Rome launches own tourism bureau
The town of Rome has decided to ramp up its marketing efforts and established its own tourism bureau to get the job done.
With its many ATV trails, lakes and emerging tourism-related assets, Rome has come to be viewed as an up-and-coming “recreational mecca,” said Laura Nelson, executive director of the Wisconsin Rapids Area Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Attractions such as Dyracuse Motorcycle Recreation Area, the Wisconsin Trapshooting Association’s RV park and the upcoming Sand Valley Golf Resort all have made Rome a destination — one that needs to be promoted, Nelson said.
So, in July, the Town of Rome Tourism Bureau was established with the mission “to leverage recreational assets to promote the town of Rome as a premier leisure destination, resulting in economic prosperity and growth for business and organizations.”
“With all the potential development with the Wisconsin Trapshooting Association and the Sand Valley Golf Resort, we see a need to promote the town,” said Jerry Wiessinger, a member of the Rome Town Board and Tourism Bureau.
The new Tourism Bureau is made up of volunteers who hold positions in Rome’s public and private sectors, and its operations will be funded through a room tax the Rome Town Board collects from local hotels and lodging.
“Room tax is a really cool funding source,” said Nelson, who also is a secretary for the new Tourism Bureau. “Because it comes from outside of your area, it helps grow your tax base without actually taxing your locals.”
Among the bureau’s plans are advertising, visitors’ guides and launching a new tourism-focused website to emphasize the town’s attractions, Wiessinger said.
“One of our first goals and initiatives will be branding, which goes hand in hand with our marketing effort,” said Joel Barth, president of the Tourism Bureau and general manager of Lake Arrowhead Association.
However, the Tourism Bureau still is relatively new and has not yet determined exactly how it wants to brand itself, Barth said.
“Obviously, golf will probably be involved in that branding with the addition of Sand Valley,” Barth said, noting that bureau has had a strategic planning meeting.
Prior to the creation of this bureau, the town’s main promotional efforts included membership in the Adams County Chamber of Commerce and Tourism and involvement with the Heart of Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce in Wisconsin Rapids and Wisconsin Rapids Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, Barth said.
Rome will continue to retain membership in the Adams County Chamber. But now, the town will receive revenue from the room tax, which previously had gone to the Adams County Chamber of Commerce and Tourism.
“I think that Adams County is such a geographically large area, and the town of Rome is such a unique product, that it deserves its own promotional attention,” Nelson said.
Accruing control of this new revenue stream will allow Rome to direct this money specifically toward promotional activities that benefit the town.
“The dollars are more targeted toward the town of Rome rather than a general marketing of Adams County,” said Kathy Dodds, treasurer of the Tourism Bureau and manager of finance and administration at the Lake Arrowhead Association, a country club in Rome.
Nelson said the Wisconsin Rapids Area Convention & Visitors Bureau will continue to collaborate with Rome.
“The town of Rome draws so much tourism to our area, it’s kind of a natural partnership,” Nelson said.
Because of the proximity of Wisconsin Rapids, the relationship is both logical and mutually beneficial, Nelson said, adding that events, such as the 115th annual Wisconsin State Shoot, spurred economic activity for Wisconsin Rapids’ accommodations industry.
Barth said he “couldn’t be more excited about everything that’s happening.”
“I think it’s a good time to become established and have some focus on tourism and people who are going to be frequenting our area,” Barth said.
Reported by: WisconsinRapidsTribune.com
With its many ATV trails, lakes and emerging tourism-related assets, Rome has come to be viewed as an up-and-coming “recreational mecca,” said Laura Nelson, executive director of the Wisconsin Rapids Area Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Attractions such as Dyracuse Motorcycle Recreation Area, the Wisconsin Trapshooting Association’s RV park and the upcoming Sand Valley Golf Resort all have made Rome a destination — one that needs to be promoted, Nelson said.
So, in July, the Town of Rome Tourism Bureau was established with the mission “to leverage recreational assets to promote the town of Rome as a premier leisure destination, resulting in economic prosperity and growth for business and organizations.”
“With all the potential development with the Wisconsin Trapshooting Association and the Sand Valley Golf Resort, we see a need to promote the town,” said Jerry Wiessinger, a member of the Rome Town Board and Tourism Bureau.
The new Tourism Bureau is made up of volunteers who hold positions in Rome’s public and private sectors, and its operations will be funded through a room tax the Rome Town Board collects from local hotels and lodging.
“Room tax is a really cool funding source,” said Nelson, who also is a secretary for the new Tourism Bureau. “Because it comes from outside of your area, it helps grow your tax base without actually taxing your locals.”
Among the bureau’s plans are advertising, visitors’ guides and launching a new tourism-focused website to emphasize the town’s attractions, Wiessinger said.
“One of our first goals and initiatives will be branding, which goes hand in hand with our marketing effort,” said Joel Barth, president of the Tourism Bureau and general manager of Lake Arrowhead Association.
However, the Tourism Bureau still is relatively new and has not yet determined exactly how it wants to brand itself, Barth said.
“Obviously, golf will probably be involved in that branding with the addition of Sand Valley,” Barth said, noting that bureau has had a strategic planning meeting.
Prior to the creation of this bureau, the town’s main promotional efforts included membership in the Adams County Chamber of Commerce and Tourism and involvement with the Heart of Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce in Wisconsin Rapids and Wisconsin Rapids Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, Barth said.
Rome will continue to retain membership in the Adams County Chamber. But now, the town will receive revenue from the room tax, which previously had gone to the Adams County Chamber of Commerce and Tourism.
“I think that Adams County is such a geographically large area, and the town of Rome is such a unique product, that it deserves its own promotional attention,” Nelson said.
Accruing control of this new revenue stream will allow Rome to direct this money specifically toward promotional activities that benefit the town.
“The dollars are more targeted toward the town of Rome rather than a general marketing of Adams County,” said Kathy Dodds, treasurer of the Tourism Bureau and manager of finance and administration at the Lake Arrowhead Association, a country club in Rome.
Nelson said the Wisconsin Rapids Area Convention & Visitors Bureau will continue to collaborate with Rome.
“The town of Rome draws so much tourism to our area, it’s kind of a natural partnership,” Nelson said.
Because of the proximity of Wisconsin Rapids, the relationship is both logical and mutually beneficial, Nelson said, adding that events, such as the 115th annual Wisconsin State Shoot, spurred economic activity for Wisconsin Rapids’ accommodations industry.
Barth said he “couldn’t be more excited about everything that’s happening.”
“I think it’s a good time to become established and have some focus on tourism and people who are going to be frequenting our area,” Barth said.
Reported by: WisconsinRapidsTribune.com
