Chairman - Sam McLeod,
Tea-licious - Burnet
Phone: (512) 756-8583
E-Mail: chair.tourism@hillcountryedc.com
BILLBOARD CAMPAIGN:
Click for enlarged image
Pursuant to an exceptional
opportunity for statewide advertising, the Tourism Committee raised the funds to install
(33) billboard signs in major markets and on major highways throughout the State of Texas,
Oklahoma and Arkansas. For a list of selected
locations click here.
The signs are 14' x 48', designed
to attract tourists to the Highland Lakes region. The Burnet Tourism Alliance, the
Marble Falls/Lake LBJ Chamber of Commerce, Lake Buchanan/Inks Lake Chamber of Commerce and
the Bertram EDC all contributed to this effort.
TOURISM WEBSITE:
In conjunction with this billboard
advertising campaign, the Hill Country EDC created a new website, www.LAKESandHILLS.com that is dedicated to tourism
within the Highland Lakes region. This website is used as the contact point for this
and other tourism related advertising as well as acting as a marketing tool for the region
within the Internet. This website was launched in July of 2003. Visitation to
the website has grown steadily ever since. For more information on the opportunities
to promote your business (Only for Burnet & Llano County businesses) through exposure
on this website visit: www.lakesandhills.com/advertising.
TRADE SHOW EXHIBITIONS:
The tourism committee has begun
exhibiting at trade shows around the state to promote the Lakes and Hills region as a
tourism destination. The first such show was the Women's Vision show in Dallas on
August 28th & 29th. Not having a booth of our own, we participated with the
LCRA's Colorado River Trail booth. An exhibit has been set-up at Fredericksburg
Trade Days which occurs on the third weekend of each month. This has been attended
twice so far. The committee organized its own booth at the Texas Parks and Wildlife
Expo in Austin in October.
As an inducement for visitors to
the trade shows, Sam McLeod gathered free accommodations, diners, things to do and created
12 Vacation Packages that will be given away in December. Over 1,000 people have
signed up for the drawing thus far.
Plans call for continuing to have
our own booth at future shows including the Midessa Boat Show in Midland/Odessa, the
Travel Industry Trade Show in Austin, and return to the Women's Vision Expo in Dallas and
the Texas Parks and Wildlife Expo . A permanent exhibit for use in the trade shows
is being developed by the committee. Below is a proposed design which the committee
hopes to acquire as funds become available:
As an attraction,
within our trade show exhibits, the committee is building a "Wheel of Fortune"
like Prize Wheel. Visitors to the booth spin the wheel to determine what prize they
will receive. Prizes will consist of anything local area businesses donate to the
committee as give-aways. This is expected to include koozies, pens, key chains,
hats, t-shirts, etc. If you are interested in having your advertising specialty item
distributed at future shows, contact the Committee.
TOURISM GUIDE
BOOKS & PUBLICATIONS:
The Tourism Committee
has been instrumental in promoting the private enterprise development of publications that
will serve to promote the Lakes and Hills region. We believed that an annual
publication, with distribution primarily outside of the region would be essential to bring
people into the region, while, a quarterly publication, distributed primarily within the
region would assist visitors in finding more things to do and providing information on
current events.
The Lakes and
Hills Tourism Guide
Published by Lakes and Hills Adventures
Annual
Distribution - 300,000 copies - 80% outside of the region.
For advertising
information or to receive copies of this publication:
Visit www.lakesandhillsadventures.com
Visitor's
Guide to the Highland Lakes
Texas Hill
Country Magazine
