SOUTHEAST COLORADO REGIONAL TOURISM GROUP
Crowley County Otero County Bent County Prowers County Kiowa County Baca County
1840 W. Amb. Thompson Blvd., Las Animas, CO 81054
For Immediate Release
Contact: Kathryn S. Finau
SECORTG Project Manager
KSF Strategic Services
719-469-8818
ksfinau@rural-com.com
Marketing 101 Workshop provided by the Southeast Colorado Regional Tourism Group
Las Animas, Colo., March 16, 2007 – The Southeast Colorado Regional Tourism Group (SECORTG) will present a Marketing 101 workshop on Wednesday, April 11, 2007 from 9:00AM-3:00PM at the John Martin Reservoir State Park Visitor’s Center. The workshop is free and lunch will be provided. Please RSVP to Kathy Finau at 719-469-8818 or ksfinau@rural-com.com by Friday, April 6, 2007 so that enough food is prepared.
Ms. Kelli Hepler, an award winning graphic designer and marketing professional of the Walden Mills Group, will lead the workshop designed to assist tourism related businesses, chambers, economic development agencies, tourism sites, and students in understanding how to work with the media to promote their product or event. This will include: the basics about what marketing is, what advertising is, the importance of consistency, the perceived value of a product, the importance of product development; how to get free coverage, how to leverage the dollars that you have, how to track the efforts; where to find resources for free press; how to build on little successes or existing press coverage; how to write a press release, and how to build your media contact list. At the end of the workshop the participants will have built a Press Kit for the region that will be ready for distribution. Ms. Hepler will also lead a discussion on a name for the regional tourism group that portrays an image for Southeast Colorado as a tourism destination.
To take the greatest advantage of the workshop, attendees are requested to bring with them a story pitch about something a tourism destination or event in the region with information about what it is, where to find it, when it is and how it is accessed. Also bring a previously printed story of what others are saying about this particular event, product, or service and photos that tie your story pitch together. The rights to use the photo should be established. Please also bring any brochures or advertising already being used to promote your event, business, or service that can be used to discuss building an art file (called a morgue in the industry) and discuss the components of creating higher standards in your own advertising.
The SECORTG appreciates the support of Preserve America; Colorado Department of Local Affairs - Energy & Mineral Impact Funds; Colorado Tourism Office, Heritage Tourism Pilot Project; Anschutz Family Foundation; El Pomar Foundation; Southern Colorado Economic Development District and our local communities, which allow us to provide these informative workshops to the region.
For additional information, Contact: Kathryn S. Finau, SECORTG Project Manager, KSF Strategic Services, 1840 W. Amb. Thompson Blvd., Las Animas, CO 81054, 719-469-8818, ksfinau@rural-com.com.
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Southeast Colorado Regional Tourism Group
Marketing 101 Workshop Agenda
April 11, 2007
John Martin Reservoir State Park
Hasty, CO
9:00AM-3:00PM
9:00 Welcome and Introductions
· Announcement of Colorado State Parks Outdoor Recreation & Tourism Regional Forum – June, September, November 2007
9:15 Outcomes of the Workshop
9:30 Lesson One: Marketing Special Events
(Snow Goose Festival as Case Study)
10:45 Break
11:00 Lesson Two: Product Development
(Eads-Paonia Educational tour as Case Study)
12 Noon Lunch
12:30 Lesson Three: Putting Together a Press Packet for National and
International Media (Sand Creek Massacre Site Dedication as Case Study)
1:30 Lesson Four: Responding to Advertising Leads (Audubon ad as Case Study)
2:00 New Name for SECORTG
2:45 Wrap Up