 “VISIT EVANSVILLE DESTINATION MARKETING AND BUSINESS PLAN”
by JAMES T. WOOD, FCDME
PRESIDENT AND CEO OF “VISIT EVANSVILLE”Â
Now that we are emerging from the tourism/hospitality industry’s worst two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Visit Evansville is eager and prepared to lead our industry into a brighter future.
The Visit Evansville 2022 destination marketing and business plan includes initiatives that will help assist Visit Evansville in growing our tourism economy in 2022 and beyond. A few highlights in our plan include:
10-YearTourismMasterPlan
Visit Evansville has developed a 10-year Tourism Master Plan that will help lead the way in enhancing existing tourism and building new attractions for Evansville /Vanderburgh County.
3-YearStrategicPlan
The Visit Evansville staff has developed a 3-year strategic plan that links the Tourism Master Plan with our Destination Marketing and Business Plan.
 Visitors Center
Due to our recent office relocation to the Fifth Third Center, we have closed the Visitor Center at the Pagoda. This year will be spent evaluating options as we seek new opportunities to leverage technology to create an enhanced visitor center experience.
Meetings and Conventions
Our 2022 plans specifically target industry shows that are appointment based whereby we will have one-on-one appointments with prospective clients who are in the pursuit of obtaining more RFPs. Our primary objective with these appointments is to meet with prospective convention clients whose profile fits ONEP.
ConventionServices
After a two-year hiatus, we have reactivated this supportive effort to support returning meetings, conventions, sporting events, and special events.
Destination Marketing & Communications
We will leverage existing resources to maintain our focus on the meetings and sports markets. However, the leisure travel segment will also be targeted, but only through various social media outlets.
Deaconess Sports Park
The Deaconess Sports Park will receive a facelift in 2022, with synthetic infields replacing the clay infields. This enhancement will help attract more tournaments, and as a result, we plan to develop several of our own tournaments under the brand name Double Play Sports beginning in 2022.
Regional Economic Development
Future construction projects that should have a positive impact on hotel occupancies are expected to begin towards the latter part of 2022 and will continue into 2023 and beyond.
Visit Evansville is very excited about the new and unique opportunities 2022 will bring. The Visit Evansville team will continue to invest our sales and promotion budget into initiatives that will have a significant ROI for Evansville/ Vanderburgh County tourism. We remain optimistic that the future of Evansville’s tourism/ hospitality industry remains very bright.
Finally, the link to our just published “VISIT EVANSVILLE DESTINATION MARKETING AND BUSINESS PLAN” is listed below  Please enjoy this most informative read.
Visit Evansville Destination Marketing and Business Plan 2021 v15
