Latest news with #CVB
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Texas Route 66 Festival revs up with 10 days of fun across Amarillo and Panhandle towns
The Texas Route 66 Festival returns June 5-14, celebrating classic cars, Western heritage and small-town charm along the iconic highway with 10 days of events across Amarillo and neighboring historic Route 66 towns in Texas. Organizers say this year's festival is the biggest yet and a full-scale lead-up to the Route 66 centennial in 2026. At a press conference Thursday, May 29, the Amarillo Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) shared how the festival continues to grow, drawing tourists, boosting local business and uniting communities along the Texas stretch of Route 66. 'We're incredibly excited. This is our third year to do the 10-day festival,' said Kashion Smith, executive director of the Amarillo CVB. 'We've got many partners not only in Amarillo but throughout Texas Route 66 that participate and put on their own events that are themed to Route 66 and placed under the festival umbrella.' The festival showcases both Amarillo attractions and destinations across the Panhandle, aiming to create lasting experiences for out-of-town guests while strengthening the region's economic engine. 'If you want something that's very Western, you can come in at the beginning and do the cattle drive,' Smith said. 'If you want something more traditionally Route 66, you can do the finale, which is vendors and a car show and has a little more of that nostalgic feel.' Hope Stokes, director of marketing for the Amarillo CVB, spoke about the financial boost events like this provide to the region's businesses. 'I visually see cash going from hands into cash registers — that's $1,900 per minute going straight into local businesses,' Stokes said. 'And that's from people who don't live here or use our amenities year-round. It's hugely impactful.' Stokes said the bureau has invested more than $100,000 this year in Route 66 marketing, a campaign aimed at increasing visibility for Amarillo and surrounding destinations. 'Normally our marketing is Amarillo overall,' she said. 'But this centennial and these 10 days allow us to do a huge investment in promoting the Route 66 brand in Texas.' Smith also responded to questions raised by some merchants in the Amarillo Route 66 Historic District about whether the event drives foot traffic to local stores. 'Whether or not they're seeing wonderful sales during that time, we bring vendors in and there's a lot of shopping options,' Smith said. 'People come down for the experience. What's key is that during the finale, we put so much marketing dollars behind Route 66 in Texas. It's not just about that day — it's about building awareness that drives people back.' Smith encouraged shop owners to stay visible and proactive during the festival. 'The connections made during these 10 days lead to visits again in October, December, or next summer,' she said. 'We want people to discover a place they'll come back to.' Thursday, June 5 Coors Cowboy Club Ranch Rodeo Kick-Off | Amarillo National Center First Thursday on 6th | Amarillo Route 66 Historic District Karaoke on Route 66 | Old Tascosa Brewery Friday, June 6 11:30 a.m.: Bull and Bloom | Cactus Cove 3 p.m.: Celebrity Fast Draw 6 p.m.: Night Under the Neon | U-Drop Inn, Shamrock Saturday, June 7 10 a.m.: Coors Cowboy Club Cattle Drive | Downtown Amarillo 10 a.m.: 60 Years on the Square | Wolflin Square 5 p.m.: Coors Cowboy Club Ranch Rodeo Sunday, June 8 9 a.m.: Run the Gap 6 p.m.: Low Rider Cruise | Will Rogers Park Monday, June 9 6:30 p.m.: Amarillo Film Society Screening | Goldenlight Tuesday, June 10 7:30 p.m.: June Jazz | Amarillo College Wednesday, June 11 8 a.m.–5 p.m.: TX 66 East Bus Tour 12 p.m.: High Noon on the Square | Potter County Courthouse Lawn 5 p.m.: Big Texan Soiree | The Big Texan Steak Ranch Thursday, June 12 8 a.m.-5 p.m.: TX 66 West Bus Tour 5:30 p.m.: Texas Route 66 Visitor Center Celebration 5:30 p.m.: Comedy on 6th | The Bliss 66 Friday, June 13 After sunset: Hot Rods and Hollywood | Tascosa Drive-In Saturday, June 14 Fitness @ KT Black Route 66 5K Texas Route 66 Festival Finale | Route 66 Historic District, Amarillo The event concludes with the Route 66 Festival Finale on June 14 in Amarillo's Historic District — a one-mile celebration packed with music, vendors, food trucks, and a new pet pageant. 'This is not a block party,' Smith said. 'It's a family-friendly event, and all the kids' activities are free.' Back for another year as host is Guy Bell, better known as Bellbis, who keeps the crowd energized throughout the finale. 'I'm so blessed to be hosting the finale again,' Bell said. 'A lot of people think of a festival as a one-day thing — this is 10 days of fun. Don't miss the bus tours either. I've lived here my whole life and still learned new things.' Bell added, 'We've got great bands, and I'm going to keep the energy going all night.' Smith said the 2025 event is a full-scale practice run for the centennial, with plans to expand the footprint of the finale, introduce smaller year-round pop-up events, and align with celebrations in Missouri and Oklahoma. 'A little bit of support can go such a long way,' she said. 'When business groups feel supported, they thrive — and the visitor experience improves with that partnership.' For the complete schedule and more information on events in Amarillo and Route 66 attractions across Texas, go to This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Texas Route 66 Festival 2025: Amarillo area events & full schedule
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Yahoo
GeoWoodstock 2025 held in local area
May 24—MORGANTOWN — This weekend, Morgantown has transformed into a hub for geocachers as the city hosts GeoWoodstock, the largest "treasure hunting " event in North America. The event is expected to draw thousands of visitors from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and approximately nine countries, offering a boost to local businesses and showcasing the strength of the community in geocaching. GeoWoodstock, which rotates locations each year, is the highlight for many in the geocaching world. This year's gathering kicked off with pre-event activities Thursday at Coopers Rock State Forest, with the main event being held today at Mylan Park. The weekend's festivities will be wrap up Sunday at Pricketts Fort State Park in Fairmont. "For those unfamiliar with geocaching, it's essentially an outdoor treasure hunt using GPS coordinates, " said Jim Whittaker, a long-time participant and volunteer. "People hide containers, called caches, and post their locations online. Others then try to find them, sign a logbook, and put it back for the next person to discover. It is a great way to explore the outdoors—whether you are a family with young kids, or an empty nester like me and my wife." Whittaker emphasized the role of community and volunteerism in making the event possible. "There are so many people involved in putting this together. It was a collective effort, and would not have happened without people showing up." The event is not just a celebration for geocaching enthusiasts, but a way to help bring attention to the local community. The Visit Mountaineer Country Convention & Visitors Bureau, which covers Monongalia, Preston and Taylor counties, partnered with event organizers to help bring GeoWoodstock to north-central West Virginia. "We are all about bringing tourism to our community, " CVB representative Tami Wood said. "This event will have a direct economic impact across all three counties. Local restaurants, hotels, shops—they are all going to benefit." The CVB also is sponsoring the "Country Roads Challenge, " a special activity that sends geocachers on a trail of participating local businesses. Those who complete the challenge earn a commemorative coin, which is a prized item for avid geocachers, as well as discounts to the participating businesses. "This kind of event puts us on the map, " Wood added. "It's not just about the fun and adventure, it is about people discovering what this area has to offer." GeoWoodstock includes a variety of difficulty levels, from simple urban "hides " to rugged mountain searches. Participants can use either traditional handheld GPS devices or smartphone apps to locate caches. For many, it is more than just a hobby. "It's about community, " Whittaker said. "We have folks who have been to every single GeoWoodstock since it started. People form lifelong friendships through this." As Morgantown welcomed geocachers from all over, GeoWoodstock proved to be a testament to the strength of a community's passion for a pastime. Even Thursday's rain during the kickoff event didn't dampen the enthusiasm, as attendees showed up in full force and ready to explore. Whittaker states with appreciation, "Thanks to all who have been a part of it. Whether you are putting the event on or attending, it would not be what it is if we did not show up."
TTG
23-05-2025
- TTG
The Bradenton Area's award-winning beaches and top Florida twin-centres In The Spotlight
Video transcript With Kelly Clark, director of global affairs, Bradenton Area CVB, and TTG Media's Charlotte Cullinan. Charlotte: Hello and welcome to our In The Spotlight video with the Bradenton Area. Kelly, the destination has had a strong recovery since Hurricane Milton hit Florida in 2024, so tell us what visitors can expect now. Kelly: Yeah, so we were actually very fortunate that we didn't have as much damage as originally expected. We had some renovations, we had some debris clean-up, but we are excited to say that we are open for business. And if you didn't know that there was a hurricane, you wouldn't know when you were in the destination. Charlotte: Brilliant. Thank you. And of course, you're famed for your incredible beaches. Give us a flavour of Anna Maria Island. Because that's home to one of your award-winning beaches, isn't it? Kelly: Yes. We have world-class beaches. Our island is seven miles long and about a mile wide in its widest area, so you can look forward to having seven miles of sugar-white sand beaches, turquoise waters, gentle surf. It's just a wonderful place to sit on the beach and relax and enjoy your vacation. And we were really excited, as Anna Maria Island was voted one of the top 10 best islands in the US by Conde Nast Traveller UK. Charlotte: Amazing. Thank you. And talk us through some of the other top selling points that agents can promote to their clients in the destination. Kelly: Sure. Other than world-class beaches we have an amazing culinary scene. We have some of the freshest seafood you're going to find in the United States. We are set in the middle of three natural estuaries, so our sand has so many nutrients, which makes for delicious Floridian-style dining, which is seafood with a little bit of Caribbean spices and a citrus twist. Charlotte: Lovely. Thank you. And tell us a bit about the range of accommodation that's on offer as well. Kelly: Sure. We're really lucky that we have a diverse range of accommodations. So whether you're looking for small boutique-style hotels or resorts, or if you're looking for a full self-catering holiday home, we have plenty to choose from, whether it's a one-bedroom, two-bedroom, or eight-bedroom, we have beautiful beach, cottages, houses, villas, resorts and condos available for rent. Charlotte: Lovely, thank you. And do you have any suggestions for clients who are interested in a twin-centre holiday in Florida? Kelly: Absolutely. I think we're the perfect destination for a twin-city centre because we do offer that laid-back, effortless style which you need after you're in some of the bigger destinations in Florida. So from Orlando, we're about two hours away. And then just 45 minutes south of Tampa, so very close to get to. We're very centrally located on the Gulf of Mexico, so we like to say that we're close to all the major cities, yet you're going to feel very far away when you're in our destination. Charlotte: Oh, brilliant. So it sounds like a really great option for customers who want to relax and unwind after a week in the parks. Kelly: Absolutely. That's perfect. Charlotte: Fabulous. And I know you've got a really high visitor return rate. Tell us about that. Kelly: Yeah we actually have a 94% return rate, so we like to say, visit the Bradenton Area once and you're sure to fall in love with it. It's a great place to make memories and I guarantee you, your heart will be left in the destination. Charlotte: Thank you for that brilliant introduction to the destination, Kelly. And thank you for watching our In The Spotlight video with the Bradenton Area.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Applications for Brownsville tourism funding from nonprofits sought
May 21—The city of Brownsville Convention and Visitors Bureau is inviting local, nonprofit organizations to apply for Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT) funds to promote tourism in the city. The city said it's part of the CVB's "annual collaboration with local organizations to market and promote Brownsville as a visitor's destination." The HOT revenue it generated by hotel bookings in Brownsville. Every dollar awarded must "directly enhance and promote tourism and the convention and hotel industry within the city," according to the CVB. To be eligible, applicants' projects must fall into one of several categories, including "funding the establishment, improvement or maintenance of a convention center of visitor information center; paying the administrative costs for facilitating convention registration; paying for advertising, solicitations and promotions that attract tourists and convention delegates to the city or its vicinity; expenditures that promote the arts." Categories also included involve "funding historical restoration or preservation programs; funding the enhancement or upgrading of existing sports facilities or sports fields; funding transportation systems for tourists; signage directing tourists to sights and attractions that are visited frequently by hotel guests." Those interested in applying for HOT funds are encouraged to attend one of two HOT educational workshops the CVB has scheduled for June 9 at the CVB complex, 1312 E. Adams St. in Brownsville. The workshops are scheduled for 9-11 a.m. and 2-4 p.m. on that day. June 22 is the deadline to apply for HOT funds. Featured Local Savings
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
St. Joseph Convention & Visitors Bureau reports record-breaking tourism dollars spent
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The St. Joseph Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) reported a record-breaking $237.5 million in tourism dollars spent in 2024. The previous year, the CVB made $229.8 million the previous year. These dollars support more than 4,000 tourism-related jobs, making up one in every 14 jobs in the county. While hotel bookings saw a slight decrease from 2023, hotel revenue climbed to $23.7 million, thanks in part to a rising average daily rate of $128.82. Strategic marketing remains the CVB's top priority, accounting for 87% of its total budget. Digital marketing efforts yielded nearly 20 million impressions and over 211,000 ad clicks in 2024. Website traffic also continues to climb, with the top five cities viewing St. Joseph tourism content being: Kansas City, Chicago, Il., St. Louis and Dallas, Tx. The CVB also announced $167,000 in new cooperative marketing grants to support 501(c)(3) tourism-related organizations in 2025, bringing the total investment in these efforts to $2.5 million over the life of the program. Key focus areas continue to include convention marketing, sports tourism, group tours, leisure travel and local education efforts, such as the Show Me St. Jo! initiative.
