Membership
Membership Benefits
Mission of Visit Southern West Virginia (VSWV): To promote Southern West Virginia as a visitor-friendly travel destination!
Together we can make a difference. Strength in numbers, a unified voice, a solid vision and an image are tools that make this organization more effective as a regional marketing destination. This is YOUR invitation to become a member and share in programs and services that over 350 others have been taking advantage of for years.
Marketing Services
Visit Southern West Virginia advertises Southern West Virginia’s attractions in specific markets targeted through a rigorous selection process to deliver the best return on investment. Whenever possible, VSWV does cooperative advertising with members and the West Virginia Department of Tourism. The VSWV’s Official Visitors Guide, a major marketing tool, is distributed to over 100,000 potential visitors and offers advertising opportunities for members. Other marketing benefits include up-to-date market research, inclusion on VisitWV.com and access to images for advertising and presentation materials.
Public Relations
To reach the group travel market, the VSWV staff attends group travel shows. VSWV is also a member of various professional travel and tourism associations as we always strive to continue our education and keep in touch with the ever-changing marketing and travel trends. VSWV promotes the area at Tamarack Marketplace, a center showcasing West Virginia arts, crafts, food and entertainment. We also host tours for travel writers. The staff generates news releases about the area and provides a membership voice in legislative issues.
Education and Informational Support
VSWV distributes a newsletter designed to keep members updated about activities within the region. The VSWV staff is also prepared to offer technical and creative assistance for a variety of tasks.
Response Management
VSWV’s Official Visitors Guide is updated yearly and features listings for every VSWV member. This guide is distributed at various shows, state welcome centers, travel plazas and brochure racks managed by VSWV. Travelers can also request a guide through our website, advertising partners or by contacting our office. Additionally, for an annual fee, VSWV offers to distribute members’ brochures locally, including at welcome centers and travel plazas. Lodging members can benefit from our Hotel Listing Referral System, which promotes weekend room availability in a weekly email to encourage longer stays in the area.
Bonus Benefits
VSWV provides members with multiple marketing opportunities throughout the year to help them reach new markets and explore new ventures. Members have access to maps, visitors guides and other promotional materials, along with permission to use VSWV’s logo in their marketing materials. Additionally, the annual meeting serves as a valuable networking event and a chance to review the progress made in the previous year.
Contact
If you have questions or would like to become a member of Visit Southern West Virginia contact:
Maura Johnson
Phone: 1-800-847-4898
Email: maura@visitwv.com