Okemo Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce March Chamber Corner

By MARJI GRAF, CEO
We had a strong start to the year.  We showcased our region at both the New York Times Travel Show in January (attendance 24,060) and the Boston Globe Travel Show in February (attendance 22,130). We met with media and have invited a selected few to come and write stories about us. The best part was it didn’t cost the chamber anything! Vermont Association of Chamber Executives (VACCE) paid for the booths so all chambers could be represented.  Since I participated, I also got to talk specifically about our Region.

We congratulated   Murdock’s on the Green in Proctorsville for being chosen as February Members of the Month. They hosted our Legislative luncheon and is co-sponsoring the car parade to Proctorsville on Aug. 18 after the Chrome & Craft Festival. 

Upcoming education programs are at Newsbank Conference Center in Chester: March 13, 11-noon  with Kim Dixon, “Growing Your Business Using Google;” and May 15, 11-noon with Kim Dixon, “Finding your niche on social media.” 

We have display cases at the Guilford Welcome Center in August and December 2018 and May at the Hartford South Welcome Centers.

2018 Chrome & Craft Festival sponsored by Benson’s Chevrolet:

Aug. 17:  Cruise In at Bensons Chevrolet, 5-8 p.m.

Aug. 18:  Chrome & Craft Festival, Fletcher Farm School field. 

This year we are combining our car show with the Craft Festival. Open to all vehicles, and free admission for both shows. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sponsorships are available if you want to be on the T-shirts!

Followed by car parade to Proctorsville sponsored by Murdock’s on the Green and Outer Limits Brewing, 4:30-8 p.m.

OKEMO VALLEY TV: 

February’s show features Michael Alon of DaVallia Art & Accents and Penny Cote of Inn Victoria. 

We welcomed new members:Main + Mountain, Bar & Motel of Ludlow; Gussie’s Place – A Country K9 Kennel, of Chester; Healthy Wealthy Connected of Ludlow; and Bliss Farm of Chester. 

SAVE THE DATES:
March 14 – Four Seasons Sotheby’s speed dating – Ludlow, 5:30-7:30 p.m.

May 10 – Weston Playhouse at Walker Farm – annual meeting and Taste of Okemo Valley, 5-8 p.m., Weston

Aug. 8 – Windsor Mansion Inn with Artisans Park, Windsor

Sept. 11 – OVRCC Golf Tournament – OVGC, 1 p.m., Ludlow

Sept. 13 – OVRCC night on the rails, 6-8:30pm, Chester to Rockingham, with hors d’oeuvres and cash bar, Chester

Nov. 14 – Jackson Gore Inn, Ludlow

The Vermont Tourism Summit, one of the largest gatherings of tourism professionals in the state, will be heading to Manchester, Vermont on April 11 and 12. Here’s a sampling of what’s on the schedule this year: Succession Strategies, Agricultural Tourism Trends, How Place Experience Impacts Destination Brands, Tourism by the Numbers, How to Build a Team to Create a High-Performance Environment, Web Trends for Travel and Tourism, Managing Multiple Generations in the Workplace, Search & Social Marketing, and more! Visit the conference website to start building your agenda, and to register to attend. Rates increase closer the conference; sign up early and save atwww.vttourismsummit.org 

The Chamber will continue to: 

Connect businesses with resources

Develop the regional Okemo Valley  brand identity as a four season vacation destination

Maintain a central tourism/service website and social media presence for our region

Produce a regional guidebook/business directory

Attend priority tourism marketing shows in New York, Boston and Connecticut

Cultivate a tourism media presence

Market our regions assets

Be a point of contact for individual businesses, visitors, tour operators and State Tourism officials

Provide free business training through our quarterly education series

Provide co-op marketing opportunities

 Promote packages

Set up display cases at the Welcome Centers to promote our region and businesses.

Please let us know how we can help you. Marji is always available to brainstorm ideas with you and suggest resources that can help you to get to the next level!