Oh won't you staaaaay ...
Mineral Wells Area Chamber of Commerce Tourism and Marketing Director Ryan Oliver, pictured right, not only wants people outside Mineral Wells to know what the area has to offer – he wants people already here to know.
Oliver was Wednesday's program guest speaker, telling Rotarians about the chamber's "Spring Break Staycation" event on Friday, March 16. It is an effort to show locals some of the attractions and activities available at home in hopes they will spread the word, or know how to answer the question, "What is there to do here?"
"Staycation" is a day-long tour aboard a Public Transit bus that will take "vacationers" to the Old Jail Museum in Palo Pinto, the Mineral Wells Fossil Park, downtown for lunch at the Brazos Market & Bistro, then the National Vietnam War Museum, Lake Mineral Wells State Park & Trailway, Clark Gardens and Famous Water Company.
The cost is $15 for adults and $12 for children and includes lunch. Oliver said he hopes to have 20 people take part. For tickets or more information call the chamber at 940-325-2557.
Oliver also discussed other ways he is working to promote the area and attract visitors.
One thing people will soon notice are the Baker Hotel informational signs that Oliver said should be up by the end of spring. The signs will give people walking around the Baker information about the hotel's and city's history. Oliver said he also hopes to include a sign about local and area attractions.
He said the chamber is working on revamping its website with plans to increase visibilities of local attractions and destinations.
Oliver said many people choose their vacation or day-trip destinations using an Internet search and typically do it using their smartphone. With that, he is looking for opportunities to promote digitally attractions through things like use of Internet bloggers and social media platforms that can share stories, photos and videos of their experiences and interact with their online followers while visiting local destinations as guests of the chamber.
He said the chamber is continuing to look at creating a tourism ambassador program aimed at providing information to local waiters, store clerks and other tourist "first responders" so they can let visitors know what the area has to offer.
Oliver said planning is continuing for the first "Spooky Wells" event set for Oct. 27 in downtown Mineral Wells, playing off last year's inaugural and wildly successful "Merry Wells" Christmas parade and event.
He said the chamber is looking at developing more ideas based on recent downtown surveys and assessments to create and implement more ideas to improve downtown and attract people to the city's central business district.
Oliver is pictured above with club President David Cairone.
Rotary Club of Mineral Wells meets every Wednesday at noon at Holiday Hills Country Club for lunch, networking, updates on club news and events and a program of interest. Come join us. The club will soon celebrate its 100th anniversary of community service.