The Hamilton County Convention and
Visitors Bureau on Monday will change its name to Hamilton County
Tourism Inc. The move comes on the heels of the organization's
rollout of a new logo and ad campaign in November.
“The name change reflects a stronger
focus on supporting the assets of the county,” said spokeswoman Jo Ann
Klooz.
“We don't have a convention center and our
efforts with organizations extend beyond tourism to the idea of
creating
great communities. A great place to visit
is also a great place to work, a great place to live and a great place
to invest.”
The organization’s name change occurs as
it begins a marketing partnership with the Hamilton County Alliance, the
county’s
economic development organization.
It's important for the organization to
have a name that conveys the organization is “an authority on Hamilton
County
hospitality and tourism,” said Deputy
Director Karen Radcliff.
The map pin logo and "visit
hamiltoncounty indiana" marks unveiled in November will remain the same.
The organization launched a newly branded website in November at www.visithamiltoncounty.com
and began running billboard, television, radio and print ads hyping
the changes late last year. New signage in
and around Hamilton County also surfaced in November and December in
addition to
new brochures using the map pin logo.
The organization last year designated slightly more than $100,000 for the re-branding and will spend even more this year to continue to roll out the changes and market the organization's initiatives.
Hamilton County Tourism officials hope the new campaign will teach locals and visitors alike to associate the sighting of the map pin with a positive message about things to do and see in the county.The bureau has been working with advertising and marketing firm ThreeSixty Group for several years, and the Indianapolis-based agency was instrumental in the re-branding.