How You Benefit

Being a member has it's benefits. All of the membership benefits described below are included in your annual membership dues at no additional charge to you!

Advertising and Public Relations — Throughout the year, the AMCVB participates in numerous marketing and public relations campaigns promoting our members through state, regional and national media. The promotions include advertisements in publications such as PA Travel Planner, Pursuits Magazine as well as specialty publications. Each spring and fall we market to leads generated in Great Vacation Getaways which produces incredible exposure in northeastern United States newspapers with a minimum of 3,850,000 exposures annually.  Billboards are used to reach travelers on the PA Turnpike, I-99, Rts. 22, 36 and 220 along with multi county campaigns for special events.  We specifically target the outdoor sports and recreation audience in Washington D.C., Baltimore, Pittsburgh and Harrisburg with a large marketing campaign which directs visitors to the AMCVB and The Alleghenies. The convention, meeting and tradeshow markets are covered through Meeting East, Mid-Atlantic Events Magazine, Association Meetings, The Meeting Facilities Guide, Successful Meetings and Association Memberships. The Motorcoach market is reached through Bus Tours Magazine, newsletters, numerous trade shows and associations. All of these efforts provide valuable marketing exposure for AMCVB members.

Brochure Distribution — Supply us with your brochures and we will distribute them for you! Any potential visitor who requests information related to your facility, product or service will receive your brochure through our visitor information fulfillment program. First Class mail is sent daily and bulk mailings are sent as often as twice a week due to requests received from regional and national advertising. We will also include your brochure in the Blair County Convention Center Gift Shop/Welcome Center and a selection of AMCVB
Information Center we stock on a weekly basis.

Listings — The AMCVB provides a listing of our entire membership, including business name, address, telephone number, fax number, e-mail address and website plus a description of your business or organization in our annual Visitors Guide & Membership Directory and Website. All of our members are also given the
opportunity  to list any special events or activities on our Community Calendar, found on the AMCVB website.

Website — The AMCVB website is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year with updates occurring weekly including member and event information. As a member of the AMCVB, your business will be listed on our website, www.alleghenymountains.org and www.visitcentralpa.com. Members are listed by category with
business name, address, phone & fax number, email and website along with a 25-word description and link
to your website. Special events may also be listed on the website year-round.  

E-Newsletters — The AMCVB distributes a monthly Electronic Newsletter to our membership via E-Mail. The full-color publication includes AMCVB & member news, including feature articles highlighting new member businesses and organizations. The AMCVB welcomes news releases, photos and story ideas to include in the E-Newsletter, which also provides the latest information on upcoming Signature Events and Marketing Programs. Members are encouraged to provide a list of any employees or associates who should receive the E-Newsletter, and recipients are welcome to print or forward the E-Newsletter to other business contacts and friends. Past issues of the Newsletter are posted on the AMCVB Website.

Weekly Blast Emails — The AMCVB distributes a weekly Blast-Email to our Membership Marketing Contacts and Media. This ecology-friendly format includes up-to-date AMCVB & Member News & Member Events, Current Marketing Opportunities, and Member-to-Member Benefits. Members are encouraged to forward their news and event information as well as special offers for inclusion in the Blast E-Mails.

News Releases — The AMCVB can assist members who want to share information about their business through public relations. Members may send their news release to the AMCVB by email or fax and we will blast fax and/or E-mail the information to local, regional and/or national media. Our staff works diligently keeping contact information databases updated, making your job very easy.

News Release Templates — The AMCVB Marketing Department is happy to help our members create a customized template for your news releases.  This service is especially valuable to small businesses and non profit members who do not have their own marketing department. The News Release Template may include member logos, mission statement and additional information, making the distribution of information to the media professional and effective.

Informational Kiosk — While we would like to have our staff available at multiple information centers 24 hours a day, funding restraints make this impossible. However the AMCVB’s informational kiosk which works with a touch screen connected to our website and users can access all of the information that is found on alleghenymountains.com or visitcentralpa.com. The Kiosk is located immediately inside the main entrance of the Blair County Convention Center.  Only members of the AMCVB get this exposure.

Photo Library — The AMCVB has a great selection of photography representing all four seasons and both direct and indirect travel business. This photography is used in marketing and public relations programs that the AMCVB uses but is also available to our members for their marketing pieces.

CO-OP Advertising & Promotions— Throughout the year, the AMCVB quantifies the advantages of advertising opportunities that we use to promote our region and members. As a way to cut costs, members are encouraged to share marketing ideas they plan on using and have the AMCVB share the cost through co-op advertising.  These programs could include newspaper, publications, promotion items and trade shows.  With this program, members are able to have a larger appearance while saving money and in some cases utilize media they could not afford on their own.

Referrals — Many people use the AMCVB as their resource for direct and indirect travel and tourism industry information. Inquiries about where to eat, lodging choices, what to visit in the area, where to research family history, medical care, educational facilities and directions are examples of the things we are asked. The staff at the AMCVB will only give out information on member businesses. No matter the question, we will only promote those businesses and organizations that belong to the AMCVB. This gives all of our members an exclusive advantage over their competitors. If any of the Blair County Convention Center clientele should require services that we cannot provide in-house, we refer them only to those businesses within our membership who might be of assistance.

Request For Proposals — The AMCVB strictly practices doing business within our membership. All of the projects that the AMCVB oversees are put out to bid among our members. We bank with members and shop with members. All of our printing is done only by our members. Since opening the Convention Center in May 2001, consistently 98% of products and services purchased to operate the facility are from members due to the AMCVB being the manager.