Welcome2015 Tourism Summit

Think Like a Rock Star!

Welcome2015 Tourism Summit

Think Like a Rock Star!

Thanks to Our Sponsors

Tourism in Baldwin CountyIn 2014 we welcomed5.7+ Million Visitors

5,746,282 Invited Guests

Tiffini Krewson Stewart April 24, 2015

We love this place!#mobeachgirls

Jennifer Lynn

April 20, 2015

Most beautiful beach I've ever seen!

Lisa Griffin Sosebee October 6, 2014

Sunsets on the lagoon, in the fall, are gorgeous! Taken at Compass Point in October of 2010. Can't wait to get down there tomorrow. —with John Sosebee.

March #CaptionTheCoast Contest

Ready to enter our Photo Caption Contest? Put your caption for this photo in the comments, using the hashtag #CaptionTheCoast, for your chance to win some Gulf Shores Orange Beach swag!

March #CaptionTheCoast Contest

Does that make usa

Rock Star destination?

5.7+ Million Visitors

$3.5 Billion in Travel-related expenditures

46,000+ Total Jobs

$1.2 Billion in Travel-related wages

Tourism in Baldwin County2014

Data Source: 2014 Baldwin County Economic Impact of Tourism

Gulf Shores & Orange Beach2014

Retail Revenues: 7.7%

Lodging Revenues: 8.6%

Data Source: Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism Destination Growth Indicators

Add Info Graphic

Gulf Shores & Orange Beach2015 YTD

Retail Revenues: 14%

Lodging Revenues: 8%

Data Source: Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism Destination Growth Indicators

Let’s Treat Our Guests Like

Rock Stars!

How can you

Think Like a Rock Star?

Mack Collier specializes in helping companies better connect with customers via social media and digital marketing channels. His clients include businesses of all sizes, from sole proprietorships, to Fortune 100 companies.

Welcome2015 Tourism Summit

Think Like a Rock Star!

YOU Can Be a

Destination Marketing Rock Star!

To Help You Stay Current on Destination Knowledge:

Travel Trends & Visitor Data• PartnerPost email: important trend article links and info links• gulfshores.com/stats has access to:

^ Destination Growth Indicator Reports^ Seasonal Visitor Profile Research Studies^ GSOBT Annual Reports (2015; 2014)^ Accommodations Inventory^ Spring and Fall School Break Schedules^ Welcome Center Industry Partner Showcase Schedule^ Welcome Center Brochure Display Guidelines^ PPTs from Tourism Summit; Digital Marketing Summit; etc.

• Quarterly Group Sales & Sports Commission / Marketing Square Table meetings (Mon., 8/10 8:30-11am; Thurs., 12/10 9-11:30am)

• Lodging inquiry/stay data project

To Put Your Best Foot Forward with Visitors:

• Welcome Centers:^ Pick up a copy TODAY of our Brochure Display Guidelines^ FREE display of your rack card ^ Let (sbrush@gulfshores.com) know about your upcoming events ^ Showcase in the Welcome Centers (winter/fall)^ Sports Commission restaurant partners get special display options

• Safety & Sustainability Tools:^ Beach Safety brochures are available for lodging industry partners ^ Help guests understand beach rules about trash disposal, recycling,

parking, dogs on the beach policies, etc.^ Email updates from GSOBT if a storm is approaching; we will

make sure you get the updates needed to service your guests

• Promotion Tools:^ Event Buttons for Service Staff^ Destination Photography & Video^ Special “Already Here” Pull-up Displays for lodging partners

• GSOBT sites offer Flexibility allowing you to:^ Manage your profile and what appears in your listing^ Include clickable phone numbers in your listing^ Add web links and social apps to your listing; use GSOBT hashtags^ Add leisure deals and offers; add Sports Commission packages^ Update your vacancy (lodging) weekly to capture last-minute planners^ Manage Sales & Sports Commission leads

• IP reports on agccvb.org (IP Extranet)^ Track how engaged GSOBT site visitors are with your company’s special

deals & offers; see which of your site pages are popular with GSOBT visitors researching trips

^ See Sports Commission packages booked results^ View media relations clip mentions of your firm^ View Sales Convention Calendar & Sports Commission Event Schedules

• Key tools:^ Event Tool Kit^ GSOBT Contacts List^ PR How To Guide

GulfShores.com OrangeBeach.comGulfShores.com | OrangeBeach.com

GSOBT Programs toMatch Your Business Promotion

Needs

GSOBT Programs to Make You a Rock Star• Advertising, Promotional & Sponsorship Opportunities

^ WC rack card display; IP Showcases & Lecture Series (Kim Chapman)^ Print co-op (Sherry Dusko)^ Digital Co-ops (Shelley Piraino)^ Online Enhanced Listing (Shelley Piraino)^ Add your web, telephone & social media addresses to listing (Susan Brush)^ Annual Sweepstakes IP Solicitation (Sherry Dusko & GMS)^ Seasonal Group and Individual Press Trip IP Solicitations (Kay Maghan)^ Sales Meeting & Tradeshow Giveaway Requests (Beth Gendler)^ Sports Commission sponsorship options with varying benefit levels (Michelle Russ)^ Take advantage of listing options & event designations with ATD & STS

• Educational & Key Information Programs:^ Regular IP Extranet Training (SimpleView sessions starting 10/13/15) ^ Annual Sports Commission orientation (early 1Q)^ Annual PR Pros Education Session (4/28/15)^ Social Media University (FB Boot Camp 8/11/15; SMU Essentials 8/18-9/9/15;

SMU Immersion 9/15-10/6/15)^ Quarterly Executive Shirt Sleeves (5/7/15)^ STS Marketing College Scholarships (3 awards; deadline 5/31/15)^ Digital Marketing Summit 2016 (2/11/16)

• Sign up for Social Media University – fall classes forming

• Visit Susan Brush at our info table to:^ Update your company information with us for email, meeting & training

invites^ Hand us a business card with the quantity of Beach Safety Brochures

you need 5/31/15-10/31/15 [lodging]^ Welcome Center Brochure Display Guidelines^ Digital Co-op Sign-up Sheet^ Online Enhanced Listing Application^ STS Marketing College Scholarship Application^ Flyer with GSOBT Contacts, social media addresses & hashtags

Take action today! Visit our table in the foyer.

Thanks to Our Sponsors