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Heartland Travel Showcase Sponsorship a Success!
From our nifty T-shirts,
to the colorful floor tiles, to tour operators anxious to "Get in the Game" and receive their tokens, to the final spin of the Adventures Wheel at Sunday's Breakfast, Northeast Ohio was the center of attention at Heartland Travel Showcase. Several tour operators commented that they had no idea that there was so much to do in Northeast Ohio....well they all know now. It just goes to show the magnitude of success we can achieve when we work together! |
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Membership
Membership Dues for 2009 are now due. If you want to continue to receive the benefits of marketing and PR exposure from this organization and updates in this newsletter, send your renewal to: Mary Olah
Adventures in NE Ohio
27587 Edgepark Blvd.
N. Olmsted, OH 44070.
If you are not sure if you have paid , give Mary a call at 1-877-869-9911 or 440-716-8093. The membership committee will be contacting non-renewals. Remember, this is a membership organization and to carry out the plans and projects, we need everyone to be a part of the group.
Amy Rutledge
If you have not sent in your dues but are working on getting the check cut, please let Mary Olah know as soon as possible so your company will not be excluded from the membership directory. If you need assistance or have any questions, please feel free to contact me.
Mary Olah
Administrative Assistant |
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Where 2 B!
The meeting for February 3rd was held at Northfield Park. Mark Winchell, our president, gave an informative presentation on advertising on a limited budget. Past AINO / WRTC presidents were honored and another fun-filled White Elephant Raffle was held.
March 3rd was a Super Networking meeting held at the Cleveland Airport Marriott. Lisa Kusner facilitated a very informative program, utilizing the Wheel of Adventure. Participants promoted their venue with a marketing presentation and handouts and also incorporated how to partner with another member.
UPCOMING . . .
Amir Eylon from the Ohio Division of Travel and Tourism will be oour speaker on April 7th at the Akron Cracker Barrell restaurnts.
The May 5th meeting will be hosted by the Medina Visitors Bureau (facility to be named) where our Excellence Award will be presented. Dan Hostettler and Tiffany Gerber will speak on organizing a FAM and inviting tour operators to your area or venue.
The June 9th meeting (note this is the 2nd Tuesday, not the first) will be held at Debonne Vineyards, where members can enjoy a light lunch and wine tastings and bidding on our summer auction items.
Please save the above dates, because if you miss a meeting . . . you'll miss a lot. Future events are subject to change; details for each will be sent out closer to the actual date.
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President's Report
Hello Adventures in Northeast Ohio Members! As I sit down to write this, my first letter to you as your president, I'm thinking the long winter is almost behind us. Soon the great spring thaw will bring us the songs of migratory birds and the distinctive smell of the blooming daffodils. Despite the ever-present chance of a late season lake effect snowfall, the early spring months bring a plethora of tourism opportunities. Maple sugaring and steelhead fishing in our rural areas, museum exhibits and performing arts in our urban centers and spring cleaning around our seasonal businesses.
This spring take look around your area, is there someone you can partner with? What do you have to offer the tourist in the early season? Many empty nesters and single leisure travelers like to avoid the traditional summer crowds and enjoy shopping at retailers when lines are shorter.
For Adventures in Northeast Ohio, make sure you use your membership, participate by joining a committee, attend the luncheons and "get your money's worth" out of this great organization. If you have any questions, you can always call me at the ACCVB at 1.800.337.6746 or e-mail me at mwinchell@visitashtabulacounty.com
Thank you and have a great day!
Mark Winchell
President, Adventures in Northeast Ohio
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Cooperative Marketing Part 1
by Bob Yun
Package or Perish. Heard that one before? With the economy changing faster than gasoline prices, everyone with something to sell cannot afford to ignore working with marketing partners. Don't believe me, look at the internet, especially tourist web sites like Travelocity, Expedia, and Orbitz. "Working with" partners can take many different forms. Here are a few ideas I hope you find useful.
Be Creative
There are many possibilities for free co-op marketing. Is what you have to sell of interest to someone else? For years hotels and theaters have worked together very successfully. Look at Phantom of the Opera and Lion King in Toronto over the years and in Cleveland the summer of 2003. Since the late 1990's Visitors Bureau have developed web sites and very sophisticated marketing campaigns where members can do some hard selling, such as overnight packages.
Attraction, hotels, restaurants and other businesses can cross promote one other for free or low cost in a number of ways such as: lead referrals, joint packages for the leisure and group markets, mail each other's literature to clients, exchange mailing lists, host joint FAMiliarization tours and site inspections, develop a sample itinerary, conduct a local or out-of-town sales blitz, web page links, offer Good Any Day coupons at the hotel concierge desk, distribute your literature in someone else display rack, etc. Can you work with your local AAA or Visitors Bureau for non-commissioned sales?
In November 1999 the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum and the Science Center developed the Science Rocks package. Word-of-mount, a one page flier, and repeat business have essentially been their only marketing. The package has been most successful, especially to the student/youth market !
Next month, additional co-op marketing ideas.
© 2009 by Bob Yun
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Families are looking for ways to save this travel season! Put your special offer in front of travelers by participating in Adventures in Northeast Ohio's discount card. The discount card is attached to the Adventures in Northeast Ohio rack card and directs travelers to our website, www.adventuresinnortheastohio.com for a complete list of participating venues. This opportunity to market your business is available at no charge! All you need to do is:
1. Click on the link and complete the information on the  attached spreadsheet
2. Email to: Tonja.Marshall@profootballhof.com3. Notify the appropriate staff at your venue
4. Fulfill the discount when a guest presents the card at your venue
If you participated in 2008, please review your information on the attached spreadsheet and make any necessary revisions for 2009.
Please send all information to Tonja.Marshall@profootballhof.com by Wednesday, March 25th. |
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Sales Luncheon & Mini-Tradeshow
This year Adventures in Northeast Ohio will forgo a multi-day sales mission in favor of a one-day Luncheon and Mini Tradeshow. The board has decided to revamp the concept of the sales mission in an effort to increase member participation as well as increase the potential number of clients that can be contacted in a limited time frame.
We will be traveling to the Detroit, Michigan area on Thursday, April 23, 2009 for a luncheon at the Edsel and Eleanor Ford House from 11:30am - 2:30pm. The guests will be meeting planners, tour operators, and travel agents.
The cost to you is $50.00 per person and includes lunch. Adventures will provide a motorcoach departing from one central location in Richfield, OH at 7:00am. Again this is a one day trip that cuts travel costs and time away from the office for you.
We only have THREE SPOTS left to fill. If you are interested, conact Ally Bussey (allyb@visitcantonstark.com) or Kathy Toth(ktoth@positivelycleveland.com) as soon as possible if you plan to attend. Availability is on a first come first serve basis. Let us know also if you plan to ride the motorcoach and we will reserve a spot for you. Thank you for your time and consideration. We hope to see you there!
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Sincerely,
Kathy Toth, Board Secretary
Adventures in Northeast Ohio |
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