PARKERSBURG, WV (May 3, 2010) – It’s a trend that the Greater Parkersburg Convention & Visitors Bureau along with area hotels anticipate will play a significant role in marketing the area now and in the future.

Youth sporting tournaments are growing by leaps and bounds and communities across the country are paying attention to them. In fact, CVBs like Parkersburg are working hard to attract their business.

Today the Greater Parkersburg CVB appeared before the Wood County Commission and provided an update on its strategic sports marketing initiatives and current economic impact. Several area hotel general managers also appeared with Nicely.

Greater Parkersburg CVB President Steve Nicely indicated that Wood County hotel room nights sold in 2009, directly related to sporting events, generated $1.4 million in economic impact.

“The CVB began focusing a portion of its marketing budget and efforts toward attracting and servicing sporting events a few years ago,” Nicely said. “The result is that 50 percent of room nights sold in Wood County just last year were tied to these events. The benefit of sports related events taking place in our region is tremendous. Hotels fill up and shops and restaurants experience an increase in traffic. On average $267.91 is spent per room, per day in the area.”

Hotel general managers indicated the Wood County Innovative Grant Program, developed and administered by the Wood County Commission, has proven to be a tremendous help in promoting and attracting visitors for special events. In 2009, more than 5,000 hotel room nights were generated through events funded by the Wood County Innovative Grant Program.

“The Commission has been a partner with the sports marketing and innovative grant program from the beginning. This is a project that has been a total success, especially by bringing sports visitors to Wood County during the normally slow winter months. We are excited about the future possibilities and additional sporting events that will be hosted in Wood County,” Wood County Commissioner President Rick Modesitt said.

The number of sporting events that the bureau has worked with grows each year.  In 2008 the bureau worked with 13 events; in 2009 19 events; and as of April 1, 2010 the bureau has assisted more than 45 sporting events.

“A recent article in The New York Times indicated that the popularity of youth tournaments has intensified over the past decade, particularly for girls’ sporting events,” Nicely said. “There is a tendency for those who attend a sporting event to also visit area attractions, seek out entertainment and enjoy local restaurants. For some families, traveling to youth tournaments has become the new family vacation.”

The Greater Parkersburg CVB also manages an area sports calendar. The calendar features events that specifically bring overnight guests. There are currently more than 45 total sporting events taking place in 2010. Twenty-nine of those events are new. Seventeen events are scheduled to take place at the new ELITE Sports complex with other new events taking place at the WV Motor Speedway and USSA Softball tournaments in the area.

To learn more about the bureau’s sports marketing program and upcoming events, visit www.GreaterParkersburg.com or call Steve Nicely 304-428-1130.

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