Cincinnati's hometown campaign
Destinations around the country have gotten more creative with their marketing efforts, putting different spins on their campaigns to bring in conventions and visitors. For the past four years, the Cincinnati USA Convention and Visitors Bureau has led a successful regional collaboration to bring record-setting numbers of new conventions and their economic impact to the city. Now, the CVB is challenging Cincinnatians who are affiliated with professional associations, religious organizations, hobby groups, sports and other competitive activities, special events and annual meetings to support its “Think Global, Meet Local” program. The goal: Simply invite an organization with which you are already actively involved to bring a convention or meeting to Cincinnati.
“There are so many people who are both passionate about this city and actively involved with a variety of social and business organizations,” says Dan Lincoln, CVB president and CEO. “We want to motivate those people to be proactive advocates of the region and use their influence within their organizations to drive economic impact for Cincinnati USA.”
The program launched on May 18 when dozens of local professionals, dignitaries and hospitality students at the University of Cincinnati and Xavier University participated in a phone blitz to spread the word about the city’s hotels, attractions and meeting facilities. For additional incentive, any person who connects the CVB to a meeting, convention or special event with which they are involved will be entered to win a $500 Cincinnati USA Gift Card. Residents can submit their meeting or convention information at cincyusa.com/meetlocal.
Last year, Cincinnati won the 2011 Prince Hall Shriners annual meeting, the highly coveted 2013 National Fraternal Order of Police convention, and the 2012 World Choir Games, which will be the largest international event in the history of the region. In 2010, the region will host several more high-profile events, including the Gospel Music Workshop of America annual convention, the National Conference of Black Mayors convention and the annual conference of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers.
“Some of our best wins started with a simple introduction by a local member of a national organization,” says Barrie Perks, vice president of sales and services at the bureau. “Just a phone call or a letter, then we take it from there.”
Read “CVBs ratchet up marketing” for more ways CVBs are getting creative.
