CREATE A WORLD OF POSSIBILITIES FOR YOUR BUSINESS WITH A UNIQUE PARTNERSHIP
1
Marketing your business is easier with an entire city behind you In the past decade, you’ve witnessed Louisville transform into one of the hottest (and coolest) places in the country to visit and live in. As the city’s non-profit economic development agency, the Louisville Convention & Visitors Bureau’s teams work hard to find smart, innovative ways to market Louisville as a one-of-a-kind destination full of uniquely authentic experiences.
Tourism drives economic development, sustains this community and creates jobs. Businesses like yours make Louisville unlike any other city. That’s why these partnerships are so important. They showcase to millions of potential conference and convention attendees and visitors what makes this a truly one-of-a-kind city.
2
departments Think locally, promote globally The LCVB is made up of several departments, each designed to attract visitors to Louisville. Partnering with the LCVB grants you access to a variety of marketing, educational and networking tools to help promote your business to the millions of convention delegates and leisure travelers who come to Louisville each year.
3
4
departments, continued Convention Sales Ever wonder how Louisville hosts so many conventions, conferences and events? A dedicated LCVB team works with businesses and organizations around the country to highlight the city’s uniqueness, Bourbon and culinary scene and one-of-a-kind attractions—facilities like the Kentucky Exposition Center, Kentucky International Convention Center, KFC Yum! Center also help too.
Bureau Services Once a group starts planning an event here, one of their first questions is, “What can you do in Louisville?” That’s where Bureau Services come in— they act as the liaison between meeting planners and the LCVB, as well as venue and service provider partners. And if you own a hotel, restaurant or business, they connect you to visitors and meeting planners.
Tourism Development & Visitors Services Partnering with the LCVB creates a direct line between your business and tourists. Tourism Development & Visitors Services work closely with professional travel planners from across the country to increase leisure travel to Louisville. The Visitors Services team also manages the Visitor Center in the heart of downtown.
5
Media Relations To increase tourism, you need media coverage. Media Relations works with leisure, business, convention and travel trade markets to increase Louisville’s global presence. This team also is responsible for web development, creating collateral materials and branding efforts.
Partnership To us, you’re more than a partner. You’re part of what makes Louisville a world-class city. That’s why we want to help you reach visitors and spread the word about your business locally through concierge services, LCVB publications, GoToLouisville.com, partnerships with meeting planners and networking through a host of signature events and opportunities.
Tourism tax revenue benefits the
309,175
households in jefferson county = $540 in annual tax savings 6
7
partnership marketing tools Top 10 one-of-a-kind marketing benefits for LCVB partners
8
general marketing benefits, continued 1. Connect with convention decision makers. Reach meeting, convention and tradeshow planners who generate millions of dollars in positive economic impact for our city, attracting new meeting-related business and attendees to Louisville. 2. Increase your visibility through LCVB publications. Receive a company listing in print and online in the Louisville Official Visitors Guide or Partner Resource Guide and at GoToLouisville.com, the LCVB official website. 3. Use the Convention Calendar to grow and find new business leads. Regularly updated, it provides details on definite meeting and convention bookings, including meeting planner contact information, dates and expected attendance figures. 4. Join the LCVB teams to build new relationships. Join us at events, at tradeshows throughout the country or participate in a Familiarization Tour locally as the LCVB teams cultivate relationships with meeting planners, tour operators, journalists and other decision makers in the lucrative convention and tourism business. 5. Exposure. Through our Show Us Your Badge program, convention attendees can receive discounts and special offers to hundreds of restaurants and attractions simply by showing their convention badge. Convention attendees, visitors and meeting planners love this program!
9
6. Access to exclusive, partners-only content. The password-protected Partners-Only section of GoToLouisville.com features industry research, sales and tourism leads, partnerrelated news, updated conventions listings and much more. 7. Take advantage of premier advertising opportunities. Be featured in the Louisville Official Visitors Guide, Planners Resource Guide and on GoToLouisville. com. Complimentary brochure distribution at the Visitors Information Center on the corner of Fourth & Jefferson and at all large conventions and events.
Visitors Spend
$1.6 Billion
8. Spread your news on social media. We love to promote you! Partners can send updates on events, news and special offers for us to feature on our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages.
Which supports $3.3 billion in total economic impact
9. Keep up-to-date with LCVB news. Get your dose of the latest industry news, activities and events associated with meeting planners, visitors and group tour operators with our bi-weekly e-newsletter. 10. Make valuable connections. Network with fellow partners at businessbuilding, educational and social events throughout the year. Generate new ideas for success while meeting industry colleagues.
10
partnership packages Louisville Convention & Visitors Bureau Partnership Packages
11
12
partnership packages, continued Hospitality Partnership This annual package is the perfect way for businesses on a budget or nonprofits to establish a relationship with the Louisville CVB and our extensive tourism audience for less than $1 per day. The benefits include: • Exposure to move than 2+ million unique visitors on GoToLouisville.com, that includes three (3) photos, 250 word description, map location to your business, link to your website and contact information. • Inclusion in our publications which includes the Official Louisville Visitors Guide and the Planners Resource Guide. • Ability to upload your events to our event calendar. • Connections with 800+ local partner organizations through our networking opportunities and education courses. • Opportunity to participate in the Show Us Your Badge program. •
Access to our Certified Tourism Ambassador TM program. As an accredited provider, the LCVB presents the CTA designation on behalf of the Tourism Ambassador Institute TM, the national oversight body for the certification program.
join a network of more than
800
local partners 13
Promotional Partnership Open your business to consumers, leisure travelers, event and meeting planners and motor coach operators across the country with a Promotional Partnership package. Gain critical exposure tools including enhanced website exposure, social media links and brochure distribution at the
Visitor Information Center—the city’s official front desk—and at the city concierge desk at all large convention & events. This partnership includes all the benefits of the Hospitality partnership, plus: • Access to the enhanced Convention Calendar, which includes all of the basic features plus peak rooms, specific venue names and meeting planner contact information. • Access to the Louisville Convention & Visitors Bureau’s Partner Portal and Account Management tool, enabling you to update your company information and more. • Marketing materials promoting Louisville (Visitors Guides, maps, etc.) upon request. • Enhanced web listing with photos and social media channels. • Access to industry research—overviews of the LCVB Travel research reports. • Notifications and alerts of visiting journalists and press seeking pitches and story ideas. • Complimentary listing in Bourbon Country Visitors Guide and BourbonCountry.com, if applicable. • One additional category listing on GoToLouisville.com and publications. • Brochure distribution at Visitor Center in the heart of downtown as well as at the concierge desk at all large events and conventions.
Accommodation Partnership Partnering with the LCVB means you’re working with the travel and tourism industry and making an investment that goes far beyond just “heads in beds.” In addition to the benefits above, Accommodation Partners receive access to convention and group tour leads and referrals as well as an invitation to regular meetings with the LCVB’s leadership and sales team.
14
partnership packages, continued Digital Marketing Partnership Maximize your website exposure and increase traffic to your communication channels with more than 2+ million unique web visitors who use GoToLouisville.com to make their travel plans. In addition to the Promotional Partnership benefits, you will receive a top search placement and a premier “Spotlight” feature on GoToLouisville.com.
Strategic Partner Take full advantage of the LCVB’s complete network of exclusive audiences and communication channels. Build and surpass your business goals with practically every LCVB tool. In addition to all the amenities of the Promotional Partnership Package as a Strategic Partner you’ll also receive: • Customized industry research. • A featured web placement on GoToLouisville.com. • Ability to post your business press releases on the media section of our website, targeting journalists and press seeking story ideas. • Enhanced industry research—giving you access to the complete research report when the LCVB commissions visitor studies. • A Market Impact Report featuring key economic driver data such as new industry developments, new hotels on the horizon and more. • Advance notice of co-op consumer advertising, co-op meeting planner advertising, and convention & tourism sales missions and trade shows, if qualified for program.
15
• Complimentary logo placement in the Official Louisville Visitors Guide. • Two eBlast opportunities sent to the LCVB’s partners and stakeholders. • Table for 10 at the LCVB Annual Gala.
Featured Add-Ons to Customize Your Partnership with the LCVB Please inquire about our add-ons to your partnership, an additional cost will apply. • Inclusion of additional business locations (with the same business name) or additional business category ($100 per additional listing). • Sponsorship of partner events. • Mailing lists of partners and stakeholders.
annualy visitors spend
255
$
million on recreational
actvities while in Louisville
16
Partnership Benefits GoToLouisville.com basic listing (three photos, 30 word description, map location, link to website & contact information OďŹƒcial Louisville Visitors Guide listing Planners Resource Guide Listing Access to our CertiďŹ ed Tourism AmbassadorTM program Show Us Your Badge promotion Complimentary access to educational & networking opportunities Complimentary marketing materials promoting Louisville delivered Convention calendar access Enhanced web listing (up to 16 images, 250 word description, map location, link to website & contact information) Additional category or location listing Brochure distribution program Business referrals & leads (hotel partners only) Access to booking leads Top search placement on GoToLouisville.com & premier spotlight feature Partner & stakeholder list access Access to third party research & strategic planning Table for 10 at LCVB Annual Gala 17
Hospitality Partner
Prom
rtner
Promotional Partner
Hotel Partner Digital Marketing Partner
Strategic Partner
18
19
advertising opportunities
20
Advertising Opportunities Visitors come to Louisville to see our fantastic views, experience our unique neighborhoods and taste our diverse local flavors. To reach visitors, the LCVB offers a variety of impactful advertising opportunities: • 175,000 copies of our Visitors Guide are distributed annually. • GoToLouisville.com generates nearly 2.2 million hits a year. • Visitors Center attracts 75,000 visitors each year. • Our planner resource guide reachers 5,000 meeting planners So join more than 800 of our local partners who welcome travelers and help attract tourism.
Official Visitors Guide Tourism is vital to Louisville’s economic development with over 23 million people visiting Louisville annually creating an economic impact of approximately $1.7 billion. The Official Louisville Visitors Guide reaches those visitors, and delivers your message in the most trustworthy vehicle available—the city’s OFFICIAL Visitors Guide. Presenting engaging stories, special events, maps, listings and more, the Official Louisville Visitors Guide is a valuable planning resource for our guests. The Bureau distributes 175,000 copies annually, they are mailed to fulfill information requests and are also available to visitors in high-traffic locations, such as Louisville Visitors Center, welcome centers, the airport, local conventions and tradeshows and select area hotels and attractions. This guide is also available by request at 1-888-LOUISVILLE and by download at GoToLouisville.com
Planners Resource Guide One of the best ways to put your organization’s information in front 5,000 qualified planners and 800 local LCVB partners is with the Planners Resource Guide (PRG). The full-color PRG is not only sent to the LCVB’s proprietary list of meeting planners, it is used in discussions with planners to execute services like catering, venues, event decor, printing and A/V services by our Destination Services team. It is also given to all LCVB partners as their resource too. The PRG is also now available in an interactive digital version where Planners can jump to the section of choice. 21
Louisville Visitor Center Advertising Opportunities Annually, the Visitors Center welcomes over 60,000 visitors through its doors and has 72,000 pedestrians walk past, making it one of the most heavily-trafficked corners in downtown Louisville. Leisure travelers and convention delegates alike are referred by the Bureau and other local establishments to the Center for free brochures, maps and visitor guides and to purchase Louisville merchandise. Situated at Fourth and Jefferson Streets between the Kentucky International Convention Center and Fourth Street Live!, Louisville’s Visitors Center is ideal for reaching maximum downtown foot traffic.
Digital GoToLouisville.com is the official website of the LCVB. It’s also where more than 2+ million unique web visitors every year plan their trips, research unique businesses and events and discover all the things that make Louisville a one-of-a-kind city. Advertising on GoToLouisville.com is affordable, effective and a great way for visitors to learn about your business.
GoTolouisville.com sees over
2 million unique visitors every year
22
23
summary Your southern hospitality is one of the reasons Louisville welcomes 23 million visitors each year. It’s also what keeps them coming back again and again. Those visitors greatly affect Louisville in numerous ways. They spend $1.7 billion, which supports $3.3 billion in total economic impact. That’s millions of dollars that support local services, economic development, recreation, the arts and entertainment. Tourism supports also 1 in every 15 jobs or nearly 26,000 jobs in Jefferson County—that’s more people than the KFC Yum! Center can hold. And tourism’s tax revenue benefits the 309,175 households in Jefferson County with $540 in annual tax savings. Join the Louisville Convention & Visitors Bureau and see how our teams work to market your business and sell Louisville across the nation and around the world.
Melissa Sparks Partnership Development Director MSparks@GoToLouisville.com 502.560.0015
“We’ve been a partner for many years because they provide us with a wealth of information regarding conventions & events with significant impact. It allows us to tailor our business and hours to best meet the needs of incoming organizations both large and small. We also receive information regarding trends in the travel industry that help us plan for the future. Finally, the folks at LCVB are genuinely interested in our mutual success and are always available to help.” John Hassmann, Owner, A Taste of Kentucky
Nicole Fitzpatric Partnership Development Manager NFitzpatrick@ GoToLouisville.com 502.560.0010
24