Parkersburg, WV - The Greater Parkersburg Convention & Visitors Bureau will participate in 12 trade and travel related shows in 2008, beginning this weekend in Cincinnati, Ohio.
“The winter season is considered a ‘shoulder’ season to our prime summer/fall tourism months and is an ideal time to attend shows for both the leisure and group markets and promote why one should visit our region of the United States,” CVB President Steve Nicely said.
The bureau will participate in the following shows in 2008:
January 18-27 Cincinnati Travel, Sports & Boat Show in Cincinnati, Ohio
January 29-30 Snowbird Extravaganza in Lakeland, Florida
February 7-10 Columbus Sports, Vacation & Boat Show in Columbus, Ohio
February 13-17 Allegheny Sport, Travel & Outdoor Show Expomart in Monroeville, Pennsylvania
February 15-24 Indianapolis Boat, Sport, Travel Show in Indianapolis, Indiana
February 27 – March 2 Southern Spring Home & Garden Show in Charlotte, North Carolina
February 29 – March 2 Erie Sports & Travel Show in Erie, Pennsylvania
March 7-16 Pittsburgh Home & Garden Show in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
March 8-9 Heartland Travel Showcase in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
March 13-16 Washington Home & Garden Show in Washington, D.C.
March 12-16 Cleveland Sport, Travel & Outdoor Show in Cleveland, Ohio
August 26-28 Going on Faith Show in Davenport, Iowa
In addition, the bureau will attend a media marketplace August 3-6 in Annapolis, Maryland to meet with travel writers and editors from throughout the mid-Atlantic region. The annual conference is hosted by the Mid-Atlantic Tourism Public Relations Alliance, a grassroots organization that incorporates more than 50 communication officers and specialists from six states and the District of Columbia.
“We feel that the demographics of the home and garden show attendees are a better match than other trade shows. Historically, the sports shows have drawn people primarily who are interested in hunting and fishing and other outdoor activities,” Nicely said. “In discussing with other destinations what shows to attend this year, we feel that a blend of the two will prove beneficial. Some sports shows have a very strong travel component. And we have tried to retain those in our schedule and eliminate shows where that presence is not has strong.”
“Besides providing information to the consumer, we also need to gather information from the consumer,” Nicely continued. “We need to continually hear what people are interested in and what they are looking for in a vacation destination. These trade shows allow us to hear the voice of the customer first-hand.”
The majority of the travel shows are being coordinated through the West Virginia Association of CVB’s co-op program. Each participating CVB will provide packets of brochures on their respective region for distribution through a general West Virginia tourism booth at each show.
Representatives from the Greater Parkersburg CVB will also attend, in person, two group tour shows with a region specific booth.
“Our materials will be created to encourage group tour leaders and operators to contact the bureau office for further information,” Nicely said. “We also will have specific appointments with selected group tour planners and will follow-up with each person, depending upon what they are interested.”
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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Posted on: January 23, 2008
