Dutchess County Tourism Selects BBG&G Advertising to Manage and Update Websites

    MIDDLETOWN, NY, July 15, 2011 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Dutchess County Tourism (DCT) has selected BBG&G Advertising & Public Relations to maintain and manage daily operations and current functionality of the DCT and Dutchess County Economic Development Corporation's (DCEDC) websites www.DutchessTourism.com and www.ThinkDutchess.com. The agency has also redesigned DCT's digital tourism marketing tools, such as Tourism's monthly consumer and tourism industry e-newsletters. The transition got underway in April.

"We are very excited to have BBG&G strengthen their relationship with us, as we look for additional ways to promote DCT's value to visitors and our own tourism partners," said Mary Kay Vrba, director of Dutchess County Tourism. "Their expertise at providing ongoing online strategy and planning will be invaluable to us."

BBG&G is examining ways to improve search engine optimization, and upgrade and enhance website navigation and functionality. There will be other technical upgrades and enhancements to the site's design as well. The website's content continues to be created by DCT staff.

A total of 399,756 visitors logged on to www.DutchessTourism.com in 2010. Currently there is an average of 1,248 visitors a day to the site. The events calendar had already logged 9,974 visitors by the end of May. In 2011 year to date, 32,584 people have read the sites' spotlight feature stories on the homepage.

Site visitors can also download helpful travel guides and brochures, take advantage of getaway packages, watch videos, and explore the more than 600 tourism attractions, lodgings, and sites listed.

Interest fluctuates seasonally, reflecting a peak of 45,727 visitors in July versus 22, 914 visitors in January. Autumn has surpassed the summer months in terms of popularity for visitation to the area.

Deborah Garry, BBG&G principal, said, "We'll work to increase traffic to the DCT website year round, and improve the site for the ease of its visitors' use and travel planning. We're making ongoing improvements in preparation for a full redesign of the DCT web site."

According to the U.S. Travel Association, the most widely-used information source to plan leisure trips is the Internet, followed by online travel agencies, branded suppliers, and other websites. One in four leisure travelers obtain information from others. Guide books were the fifth most popular source, being used by 15 percent of leisure travelers. (Source: travelhorizonsTM, July 2009).

Travel industry research also indicates more people are taking shorter trips close to home. In 2008 Tourism generated $490 million in direct sales in Dutchess County. Tourism in Dutchess employs more than 9,200 people. In 2007 more than 4.1 million visitors vacationed in Dutchess County.

Tourism is New York State's second largest industry, and the Hudson Valley region generates the third most tourism dollars in the state, behind only New York City and Long Island. Tourism in the Hudson Valley generated $4.7 billion, and is responsible for 6% of all employment in the region. The site also links to the Hudson Valley regional and New York State websites.

June Bisel, BBG&G Principal observed, "We've enjoyed working with the DCT team for the overall purpose of advancing the marketing and branding of Dutchess County. Now we have the opportunity to integrate their brand position and other marketing elements into their website."

BBG&G has been working with DCT since 2010 to create their successful advertising and marketing campaigns, including their tagline, "Simple and Sophisticated. You Deserve Dutchess." BBG&G Advertising & Public Relations is a multi-award-winning advertising and PR agency serving clients throughout the Northeast with offices in Middletown and Poughkeepsie. Their tagline is "It's the work we do before we do the work!" Visit their website at www.bbggadv.com.

DCT is a division of DCEDC, and both receive funding support from the County of Dutchess. Their offices are at 3 Neptune Road in Poughkeepsie. Contact them at 845-463-4000.

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