Greenwood Regional Tourism & Visitors Bureau Advertising Agency

Purpose:

The Greenwood, SC Tourism and Visitors Bureau (GRTVB), the official Destination Marketing Organization for Greenwood, SC, invites full‐service advertising/marketing agencies to submit proposals to provide services for the GRTVB. Such services will include developing and producing creative concepts primarily for, but not limited to: print and Run of Press advertising, direct mail, brochures, maps, stationery, invitations, events, logos, outdoor, display/Point of Purchase, broadcast, digital and social media, and the internet. Typical project services will include strategic planning, consultation, research, concept, copywriting, design, production, media placement, and project management.

Background:

The GRTVB is a department of the City of Greenwood, and is funded by accommodations tax funds from both Greenwood County and City hotel properties. It is responsible for increasing travel to Greenwood County and serves to promote Greenwood as a visitor’s destination. While we are a department of the City, it is our responsibility to serve the entire county and promote any events, attractions, hotels, restaurants, etc. that bring visitors to the area. We are the main destination marketing organization and tourism entity that receives the local accommodations tax funds. Greenwood is best known for its signature festivals, the SC Festival of Flowers, attracting 60,000 visitors during the month of June, and the SC Festival of Discovery, attracting 30,000 visitors each July. Other key festivals take place during the summer in neighboring communities, such as the Catfish Feastival in Ware Shoals and the Festival of Stars in Ninety Six. Activity on Lake Greenwood has also seen a positive increase with the creation of Connect Lake Greenwood, a multi chamber organization committed to enhancing the quality of life and economic development of the lake through special events, etc.

Greenwood has many assets, including a strong arts and cultural presence through organizations such as the Arts Center of Greenwood, Greenwood Community Theatre, and The Greenwood Museum. Each of these have recently been renovated resulting in a significant increase in visitor traffic during the last few years due to key marketing efforts. Additionally, the Greenwood Railroad and Historical Center is currently undergoing restoration on six train cars along with the construction of a deck with a handicapped accessible lift to aid visitors. All cars will ultimately be restored and able to host key events, increasing visitors to the attraction.  Greenwood County is also home to a National Historic Site, Star Fort Revolutionary War Battlefield, which hosts over 40,000 annual visitors. Our hotels have reported to us that they tend to maintain high occupancy rates Sunday – Wednesday. Since Greenwood is 40% manufacturing, business travel is strong through the week, but occupancy rates decrease during the weekends. The peak time for visitors to Greenwood are Spring and Summer through the months of March – July. From August – February, there is great potential to recruit and service more visitors. Our marketing efforts over the past few years have focused primarily on the leisure traveler through digital, billboard, and social media advertising, a strong social media presence, a PR campaign working with travel writers and earned media opportunities, and a group strategy focusing primarily on the sports market as well as small market meetings and leisure groups. We also work closely with our many partners to give them avenues to share their stories and market themselves. We would like for our websites (www.visitgreenwoodsc.com and www.golfgreenwoodsc.com) to serve as the primary tools where we can direct our many visitors for their day and overnight trip planning.

Scope of Work:

Marketing Objectives

The purpose of the GRTVB is to increase travel to the area generating revenues and improving the overall vibrant economy of Greenwood County. As the Destination Marketing Organization for Greenwood, this is achieved through effective advertising, tourism, and public relations opportunities designed to increase awareness and generate travel to the Greenwood area for leisure travelers, groups and meetings. The targeted responsibilities of the GRTVB and its marketing efforts are categorized according to the following:

• Meeting professionals – association, corporate, SMERF (social, military, education, religious, and fraternal) markets
• Sports groups, amateur, spectator and participatory
• Travel trade, including tour operators, wholesalers, travel agents, etc.
• General consumers and leisure travelers within a 2‐3‐hour drive of the area.
• Consumer, trade, lifestyle and sports media
• Local media and consumer awareness as well as Greenwood County resident awareness

Due Date:

January 26

Address:

P.O. Box 40

Greenwood, South Carolina 29648-0040

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