Tourism agencies awarded for outstanding achievement

FAYETTEVILLE, WV (WVNS) — The Convention and Visitors Bureau’s offices announced that they were acknowledged through an industry award for outstanding achievement in cooperative advertising on Thursday, September 12, 2024.

The award, which demonstrates the CVB’s efforts to promoting the New River Gorge area as a premier destination, was given by the WV Department of Tourism, one of the leading bodies of the tourism field.

This dedication to quality and innovation in co-operative advertising not only increased the traffic to the New River Gorge area through attracting visitors from all over, it has also increased its visibility.

In data released by the National Park Service, the New River National Park and Preserve, Gauley River National Recreation Area and Bluestone National Scenic River had approximately 1.9 million visitors which spent more than $96.5 million in the communities that serve the area in 2023. Also, the West Virginia Department of Tourism announced they accounted for 75 million visitors throughout the Mountain State in 2023, ending with more than $9 billion in terms of economic impact.

The New River Gorge Convention and Visitors Bureau (NRG CVB), Visit Southern West Virginia (VSWV), and Visit Fayetteville (VF CVB) work in tandem to promote the area. The three bureaus participated in a multi-partnership initiative with the West Virginia Department of Tourism: the Multi-Partnership Branding Package involved streaming online and TV video, Reels, contextual native, social video ads, and more.

Through their partnership, the bureaus were able to create widespread exposure and increase the impact of marketing initiatives and funding to create a unified message to those who may visit the state in the future. The cooperative advertising award demonstrated their dedication to highlighting the experiences that make the southern portion of the Mountain State a must-visit destination. Above all, they highlighted why West Virginia is referred to as “Almost Heaven.”

For more information regarding the Convention and Visitors Bureaus, visit their websites below:

• New River Gorge CVB: Contact Becky Sullivan at 304-465-5617 or by email
• Visit Fayetteville CVB: Contact Tabitha Stover at 304-574-1500 or by email
• Visit Southern WV CVB : Contact Lisa Strader at 304-252-2244 or by email

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