MANSFIELD — Four local venues were recognized for helping drive traffic to the area during the Mansfield/Richland County Convention and Visitors Bureau’s annual meeting Wednesday.
Little Buckeye Children’s Museum, the Phoenix Brewing Co., Walk of Parables (BibleWalk) and The Brickyard/Final Friday Concert Series (Downtown Mansfield, Inc.) join 52 Tourism Hall of Fame inductees.
“They set standards for excellence that helped grow Richland County’s tourism offerings,” said Alex Rocks, chairman of the CVB board. “They help set us apart from other communities competing for the same visitor dollar.”
Winners were selected for meeting at least three of the following criteria: increased tourism in the area; significantly added to the tourism product offering of the area; helped gain positive statewide and/or national public relations or press; made significant improvements to their lodging property, attraction, recreational or food services facility, sports venue, etc.; advanced tourism through a unique concept, new market or collaborative partnership; and sustained excellence.
“We’re excited to be a growing part of the community, and we really look forward to drawing more people in from outside the area,” said Fred Boll, executive director of Little Buckeye Children’s Museum.
The awards were distributed in front of a crowd of about 200 local professionals representing a variety of agencies and businesses in the Ohio Brass Central Guard Room at the Ohio State Reformatory.
It was a fitting location, given that the Reformatory is also known for drawing visitors to the area.
Rocks reviewed the CVB’s highlights in 2015, which included helping establish the popular Wine and Ale Trail, as well as investing in the Brickyard Stage project.
The CVB also helped organize the first Shawshank Hustle last year, which drew 4,500 people from nearly 30 states, Rocks said. “For some it was a race; for most it was a great excuse to have a good time,” he said.
Rocks continued, “Thanks to great cooperation with the city, a few townships and ODOT, we placed Shawshank Trail signs at all site locations. For those of you who might not have heard, we are the home of the Shawshank Trail.”
Last summer finished strong with the inaugural Spherion Mid Ohio 13ER Half Marathon. “We look forward to working with the community this year to expand the marketing reach,” Rocks said of the event.
The stories on Frank Freshwaters, a “real-life Shawshank escapee” also played a part in raising awareness of the area last year.
“The PR associated with his arrest, extradition and three-part story about his life was a once-in-a-lifetime $859 million worth of exposure,” Rocks said.
“While it was a very productive year with a lot of good stuff, there’s still more to come,” he said.
Lee Tasseff, president of the CVB, noted that the Republican National Convention will be held in Cleveland this July.
“We launched the next generation Shawshank Trail website, along with two online commercials for the Trail,” he said. “They are critical parts of the targeted online ad campaign for those interested in the Republican National Convention and those attending in July. That campaign is just the first of several future campaigns.”
The CVB is gearing up to do hospitality for the Sports Car Club of America National Championship Runoffs and to develop a “What’s Nearby” feature for the CVB website.
“What we shared today is but a sample of efforts and activities being worked on, worked with or launched,” Tasseff said. “That includes data from the 2015 research project.
“We have a clearer picture of why people visit, what they do while they are here and how they access information during their visit. One of the more notable findings is that what we do and create (ads, brochures) is effective. In essence, the only way to earn a higher return of new dollars to the local economy is to do more of it.”
