Diane Watson, Director of Marion Area Convention and Visitors Bureau recently participated in the Ohio Travel Association’s (OTA) 2014 Conference on Tourism in Springfield, Ohio. She brought back a Ruby Award for the bureau’s efforts in marketing the Marion area to potential visitors.
Conference on Tourism is Ohio’s annual conference for the travel and tourism industry filled with three days of educational programming and networking. Watson joined more than 200 travel and tourism professionals at the Hollenbeck Bayley Creative Arts Center.
Keynotes at the conference included Jason Barger, author of Step Back, From the Baggage Claim and Dennis Snow, author of Lessons from the Mouse: A Guide for applying Disney World’s Secrets of Success to Your Organization, Your Career, and Your Life. The conference agenda also included sessions on nature tourism, branding strategies, culinary tourism, cultural tourism, consensus building, international marketing and more.
The 2014 Ruby Awards were also presented at the conference. The annual RUBY (Recognizing Uncommon Brilliance Awards) competition is the Ohio Travel Association’s way of honoring those who have found the most innovative and creative ways to market their destinations, attractions, or services. The Marion Area Convention & Visitors Bureau garnered a RUBY in the Marketing Campaign Category with a budget of less than $300,000 for their Ask Me! Program. The program was up against three other marketing campaigns of equal or lesser budget size.
The Ohio Travel Association represents all sectors of Ohio’s $38 billion tourism industry, including hotels, attractions, museums, restaurants, visitors bureaus, retail ships, and other business. The Marion Area Convention & Visitors Bureau is Marion County’s destination marketing entity. You can learn more by visiting visitmarionohio.com.
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