Warren County CVB President Earns Rare Designation
08/01/2014
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Scott Hutchinson, Communications Manager | 513-204-7046 | shutchinson@wccvb.org
WARREN COUNTY CVB PRESIDENT EARNS RARE DESIGNATION
MASON, OH (July 29, 2014) – Phillip S. Smith, President & CEO of the Warren County Convention & Visitors Bureau (WCCVB), has earned the Certified Destination Management Executive (CDME) designation by Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI).
Smith, who joined the WCCVB in 2010, was one of 28 executives to graduate from the program this year. To date, only 275 destination marketing professionals worldwide have achieved the CDME designation.
The program prepares senior destination marketing organization (DMO) executives for increasing change and competition, to help them become more effective organizational and community leaders.
“DMAI advocates for the professionalism, effectiveness, and significance of destination marketing organizations worldwide, and those who have achieved the CDME designation have set an example of excellence for the entire destination marketing profession,” said Michael Gehrisch, President & CEO of DMAI.
Before joining the WCCVB, Smith was the chief marketing officer for Cincinnati’s Western & Southern Open, one of the oldest, largest and most-prestigious professional tennis tournaments in the world. Among other accolades, he was enshrined into the Cincinnati Tennis Hall of Fame in 2012. He is a graduate of the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism at Ohio University and resides in Mason, Ohio.
The WCCVB Drives the County’s No. 1 Industry
The WCCVB’s mission is to generate economic impact for the County by attracting overnight visitors to the area. Overnight travelers typically spend three times more than day visitors, and the county has enjoyed strong growth in both the leisure travel segment and sports travel.
In 2013, 8.3 million visitors to Warren County generated more than $1.063 billion in economic impact, the study revealed. The top three areas of visitor spending were retail ($245.5 million), recreation & entertainment ($184.3 million), and food & beverage ($161.3 million).
A report released in early July showed Warren County’s tourism economy surpassed $1 billion in total annual sales for the first time in history. The report was conducted by Tourism Economics and the Ohio Tourism Division.
Figures showed a state-wide tourism growth rate of 4.6 percent in the last year, with Warren County out-pacing the State average with a one-year growth of 5.2 percent.
The study also showed that no other county in Southwest Ohio is more dependent on tourism for jobs than Warren County. The 11,866 tourism-related jobs in Warren County generated $252.1 million in wages and $136.5 million in federal, state and local taxes.
About the Warren County Convention & Visitors Bureau:
Warren County is Ohio’s Largest Playground! With easy access from Interstates 71 and 75, visitors to Warren County can enjoy more activities within a 30-mile radius than anywhere else in Ohio.
The Warren County Convention & Visitors Bureau is a professional destination marketing organization committed to economic growth by increasing overnight and year-round visitors.
Tourism is the leading industry in Warren County. The 8.3 million yearly visitors drive an economic impact of $1.063 billion and 11,866 tourism-related jobs.
For additional information, visit www.ohioslargestplayground.com or call 800-433-1072.