Roofing work is now complete on the new $3.5 million, 72-unit Holiday Inn Express located near where the planned U.S. 1 Bypass will be located on U.S. 74 Business near the line between Rockingham and Hamlet. The road construction is expected to bring increased traffic to the area. The hotel is expected to open for business during the second business quarter of 2011.
In hopes of luring more visitors in Richmond County, the Richmond County Tourism Development Authority has partnered with Walker Marketing of Charlotte.
‘We would like to take Richmond County in a new direction,” said Mayor Gene McLaurin. “This company has a great track record.”
The idea is to develop a marketing communications plan that will identify new tourism opportunities and enhance tourism development.
“We will conduct research and planning over an eight to 12 week period,” said Erin Richey, vice president of client services for Walker Marketing.
According to the U.S. Travel Association, 79 percent of online Americans plan travel on the Internet. As part of the planning process, Richmond County will conduct a digital audit of online tourism marketing and develop programs which will increase its visibility on the Internet.
“Richmond County will benefit from a focused tourism marketing effort,” said County Manager Rick Sago. “Our County has untapped opportunity to promote its diversity and digital marketing is a key strategy to broadening our reach.”
The plan is designed to increase awareness of Richmond County and its many assets among those planning travel to or through the Yadkin Pee Dee River Basin. It also will examine the range of existing visitor attractions and services and identify unrealized marketing opportunities, particularly on the Internet.
“I think that this is positive,” McLaurin said. “We are trying to keep up with trends and technology.”
“I believe we are all in agreement that tourism development will play an important role in promoting growth in Richmond County over the coming years,” Sago said. “To put these wheels in motion, we’ve committed to investing in the proper planning tools and processes required to establish a clear road map to our future success.”
Walker Marketing has been recognized by the Business Marketing Association, the Davey Awards and MarCom Awards among others, for its work in marketing and public relations. For more information on Walker, visit www.walker-marketing.com.
“We have seen positive improvements from our past strategies,” said Richey. “This is why we are doing this.”
“We feel like this will help promote Richmond County better,” McLaurin said. “I think that this is an exciting new venture for us. We have tremendous tourism efforts to offer.”
Staff Writer Hollie Nivens can be reached at (910) 997-3111 ext. 19 or by e-mailing at hnivens@yourdailyjournal.com
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