Frequently Asked Questions

My business is not directly involved with visitors. Should I join SCVA anyway?
While you may not offer a service directly to the visitor, your business might be important to front line hospitality businesses like hotels, restaurants, car rental agencies, etc. Many "non-visitor industry" businesses join SCVA to form relationships with front-line visitor service businesses. Some examples are web designers, banks, accountants, promotional products companies, and video production companies.

How is the SCVA different from a Chamber of Commerce?
Convention and Visitors Associations (CVA) are similar to Chambers of Commerce in that both organizations develop the economic health and vitality of the community. CVA's use tourism and convention marketing as an economic development strategy. A Chamber of Commerce will usually have a broader focus for developing the business community.

Why have Membership fees increased?
The industry has become more sophisticated in how destination marketing organizations (DMOs) market their products and services, and deliver value to the communities they serve. SCVA has evolved over the last couple years as well reinventing itself to be more in line with industry standards and progressive in its approach.

After researching membership structures regionally and nationally, SCVA developed a brand-new concept for membership that allows businesses to pick and choose which marketing options best meet their needs, and ultimately control their financial investment. The new program offers marketing options not previously available and the dues reflect this change. The dues are cost effective for the return on the investment – averaging $450 for an entire year of promotion. Membership with SCVA delivers tangible benefits through value-driven programs and services.

SCVA remains committed to a basic level of marketing support for the City of Salem. The following services will continue to be provided at no charge to businesses within Salem city limits – leads for conferences and events, weekly consumer and industry e-newsletter, regional and national public relations efforts, and leisure and conference advertising.

Why is SCVA charging for marketing services that used to be free?
Marketing options such as the Visitors Guide listings used to be free, right? Not exactly, listing fees were included in the display advertising rates. These fees are now sold separately so Members can mix and match options to build their own marketing package. The goal is to give Members more flexibility in choosing marketing services. For instance, some businesses want a listing but not a display ad, and vice versa.

What about putting a brochure in the Visitors Center – that used to be free? Yes – it was a free service previously. Because of limited space for displaying brochures, SCVA is now charging a nominal annual fee for businesses who want their materials distributed. These fees go back into supporting the operation of the Visitors Center.

Another reason for the change is that for every $1 received from the City of Salem, SCVA has to generate an additional $3 from outside sources. We are flanked to the north and south by organizations with multi-million marketing budgets. And in order to operate as a regional DMO serving Salem, Marion and Polk counties, SCVA needs broad-based financial support to succeed in this extremely competitive tourism industry.

Why is there an “inside” and “outside” pricing structure?
SCVA must operate under the City of Salem’s Charter which states that transient occupancy tax dollars (TOT or lodging tax dollars) collected by the City of Salem can only be used to promote the city of Salem. However, the City of Salem also understands that the assets of the entire region benefit Salem, and conversely that Salem’s assets benefit the region. In order for SCVA to serve as a regional DMO, the Association must generate additional revenues to leverage current marketing dollars provided by the City of Salem.

The “inside” pricing is for businesses located within Salem city limits. Businesses located “outside” the Salem city limits pay an additional percentage. For SCVA to operate within its contractual obligations with the City of Salem and within the parameters of the law/City Charter, the “outside” fees are a necessity.

I don't have time to go to networking events. Will I miss out on other benefits because I can't participate?
While networking is a great membership benefit, there are a lot of other benefits that don't require your participation. Some examples are listings in SCVA's publications, newsletter inserts and advertising leads, to name a few.

Do Visitors really come to Salem? What do they come to see?
Visitors really do come to Salem! Some of our most visited attractions are the State Capitol, Bush House, Historic Deepwood Estate, AC Gilbert's Discovery Village and Salem's Riverfront Carousel. Also, visitors to regional attractions like Silver Falls State Park, The Oregon Garden, and Woodburn Company Stores use Salem as "home base" for their adventures in the two county area.