Tourism is a major industry in Monroe County, generating over $1 billion annually and supporting 19,000 jobs. Visit Rochester is a membership organization that promotes tourism in the Greater Rochester region through services like listings on their website, event promotion, sales leads, and collaborative marketing opportunities to further support their 400 members. The presentation outlined the various benefits of membership with Visit Rochester.

1. February 26, 2016
Hilton Garden Inn Downtown

2. • Monroe County welcomes
approximately 1.7 million
visitors each year
• Economic impact over $1
billion in Monroe County in
2014
• Tourism generates millions
of state and county tax
revenue
• Tourism accounts for 19,000
jobs (direct & indirect) in
Monroe County
The Importance of Visitors

3. Visit Rochester is a membership organization with over 400 members in the
Greater Rochester and Finger Lakes Region representing….
Sleep See & Do Shop
Community Eat & Drink Services

4. Maximizing Your Membership
with Visit Rochester

5. All Visit Rochester members
get a complimentary listing
on VisitRochester.com
Listing includes:
• A description
• Contact information
• Link to the organization’s
website and email
• Images
• Map
• Yelp Integration
• Amenities
• Social media
Presence on VisitRochester.com

6. Members enjoy unlimited special event listings
• Now with unique URLS
• Additional display within account listings
Event Listings

7. Special Offers and Packaging
• Special offers and Packages are
posted on VisitRochester.com (free
and unlimited)
• Partnership opportunities with other
Visit Rochester members
• Guidance on popular and new market
trends
• Unique URLs and display with listings
• Educational opportunities to help
create special offers and packages
• Seasonal ideas
• Submission of special offers and
packages to regional media outlets.

8. Members may also purchase:
Enhanced listings
Increase search ranking
Page Advertisements
Several advertising options available
Advertising Opportunities

9. Using the Membership Section
Find VIC Meeting Information
Submit Special Offers
Full List of Members
Sign up for Committees and
Task Forces
Create Convention and
Student Offers (New)
Sign up for Events

10. Social Media
Talking about members
On Facebook
On Twitter
On Instagram
On Pinterest
#VisitROC

11. Social Media
Listening and
interacting with members
Members are invited to…
Join the Visit Rochester
Linkedin Group
Join the Social Media
Managers Facebook Group
Use #VisitROC

12. Leads, Leads and Leads!
Convention/Meeting Sales Leads—
Information on the lodging and meeting
space needs for conventions and meetings
Convention Service Leads—information
about booked meetings or conventions in
need of services
Group & Tourism Leads—information
about tour companies who may be
interested in visiting the area
Relocation Leads—information on
individuals who have requested information
about our community

13. VIZ BIZ Newsletter
A monthly newsletter that includes:
• Updated convention calendar
• Industry news
• Important programs and
activities
• Marketing opportunities
• Special announcements

14. The Convention Calendar
This guide provides the name, dates,
contact information, and number of
expected attendees for booked
meetings and conventions, trade-shows
and major events.
• Information resource
• Direct marketing to meeting
planners
• Direct marketing to convention
delegates
• Specific interests

15. Visitor Services and Visitor’s Guide
Visit Rochester maintains
three information centers
• Information specialists
• Visitor guide distribution
• Brochure distribution
Explore Greater Rochester
• 150,000 copies
• Distributed and used by
visitors and local residents
• Visit Rochester members are
invited to advertise at a
discounted rate

16. Brochure Distribution
Member brochures are
distributed to visitors at:
• Center city visitor information
center
• Airport information center
• Bill Gray’s regional IcePlex
• When appropriate, member
brochures are distributed at
conventions and events

17. Free Customer Service
Training Program
Visit Rochester’s on-site
front-line training
program. Free for all
members!

18. Site Visits and Familiarization Tours
These tours and visits introduce the Greater Rochester area facilities,
attractions, lodging facilities, restaurants and more to those clients who will
influence travel to this area.
Including:
• National and international
journalists
• Travel writers
• Group leaders
• Travel counselors
• Tour operators
• Meeting and Convention
Planners

19. Visitor Industry Council
The working arm of the Visit Rochester Membership
• Monthly meetings provide up-to-date
industry news
• “Spotlight” segments showcase Visit
Rochester member organizations
• Member-to-member networking
• Professional and personal growth
opportunities through committee and
task force projects.
• Opportunities to promote your
organization
Next VIC Meeting: Tuesday,
March 15 at Lasertron

20. Press Releases and Images
• The Visit Rochester Public Relations
department works with travel editors,
reporters, bloggers, writers and
publishers in promoting the Greater
Rochester Region.
• Assist in distributing member
information to the appropriate out of
town media.
• An image database is available on
request to help assist in projects
such as brochures and websites.

21. Legislative Issues and Events
• Visit Rochester works with NYSTHA (New
York State Hospitality and Tourism
Association) to organize meetings and trips
to meet with State representatives in Albany
and at home.
• Gives members unique opportunity to meet
face-to-face with important legislative
representatives.

22. Collaborative Opportunities
and Programs
• Several collaborative
marketing programs
• Sales missions
• Networking
opportunities
• Educational summits

23. Thank You!
Follow us
On Facebook: facebook.com/VisitRochester
On Twitter: twitter.com/VisitRochester
On YouTube: youtube.com/VisitRochester
On Instagram: Instagram.com/VisitRochester
#VisitROC