Sports Marketing
The sports market in Johnston County has grown in recent years, in part, due to the new facilities at the Smithfield Community Park and Aquatics Center and the Clayton Community Center.· These facilities have ample space to bring in regional or state tournaments, therefore, bringing overnight visitors who can make a impact on the local economy.· The Visitors Bureau joined the NC Sports Association in 2010, and attended the T.E.A.M.S. conference in Charlotte.· In addition, the first Sports Facility Brochure was developed for follow-up and as a tradeshow handout.
From this increased opportunity for sports tournaments in Johnston County, the Visitors Bureau has embarked on forming the Johnston County Sports Council in 2011.
Social & Wedding Markets
This market for Johnston County continues to grow as well, with several new independent wedding facilities opening in the area along with our wineries offering banquet space to accommodate the need for meeting and social functions in the county.· In 2010, the Visitors Bureau attended the Southern Wedding Show in Raleigh promoting the entire county with some local partners.· Follow-up to over 500 brides was sent out on behalf of local facilities.· A new Wedding Venue and Service Providers Brochure has been developed for this market.
Film Location Market
The Triangle Film Commission is a new non-profit organization that is representing the 13 counties in the Research Triangle Regional Partnership.· The Johnston County Visitors Bureau has begun the work of building our locations database with this new organization and has responded to several film location scouting requests.· With the new incentives for productions companies in North Carolina, filming in the state is on the rise.· Our goal for the county is to offer our area rural scenic areas, charming downtowns and historic homes in hope that our area will attract a film production.
Sales & Service
The Johnston County Visitors Bureau worked with several organizations in 2010 to host major events such as the National Shell Rotella Super Rig Show held in Kenly, in June 2010.· This event brought 1,000s of people to the county and gave the county national exposure.· In addition, the bureau served on the Smithfield Farmer's Market Committee that opened the new market in Downtown Smithfield in May of 2010.
A new marketing initiative has been the new Muscadine Heritage Wine Trail, which brought together three wineries in Johnston County and one in Wake to form a new marketing committee.· The first order of business was developing the trail brochure and website, which was handled inhouse by the bureau staff and the brochure was paid for by the wineries.· Work continues with the wineries to host events promote the destination together in 2011.
Hospitality Heroes
The new hospitality heroes program built in partnership with the Johnston Community College Workforce Development Center graduated 45 people in 2010.
New Marketing Brochures
In 2010, the communications department designed and printed several new marketing pieces for the Visitors Bureau including:· Benson Visitors Map, Wedding Venue Brochure, Sports Facility Brochure
