Membership Benefits

Mission of Southern West Virginia Convention and Visitors Bureau: To promote Southern West Virginia as a visitor friendly travel destination!

Together we can make a difference! Strength in numbers, a unified voice, a solid vision and image are tools that make this organization more effective as a regional marketing destination. This is YOUR invitation to become a member and share in programs and services that over 350 others have been taking advantage of for years.

Marketing Services

The Bureau advertises Southern West Virginia’s attractions in specific markets targeted through a rigorous selection process to deliver the best return on investment. Whenever possible, the Bureau does cooperative advertising with members and the West Virginia Division of Tourism. The Bureau’s Official Visitor’s Guide, a major marketing tool, is distributed to over 225,000 potential visitors, and offers advertising opportunities for members. Up-to-date market research, inclusion on the Bureau’s web site and access to images for advertising and presentation materials are other marketing benefits.

Public Relations

In order to reach the leisure market, travel professionals and professional associations, the Bureau attends as many travel shows and trade shows as possible. The Bureau promotes the area at Tamarack, showcase of West Virginia arts, crafts, food and entertainment. We also work with group tour planners and host tours for travel writers. The staff generates news releases about the area and provides a membership voice in legislative issues.

Education and Informational Support

To help members maximize their advertising dollars, the Bureau unveils their marketing plan for the following year. Members can then advertise in some of the same publications and possibly obtain a better rate. The Bureau hosts one or more educational seminars a year for our members on a variety of subjects. The Bureau distributes a newsletter designed to provide technical help as well as keep members updated about activities within the region. The staff is also prepared to offer technical assistance for a variety of tasks.

Response Management

The Bureau’s Official Visitor’s Guide, updated annually, includes listings for every Bureau member, and is distributed at trade and travel shows, all state welcome centers and Turnpike plazas. The guide is also included in correspondence to future travelers who call the Bureau’s toll-free phone line and visit our web site. For an annual fee, the Bureau will also distribute members’ brochures on a local route, to members and at the welcome centers and Turnpike plazas. All leads generated by the Bureau are also available to members in several formats, and an email report provides names of contacts who requested information. Any lodging property in the membership is eligible for the Hotel Listing Referral System designed to keep travelers in the area by weekend room availability in a weekly email.

Bonus Benefits

Throughout the year the Bureau offers various marketing opportunities to members, to expose them to new markets and new ventures. Maps, visitor’s guides and other promotional materials are available to members, as well as use of the Bureau’s logo for members’ promotional pieces. The annual meeting affords an opportunity to meet and network, as well as to recap the past year’s progress.

Contact

If you have questions or would like to become a member of the Southern West Virginia Convention & Visitors Bureau contact:

Becky Satterfield, Membership Sales, Phone: 304.252.2244
Email: becky@visitwv.com