Cambridge Listed as one of the 100 Top Towns

In its June issue, Midwest Living states that Cambridge is known for its "glass factories, shops and museums as well as Salt Fork State Park, Ohio's largest." For those reasons and more, Cambridge is listed as one of the 100 top towns to visit in the Midwest.

For more information for all of the activities and attractions in Guernsey County, check out www.visitguernseycounty.com.

Tourism Reps Attend Marketing Conference

Debbie Robinson, Executive Director of the Cambridge/Guernsey County Visitors & Convention Bureau and Toni Kellar, Marketing & Communications Officer for the Wilds are seen here at the Ohio Division of Travel & Tourism's Annual Marketing Conference in Columbus.

The attendees were entertained with a rendition of John Prine's "Dear Abby" with a tourism twist performed by Lt. Governor Lee Fisher and First Lady Frances Strickland during Lt. Fisher's Welcome Address.

During the first day of the two-day conference, attendees learned about Diversity Marketing and the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati and their initiative entitled "Passage to Freedom," an ambitious undertaking to catalog all Ohio underground railroads. Attendees also chose from Advertising One-on One, Website Assessment, and Creating a PR Driven Campaign workshops.

The second day, attendees had the opportunity to participate in a seminar on either Agricultural Tourism or Culinary Tourism.

For more information on the presentations at the conference or to learn more about the resources the Ohio Division of Travel & Tourism offers to the tourism industry, log on to http://www.discoverohio.com/industry.

Team Tourism Updated on MC Passport

During the recent Team Tourism Quarterly Meeting, attendees learned about the Muskingum County Passport Program, a joint venture between the Muskingum County Tourism Industry partners, the Muskingum County Chamber of Commerce and the Muskingum County Library System. The program encourages students and their families to discover the rich historical and cultural sites the county has to offer.

Presenting the program were L- Joanna Duncan and R- Debbie Allender of the John and Annie Glenn Historic Site. Shauna Hearing, information manager for the VCB, is pictured with them.

Team Tourism partners who are interested in forming a program like the Muskingum County Passport in Guernsey County are encouraged to attend a follow-up meeting on Wednesday, May 23rd at 2:00pm at the Guernsey County Administration Building in the multi-purpose room.

For more information and to RSVP, contact Debbie Robinson at the VCB 740-432-2022 or director@visitguernseycounty.com.

Ohio Historical Society Region 10 Meets in Cambridge

On Saturday, the National Museum of Cambridge Glass hosted the OHS Region 10 meeting in their museum in downtown Cambridge. Over 40 participants attended the meeting coming from Caldwell, Warsaw, Zanesville, Belpre, Marietta, and as far away as Lebanon, Ohio.

The theme of the annual event was partnerships and collaboration with an emphasis on education. Speakers included Pauli Cornish from the Stone House Museum, Dr. Lorle Porter and Joanna Duncan from John & Annie Glenn Historic Site, Cindy Arent from the National Museum of Cambridge Glass and seen here, Debbie Robinson from the Cambridge/Guernsey County Visitors & Convention Bureau. The afternoon was topped off with a living history presentation by coal miners Steve Stolarik and Dave Adair from the Byesville Scenic Railway.

To learn more about these area attractions, log on to www.visitguernseycounty.com.

Discover Downtown Cambridge

In conjunction with AVC Communication's special TV Show and web cast to promote local attractions and events to its residents and visitors alike, the Cambridge/Guernsey County Visitors & Convention Bureau participated in the welcome and closing remarks for the production as well as a description about the services that are offered in the Tourist Information Center located in downtown Cambridge. Taking part in the interview is L- Shauna Hearing, information manager for the VCB , Dave Wilson, AVC on-air personality and Debbie Robinson, executive director of the VCB. Behind the camera is Joel Losego, cameraman extraordinaire.

To learn more about Cambridge/Guernsey County Tourism, check out www.visitguernseycounty.com.

State-wide Smoking Ban to be enforced May 3

Today during the Guernsey County Lodging Association's quarterly meeting, hosted by the Cambridge/Guernsey County Visitors & Convention Bureau, members were updated on the smoking ban from Amir Eylon, Executive Vice President and Kelly Jones, Director of Membership Development for the Ohio Hotel & Lodging Association.

OH&LA is a state organization that offers training, networking opportunities, resources and updates on legislative issues that affect the lodging industry. Lodging Association members learned that the state-wide smoking ban will be enforced beginning May 3. To learn more about OH&LA, log onto http://www.ohiolodging.com/.

Pictured here are L - seated - Kelly Jones and Amir Eylon of OH&LA. L-standing - Debbie Robinson and Shauna Hearing of the VCB, and Ralph Ray, president of the Guernsey Co. Lodging Association.

Excuse Our Muss and Dust

The Cambridge/Guernsey County Visitors & Convention Bureau staff recently took time out from their busy schedules to spend an entire work day cleaning the Tourist Information Center located in Historic Downtown Cambridge. In preparation for National Tourism Week and the upcoming travel season, L- Shauna Hearing, information manager and Dawn Beasley, office manager are seen here cleaning the glass display case filled with local glass from Degenhart, Mosser, Boyd and Cambridge Glass.

The staff encourages the Guernsey County Tourism industry to "get ready for company" as well. For more information on Guernsey County's National Tourism Week celebration, check out www.visitguernseycounty.com.

Glass Pass members travel to Lancaster

Today, 6 Guernsey County members of the Glass Pass consortium traveled to the new Ohio Glass Museum in Lancaster to attend the quarterly Glass Pass meeting.

The Glass Pass is a partnership of 11 glass museums and companies whose goal is to enlighten and encourage individuals to further explore the rich heritage and artistry of glassmaking and collecting throughout Ohio, West Virginia and Pennsylvania. Glass Pass brochures can be obtained at any of the participating museums and companies or by logging onto www.visitguernseycounty.com.

Enjoying a tour of the Ohio Glass Museum are members of the National Museum of Cambridge Glass and staff members from the Cambridge/Guernsey County Visitors & Convention Bureau: L - Cindy Arent, Betty Sivard, Dawn Beasley, Debbie Robinson, Sandy Rohrbaugh and Lorraine Weinman.

"Ask Me How"

On Tuesday, March 27th, 167 travel and tourism partners converged in Columbus for Legislative Day. These partners represented Ohio Hotel & Lodging Association, Ohio Restaurant Association, Ohio Travel Association and Ohio Association of Convention & Visitors Bureaus all speaking in one voice. The message.....a simple one, by giving the Ohio Division of Travel

& Tourism 25 million dollars in their annual budget, 177 million will be generated in direct and indirect traveler spending.

I had the opportunity to meet with several of our legislators and say hello to former Guernsey County Commissioner, now president and legislative director of the State Controlling Board, Joe Secrest. While I was there, I also visited our friends at the Governor's Office of Appalachia.

It is so important to remind our legislators that tourism is used as an economic development tool for our state and our counties. Guernsey County is a perfect example of how money can be generated for our county. Take a look at Dickens Victorian Village. We saw an increase of 20 motor coaches representing 665 tourists who visited our area in November and December '06. Each of those tourists ate in at least one of our restaurants, spent the night in our county, purchased an item or two in our retail stores and bought a ticket to ride the Byesville Scenic Railroad, to see "A Christmas Carol," to hear the Cambridge Singers or the Southeastern Ohio Symphony Orchestra, and to visit countless other attractions.

In May, we will celebrate our own tourism industry with a week-long celebration during National Tourism Week. To learn more, log on to http://www.visitguernseycounty.com/. And when you see me that week, be sure to "Ask Me How" tourism in our community generates money for our county!