LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT As I recall, when the CVB was organized in 1985, we had one very slow computer and no fax machine, no email and no Internet. There was a staff of two working in two rented offices and a storeroom. Most of our promotional materials (ads, brochures, etc.) were designed in-house. Our first visitors guide was published in 1988, and we printed 25,000 copies in two-colors. We now print 75,000 copies of a full-color guide. Back then most of our outreach efforts consisted of writing news releases and attending a few travel shows. Actual advertising placement was extremely limited with $2,180 budgeted for this expense (compared to $94,408 in 2009). In those early years our total advertising and marketing expenses were $27,520 (22.4% of budget) compared to the $324,527 (54.7% of budget) the CVB spent for advertising and marketing in 2009. As the saying goes, “We’ve come a long way baby.” The emphasis in that statement must be on the “we” because the growth and success of the CVB and the area’s tourism industry has truly been a team effort. I cannot begin to name all the individuals and organizations who can justifiably share the credit for the incredibly significant accomplishments this organization has enjoyed in its first 25 years. There have certainly been a lot of changes, and the CVB definitely does not currently do business the same way it did in 1985, or even in 2005. Destination marketing today and in the future will involve greater use of the Internet, social media and other electronic means of communication. I believe the Greater Parkersburg CVB is well-positioned to continue the successes of the past 25 years as we move ahead. My deepest thanks and appreciation to those who have contributed in some way to making the Greater Parkersburg CVB the effective, viable organization it is today. Steven W. Nicely Convention & Visitors Bureau 2002 1995 2006 Butch Shaver and Maie Webster - 1994 CVB ce grand opening
25 Year MembersThe Bureau is very pleased to honor and thank the following businesses and organizations that have been members of the Bureau since its founding in 1985.
AAA West Penn/West Virginia
Blennerhassett Hotel
Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park
Camden-Clark Memorial Hospital
Central Distributing (formerly Parkersburg Distributing)
Chamber of Commerce of the Mid-Ohio Valley
Coldwell Banker-Landmark Realtors
Colombo’s Restaurant
Community Bank
DaVincis Restaurant
Days Inn
Dominion Hope
Domino’s Pizza
DuPont Washington Works
Fenton Art Glass Gift Shop
SABIC (formerly GE Plastics)
Grand Central Mall
Huntington Bank
Knight’s Inn/Motel 6
Parkersburg Homecoming Festival
LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENTAs I recall, when the CVB was organized in 1985, we had one very slow computer and no fax machine, no email and no Internet. There was a staff of two working in two rented of� ces and a storeroom.
Most of our promotional materials (ads, brochures, etc.) were designed in-house. Our � rst visitors guide was published in 1988, and we printed 25,000 copies in two-colors. We now print 75,000 copies of a full-color guide. Back then most of our outreach efforts consisted of writing news releases and attending a few travel shows. Actual advertising placement was extremely limited with $2,180 budgeted for this expense (compared to $94,408 in 2009). In those early years our total advertising and marketing expenses were $27,520 (22.4% of budget) compared to the $324,527 (54.7% of budget) the CVB spent for advertising and marketing in 2009.
As the saying goes, “We’ve come a long way baby.”
The emphasis in that statement must be on the “we” because the growth and success of the CVB and the area’s tourism industry has truly been a team effort. I cannot begin to name all the individuals and organizations who can justi� ably share the credit for the incredibly signi� cant accomplishments this organization has enjoyed in its � rst 25 years.
There have certainly been a lot of changes, and the CVB de� nitely does not currently do business the same way it did in 1985, or even in 2005. Destination marketing today and in the future will involve greater use of the Internet, social media and other electronic means of communication.
I believe the Greater Parkersburg CVB is well-positioned to continue the successes of the past 25 years as we move ahead. My deepest thanks and appreciation to those who have contributed in some way to making the Greater Parkersburg CVB the effective, viable organization it is today.
Steven W. Nicely
Convent ion & Visi tors Bureau
2002
1995
2006
Steven W. Nicely
2 5 t h A n n i v e r s a r y 2 5 t h A n n i v e r s a r y 2 5 t h A n n i v e r s a r y 2 5 t h A n n i v e r s a r y 2 5 t h A n n i v e r s a r y 2 5 t h A n n i v e r s a r y N e w s l e t t e rN e w s l e t t e rN e w s l e t t e r
Jonelle Me� i� , Pam Helman and Dave Ashl� 2009 CVB Annual Me ing
La� y Demme and Jack Fritz - 1993 CVB Annual Me ing
Joe Manchin - 1996 Celebrity Chefs event
Joe Lockhart, the CVB’s � rst Chairman � the Board, addr� � group during 1985 Community Leaders Luncheon
Dwight Marty 2010 CVB Annual Me ing
Dianne Anderson and Alan Hardway 2009 CVB Annual Me ing
Butch Shaver and Ma� ie Webster - 1994 CVB � ce grand opening
