West Virginia’s Tourism Industry Matches More Than $2.8 Million To Attract Visitors To The State 

Approved requests representing tourism projects from across the state include:

·         Adventure WV Resort – Applicant funding requirement:  $138,777.50; state match:  $138,777.50

Adventure WV Resort has invested 4-plus million dollars into building and improving their facilities and creating the ultimate adventure resort.  Their “Discover West Virginia” program includes complete packaging options that encourage longer, more extensive visits, bundling lodging, food and special entertainment events that encourage customer participation.  This marketing partnership includes multiple industry members working together to raise awareness of the Southern West Virginia region and the tourism activities offered therein.   Media includes radio advertising in Columbus, Cincinnati and Charlotte as well as Internet media, direct mail, Web site development and trade shows.          

·         Charles Town Races and Slots – Applicant funding requirement: $380,058.83; state match $380,058.83 
The Charles Town Races and Slots (CTRS) program includes a targeted media focus in the Washington, D.C., and Baltimore markets utilizing print, radio, television and direct mail.  The organization also will use its database to target repeat customers with incentives and promotions to drive visitation and increase length of stay to the Charles Town facility and the Eastern Panhandle.  The CTRS campaign includes packaging with Locust Hill Golf Course to invite out-of-state visitors to “stay ’n’ play.”

·         Charleston Civic Center/Municipal Auditorium – Applicant funding requirement:  $38,650.75; state match:  $38,650.75

The Charleston Civic Center/Municipal Auditorium “Target West Virginia” campaign will focus on attracting regional and state meetings, conventions, sporting and entertainment events and performances, as well as national concerts to the city of Charleston through strategic print media and trade show attendance.  Entertainment ads will reflect the value of Charleston’s centralized location in the Mid-Atlantic region.  The Civic Center has partnered with the Charleston Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) traveling to trade shows in order to advise planners of the numerous amenities of the region. 

 ·         Charleston CVB – Applicant funding requirement:  $252,387.00; state match:  $252,386.00

The Charleston CVB’s 2009-10 program targets meeting and event planners, group travel planners, tour operators and visitors through targeted regional and national print and Internet media, as well as direct mail and trade shows.  The goal of the campaign is to increase the economic impact of tourism and meeting/conventions/events in the city of Charleston and the state of West Virginia. Due to increased advertising and trade show participation made possible through matching funds provided in 2008, Charleston hosted 55 meetings/conventions/events with a total economic impact of $27.9 million. 

·         Collis P. Huntington Railroad Historical Society – Applicant funding requirement:  $30,000.00; state match:  $30,000.00

The primary goal for the 2009 Collis P. Huntington Railroad campaign is to further the success of the New River Train by reaching new and returning guests through traditional media as well as extensive efforts to the tour bus operators in the eastern United States.  Print media will be focused in Dayton, Akron, and Cincinnati, Ohio, as well as the Charleston and Lexington markets.  This year’s program also includes television advertising in the Cincinnati market.  Based on their matching advertising program done in 2008, the train was 100 percent sold out before the first trip for the first time in their 42-year history.

·         The Greenbrier – Applicant funding requirement:  $363,307.00; state match:  $363,307.00

The Greenbrier’s 2009 campaign partners the newly acquired resort with Greenbrier Outfitters, The Greenbrier Valley Airport and Tamarack to re-establish initiatives directed to their core customers in the D.C., Maryland, Virginia, Ohio, New York, West Virginia, North Carolina and Pennsylvania markets.  The program includes targeted print, broadcast and Internet media.

·         Greenbrier County CVB – Applicant funding requirement:  $200,457.80; state match:  $200,457.80

The “Greenbrier Valley, WV:  Cherished Times” campaign incorporates print, broadcast and Internet media, as well as Web development, direct mail and trade shows in order to target leisure travelers and group tour planners.  Goals include increased awareness of Greenbrier Valley as a vacation destination, increase in frequency and duration of overnight stays, and fortifying the group tour market.  The program closely monitors all inquiries as well as hotel-motel occupancy rates in order to effectively evaluate media placements.

·         Jefferson County CVB – Applicant funding requirement:  $286,256.92; state match:  $286,256.91

Primary markets for the “Discover It All in West Virginia’s Eastern Gateway” campaign include Washington, D.C., Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and Delaware.  The economic trend for more short term getaways allows Jefferson County to benefit from showcasing their tourism experience to densely populated areas, particularly along the Baltimore-Washington Corridor and in Northern Virginia.  Media within the campaign includes print, broadcast and Internet, as well as trade show participation targeting leisure travelers, group tour operators and meeting planners.

·         The CVB of Marion County – Applicant funding requirement:  $88,178.13; state match:  $88,178.12

The CVB of Marion County’s 2009/2010 campaign is designed to demonstrate the abundance of cultural, heritage and outdoor recreation opportunities available to visitors in order to increase length of stay and appeal to a broader audience. Advertising includes print and broadcast media, Internet media in Pittsburgh, Washington, D.C., and Cleveland, and trade shows to attract motorcoach tour operators.

 ·         Martinsburg-Berkeley County CVB – Applicant funding requirement:  $135,070.00; state match:  $135,070.00

The “Event-Full!  Martinsburg-Berkeley County, WV!” campaign is designed to highlight cultural and natural attractions as well as signature tourism events in order to extend the length of stay for visitors residing in metro Atlantic population centers.  Media includes print, broadcast and Internet, as well as billboards and trade shows in Washington, D.C., Baltimore, West Virginia, Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania.

·         Mercer County CVB – Applicant funding requirement:  $103,100.00; state match:  $103,100.00

Focusing on cultural/heritage tourism, the Mercer County CVB’s 2009/2010 program continues to market the rich history, attractions and events in Mercer County.  The goal of the CVB is to increase awareness of the area, attract more visitors and increase overnight stays.  Advertising, including print and Internet, emphasizes a theme of coal and railroad town heritage to target visitors from the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast.  Trade shows are aimed at travel agents and motorcoach associations in Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio, North Carolina and South Carolina.  

·         Mountaineer Casino Racetrack and Resort – Applicant funding requirement:  $192,894.68; state match:  $192,894.68

The “Mountaineer Casino Racetrack and Resort We’re the Reel Deal” is designed to attract new table games players and slot players via direct mail, radio, television, print and billboard advertising in Ohio and Pennsylvania.  The campaign also is designed to help promote trip frequency among existing players via direct mail with rewards programs and special offers.

·         Snowshoe Mountain – Applicant funding requirement:  $272,048.50; state match $272,048.50

Snowshoe Mountain’s winter 2009-10 marketing campaign will utilize direct mail, print, radio and outdoor advertising with the theme of “smart, safe and economical” vacation options.  Media is targeted to visitors in Washington, D.C., Virginia and North Carolina and demonstrates a significant economic impact on the area’s tourism efforts as Snowshoe receives approximately 500,000 wintertime visitors, with 95 percent coming from outside the state of West Virginia.  Snowshoe Mountain also generates 90 percent of the county hotel/motel tax.  Partners within this program include the National Radio Astronomy Observatory and Pocahontas County CVB.

·         Tri-State Racetrack and Gaming – Applicant funding requirement:  $204,343.43; state match:  $204,343.43

Tri-State Racetrack & Gaming’s “Rollin’, Spinnin’, and Hittin’ it Big, Mardi Gras Style!” seeks to increase tourism awareness by promoting to visitors within a 4- to 5-hour drive of this destination.  The campaign incorporates direct mail, billboards, and advertising in newspaper, magazines, television, and the Internet in target markets which include West Virginia, Ohio, Virginia, Kentucky and North Carolina.

 ·         Wheeling Island Hotel Casino Racetrack – Applicant funding requirement:  $140,262.18; state match:  $140,262.18

This campaign will promote Wheeling Island Hotel Casino Racetrack, the city of Wheeling and West Virginia throughout the tri-state region, with heavy concentration on the metro markets of Pittsburgh and Columbus.  The program includes print, radio and direct mail promoting an amenity-packed destination for gaming, leisure, events, conferences and recreation.

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