Parkersburg, WV (January 14, 2009) – The Greater Parkersburg Convention & Visitors Bureau will participate in eight trade and travel related shows in 2009, beginning this weekend in Cincinnati, Ohio.

“We spend a good bit of time in the winter/spring months traveling to leisure and group trade shows promoting the Greater Parkersburg region,” Greater Parkersburg CVB President Steve Nicely said. “We have scaled back though on a few shows this year in order to focus our energy on the shows that produce immediate success for us. We are continuing to target three audiences – travel shows for the leisure market and trade shows for either the motor coach market or travel writers.”

The bureau will participate in the following shows in 2009:

January 16-25                Cincinnati Travel, Sports & Boat Show in Cincinnati, Ohio
January 27-28                Snowbird Extravaganza in Lakeland, Florida
February 20-22              Heartland Travel Showcase in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
February 20-March 1      Indianapolis Boat, Sport & Travel Show in Indianapolis, Indiana
February 27 – March 8   Pittsburgh Home & Garden Show
March 4-8                      Southern Spring Home & Garden Show in Charlotte, North Carolina
March 18-22                  Cleveland Sport, Boat & Travel Show in Cleveland, Ohio
April 4-8                        Travel South Showcase in Kissimmee, Florida 

The bureau will also attend a media marketplace May 18-21 in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware to meet with travel writers and editors from throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. The annual conference is hosted by the Mid-Atlantic Tourism Public Relations Alliance, a grassroots organization that incorporates more than 50 communication officers and specialists from six states and the District of Columbia.

“Going to where the customers are, is important,” Nicely said. “It is important to the marketing success of the CVB for several reasons. Not only does it allow for face-to-face marketing where the needs and desires of the potential customer may be ascertained, but these shows also give the CVB a chance to monitor emerging travel trends, receive feedback, and gauge what other destinations are doing that we can also provide as a service.”

The CVB’s visitors guide along with a packet of partner brochures will be distributed at the travel shows. Fliers or media kits will be passed out at the trade shows to participants.

To learn more about the area and upcoming events, visit www.GreaterParkersburg.com

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