Planners give Orange County rave reviews
Travel planners from across the Midwest recently learned first hand that a new generation of travelers is discovering the colorful history and bright future of Orange County Indiana. A select 36 tour operators representing 22 companies experienced a familiarization or “fam” trip that provided a showcase for attractions in the Southern Indiana community over a two-day visit. The attendees, on an excursion prior to the Heartland Travel Showcase in Cincinnati, were from locations throughout the Midwest and are responsible for booking group tours for organizations, school groups and general vacationers. The FAM trip was a cooperative effort with the Louisville and Harrison County Indiana areas.
“It’s understood that a planner is much more likely to suggest or choose a destination if he or she has visited that area and had a positive personal experience,” said Orange County CVB Executive Director Rob Denbo. “So it’s critical for us to take advantage of these opportunities to showcase the French Lick area.”
The Orange County Indiana experience was certainly a highlight for a crowd that can often times be hard to please. An astounding 95.5 percent of participants rated the French Lick Resort Casino and its surrounding area either “good” or “excellent” on a post-fam survey.
Group travel is an essential market for destinations like Orange County. A recent study by researchers at George Washington University revealed that a single night visit by a motorcoach group can introduce more than $11,000 into a local economy from expenses including lodging, meals, admissions, fees, shopping, souvenirs, services and local taxes.
And providing diverse options for groups of differing ages and interests can be an added benefit for destinations like Orange County.
“While we’re always certain to showcase our casino properties and historic hotels, it was equally important for us to feature alternatives,” said Denbo. “After the group’s second night – which included an interactive evening at Wilstem Guest Ranch – they no longer perceived us as an adults-only destination, and our surveys prove that Orange County will now be considered for student and family groups as well.”
Courtesy of grouptravelblog.com
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