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Virtual VisitorS Center, And social media TO promotE tourism

Eau Claire Area Convention & Visitor’s Bureau cited for eco-friendly practices

EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (April 14, 2009) — Already one of the fastest growing tourist destinations in Wisconsin, the communities of Eau Claire, Altoona, Menomonie, Town of Union, Town of Wheaton and neighboring areas now have a powerful presence in travel technologies online — www.visiteauclaire.com.           

“Our area is a great place to visit, and this site provides a virtual visitors center that will ensure that families, meeting planners and others looking for those experiences find us when they are searching online,” said Linda Adler, Executive Director for Visit Eau Claire.

The new Web portal offers a number of interactive technologies designed to make it easy for travelers to experience and visit the Eau Claire area:

• Travel Advisors: Blogs and advice from real people who have visited the area for such experiences as biking, family adventures, girls’ getaway, music/arts, nature tours, and romantic escapes — with more to come.
• Book hotels online: Through a partnership with Travelocity, travelers can search and book hotels online.
• Mapping tools: The latest online mapping tools to find and view locations throughout the Eau Claire area.
• Video clips: See the areas before you visit with a video tour of the Eau Claire area. 
• Online visibility: With a presence on Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google and more, Eau Claire is present where people search, discuss and make travel plans.

The new interactive Web site and area travel portal launched today, highlighting Eau Claire Area destinations. Interactive sites for other member communities will follow, leveraging the latest social online media, search engine optimization, and relationship marketing.

In February, the convention and visitors bureau changed its name to Visit Eau Claire, making it more readily searchable and visible on maps and online search engines. In addition, this week the organization will move into a new office location in Eau Claire, signaling a transition away from the seldom-used static visitors center to a more mobile visitor center that maximizes the variety of locations and events in this area.

With everything from Country Jam, nature hikes, bike trails and festivals, the communities of Eau Claire, Altoona, Menomonie, Town of Union, Town of Wheaton and the neighboring area have a lot to offer potential travelers.

The CVB’s efforts are significant. Travel and tourism accounted for an estimated $315 million in revenues in 2007. In fact, a recent report by the Wisconsin Taxpayer’s Alliance found that only five municipalities in Wisconsin collected more room tax revenue than Eau Claire from 2002-2006. The new name, Web site and marketing efforts are the latest in the CVB’s continuing work to promote the region’s attractions for vacations, meetings and tournaments.

Travel Green Wisconsin Certification

Travel Green Wisconsin, a voluntary certification program that recognizes tourism businesses for reducing their environmental footprint through eco-friendly practices and the first of its kind in the country, announced recently that Visit Eau Claire has earned certification.

To achieve certification, applicants must earn a minimum of 30 points from a checklist of basic requirements covering a wide range of “green” practices, including: waste reduction, reuse and recycling; energy efficiency, water conservation and wastewater management; air quality; wildlife and landscape; transportation; purchasing; and local community benefits. The Wisconsin Environmental Initiative, an independent third party, then certifies Travel Green Wisconsin applicants.   

About Visit Eau Claire