Media Archive

Nichols and Justice Join Promotional Team at the Salem Convention & Visitors Association

Salem, Oregon – March 6, 2008 – The Salem Convention and Visitors Association (SCVA) has hired Sue Nichols as the Association’s Community Development Director and Mindi Justice as the Association’s Administrative Assistant.

Sue Nichols was previously the Executive Director of the Stayton-Sublimity Chamber of Commerce for 14 years. While with the Chamber Sue increased membership by 100 percent. She successfully coordinated the Chambers events, promotions and publicity which required the recruitment of sponsors and funding partners. As the leader of a small Chamber Sue was a “jack of all trades.” As the Salem Convention and Visitors Association’s Community Development Director Nichols is responsible for marketing, sales and retention services for all business development initiatives that include membership, sponsorship, marketing services and special events.

“Over the years I’ve worked with SCVA on regional tourism issues and promotions that affected the north Santiam area. My strong relationships throughout the two-county area will assist with SCVA’s regional scope. Tourism is a driving force of economic diversity in Oregon and I’m excited to be part of this growing industry and SCVA,” said Nichols.

Mindi Justice was previously with Salem Nordstrom as an Assistant Manager. Now as the Salem Convention and Visitors Association’s Administrative Assistant, Justice’s valuable customer service skills come into play daily with visitors. Justice is a Linfield College graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in Business and a concentration in marketing. As Administrative Assistant Justice is responsible for overseeing the daily operation of the SCVA administrative office with emphasis on assisting the CEO and program directors with marketing strategies.

“Marketing is the field I’ve always wanted to be part of and SCVA, as Salem’s destination marketing organization, is a perfect fit,” said Justice.

Nichols and Justice join the Salem Convention and Visitors Association team on the Association’s 24th anniversary of marketing Salem and the two-county region.

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***The Salem Convention and Visitors Association (SCVA) is a non-profit organization that contracts with the City of Salem to promote the area for leisure tourism and convention and event business. The annual economic impact of Salem’s visitors industry is $226 million.***

Outdoor Offerings Attract Northwest Outdoor Writers to Salem

Salem, Oregon – December 13, 2007 – The Northwest Outdoor Writer’s Association (NOWA) will be holding their annual conference in Salem April 24-27, 2008. The conference generally attracts 80-100 attendees including outdoor communicators, representatives from outdoor industries and related associations and agencies. The Salem Convention and Visitors Association (SCVA) bid on the 2008 event, which will be held at the Red Lion Hotel and Conference Center.

The Northwest Outdoor Writer’s Association is a registered Washington State, non-profit corporation with 200 members. Members include newspaper writers, editors, columnists, free-lance magazine and newspaper writers, book authors, radio and TV broadcasters, still film and video photographers, illustrators and artists. Members are from a broad geographic area of the northwest including Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Alaska, British Columbia and other states and provinces.

The essential determining factor when selecting a NOWA conference location is a site rich with diverse activities and outstanding outdoor opportunities. “That is exactly how we positioned Salem in our bid proposal,” said Debbie McCune, Director of Sales for the Salem Convention and Visitors Association. “Salem’s location within Marion and Polk Counties along with diverse outdoor recreation, conservation, natural resources and leisure travel opportunities attracted the group. We have everything their looking for,” said McCune. SCVA’s bid proposal also included services NOWA will need such as tour guides, speakers and coordination of an opening banquet.

The Salem Convention and Visitors Association is delighted about this conference coming to Salem for a variety of reasons. The direct economic return to the city through delegate expenditures; and the long-term benefits derived from Salem area stories, photographs, artwork, films and video produced on the outdoor opportunities offered here in addition to return trips for follow-up articles and photography. “That is invaluable promotion for Salem and the region!” said McCune.

Businesses and organizations interested in sponsorship opportunities with the Northwest Outdoor Writer’s Association conference are encouraged to contact the Salem Convention and Visitors Association, 503-581-4325 ext. 28.

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***The Salem Convention and Visitors Association (SCVA) is a non-profit organization that contracts with the City of Salem to promote the area for leisure tourism and convention and event business. The local annual economic impact of Salem’s visitors industry is $226 million.***

Ekins Joins Promotional Team at the Salem Convention & Visitors Association

Salem, Oregon – December 12, 2007 – The Salem Convention and Visitors Association (SCVA) has hired Brooke Ekins as the Association’s Member and Convention Services Manager. Ekins’ BA in Speech Communications from Oregon State University will serve her well. This dual role requires her to assist businesses with marketing opportunities through SCVA’s newly launched membership program, while assisting meeting and event planners to ensure their Salem convention, meeting and/or event is a success.

“I am very fortunate to be part of such an impressive organization and creative team.

The longer I’m involved the more I realize the detail and intricacies involved with promoting an entire city and region. This Association is doing an excellent job for Salem!”

Ekins joins the SCVA team as the Association approaches its 24th year marketing Salem and the two-county region.

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***The Salem Convention and Visitors Association (SCVA) is a non-profit organization that contracts with the City of Salem to promote the area for leisure tourism and convention and event business. The annual economic impact of Salem’s visitors industry is $226 million.

New Oregon Wine Adventure Offers Wine Tourism via Foot, Bike, and Canoe

Salem, Oregon – December 10, 2007 – The Salem Convention and Visitors Association (SCVA), Convention and Visitors Association of Lane County, Oregon (CVALCO), and the Willamette Valley Visitors Association have partnered with Zephyr Wine Adventures to create unique active tourism offerings in Oregon’s wine country.

The first-ever Oregon Multi-Sport Wine Adventure will consist of five days of activities, education, and wine tasting from August 10-14, 2008. A maximum of 20 participants will hike, bike, and paddle canoes on, through, and near Oregon’s vineyards.

“Most wine tourism to date involves sitting in a car, traveling from winery to winery to restaurant to hotel”, says Zephyr Wine Adventures president Allan Wright. “While this can be great fun, it limits vacationers to the front of a tasting room bar.”

The goal of these active trips, in contrast, is to get travelers beyond the tasting room and into the vineyards. For example participants will walk through the Eola Hills appellation, canoe on the Willamette River with a lunch stop at a winery, and bike on paved side roads among vineyards and orchards. Activities are complemented by luxurious meals, private wine tastings, and excellent local lodging.

This format provides a greater intimacy with the vineyards, which is a focus of the tour. “To know about Oregon wine, it helps to know about Oregon vineyards, grape growers, and wine makers”, says Wright. “Oregon is an incredible place for wine tourism and you get so much more out of it when you get out of the car and into the vineyards with the locals.”

The tour is designed for all ability levels, so no special fitness or wine knowledge is required.

For more information, visit www.OregonWineAdventure.com.

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*** The Salem Convention and Visitors Association (SCVA) is a non-profit organization that contracts with the City of Salem to promote the area for leisure tourism and convention and event business. The annual economic impact of Salem’s visitors industry to the community is $226 million.***.

SALEM SOFTBALL IN FULL SWING WINNING AWARD OF EXCELLENCE

Salem, Oregon – November 29, 2007 – Salem was well represented at the 76th Annual Amateur Softball Association (ASA) National Council meeting held in Louisville, Kentucky November 4-9, 2007. Debbie McCune, Director of Sales for the Salem Convention and Visitors Association (SCVA) along with City of Salem representatives Bruce Bolton and Billie Powers were in attendance to bid on National ASA tournaments for 2009. The Salem contingent gave a presentation to 300 council members and competed against 12 cities to be awarded 2 national softball tournaments for 2009 – The Women’s Class D Slow Pitch West and the Girls 10-U Class Fast Pitch Western.

Salem was also 1 of 8 recipients awarded the James Farrell Award of Excellence for hosting two of the highest rated national championships in 2007. This award is named in honor of a former ASA State commissioner James Farrel and was awarded to communities that conducted ASA national championships in 2007 and achieved a percentile of 90 or higher with at least 75 percent of the evaluation forms returned to the ASA National office. The award was presented to Salem representatives McCune, Bolton and Powers after they secured additional tournaments for Salem.

“The competition was fierce, but our Salem presentation along with the personal relationship we’ve built with ASA State Commissioner Mike Wells and his support of Salem made the difference. The frosting on the cake was Salem’s extremely high scoring 2007 softball tournament season. The judges took those scores into consideration when awarding tournaments for 2009 and beyond. The entire community should be really proud. The tournament players and spectators were treated with the highest level of hospitality and enjoyed the area,” said McCune.

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The Salem Convention and Visitors Association (SCVA) is a non-profit organization that contracts with the City of Salem to promote the area for leisure tourism and convention and event business. The annual economic impact of Salem’s visitors industry is $226 million.