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State Tourism
recognizes Darke County efforts
SPRINGFIELD, OH (October 2014) – The Darke County Visitors Bureau was
presented with two RUBY (Recognizing Uncommon Brilliance) Citations of
Excellence Awards during the Ohio Travel Association’s annual
Conference on Tourism in Springfield, Ohio on October 16, 2014.
The first award presented to the bureau was in the Visitor Guide
Category, with a budget of less than $300,000.
“It is an honor to receive this recognition from The Ohio Travel
Association,” stated Deanna York, designer of the guide and executive
director of the Darke County Visitors Bureau. “Even though our yearly
budget is less than half of our peers in this category, this
recognition confirms that Darke County has a tourism draw due to the
heritage, nature and culture of this area.”
“The Official Visitors Guide for Darke County was designed to
resemble the look and feel of a lifestyle magazine,” stated York, “When
developing the layout and feel of the guide, one of the main ideas was
to share the warm hospitality and smiling faces found in our community.”
The Official Visitors Guide for Darke County is on display and
available at tourist information centers, attractions, accommodations
and restaurants across the State of Ohio. Local folks are encouraged to
stop by the new Welcome Center in downtown Greenville to pick up guides
for family reunions, weddings or for visiting friends and family, or
visit any one of the brochure racks located in attractions,
accommodations and restaurants across Darke County. Guides are also
available at local festivals and events, and by calling the bureau at
(937) 548-5158 or via email at info@visitdarkecounty.org. Information
and daily updates are also available on Facebook on the bureau’s fan
page, “Darke County Visitors Bureau.”
The second RUBY Citation of Excellence presented to the Darke County
Visitors Bureau was in the Direct Mail Category, with a budget category
of under $300,000.
The objective of the "We All Have a Story to Tell" direct mail piece
was to encourage local citizens to volunteer at the new welcome center
and reminisce about our beautiful community all while welcoming and
providing valuable information to visitors.
The postcard has been and will continue to be distributed to locals
through one-on-one conversations at fairs and festivals, as well as
through a direct mailing to a specific, targeted audience in our
community.
“The direct mail piece delivers a strong call to action in messaging
and photography,” shared York. “The photography showcases locals
enjoying the best of Darke County's events and attractions. The
messaging encourages those interested to call, email and visit the
website.” York worked with Chris Denlinger with Aurora Marketing
Group to design and develop the volunteer campaign. Aurora Marketing
Group located in downtown Greenville, has a diverse background in
advertising, marketing and design to help businesses achieve their
marketing goals.
The Darke County Visitors Bureau has been a member of The Ohio Travel
Association for 17 years. In addition, Executive Director, Deanna York
served on this state board for 2 terms, and holds the honor of 2011
graduate of the Ohio Tourism Leadership Academy.
To learn more about Darke County Tourism, go online to
VisitDarkeCounty.org. Follow us on Facebook for daily updates at
DarkeCountyOhio.
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