2016-466 Visitors Bureau - Town of Carrboro support for N. American Travel Journalist Association Conference

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Request for Funds Project- Carrboro Tourism Development Authority Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitors Bureau initiatives: • To position Orange County as a desirable meeting or vacation destination to select visitor markets, with careful consideration of the needs and assets of the communities that comprise Orange County. • To work in cooperation with community organizations to achieve an effective,coordinated and comprehensive marketing program with high-quality collateral materials, programs and services. • To serve as a countywide leader in developing strategies for consistently providing quality visitor services to the travelers who visit Orange County. • To encourage longer stays, increased spending and repeat visits of travelers to Orange County. Marlene Barbera, Director of Sales, is the lead on the NATJA project.The visitor's bureau has a staff of 6 full time employees.We will coordinate volunteer staff to help with conference including; staff from each of our 3 town governments, UNC representatives,Chapel Hill/Carrboro Chamber of Commerce,Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership, local attractions representatives,local celebrities/artists/writers,Visitors Bureau Board members and more! Marketing- • Before,during and after NATJA conferences,media and DMO attendees take to Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and other social media outlets to post about the conference,the host destination and the activities and workshops in which they participate. • Estimated RO1 is over$8 million for a destination our size through social media • NATJA Conference website which will have videos and destination information to promote conference. • The Visitors Bureau will also help promote conference through; press releases,website,our social media outlets,articles about how Orange County was selected as host destination. • Carrboro will be recognized as a major sponsor of event.Town logo will be used in marketing materials, and publications including the conference program book,at events,media outlets,etc. Tourism Enhancement- • Destination exposure and opportunity for Carrboro to.showcase what makes the town unique and place that visitors want to come experience. • Positive economic impact for local businesses and restaurants through tours and dine around night during event and in the future. • NATJA conferences offer a unique opportunity for destinations to host and showcase the best attractions, sights, culinary selections,etc.in the destination to travel media.Media attendees take advantage of opportunities to shop around stories prior to and after each conference. • Within a year of a NATJA Conference,media actively publish articles focusing on the experiences provided by the host destination in a variety of print and digital outlets,further maximizing the host's ROL To that extent,the host destination may appear on published content for years to come. • Opportunity for Carrboro representative to meet one-on-one with travel journalists at the Marketplace on May 18, 2017 to pitch story ideas.