BuckeyeLine

Halfway Through 2008 and Your Tourism Division is Sizzling!

It’s the beginning of July, and I cannot believe that 2008 is already halfway completed! I am sure that I am not the only one who is amazed by the date. As we are mid-way through the calendar year and just beginning a new fiscal year, we need to pause for a moment and reflect on our current path. Our journey so far can be summarized in five key points:

• A Successful Creation and Execution of a New Integrated Marketing Campaign (including an integrated multicultural component)
• A continued pattern of excellence in our award-winning public relations program
• Increased Industry Outreach (Eight in 2008!)
• New partnerships for Industry Members at All Levels (ex. Marketing, PR, online, educational)
• A proactive approach to turn challenges into opportunities

Not a bad first half of 2008! But there is still much more to accomplish.

Division Announces Partnership with Safelite AutoGlass!

You have until July 10, 2008, to submit information for an exciting new partnership created to generate additional in-state regional overnight visits. The Ohio Tourism Division and Safelite AutoGlass are teaming up to create a coupon book containing money-saving or added-value tourism coupons redeemable at various travel destinations throughout Ohio.

Inaugural Meeting of Ohio Film Advisory Group Set for July 8

On July 8, the Ohio Film Office Advisory Group will gather for their first meeting to provide feedback and ideas as to how we can grow Ohio’s production industry. The 40-member Advisory Group consists of industry professionals representing production companies, rental house facilities, advertising agencies, educational institutions, regional film commission offices and partner offices throughout the state. This group will support the efforts of the Ohio Film Office and act as ambassadors throughout the state to recruit and retain the film/video production industry. Christina Grozik, Director of the Ohio Film Office, will lead the group in carrying out their mission.

2009 Ohio Travel Planner Listing Deadline July 23

Be part of the 2009 Ohio Travel Planner! All Ohio travel and tourism entities are invited to submit/update their organizations’ information in the Buckeye database by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, July 23, to have their free listing considered for inclusion in the 2009 Ohio Travel Planner (400,000 printed).

Ohio Tourism Call to Action for Ohio Military Families

It’s estimated that approximately 20,000 Ohioans have been deployed to war zones and other parts of the world since Sept. 11, 2001. When these service men and women come back home after months of being overseas, many of them spend time with their families and loved ones.

2009 Spring/Summer Ohio Calendar of Events Opportunities

To have your Ohio tourism event considered for inclusion in the printed 2009 Spring/Summer Ohio Calendar of Events (100,000 quantity printed), please submit/update your information in the Buckeye database by 5 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 5. The calendar will include events that take place between March and August of 2009. Due to space limitations, not all events submitted and approved will appear in the printed calendar; however, all approved events will be available on DiscoverOhio.com.

“Livin’ for the Weekend in Ohio” Multicultural Campaign Rocks Ohio!

The Ohio Tourism Division and our multicultural marketing firm, Singleton & Partners, rolled out Ohio’s new multicultural tourism advertising campaign to the music of the O’Jays and the cheers of hundreds of people in Cleveland and Cincinnati in June.

Lieutenant Governor Lee Fisher, who also serves as Director of the Ohio Department of Development, joined Tourism Director Amir Eylon and Assistant Tourism Director Alicia Reece to introduce Ohio’s new multicultural television commercial on June 9 at the House of Blues in Cleveland. Many thanks to our event co-sponsors in Cleveland: House of Blues, Greater Cleveland Minority Inclusion Network, Radio One, Positively Cleveland and the Call & Post.

International Pow Wow Wrap Up

With the dollar at record lows against many world currencies, international travel to the United States is heating up this summer! State Tourism Director Amir Eylon and Marketing Coordinator Joe Vargo attended the Travel Industry of America’s International Pow Wow in early June, and interest in Ohio as a destination was up. Whether it was during appointments with tour operators or with the media, people wanted to hear more about Ohio. As a state, we are well positioned to take advantage of this increased interest.

PRSA/SATW Conference Overview

Jessie Wagner, Public Relations Coordinator at the Division, attended the 2008 PRSA/SATW (Public Relations Society of America/Society of American Travel Writers) conference June 18-20 in Pittsburgh where the theme “Go for Green!” provided information on effective ways to market “green” travel and a forum to interact with numerous members of the media.

One of the major issues of the conference was addressed by Andy Dumaine, founder of shrinkingfootprint.com, a marketing Web site that aims to develop sustainable tourism initiatives. Andy spoke about the concept of “the Era of Exponentiality” and how the world as a whole is increasingly using finite sources (like water, energy, etc.) and how this conflicts with tourism and tourists’ desires to “splurge” while on vacation.

Best Practices: Marketing on the Run – Ypartnership

It seems that "Chapter 2" of the story of how the Internet will impact the practice of marketing in the travel industry is about to be written, and one of the headlines will undoubtedly herald the arrival of "mobility marketing."