IN Columbus program launched
Members can submit special offers to promote their business
At the Experience Columbus Annual Meeting on March 10, incoming chair Sandra Harbrecht announced a new program called IN Columbus, designed to give the local hospitality industry a boost during these challenging economic times.
Experience Columbus brings together attractions, restaurants, visual and performing arts organizations and hotels to creatively package and promote an array of events and create enticing incentives to come to Columbus – including special ticket packages and discounts on hotels and dining.
The Web-based IN Columbus program consists of four initiatives to protect tourism sales, tax revenues and jobs in Central Ohio.
Play IN Columbus is about helping local residents appreciate and enjoy all Columbus offers as a visitor destination. Experience Columbus provides information on free and low-cost events, activities and attractions, along with sample itineraries. Members can post special offers and discounts on the Web site. The goal is to keep locals informed and make it easy for them to Experience Columbus.
Friends and Family IN Columbus encourages residents to invite people from out-of-town to come to Columbus to see a play, go to a museum, shop or dine. Experience Columbus provides an Internet and social media ToolKit — including events calendars, RSS feeds and blogs, Flicker and Facebook — to make it easy to invite friends and family to have a great time in Columbus. Discounts at hotels, restaurants, attractions and entertainment are available.
The third initiative is Meet IN Columbus. When it comes to organizations making a decision about where to hold a convention, a personal connection can make a big difference. Experience Columbus is assigning sales and service managers to work closely with local business leaders, university personnel and association executives to sell them on the benefits of inviting their meetings, conferences and conventions to Columbus.
The last initiative involves industry partners in a collaborative effort to bring in leisure tourists from across Ohio and the Midwest. It’s called Better Together IN Columbus, and is focused on developing a more expansive and inclusive mind-set about how to market Columbus.
Experience Columbus will get the word out about IN Columbus with an integrated marketing plan, including advertising, public relations and social media.
Experience Columbus is the official travel and tourism resource for Columbus, Ohio
277 W. Nationwide Blvd., Ste. 125 - Columbus, Ohio 43215
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