About the Flathead Convention and Visitors Bureau
The Flathead Convention & Visitor Bureau (FCVB) was founded
in 1987 with a mission to: Strengthen the economy of Montana's Flathead Valley through
cooperative tourism marketing efforts and to encourage respect
for our outstanding natural environment and quality of life.
The FCVB is a non-profit organization funded primarily through
membership dues with additional funding from the Montana Accommodations
Tax. The Kalispell Chamber of Commerce designates the bureau as
the entity charged with the design and execution of a marketing
plan to benefit the Flathead Valley. Implementation of this marketing
plan is funded with Accommodations Tax and private funds.
The marketing plan is developed will full membership participation
and implemented by the Executive Director. Ongoing marketing
programs include:
- Vacation Travel Guide: 50,000 copies of this
four-color, 40-page book are printed and distributed annually.
Half are mailed to individuals in response to requests to our
call center or web site. Additional guides are distributed through
travel agents, AAA, trade shows and gateway and local visitor
information centers. Every FCVB member receives a free listing
in the guide. Advertising rates begin at $95.
- Web Site: The web site continues to provide
excellent marketing support for our members. Requests for
the vacation travel guide generated by our web site average 1700
per year. The site provides a vacation specials section for
last-minute promotions and limited advertising opportunities.
Web listings and promotions are FREE to FCVB members.
- Trade Shows: Members of the FCVB attend one-three
trade shows annually under the FCVB banner. Individual members
attend at least 25 additional shows and distribute the vacation
travel guide in a cooperative marketing effort.
- Call Center: Travel
counselors respond to all phone inquiries for the Flathead Valley
with calls averaging more than four minutes. In addition, the
center coordinates Bureau direct mail marketing programs and
provides FREE leads to all members requesting them.
- Consumer Advertising: The bureau purchases
limited consumer advertising, mostly in cooperation with members
or other tourism organizations to ensure higher visibility. All
ads are designed to encourage inquiries via the call center or
Internet.
- Media Relations: The Bureau hosts qualified
journalists every year in individual or group press trips and
also provides assistance by providing accommodations, food, services
or transportation. In addition, the FCVB sends regular targeted
press releases and story leads to travel writers and editors. The
FCVB maintains an extensive photo library that is available to
editors and writers.
- Visitor Information Center: The
Bureau is responsible for the Visitor Information Center in the
Glacier Park International Airport terminal. All members in good
standing are allowed to display their promotional materials.
For more information concerning the Flathead Convention & Visitor
Bureau, please contact:
Dori Muehlhof, Executive Director at 406-756-9091 or fcvb@fcvb.org.
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