CVB discusses marketing plans

The Wrangell Convention and Visitor Bureau met last Tuesday afternoon, June 9, to workshop various marketing plans. The CVB was looking to put together a list of various ways they could promote Wrangell and its local businesses, to draw in tourists to present to the borough assembly in the near future. Economic Development Director Carol Rushmore said that, as many communities were struggling because of the COVID-19 pandemic, they could potentially use CARES Act funding to cover the costs of some of these ideas.

"The CARES Act funding, basically, could cover potential new opportunities that haven't been done in the past, in order to alleviate impact from COVID-19," Rushmore said.

One of the main ideas the bureau discussed was publishing a new travel planner for the visitor industry. The last travel planner was put together several years ago, according to Rushmore, and it is time to update it. However, with the current pandemic, many businesses are not likely to have extra money to buy advertisements in the planner. The CVB considered this, and decided that offering free ad space to businesses would be a good idea. All businesses could receive a free display ad of one quarter size, the idea presented. If a business wanted a bigger ad, they could purchase it at a discounted price. The CVB also decided that they would want to print some inserts for the travel planners to provide information on COVID-19, and what travelers should be aware of.

The total cost of this idea was estimated at $18,000 during the workshop. If revenue from selling ad space did not cover printing and setting up a digital version of the planner, the bureau decided, they could try and seek CARES Act funding to cover the extra costs.

"I still think the travel guide is a great move," said CVB member Brenda Schwartz-Yeager.

Other ideas that the CVB discussed included purchasing Hoopsuites to manage Facebook and Instagram posts, setting aside funding to purchase online advertising, and a business promotional planner for The Marine Service Center, among others.