Media Releases

New Salem Area Conference & Event Planner Guide Available

SALEM, Oregon – June 24, 2008 – The Salem Convention and Visitors Association (SCVA) unveiled the Salem Area Conference & Event Planner Guide.  This 25 page, full color guide promotes Salem as well as Marion and Polk counties as a perfect destination to hold conferences, meetings and events.  The guide highlights numerous meeting and event venues from throughout the Salem area from state of the art locations, such as the Salem Conference Center to charming historic facilities, such as Mission Mill Museum as well as inspiring open air spaces.

“This guide is a true resource for anyone planning a conference, meeting or event. Even if you’re planning a wedding or reunion the Conference and Event Planner Guide will save you time and help step you through the planning process. This is also a great tool for SCVA to attract new conference and event business to the Salem area,” said SCVA’s Director of Sales, Debbie McCune.

Beside conference/event venue information the guide offers special features such as: free services that the Salem Convention and Visitors Association offers meeting and event planners; lodging information; a conference and event check list; a section regarding services that focus on the details of an event such as entertainment; transportation information; maps and mileage; and testimonials from meeting and event planners that have held successful events in the area.

The Salem Convention and Visitors Association distributes the guide through meeting and event tradeshows, advertising, sales presentations and public relations efforts.

Residents are encouraged to invite groups they’re affiliated with to hold their next meeting, conference or event in the Salem area. Order a copy of the Salem Area Conference & Event Planner Guide by visiting TravelSalem.com, contacting the Salem Convention and Visitors Association at 503-581-4325 ext. 28 or dmccune@TravelSalem.com or by visiting the Visitors Center located at Mission Mill Museum (1313 Mill St. SE).

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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 $244.1 million.  SCVA manages the Official Salem Visitors Center located at Mission Mill Museum***

Association Offers Discount During May

SALEM, OREGON – May 15, 2008 – The Salem Convention and Visitors Association (SCVA) is offering 25 percent off membership and marketing opportunities through June 2 in recognition of the 25th Anniversary of National Tourism Week.

SCVA is the official destination marketing organization for the city of Salem and offers a myriad of strategic marketing opportunities to drive visitor and convention, meeting and event business to the Salem area. For 25 years SCVA has recognized the entire month of May as “tourism month” with events, promotions and public relations efforts.

National Tourism Week is a collective effort to promote the power of tourism as an economic generator. Travel and tourism is important business for Salem, Oregon and for this nation. In 2007, travel spending generated $511.8 million to the Salem area economy. That is money that benefits local businesses but also positively affects the quality of life for Salem area residents producing 6,010 jobs and increasing tax revenues to support our beautiful communities.

Last year in Oregon, travelers generated $320.1 million dollars in state, and local taxes. Travelers to the Salem area generate a constant tax base with $3 million generated in local taxes last year and $15.7 million in state taxes.

Businesses interested in tapping into this lucrative $511.8 million industry are encouraged to contact Sue Nichols, Community Development Director at the Salem Convention and Visitors Association, 503-581-4325 ext. 22 or snichols@TravelSalem.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 Association operates the Official Salem Visitors Center located at 1313 Mill St. SE, Salem in the Mission Mill Museum complex. The Association also manages TravelSalem.com the official visitor website for the city of Salem.

New 2008 Salem Area Visitors Guide Available

SALEM, Oregon – April 22, 2008 – The Salem Convention and Visitors Association (SCVA) unveiled the Official 2008 Salem Area Visitors Guide. This 65 page, full color visitors guide promotes Salem as well as Marion and Polk counties. Attractions, lodging, dining, events, shopping, agri-tourism, transportation, recreation and relocation information resources are included along with day tours of the region.

“We redesigned the 2008 guide into four geographic regions within Marion and Polk counties. This design is much more user-friendly and encourages visitors to stay in the Salem area longer. SCVA annually distributes 150,000 copies of the Salem Area Visitors guide to locations throughout the Pacific Northwest, California and British Columbia,” said Irene Bernards, SCVA’s Tourism Marketing Director.

Residents are encouraged to order a free Salem Area Visitors Guide by contacting the Salem Convention and Visitors Association office at 503-581-4325 or information@travelsalem.com or by visiting the Salem Visitors Center located at Mission Mill Museum (1313 Mill St. SE).

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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 $244.1 million. SCVA manages the Official Salem Visitors Center located at Mission Mill Museum***

TravelSalem.com (Salem, Oregon) Website Adds Video Section

Salem, Oregon - April 22, 2008 - The Salem Convention and Visitors Association (SCVA) has added a new video section titled "Reel to Real - Visual Experiences" (www.TravelSalem.com/experience). Visitors can visually discover the Salem area's unique experiences that will transform their "Reel virtual" visit into a "Real time" visit. These 3-minute lively "experiences" will help visitors discover the type of traveler they are. Featured experiences are: Family Voyager, Naturalist, Adventure Seeker, Gourmand, Stress Reliever and Culture Seeker.

In addition to videos, TravelSalem.com is a useful resource for information regarding local events, attractions, retailers, restaurants, and lodging. Visitors can access creative lodging packages or book their hotel directly from the website. Visit TravelSalem.com or call 800-874-7012 to start the planning your Naturally Inspired! experience to Salem, Oregon.

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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 Salem to attract leisure visitors and convention and event business. SCVA manages the Official Salem Visitors Center located at Mission Mill Museum and Salem's Official Promotional Website - www.TravelSalem.com. **

Oregon’s Visitor Industry Honors Salem Convention & Visitors Association

SALEM, OREGON – April 9, 2008 – The Salem Convention and Visitors Association (SCVA) received the Oregon Governor’s Tourism Industry Awareness Award Sunday, April 6th at the 24th Annual Governor’s Conference on Tourism held in Portland. This prestigious award was presented to SCVA from the Oregon Tourism Commission for creating awareness of the economic importance of the visitor industry in Salem and region.

On hand to accept the award for the Association was Angie Morris, CEO; Irene Bernards, Tourism Marketing & PR Director; Debbie McCune, Director of Sales; Kathie Reeves, Online Marketing Manager; and Sue Nichols, Community Development Director.

“Salem’s visitor industry generates $244.1 million in estimated economic impact to this city. Tourism, conferences, meetings and events bring new people and new dollars to benefit Salem and the region. Our award winning and professional marketing team is very proud of this award and what it represents!” said Morris

SCVA has been recognized five other times throughout the Association’s history with Governor’s Tourism Awards including the 1991, 1993 and 2005 Governor’s Regional Tourism Award, which recognizes cooperative marketing efforts; and the 1997 Governor’s Tourism Award.

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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 Salem to attract leisure visitors and convention and event business. SCVA manages the Official Salem Visitors Center located at Mission Mill Museum and Salem’s Official Promotional Website – www.TravelSalem.com. Salem’s visitor industry generated $244.1 million to the local economy in 2007.**