businesses in your area
- Tap into new market segments to build brand recognition and increase sales
- Utilize local resources to expand your venue’s reach
- Connect with meeting and event planners to quickly fill bookings
- Gain valuable insights into the overall destination landscape
Have we convinced you to reach out to your local DMO or CVB? Here are some suggestions on how to enhance your relationship:
- Maximize ROI by hosting “fams” and site visits, contributing F&B or room nights, being clear about the type of business you are looking for, etc.
- Strengthen relationships by attending meetings and events hosted by your bureau
- Keep your venue’s marketing imagery and information up to date
All in all, working with a Convention and Visitors Bureau to help promote your venue can be immensely beneficial! You have access to experts on the destination and information about things that local attendees may be interested in. Plus, many CVBs have incentive programs for organizations and associations that hold events in their destination. So let the eye-opening collaborations, remarkable new experiences and fascinating discoveries begin!
