By HOLLY GASKILL
The Wells County Convention and Visitors Commission expects to vote next month on a $50,000 proposal for local marketing efforts.
Tourism Coordinator Audry Dudley told the board Wednesday that she had sought proposals from three companies with a $50,000 budget. Two companies had returned their proposals at the time, and the third was still fielding questions about Wells County’s interests and priorities.
Propeller Marketing of Fishers presented a six-month proposal for consultation, coordinating a marketing campaign, printing, and miscellaneous services. Boyden and Youngblutt of Fort Wayne presented a proposal involving digital media campaigns and billboard designs.
At a glance, the board recognized that the price tag was hard to reconcile. “I was kind of hoping, for that price, it would be a full year,” said board member Brandy Fiechter. “This is just six months.”
However, Dudley and board member Scott Elzey said they felt it was a great value to bring experts in to learn how the county should market itself to tourism within Indiana.
“That’s what we’re hoping that a marketing firm can help to do — they’re going to have a different message for you than they are for me,” Dudley said to board member Steve Higgins, referencing identifying different audiences in northeast Indiana. “And they’re going to have different attractions for you than for me. But they’re going to be able to pinpoint that a little tighter.”
Dudley also advised that the focus would primarily be on overall branding and year-round attractions rather than annual or seasonal opportunities. This branding effort would also be separate from those the city of Bluffton has contracted through Reusser in Fort Wayne.
Elzey, the board’s president, asked everyone to review the current proposals and come back to their meeting next month with their thoughts, with hopes of making a decision. Their next meeting is at 8 a.m. on Aug. 14 at the Wells County Chamber of Commerce.
The Visitors Commission can pay for marketing services like this through the innkeeper’s tax, a 5% on overnight accommodations in Wells County. A portion of this tax supports Dudley’s salary, and the rest benefits local tourism promotion.
Between March and May of 2024, Wells County collected $36,317.04 through the innkeeper’s tax. March brought in the most revenue thus far, with $6,489.59 collected through traditional hotels and $1,468.01 collected through online rentals like Airbnb.
Meanwhile, Dudley has continued to work on putting together various materials for tourism, like a map to give guests at the Chamber of Commerce or place at hotels and Airbnbs. On Wednesday, the board reviewed a map draft by the Friends of Ouabache and ultimately decided to proceed with their own materials. However, they learned that different map versions may be helpful since someone shopping in Wells County for a day may be looking for different offerings than someone staying out at the campgrounds.
Dudley also promoted a “summer bingo” card of local attractions, which encourages people to engage with local attractions. After her activity report, Elzey asked Dudley to create target deadlines for bigger tourism projects, like the map project.
holly@news-banner.com
