MANSFIELD — The Mansfield/Richland County Convention and Visitors Bureau has changed its name to Destination Mansfield-Richland County.
The name change has come as a result of strategic board discussions and community leader interviews. The agency began in 1980 as the Richland Tourist and Travel Bureau. The name has changed twice since then.
“During our last board retreat, it became apparent the Bureau had evolved beyond just doing tourism marketing,” said Destination Mansfield-Richland County President Lee Tasseff. “With an expanded focus that included participating in overall economic development and increased community involvement, it was time to update our mission and vision statements.
“The term Convention and Visitors Bureau became a kind of an antiquated name and no longer accurately described what we have been for some time.”
Destination still considers marketing as one of its main focuses, but the name change allows for collaboration with other economic development partners in the county.
Destination said they are the only tourism focused economic development organization in Richland County and are chartered to promote the area’s facilities, attractions and events as a destination for group tours, meetings and visitors, and to developing new visitor markets.
According to a press release, tourism is the fourth largest employer in Richland County, supporting 4,432 jobs with a payroll of $86 million, while generating spending of $304 million and local taxes of $8.9 million.
“We believe it all starts with a visit, and it is still our job to communicate that,” Taseff said. “The colors didn’t change, the font hasn’t changed. This is a very seamless change. It reflects who we are and where we’re going.”
