Meet the Editor

On June 17, four regional tourism industry members traveled to Columbus to attend Meet the Editor, a program presented by the Ohio Travel Association. Attendees heard information on "How to tell your story: what makes a good story and why is the story important and How to sell your story: what do editors look for and how much lead time do they need" from panelists Richard Osborne, Publisher and Editor of Ohio Magazine; Carol Smith, Editor of Group Tour Magazine, and Andrea Vecchio, Host of "Good Company" on WKYC-TV-Cleveland. The keynote speaker was Lara Kretler, Associate Vice President of Fahlgren Mortine Public Relations who shared information on "Social Media Marketing for Tourism and Hospitality Pros."

Enjoying the presentation are (l) Kari Thompson, Stonewall; Patricia Irvin, Colonel Taylor Inn B&B; Debbie Robinson, Cambridge/Guernsey County Visitors & Convention Bureau, and Wendy Wharff, recently named executive director of the Marietta-Washington County Convention & Visitors Bureau.

To read media stories about Guernsey County, log onto http://www.visitguernseycounty.com/ and click on media kit.

Visitors from the City of Lorain go Behind the Scenes

Recently, four visitors from the City of Lorain (population 65,000) traveled to Cambridge to learn more about how Dickens Victorian Village was organized, funded and run by volunteers. They met with Debbie Robinson, executive director of the Cambridge/Guernsey County Visitors & Convention Bureau and Jonett Haberfield, co-chair of Dickens Victorian Village.

They are seen here with Charles Dickens himself in the Dickens Welcome Center and Ye Olde Curiosity Shop. (l) Goldie Saegert, retired motor coach operator; Joe Skodny, Legacy Marketing Group; Bessie Eva Nelson, Natl. Ministries Assoc. of the Lorain Negro Business & Professional Women's Club and Pat Morrison, owner/operator of Footprint Tours.

Hoppy comes to Town!

The 19th Annual Hopalong Cassidy Reunion was a big success this year. Many cowboy look-alikes and Little Buckaroos participated. Hopalong Cassidy Reunion originator, Laura Bates (center), is surrounded by honored guests and movie stars during the Cowpoke Dinner.

To learn more about all of the events taking place in Guernsey County, log onto http://www.visitguernseycounty.com/.

National Tourism Week Celebrated Locally

Each year, the Cambridge/Guernsey County Visitors & Convention Bureau Board of Directors and staff celebrates National Tourism Week in May. We take this opportunity before the busy tourism season begins to recognize and thank our tourism industry members for the terrific job they do throughout the year,” VCB Executive Director Debbie Robinson said. “Our county is blessed with talented and dedicated individuals and organizations who realize the great economic impact tourism has in our area and who spend countless hours to make their tourism product an enjoyable and meaningful experience for visitors and residents alike. For these reasons, we award the Tourism Volunteer of the Year and Tourism Development of the Year to remind our community of the services these individuals and organizations provide.”


The Tourism Development Award honors the individual, organization, or business that has done the most to develop tourism in Guernsey County within the past calendar year. The winner of the 2009 Tourism Development of the Year Award is the National Museum of Cambridge Glass. In 2008 the museum developed programs that involved visitors in active learning and participation in activities. The museum increased attendance and formed creative partnerships with several other organizations and attractions.

The Tourism Volunteer Award honors an individual or organization that has done the most to further the growth of tourism in Guernsey County within the last calendar year on a volunteer basis. The winner of the 2009 Tourism Volunteer of the Year is Cecil Carlson for his tireless work on the Byesville Scenic Railway in Byesville. His nominator said, “He (Cecil) contributes countless hours to the Byesville Scenic Railway as the Station Master and the Vice President of the organization. Cecil is the person that keeps the train staffed and running on time. He may be selling the tickets, flagging the train or running the engine, but he will always be there.”

For more information on the National Museum of Cambridge Glass and the Byesville Scenic Railway, log onto www.VisitGuernseyCounty.com.

Travel Writer goes Behind the Scenes

Travel writer, Jan Myers (l), was in town recently for a "Behind the Scenes" Dickens Victorian Village tour. She is seen here in Ye Old Curiosity Shoppe and Dickens Welcome Center with artist Martha Jamail who explains to her how the Dickens heads are created. Jan's story will be featured in the November/December issue of "Over the Back Fence," a Southern Ohio travel magazine.

To learn more about the 2009 -2010 Dickens events including the brand new Sherlock Holmes Weekend, log onto www.VisitGuernseyCounty.com.