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Geary County approves beautification grant pilot and visitor guide ad as CVV outlines football marketing plan
Summary
The county’s Convention & Visitors (CVV) director won commissioner approval for a hotel beautification matching grant pilot and a full‑page visitor guide ad; commissioners discussed but deferred a larger out‑of‑state marketing trip.
The Geary County CVV presented a package of marketing and hospitality initiatives and received commission approval to move forward with a small beautification grant pilot and an ad buy for the county’s visitor guide.
Raquel Cinco, identified in the meeting as the CVV director, described a proposed beautification grant program targeting local hotels in advance of major sporting events. Under the pilot, up to 10 hotels could apply for a matching reimbursement of up to $2,000 toward exterior improvements such as signage, landscaping or painting; the CVV would reimburse up to half of qualified exterior expenditures, with payments made after work is completed and documentation provided. Commissioners moved, seconded and approved the pilot program.
Cinco also sought and received commission approval for a full‑page ad in the regional visitor guide priced at $1,495. Commissioners asked to revise one image used in the ad; staff said they would supply an alternative photo and proceed with the ad buy.
Cinco outlined a targeted digital marketing plan tied to three home football games and proposed providing welcome bags, hotel room blocks and partner coupons to attract weekend visitors. She proposed shifting a planned three‑campaign schedule to two longer campaigns that would cover the Nov. 1 and Nov. 29 games with a 45‑day run for each. Commissioners expressed interest but asked for additional information about expected benefits and regional targeting; they did not approve additional out‑of‑state travel for CVV staff at this meeting.
Cinco said hotels had tentatively agreed to hold small room blocks (often five rooms each) and the CVV would coordinate swag, coupons and itinerary suggestions to encourage two‑night stays. The CVV director asked for and received direction to proceed with the digital planning and partner outreach, and she said she would return with more detailed cost/benefit information.
Commissioners noted the CVV may also coordinate with city staff on convention‑center parking and other shared assets, and they encouraged the CVV to gather post‑event reports and vendor after‑action summaries to inform future marketing investments.
