WACVB Membership Primer

Below are resources that will help you take advantage of your WACVB membership.

1. WEB SITE ACCESS
 
I have set you up on our Web site and in our administration so you can now have access to the member only areas of our Web site.  The member only section is accessible by clicking on "Members only" links on the bottom of www.escapetowisconsin.com  or directly https://secure.finishlinestudios.com/v3/clients/escapetowisconsin_com/secure/bureau/index.php?site_id=49 You can also enter the administration of the area this way by clicking on the link noted or by going directly to www.escapetowisconsin.com/bureau
 
Contact Jhertel@escapetowisconsin.com for login information (case sensitive):

Username:
Password:

In the administration area, you can update your bureau page with contact information, area descriptions, Web links (including those to your social networking sites) and more.  You can also add or update meeting facilities and sporting facilities.  You should search/review your area facilities already on www.thinkwisconsin.com and www.sportswisconsin.com first.  Then give Julia Hertel a list of the properties that should be deleted from the database and the ones you want to have access to update in the future.  If there are new facilities, you can add those directly by clicking on the "Directory" link.  Make sure to select the correct Navigation when entering lodging or sporting facilities.  There is a tab on the top of the directory section that says "navigation".  For meeting facilities, select Think Wisconsin and facilities and if interested, a sub-category (ie. Resort, hotel, etc.).  For sporting facilities, select Sports Wisconsin and a sub category. 
 
You can also add events and news articles to the database by selecting the appropriate tab on the left side menu and "create new."  Again, make sure you select the right navigation of the Web site you want the article to appear.  For example, Travel News appears on escapetowisconsin.com, WACVB news is only for WACVB members' eyes, and sportswisconsin.com News is for general public viewing of sport news in your area (i.e. new events at Road America) Sports news is for WACVB member news about our sports marketing efforts.
 
In the escapetowisconsin.com WACVB "Members only" section, you have access to board information, news, niche market leads (typically M&C leads) and various resources.  Sportswisconsin.com has a "members only" area as well, accessible by clicking on Sports Coalition and selecting "log in" on the dropdown menu.  Here you will find leads, meeting information, etc specific to the sports market.

Board members are eligible to have destination videos featured on escapetowisconsin.com and thinkwisconsin.com.  Also, Thinkwisconsin.com offers skyscraper banner ads to board members.  WACVB banners run as one rotation with up to nine others running to other advertisers.  Advertising is also available to WACVB members if they want their ad to receive significantly more impressions (see www.thinkwisconsin.com/advertising for more details). 
 
2. WACVB MEETINGS
 
All full members of WACVB are board members and are expected to attend the board meetings.  Associate members are not on the board, but are invited to attend all meetings and forums.  We do charge a nominal fee for some of the forums.  The board meeting schedule is posted in the Escapetowisconsin.com Members only section. Meetings are typically held bi-monthly on the third Friday with the previous Thursday reserved for team meetings or another activity.  We rotate board meeting locations among board member destinations except for the September meeting which is typically held at an associate member destination.
 
3. CERTIFICATION PROGRAM

WACVB awards certification to members that successfully complete the application about their organizations' marketing, organization, financial and personnel standards.  About half of our membership has completed the certification process.  The program’s  main goal is to help solidify your organization's role as the official destination marketing organization in your area.  The following CVBs have received their certification:  Wisconsin Dells, Madison, La Crosse, Janesville, Fox Cities, Washington County, Racine County, Chippewa Valley, Oshkosh, Manitowoc, Sheboygan, Brookfield, Green Bay (DMAI accreditation), Hayward Lakes, Bayfield, Wisconsin Rapids, Milwaukee (DMAI accreditation), Beloit, Door County and Stevens Point.
 
4. GENERAL COMMUNICATION

WACVB is an "E-Organization" so most of the communication is delivered via e-mail and/or is on the Web site.  We also have groups set up on www.Linkedin.com which allows members to share news, topic discussions, etc.  To join the WI Assoc of CVBs group, set up a LinkedIn account or go into your LinkedIn page, click on Groups and search for Wisconsin Assoc. of CVBs group, select that group as well as the WACVB CEO subgroup and, if interested, the WACVB Marketing subgroup.
 
5.  INDUSTRY ACRONYMS AND TERMS

As with all organizations, WACVB uses many acronyms and industry terms and thought it would be helpful to share some of them:

WTF – Wisconsin Tourism Federation
WIA – Wisconsin Innkeepers Association
WRA – Wisconsin Restaurant Association
WFEA – Wisconsin Festival & Events Association
WATA – WI Ag-Tourism Association
USTA – United States Travel Association
DMAI – Destination Marketing Association International (formerly IACVB)
Arts Wisconsin – State Arts Organization
Circle Wisconsin – State Group Travel marketing organization
WATA – Wisconsin Association of Tourism Attractions
WMC – Wisconsin Manufacturer’s & Commerce

5. WACVB TEAMS

WACVB has the following teams:  Education, Government Affairs, Membership, Public Relations, Meetings & Convention, Sports, and Executive Committee.  We also have short-term taskforces to address more immediate issues.  We ask all members to serve on a committee.  We have members sign up for teams at our September strategic planning session or shortly thereafter.  We also have representation on partner organizations, including the Governor’s Council on Tourism and the Tourism Federation of Wisconsin (TFW).

6. WACVB DUES

Full member dues are based on the DMO’s annual budget and are as follows:
$1750 - budgets under $250,000
$2500 - budgets between $250001-$500000
$3250 - budgets between $5000001-$1,000,000
$4000 - budgets between $1,000,001 and $5 million
$4750 – budgets over $5 million. 

Dues are invoiced in January. 

Associate member dues are $1000. 
Corporate partner dues are $300 if combined with a fall convention sponsorship or exhibit.  $375 if separate.

There is a $250 one-time application fee for new members.

7. ANNUAL MEMBER SURVEY 

WACVB conducts an annual survey in February or March to compile organizational information such as staff sizes, compensation, visitor centers, room tax, etc.  Only those that participate receive the survey results.

8. DESTINATION MARKETING ASSOCIATION INTERNATIONAL MEMBERSHIP – WACVB is a member of Destination Marketing Association International (international counterpart of WACVB).WACVB members can access certain information on DMAI’s Web site - www.destinationmarketing.org -using WACVB’s members-only password.  The WACVB password is 50323 and you can use my e-mail address: jhertel@escapetowisconsin.com

9. WI FALL TOURISM CONVENTION – WACVB hosts an annual tourism convention in early November and is open to members and non-members.  WACVB board members are eligible to host the convention in conjunction with a lodging and meeting property.  RFPs to host the event are distributed to board members 15-18 months prior to the convention dates.

10. TWITTER ACCOUNT – WACVB has a twitter account that all WACVB members can post upcoming events, promotions or other big news on our account.  Guidelines are posted in the membership only area.  Login: www.twitter.com Username:  Wisconsin_cvbs  Password:  wacvb393