VCB Recognized with Safety Award

During the Cambridge Area Chamber of Commerce 12th Annual Guernsey - Noble Safety Awards Luncheon, the Cambridge/ Guernsey County Visitors & Convention Bureau was presented with an 100% Award for working an entire year without any injury or illness resulting in a day away from work.

Accepting the award from Sue Davis (R), Bureau of Worker's Comp Division of Safety & Hygiene is VCB office manager, Dawn Beasley.

Ohio National Road Association Takes FAM Tour

Board members of the Ohio National Road Association spent a day traveling the eastern portion of the All-American, National Scenic Byway recently. Led by the co-author of the "Traveler's Guide to the Historic National Road in Ohio", Doug Smith, Licking County Commissioner, who regaled the attendees in interesting stories along the byway.

Doug Smith seen here is explaining the history of the Mile Markers at one of Ohio's three S- Bridges, two of which are located in Guernsey County.

One of the first stops during the day was at Blaine Bridge, Ohio's oldest bridge and the official bicentennial bridge. It is the longest and last remaining structure of its kind on the entire 6-state Historic National Road system. The restored site was dedicated in 2005.

Debbie Robinson, executive director of the Cambridge/Guernsey County Visitors & Convention Bureau, pauses during the walk on the bridge for a picture with Sue Douglass, Executive Director of the Belmont County Department of Development, who lovingly and tirelessly led the way for the restoration of the bridge. Learn more about the bridge at www.BlaineBridge.org.

Another stop along the way was the S-bridge in Middlebourne in Guernsey County. The ONRA board took a breather for a photo. To learn more about the Ohio section of the National Road, visit http://www.ohionationalroad.org/.

To learn more about the Guernsey County section of the Ohio National Road, log on to http://www.visitguernseycounty.com/ and request a free driving brochure.

Tourism Generates Revenue!

On March 18, 2009, Debbie Robinson, executive director of the Cambridge/Guernsey County Visitors & Convention Bureau, joined other state tourism professionals in Columbus for the Annual Legislative Day. Robinson participated in numerous activities during the day including appointments with Representative Jennifer Garrison and Senator Jimmy Stewart to share the message that tourism is an economic development tool for not only Guernsey County but also for the entire state. In 2008, the state's return on investment with their new advertising campaign, "Too Much Fun for Just One Day," generated an estimated $473 million in visitor spending, and $31 million in new tax revenues is estimated to have come to Ohio as a result of this campaign.

To share in the good news with Robinson is L- Phil Craig, Executive Director of the Ohio Association of Convention & Visitor Bureaus and Lou Gentile, Assistant Director of the Governor's Office of Appalachia.

To learn more about activities and events in Guernsey County, log onto www.VisitGuernseyCounty.com.

Tourism Director Goes to D.C.

Debbie Robinson, Executive Director of the Cambridge/Guernsey County Visitors & Convention Bureau along with other Ohio VCB directors L- Pat Crow, Knox County, Dee Grossman, Tuscarawas County, Amy Rutledge, Carroll County recently traveled to Washington D.C. to speak with their federal legislatures about the importance of tourism as an economic development tool during these challenging times. In addition to Congressman Zack Space seen here, Robinson also spent time with Byesville native Dan Neff at the Appalachian Regional Commission. Robinson will also travel to Columbus for meetings with state representatives.

Guernsey County Well Represented at Group Tour Travel Show

Representatives from The Living Word Outdoor Drama, Byesville Scenic Railway, Dickens Victorian Village, and the Cambridge/Guernsey County Visitors & Convention Bureau recently attended the annual Heartland Travel Showcase in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They joined over 600 hospitality and tourism professionals at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center February 20-22.

Jonett Haberfield explains the "Dickens Experience" to a tour operator.

Heartland Travel Showcase, produced by Ohio Travel Association, builds relationships between hospitality industry professionals to promote the "heartland's" unique destinations. Collectively, the Guernsey tourism professionals met with over 75 tour operators during the show, sharing with them the unique travel opportunities and itineraries their groups can enjoy in our area.

Steve Stolarik shares how the train ride explains the history of coal mining in Guernsey County.

For more information on the group tour market in Guernsey County, go to http://www.visitguernseycounty.com/. To learn more about Heartland Travel Showcase, see http://www.ohiotravel.org/.

Kitrina and Mitch Mazaher enthralls a tour operator with the "Greatest Story Ever Told."