The Madison County Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) is the premier source of information on tourism experiences, attractions, and the local economy for visitors, the community and the media. A division of the Madison County Chamber of Commerce, the Madison County Convention and Visitors Bureau is responsible for showcasing the value of Madison County's activities, sites, shopping and dining experiences, and places to lodge and eat at the local, regional, state and national levels.
What is a Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB)?
Destination marketing organizations have many names – convention and visitor bureaus, travel bureaus, visitors' bureaus, welcome centers, tourism bureaus, travel and tourism bureaus, information centers and more. Regardless of the name, these institutions offer many great services to the traveling public and journalists.
A convention and visitor bureau is a “destination marketing” organization. The Madison County CVB operates as a division of the Madison County Chamber of Commerce, a non-profit 501c6, and works with a board of advisers.
The fundamental mission of a convention and visitor bureau is the promotion of visitor and business travel, which generates overnight lodging for a destination. CVBs are directly responsible for travel and tourism attraction of visitors.
Billions of direct and indirect revenue and taxes are generated into the state and local economy due to the prevailing marketing expertise of Ohio 's convention and visitor bureaus.
How is our CVB Funded?
The primary funding source of the CVB is derived from a lodging excise tax or “bed tax” that a hotel guest pays on lodging in the community of the convention and visitor bureau. In 2009, the Madison County Commissioners passed a 3% lodging excise tax over all of Madison County. Some townships may also have their own lodging excise tax in place, but the total tax over a lodging facility cannot exceed 6%. By law, this income must be reinvested on tourism.
What does our CVB do?
The convention and visitor bureau's marketing initiatives typically are achieved through some or all of the following: distribution of promotional and collateral material, hosting familiarization tours and tourism events, advertising and other hospitality functions.
The target decision maker of the marketing initiative is not typically a resident in the community. Most often, if the visitor is going to spend the night in a hotel, they are from at least 100 miles away. Therefore, the marketing activity usually takes place or is directed outside the convention and visitor bureau's community.
How can you use the CVB as a resource?
The convention and visitor bureau is designed to provide information to tourists, the local community and the media. A local CVB can be a great resource for a story you are writing, offering local insights, area photography and events calendars, trend identification, tourism-related business contacts in the community, industry education and legislative awareness.
