 |
|
Welcome to 2016. We are excited about this year as it marks the 125th anniversary of the Door County Visitor Bureau (DCVB). The DCVB is the third oldest Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) in the United States following Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Des Moines, Iowa respectively, both forming in 1888.
At its inception the DCVB was named the Businessmen's Association of the City of Sturgeon Bay. The incorporation paperwork was signed April 8, 1891 and we still have that original document hanging in our offices. The intent was to create a group of business owners that felt they were stronger as a group than individuals in driving more tourism business to Door County. In 1915 the organization changed its name to the Sturgeon Bay Commercial Club. In 1921 the name changed again to the Sturgeon Bay Chamber of Commerce. On May 26, 1924 and for the next 80 years until 2004, the name was the Door County Chamber of Commerce. Actually to many people of Door County we will always be called "the Chamber". In 2004, keeping with the times when names were the keystone of an organization, the organization took on the moniker of the Door County Chamber of Commerce and Visitor & Convention Bureau. In October of 2006, a restructuring of the organization took place with many changes ready to take hold, at this point the Door County Visitor Bureau took on its name.
 Although the name has changed over the last 125 years, the mission and vision of driving more visitors to Door County has remained primarily the same. We are very proud of our history and the role it has played in making Door County one of the most sought out vacation destinations in the Midwest.
We will weave some historic items into our marketing and visuals this year as we tip our hats to our founding "fathers" from 1891. Although the world has changed dramatically in the last 125 years it is a pleasure to hear people still refer to Door County as that quaint destination on a peninsula in northeastern Wisconsin. A place their families have come to for generations and still has some of the great businesses that their grandparents took them to as children. If you have any historic photos of your business, we would love a scanned copy - jack@doorcounty.com. Please join us in celebrating the Door County brand and the role the "chamber' has played in it for the last 125 years.
Best Regards,
Jack Moneypenny, President/CEO
920-818-1131
|
|
|
MARKETING & SALES
Michelle Rasmusson, Director
|
2016 TV SPOT - Live Life Well
We are excited to give you the first look at our 2016 TV spot before we share it with the world! The spot opens with a couple's worry, stress and daily struggles; along with the transformation of leaving it all behind when you arrive in Door County. It embodies the relaxing and rejuvenating qualities that allow visitors and residents alike to Live Life Well.
The spot will start airing in early spring in Chicago, Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay and the Fox Cities through cable and/or broadcast as well as targeted locations through online streaming throughout the year. Enjoy! https://youtu.be/ei3SjkDSziU
2016 Co-op Advertising Opportunities 
The co-op plan was released to our members in early December and while some options have already filled, there are still plenty of great advertising opportunities left. View the Full Co-op Plan and submit this Contract to secure your spot. For more information and to find out about availability, contact Laura Bradley at laurab@doorcounty.com or 818-1137. Everything is on a first come, first serve basis - sign up TODAY!
Upcoming Ad Deadlines/Spots Almost Full
- February eNewsletter: Event listing($100), Ad($500), Article($850)
- Midwest Living (May/June Issue): 1/6 pg ad ($1,100), 1/4 pg ad ($1,850)
- Door County Wedding Guide: Only 5 spots left ($250)
|
|
|
COMMUNICATIONS & PR
Jon Jarosh, Director
|
|
Media
Media assistance was provided to 15 journalists/media outlets in December by providing images, information, on-air/on-camera interviews and/or support for Door County based articles and stories. A few highlights included TravelGirl magazine, Endless Vacation Magazine, WLUK FOX 11 and locally WDOR radio, Peninsula Pulse and Door County Living.
2016 Press Trip Dates Announced
Our media marketing program with Geiger & Associates Public Relations is ready to roll in 2016 with 7 scheduled press trips on the calendar. We have four larger seasonally themed trips as well as three slightly more focused trips planned this year, including:
- February 18-21 - winter theme
- May 19-22 - spring theme
- June 16-19 - islands/lighthouses theme
- June 20-24 - summer theme
- August 22-25 - outdoor recreation/silent sports theme
- September 12-15 - arts/culture theme
- October 17-21 - fall theme
As we've always done with our press trips, each one will have a variety of activity tracts available for journalists to participate in based on their individual editorial needs. Interested in hosting journalists during one of our press trips this year? Let me know.
Since our media marketing program with Geiger & Associates began in 2007, we've generated more than $14.5 million worth of publicity for Door County through earned media coverage. View PDFs of the more than 1,550 articles and stories that have been written via Google Drive here. New articles are added each month.
|
|
|
MEMBERSHIP
Phil Berndt, Director
|
HAPPIEST SEASIDE TOWN IN AMERICA - VOTE TODAY! 
Sturgeon Bay has been nominated as one of the 10 Happiest Seaside Towns in America and an online poll is in progress to determine which town will be named number 1! Click HERE to vote - voting is easy (no sign up!) and open through 2 a.m. January 25th. You can vote from the same device or computer every hour!!!
UP YOUR GAME with InnLine Enhancements!
Make sure you've put Your BEST foot/photo forward before potential visitors start pouring over DoorCounty.com looking for travel ideas after the 1st of the Year!
BIGGER, BETTER IMAGES!  We've all heard the saying, "a picture is worth a thousand words" and, as cliché as it is, it has never been more true. From social media to web design, the focus is on bigger, better images and during our recent redesign of DoorCounty.com we made it possible to enlarge your photos with the click of a mouse, however, chances are we need a new photo from you to take full advantage of this fabulousness! No additional charge. Click HERE to find out what we need from you!
MORE PHOTOS! If you're really looking to pump up the effectiveness of your InnLine Page, consider the impressions you'll make by adding an eye-catching slideshow to your page with InnLine's Additional Photo Enhancement. This snappy feature embeds a Five-photo Slideshow on your page to really show off your business - AND, they can be updated as often as you like!
TELL YOUR (Whole) STORY! Some businesses just don't fit into a standard descriptive paragraph so, if one of those businesses is YOURS, consider the satisfaction of being able to express yourself in 200 characters or more (a LOT more) with InnLine's Unlimited Text Enhancement. The idea is to set the hook while you've got their attention on DoorCounty.com with details that are unique to your business and important to your customers and their Door County experience!
|
|
|
CERTIFIED TOURISM AMBASSADOR PROGRAM 
Christine Salmon, Program Coordinator
|
|
CONGRATULATIONS!
Our first-ever CTA of the Month has been selected from nominations submitted in December. Please help us congratulate Randy Zahn, Head of Maintenance at Waterbury Inn, Ephraim!
|
| |
Randy Zahn, Head of Maintenance, Waterbury Inn, Ephraim, WI
|
The nomination form shared that "Whatever needs to be done he is right there to pitch in no matter what. He has helped employees move, helped get their vehicles open when they have locked the keys in their car, has given their vehicles a jump and gets to know our guests and his fellow co-workers on a personal level."
We are proud to have you as a member of our CTA family, Randy! You will receive a $25 Door County gift certificate, and be submitted for consideration for the CTA of the Year Award, given out in May at the National Travel & Tourism Day breakfast.
If you have a Door County Tourism Ambassador that you would like to nominate for the monthly award, please click on this link for the quick form (and easy online submission). http://goo.gl/forms/OlRsGhrWmL
BECOME A CTA
If you haven't become a Certified Tourism Ambassador, yet, or know someone who should.... please visit www.CTANetwork.com to register for one of the 7 classes scheduled in 2016. The $25 fee includes class materials, 4-hour training, Certificate, and gold CTA pin. The training is informative and interactive, teaching about Door County history, tourism, attractions, resources & customer  service.
We look forward to seeing you in a class soon!
For more information on the CTA program and how it can benefit you and your business, please contact Christine at christine@doorcounty.com or (920) 818-1134.
|
|
2016 Official Visitor Guides are HERE!
2016 Visitor guides are in and being delivered. If you haven't gotten them yet or need more please contact Jennifer.
Paper Boy has been dropping them and stocking places since last week. Also, the insert map in the new guide is available if you want some for your staff to hand out or put on the counter.
Also, don't forget to enter your guests names online so they can receive a guide in the mail.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
