The Pulaski County Tourism Bureau would like to announce the 2012 Board of Directors Rick Morris, incoming Board President (2 year term), Todd Bailey, Vice President, Ursula Lebioda, Treasurer and Leon Saxon, Secretary. Rick Morris has served the Tourism Board as a hotel representative since April 2008. We would like to also welcome new board member Marsha Mercer; Waynesville-St Robert Chamber of Commerce representative and the re-election of Rick Morris; hotel representative and Gayle Helms; outfitters representative. A special thank you to Twyla Cordry, outgoing President, for her dedication to the Bureau and tourism industry in Pulaski County.

I would also like to introduce Cassie Lemus, Visitor Services Representative, to the Visitor Center staff. Cassie joined us in January and her primary duties are assisting visitors in the center, inquiry fulfillment and event promotion. Please stop by and welcome Cassie to the Bureau and to Pulaski County!

The Bureau is working on a new branding campaign "Pulaski County USA, a welcome place in America's Heartland". This branding message will be woven in to our current marketing strategies in the coming year which include print advertising in publications such as Midwest Traveler, American Road, Route 66, Show Me Route 66, Missouri Living, Show Me Magazine, Readers Digest, and newspaper inserts in the Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Oklahoma and Missouri regions. For a full listing of our planned advertising placements visit our Partner section of VisitPulaskiCounty.org.

We are also pleased to announce our new state-wide radio marketing plan. This plan will hit 90% of the state with messages promoting tourism in Pulaski County; from floating our rivers, accommodations, dining options, shopping, museums and events in Pulaski. Ads will run each month along with monthly interviews that entice tourists to our area. Be sure to keep the Bureau informed of business offerings and events that you are planning so that we may incorporate this information into our advertising campaign.

The Bureau continues promoting Pulaski County through tradeshows, and will be at the following evetns; Bank Travel Marketplace, Kansas Sportsmen Show in Wichita, KS, and the Working Women's Show in St. Charles, MO.

For those that enjoy statistics the Bureau had 34,658 inquiries in 2011. The top sources were Parade Magazine, Missouri Spring Newspaper Insert, Lead Generator (an email campaign in partnership with Madden Media and the Division of Tourism Co-operative Grant Program), Fall Newspaper Insert, Midwest Living, Readers Digest and Home and Away Magazine. The Visitors Center traffic increased slightly over 2010 with 8,252 visitor stops. We had 30 unscheduled buses stop at the Visitors Center; which allowed us the opportunity to tell them about Pulaski County and the various tours and the services we offer to entice them back to Pulaski.

The Bureau received added exposure to Pulaski County in several publications this past month. The Music in the Barn was highlighted in the January American Profile Insert, The Waynesville-St Robert Chili Cook-off was highlighted in the Missouri Life Magazine, Tiger Typhoon and the Tourism Bureau's Route 66 Audio Tour were highlighted in the Missouri Division of Tourism's e-newsletter which listed new attractions in Missouri in 2012 and the St. Robert Outdoor Sportsmen Show was highlighted in the February issue of American Profile Insert.

There are so many exciting things are happening in Pulaski County and your marketing agency, the Pulaski County Tourism Bureau, is here to reach potential visitors that you may not otherwise be able to reach on your own. We are proud to serve Pulaski County!

Upcoming Events in February
18th Music in the Barn featuring T Graham Brown, country and western star
24-25th St Robert Outdoor Sportsman Show
24-25th opening of PFAA Production of The Odd Couple, female version.
25th American Legion Riders Chapter 331 6th Annual Indoor Poker Run
March 3rd Vickie Winans in concert at the Ark.

Keeping in touch,

Beth Wiles
Executive Director
Pulaski County Tourism Bureau
137 St. Robert Blvd. Suite A
St. Robert, MO 65584
(877) 858-8687 Toll-free
(573) 336-6355 Ext. 104
(573) 336-2985 Fax
bethw@visitpulaskicounty.org
VisitPulaskiCounty.org

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