TCVB Member Spring Update

March 2019 Member Update

Message from the President and CEO

Happy Spring!

Aren’t we so lucky to live in Tuolumne County where we will get a spring season full of waterfalls and wildflowers? We live where others dream about visiting! This is one of the reasons why your TCVB Team is so passionate about what we do and are always thinking of new ways to invite visitors to explore more in Tuolumne County.

In that spirit, we have a Visitor Center update. Over the past few years there has been a decline in visitor center numbers at the Chinese Camp location. Some key factors: 1) Vehicles, including rentals, are equipped with GPS. While we don’t advise using GPS in the mountains, many people do use it and feel no need to stop and ask for directions, 2) The Chinese Camp Store is under new ownership and provides a welcoming stop on the correct side of the road for visitors heading towards Groveland and Yosemite. At the recommendation of TCVB staff the TCVB Board has agreed to close the Chinese Camp location. This gives the us the opportunity to jump on board with tourism trends like acquiring a mobile visitor center that can go where the visitors are. We are working with the owners of the Chinese Camp store to ensure they have a supply of area information. We’ll still have a seasonal Visitor Center in Groveland at the Yosemite Gateway Museum and the year-round visitor center in Sonora that is co-located with TCVB headquarters.

Please join us as we celebrate tourism at the 2019 Tourism Showcase and Annual Dinner on May 8 ^th from 5-7:30pm at Hurst Ranch, Jamestown. It’ll be a casual, fun and informative evening as we hear from Lynn Carpenter - Vice President of Marketing for Visit California. A representative from Black Diamond, Tuolumne County’s UK marketing and public relations agency will also be speaking. Guests will also get an update on Highway 120’s Terra Vi lodging property. You won’t want to miss any of that or the Taco Bar that C & C Taqueria will be creating for us. Cost is $20/person. Please RSVP here.

All the best,

Lisa

Lisa Mayo

President and CEO

Tuolumne County Visitors Bureau

Membership Updates

Hi Everyone!

Spring is here and it has been so nice to finally see the sun! I wanted to remind you of some the benefits that come with your membership, in hopes that we can work together to spruce up your listing, maybe add some new photos or display your brochures or rack cards in our Visitor Centers. Did you know that businesses are highlighted through our social media outlets such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter? All you do is let me know when you have any specials or events that you would like us to get out on these sites, and we will help you promote your business.

I hope to see you all at the Tourism Showcase and Annual Dinner on Wednesday, May 8th. It is sure to be a fun night!

Email or call Debbe Pallante at debbe@gotuolumne.com or 209-533-4420 with updates.

Marketing Updates

Save the Date: April 25, 2019

Tuolumne Adventure Trolley FAM Tour

Join the Tuolumne County Visitors Bureau and Tuolumne County Transit for a first-hand experience aboard the seasonal FREE Tuolumne Adventure Trolley: Two pick-up times: 9am and 1pm at the Visitors Center in Sonora. Watch your email for the invitation along with further details.

*Promotional video coming your way soon.*

Tuolumne County Featured in San Francisco Chronicle

Ahead of the Bay Area Travel and Adventure Show in Santa Clara on March 23rd and 24th, Tuolumne County along with Placer and Amador Counties was featured in a stand-alone travel section of the San Francisco Chronicle on Sunday, March 10th. This was a cooperative marketing piece with the three counties. The section was geared toward multi-generational travelers with inspiration to “re-discover” the Gold Country on a fun road trip. Articles included arts, recreation, dining, events and more.

The TCVB Website Gets an Updated Design

VisitTuolumne.com has a slightly new look. The updated design is a more mobile friendly version of the previous design. Mobile traffic to our website now accounts for over half of the traffic. Other features of the homepage includes a carousel featuring the most current events and blog articles that are currently relevant. The booking referral engine remains prominently toward the top of the page.

We encourage our members to send us current photos to represent their businesses, so feel free to send them to debbe@gotuolumne.com.

NEW for you and your front-line staff! Introducing “What’s Up Wednesday” Weekly Emails.

Sign-up to receive a weekly update from the Tuolumne County Visitors Bureau, which includes useful information for you, your front-line staff and your guests. In these emails you'll find the weather forecast, upcoming events, plus newly released articles, videos and more.

Social Media Tip

Mackenzie Rodgers, TCVB Digital Content Coordinator

Create incentives that encourage your happy customers to express their experience with your business on their own social media channels. Share their posts on your Facebook/ Instagram to gain credibility. Have a Yelp page with happy reviews? Share those nice reviews on your social media to gain engagement with new and potential customers.

Media Updates

PR and Travel Trade

Tuolumne County has been invited to be part of Visit California’s IPW Post Familiarization Tour. We will be hosting 32 media and travel trade representatives for two days in early June. We are excited to showcase Tuolumne County to these top travel trade and media representatives from all over the world.

The TCVB has a partnership with the High Sierra Visitors Council whom has French representation. We have been invited to be part of French Familiarization Tour. We will be welcoming these 24 French travel trade representatives in April.

Another partnership the TCVB engages in is the Gold Country Visitors Association (GCVA). Through this partnership we will be participating in a Highway 49 Gold Rush Rally, where the GCVA will be welcoming 28 media representatives, with a handful of them visiting Tuolumne County.

Katie Kirkland attended the International Media Market Place where she met with over 20 media representatives, many of which have interest to visit Tuolumne County. Katie will be arranging media trips and reaching out to many of you for hosting opportunities.

Katie also attended the Go West Summit where she met with over 40 Travel Trade representatives. Many tour operators are eager to get their groups into Tuolumne County. Katie will be working with the tour operators and lodging partners to facilitate some exciting, new opportunities.

Meetings

The TCVB created a Meetings Postcard mailer and distributed it to businesses throughout the Silicon Valley. The Meet Me in Tuolumne postcards are designed to invite companies to have their meetings, retreats or incentive travel in Tuolumne County. Postcards are available if any members would like to mail them to their clientele. Stop by the Visitors Center in Sonora to pick them up.