Provided by Visit Bucks County:
Credit: Wikimedia Common
Visit Bucks County (VBC), the official tourism promotion agency, recently launched a new initiative, Bring Home the Business, to encourage locals to help the tourism office bring more meetings, group tours and sports tournaments to the area. The primary goal of the program is to educate Bucks County residents and the business community about the economic impact these types of events have on the area’s economy.
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Through Bring Home the Business, locals can get involved by helping the tourism office’s sales team identify and connect with appropriate organizations, as well as tournament and meeting organizers. From there, Visit Bucks County does the heavy lifting to put in a bid for potential business opportunities.
“Nearly everyone in the area is connected to a professional association, sport or social club that needs venues for meetings, tournaments or group outings,” said Jerry Lepping, executive director for Visit Bucks County. “Visitor spending in Bucks County generates more than $877 million in economic impact and supports more than 11,600 jobs. We want to inspire passionate locals to help us bring these events, large or small, home so Bucks County can continue to thrive.”
On a national level, the U.S. Travel Association recently launched a new “Meetings Mean Business” campaign to highlight the impact of meeting and events on destinations around the country. According to a recent PwC study, the meetings industry contributed more than $280 billion to the economy in 2012.
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Once a meeting, conference, group or sport tournament has made the decision to host their event in Bucks County, the tourism office’s sales team provides complimentary services to ensure a seamless planning process, including:
- Recommending venues and services needed for the event
- Assisting with coordinating hotel room blocks
- Serving as liaison with local municipalities
- Providing welcome packets and Destination Maps
- Announcing and welcoming groups through public relations and social media efforts
The tourism office recognizes those who help bring meetings, events and sports tournaments to the area through a special “Destinations Champions” page on VisitBucksCounty.com.
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“Although many counties throughout the state had contacted me to host the Pennsylvania Prothonotaries’ and Clerks of Courts’ Association (PAPCCA) Annual Conference, my own County of Bucks was indeed my first priority,” said Mary Smithson, a Washington Crossing resident and the driving force behind bringing this 150-person meeting to Bucks County in 2015. “Next July will prove beyond a doubt that Bucks County is a place which not only ensures artistic culture, but is also rich in history and beautiful scenery.” Smithson’s story, along with several other Destination Champions, are featured on Visit Bucks County’s website.
For more information about Bring Home the Business, please check out VisitBucksCounty.com/BringHomeBusiness.
