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SEE WHAT MAKES COLUMBUS

UNIQUE EXCITING UNEXPECTED

OPEN SMART

DESTINATION COLUMBUS • 15TH LARGEST U.S. CITY

• TOP-RANKED ATTRACTIONS

• EMERGING CULINARY DESTINATION

• CULTURALLY DIVERSE, OPEN

• 62.2 MILLION VISITOR TRIPS IN 2011

• $7.8 BILLION IN VISITOR SPENDING

COLUMBUS #1s

FOOD SCENE

SHOPPING

ARTS

SPORTS

• 1.7 MILLION SQ FT OF SPACE • 410,000 GSF OF EXHIBIT SPACE • LARGEST BALLROOM IN MIDWEST • GREEN INITIATIVES

GREATER COLUMBUS

CONVENTION CENTER

• 3,800 HOTEL ROOMS DOWNTOWN • 7 HOTELS CONNECTED/ ADJACENT

TO CONVENTION CENTER • BOTH FULL-SERVICE AND BUDGET

HOTELS

CONVENTION PACKAGE

THE ART OF “STORYTELLING”

Craft the Story (Strategy):

• Look at national trends driving travel decisions

• Look at what’s emerging/trending in Columbus (be authentic)

• Find the people behind the businesses, the real storytellers

• Take into account drive markets

• Separate strategies for vertical markets:

o LGBT

o Culinary

o Group Travel

o Meetings

THE ART OF “STORYTELLING”

Tell the Story (Tactics):

• Press Releases

• Blogger Outreach

• Social Media

o Facebook

o Twitter

o YouTube

o Pinterest

• Press Trips/FAMs

• Deskside Chats, Media Missions

• Food Mailers

ISSUES EFFECTING OUR INDUSTRY

Travel Industry

• Economy is bouncing back, but will never be the same

• Gas prices

• Building the business case for tourism

• For DMO’s, staying relevant as an influencer, information source

Changing Media Landscape

• Downsizing of newspaper and magazine in-house staff

• Increased prevalence of freelance writers

• Increased influence of bloggers

ISSUES EFFECTING OUR INDUSTRY

Travel Industry

• Show value as a destination

• Know your regional markets as well as national/international markets

• Show the economic development tourism creates for communities

Changing Media Landscape

• Targeted, relevant and timely pitches to print

• Offer round-ups/trends stories including your competitors

• Work with freelancers to help sell the story up to editors/publishers

• Understand nuances of working with bloggers and value their voice/reach

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