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Visit Greater Parkersburg outlines marketing push, reports jump in welcome-center visits
Summary
A representative of Visit Greater Parkersburg briefed Vienna city leaders on the nonprofit's marketing program, a $240,000 annual budget, a recent welcome-center move that increased visitors from roughly 500–600 to more than 8,000, and local partnerships including Vienna businesses and the Freedom Festival.
A representative of Visit Greater Parkersburg told Vienna Common Council members on Feb. 10 that the tourism nonprofit has relocated its welcome center, increased marketing spending and is working with Vienna businesses and event organizers to bring more visitors and visitor spending to the area.
The presentation explained that Visit Greater Parkersburg, an independent nonprofit, receives 50% of the hotel‑motel tax collected under state law and uses that revenue to market the region. The group has a roughly $240,000 marketing budget for 2025 and focuses advertising primarily in Northeast Ohio (including Cleveland, Canton, Akron and Columbus), parts of Western Pennsylvania and across West Virginia.
The speaker said the bureau recently moved its welcome center to 113 Ann Street in downtown Parkersburg, near the flood wall and the former Pointe Park Marketplace. The speaker reported that the old welcome center typically drew 500–600 visitors a year; the new location drew more than 8,000 visitors in the past year. Council members were invited to visit the facility and to submit events for promotion.
Why it matters: The bureau’s work is intended to increase short‑term visitor spending that supports local businesses and events. Council members raised scheduling conflicts between the Liberty/Free dom Festival and a proposed competing event, and the visitor‑bureau representative encouraged coordination so events do not draw from the same weekend.
Details from the presentation included a description of the bureau’s governance and local partners: the board has 16 members (five appointed, 11 elected), and several Vienna‑area businesses and nonprofit partners were named as active partners, including Grand Point, Grand Central Mall, Hall’s Chocolates, the Oasis Salt Cave and Scott’s Marketplace. The speaker identified four Vienna representatives on the board by name and invited the council to coordinate promotion of community events, including the Freedom Festival.
Council members asked how far the bureau’s advertising reaches; the speaker reiterated that advertising targets major Northeast Ohio media markets, Pittsburgh/Western Pennsylvania and statewide West Virginia outlets depending on the event. The speaker also reported that a local vendor that began kayak rentals at Quine Park had “taken over” the PaddleFest event and plans to expand into bike rentals as the Newport Trail completes.
The presenter offered to provide packets of information and the 2025 visitor guide to council members and emphasized volunteer and staff support for the welcome center; the speaker said the bureau has paid staff and about 24 volunteers who staff the welcome center on weekends.
No formal action related to the presentation was taken at the meeting; council members thanked the speaker and indicated continued partnership.
