State, County and Local Tourism Community Gather for Guide Launch
Red Bank, NJ: Grace Hanlon, Executive Director of New Jersey Division of Travel & Tourism, and Jeanne DeYoung, Monmouth County’s Director of Tourism, addressed a diverse group of business people representing all aspects of Monmouth County’s travel and tourism industry at the recent launch of Spark’s 2011 Visit Monmouth Guide.
The newly confirmed executive director pointed out that tourism is New Jersey’s third largest industry and every dollar of public support for the industry returns multiple dollars in revenue to the State’s economy and generates substantial tax revenues.
Ms. Hanlon announced that the State would mount a spring marketing campaign in New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Washington, D.C. and other domestic markets as well as Canada to show off the real Jersey Shore and draw domestic and international visitors. The campaign will include a television commercial, radio and print advertisements, the purchase of Google ad words, attendance as consumer and industry travel shows and meetings with companies that specialize in travel from as far away as China. New Jersey’s tourism representatives recently attended Fashion Week in New York City to promote New Jersey as a premier shopping destination that includes offerings from Atlantic City to the Jersey Gardens Mall for every taste and budget.
Spark Market Solutions in Red Bank, NJ published the advertiser-supported full color Visit Monmouth guide in print, interactive CD and online formats. With 35,000 print copies, thousands of CDs and post cards that drive visitors to www.tourism.visitmonmouth.com, Monmouth County’s Tourism website, the guide is an important part of the pubic and private efforts to encourage domestic and international travelers to visit Monmouth County. The photo-filled guide assists visitors in planning trips to the area and offers a taste of the places and events that make it special.
“Through its marketing efforts that reach north to Canada, south to the Carolinas and west to Ohio as well as across the tri state area, Monmouth County supports tourism businesses large and small, thus enabling those businesses to create jobs for local residents,” said Ms. DeYoung. “During the summer the county population increases dramatically by visitors drawn to the spectacular beaches and large events such as the $1,000,000 Haskell Invitational held each summer at Monmouth Park Racetrack.”
Spark will be posting ongoing e-news updates throughout the year and utilizing social media to grow awareness of the guide, expand its value to visitors and encourage visitors to reach out and talk to a local. “There are so many great things happening in the area beyond the beaches and boardwalks that visitors appreciate the guide’s help in connecting with the attractions and events,” said Ronnie Gardstein, editor of Spark’s Visit Monmouth Guide. “Residents use the guide as a resource when family and friends visit.”
To pick up a copy of the guide and sign up for e-news updates contact Spark at 732.747.4449 orcheck it out here.