DeKalb Convention & Visitors Bureau Wants More Tourism

The DeKalb Convention & Visitors Bureau held an open house on Monday to coincide with National Travel & Tourism Week, first celebrated in 1984 after a proclamation by then-President Ronald Reagan. Often forgotten, the travel and tourism industry supports one of every nine jobs in the United States, according to the U.S. Travel Association.

At the local level, DeKalb CVB is trying its best to promote more tourism and travel in this county. Funded by the county lodging tax, an energetic DCVB has the potential to bring more sales tax income to a revenue-starved DeKalb as well as more jobs. The state also benefits from more sales tax and income tax revenue.

No, DCVB is not located in downtown Decatur. It used to be, but has been in the more centrally located 30084 zip code for about seven years, at 1957 Lakeside Parkway, Suite 510. James Tsismanakis took over as executive director and CEO on Feb. 1 after over 15 years in charge of several other convention and visitors bureaus.

Tsismanakis talked to Tucker Patch at this week’s open house, and said that DCVB had traditionally been strong in promoting family reunions but needed to diversify its sales focus, expand its markets and revamp its digital marketing.

Indeed, DCVB’s website has been modernized and has the same look and feel as its marketing brochures, and Twitter and Facebook sites. DCVB’s Online Marketing Manager Jason Pelham said the site has had thousands more visitors than before. Their social networking on Facebook and Twitter has been active.

Instead of one large, bulky map-sized brochure, DCVB has developed two smaller-scale visitors’ guides. The larger of the two highlights major events, suggests an itinerary and promotes points of interest, the arts, shopping, dining and lodging. Available at welcome centers or from the website, Tsismanakis described the larger visitors’ guide as a “lure piece” to a smaller map and attractions guide available at area hotels.

Both guides can fit in a brochure rack and contain four-digit extensions that tie into the toll-free DeKalb Direct phone number (866-633-5252) to guide a visitor to their attraction, restaurant or venue of choice. The map and attractions guide even has a bar code-like symbol that allows the guide to be scanned into an iPhone or Android smartphone.

DCVB also promotes attractions in the City of Atlanta. “The idea is to get visitors to stay in Atlanta, tour here and then stay here (DeKalb) in the future,” Tsismanakis said. “It’s cheaper to stay here and the parking is free.”

Tsismanakis said DCVB is seeking corporate conferences for venues such as Evergreen Marriott Conference Resort in Stone Mountain Park. Tour motor coach groups and sports groups are other target markets that DCVB is focusing on.    

For further information, call 770-492-5000.