The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
VISITORS GUIDE PEEK
Digital marketing strategies included in presentation to members of tourism bureau
Visit Lorain County’s new visitors guide was unveiled March 19 at a meeting of the members of the tourism bureau. About 40 members of the group filled the Norton Culinary Arts Center at Lorain County Community College, 1005 N. Abbe Road in Elyria, for the unveiling, food, a presentation on Visit Lorain County’s digital marketing strategies and a discussion of ways the bureau can optimize operations and increase local tourism. This year’s visitors guide has a cover featuring an image of the recently renovated Old County Courthouse lit in shades of purple and red. It boasts 56 pages of businesses, advertisements, events and glossy photos publicizing the county.
The commissioners asked the assembled for input on how to make Lorain County more than just a corridor between Cleveland and Cedar Point.
Lorain County Commissioners Lori Kokoski and Sharon Sweda, as well as Lorain County Administrator James Cordes were on hand touting the success of the county’s recently completed Mardi Gras event which saw between 750 and 800 people attend the capstone event March 9 at the college. The commissioners asked the assembled for input on how to make Lorain County more than just a corridor between Cleveland and Cedar Point. This included opening up the floor after asking questions like: how the county can grow the events they already hold, what new events should be held to bring visitors into the county and whether the Visit Lorain County facility should be moved and if so to where. The question about the facility led to a long conversation which raised the possibility of not even having a facility but using local libraries, the Lorain County Metro Park or even a mobile van for a visitors bureau. The final question asked by the commissioners was about ways the visitors guide could be improved and the assembled members seemed to agree that the inclusion of coupons could be beneficial. Cordes said the bureau will hold another meeting in the fall in order to plan next year’s guide.