Monroe County Visitor Industry

•1977 – 3% Innkeeper’s Tax (Indiana uniform code)

•Monroe County Convention & Visitors Commission – 5 members

•Convention & Visitors Bureau of Monroe County, Inc. formed as 501C(6)

•CVB Board – 13-17 members•1990 – tax increased to 5% to develop

Convention Center•2012 collections & INVESTMENT > $2 million

Monroe County Visitor IndustryEconomic Impact:

•1.5 million annual visitors•$279 million in annual sales

•Spend $175 per trip ($104 lodging, $52 f&b, $19 retail)

•Meetings = $75 per day•Sporting events = $61 per day •Leisure traveler = $57 per day•Helps create 8,000 area jobs

Visitor Profile•33% to visit friends or relatives

•28% for leisure trip •18% for a special event

•33% for business•40% visit Aug-Oct•44% stay in hotel

•2.5 nights average stay•28% eat at a local restaurant

•21% visit IU campus•58% female

•61% repeat visitor

Convention & Visitors Bureau of Monroe County, Inc.

•DBA – Visit Bloomington•Bloomington, Indiana is our

brand/anchor/heart• County lines are meaningless to our

CUSTOMERS•Community leaders agree•For the greater good

Visit Bloomington 2011-2013 Strategic Plan

Destination Vision:Monroe County, and the progressive community

of Bloomington with its world-class Indiana University, is recognized as an authentic year-

round Midwest city and regional service center offering visitors a

vibrant and walkable downtown and entertainment and arts

district, varied family-friendly attractions and events, expanded and modern convention center and

major sports and cultural venues, all conveniently located in a spectacular outdoor

recreational setting of uplands, lakes and forests.

Visit Bloomington – 2011-2013 Strategic Plan

6 key challenges:

1. Use research & partnerships to increase productivity.

2. Develop a more viable convention center & full service host hotel.

3. Improve online & direct sales efforts.4. Increase business during off-peak periods.5. Strengthen visitor industry locally through

focused advocacy.6. Allocate resources for best destination

returns.

Visit Bloomington - Convention Marketing

WEEKDAY BUSINESS!

•Partnership with Convention Center, IMU, etc.

•Lead generator•CRM - Simpleview

•Expansion and F&B tax

Visit Bloomington – Sports Marketing

Difference maker!

•Hoosier Sports Corporation•Partnerships

•Signature sports?•Facilities

Visit Bloomington – Leisure Tourism Marketing

•Indiana University

•Arts & Culture, Outdoor Recreation, Culinary

•Electronic marketing•Event grant program

•Niche markets – the LGBT story