December is an exciting time at the Duluth Convention and Visitors Bureau. In addition to the joy of the holiday season and taking advantage of all the winter fun our city has to offer, we also relish the completion of our annual "Guide to Duluth."
The guide is an 88-page color pamphlet showcasing all that Duluth, northeastern Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin have to offer -- the scenic beauty, attractions and events, historic architecture, romance, restaurants and lodging that make our area such a great vacation destination and place to live. The DCVB guide is a cutting edge approach to tourism promotion because it not only enhances traditional tourism images, but sends a message profiling Duluth's culture and quality of life.
The guide is given away throughout the Midwest and through requests generated at http://www.visitduluth.com . The new 2004 edition will be available in mid-January. Over the course of the year, 300,000 copies of the guide will be picked up by people eager to learn more about Duluth. It is a very important and cost-effective tool in our efforts to market the area.
Our research shows that we generate most of our visitors from the Twin Cities area, yet the rising cost of advertising in that market, combined with tight marketing budgets, makes it difficult to market to those people. As a result of our advertising, the guide is an effective and measurable resource providing travelers with more information about everything Duluth has to offer.
Anyone, anywhere who wants to know more about Duluth also has access to this one simple tool just by visiting our Web site or calling 1-800-4-DULUTH. The guide is also a great resource for people who live in our area. It's a convenient source for planning what events to attend, choosing where to eat dinner and so much more.
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We've been publishing the guide to Duluth for 15 years, and each year it gets a little heftier and a little better. This year, the guide has several new sections that we think will help promote our area like never before:
Duluth is a gateway to an entire region of activity, so we've developed a more regional approach to selling the area as a tourism destination. We've added space in our guide to highlight daytrips along the north and south shores of Lake Superior and other parts of northeastern Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin. We've also highlighted attractions in Superior and Proctor.
We've added a section called "The Great Outdoors," which showcases the many opportunities for nature adventures in the area. Duluth has lots of green space, and that's one reason why people love being here. Our 2004 guide highlights a unique mix of activities like hiking, biking, skiing, birding, rock climbing, canoeing, kayaking, sailing and so much more.
Another new section encourages readers to "visit for life." Duluth is one of the best and most affordable places to live in America. It's more than just a great place to visit; it's a great place to live year-round. It's always our hope that when people visit Duluth and experience what it has to offer, they'll want to make it their home. The guide's exposure surely will help Duluth's other economic sectors, as well as tourism.
The great attractions and amenities in Duluth can't survive without the combined support of the people who live and work here and the people who visit here. We're proud to say the DCVB's "Guide to Duluth" serves them both very well.
