Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/998318
JUNE 27-JULY 3, 2018 UCW 31 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Melody Foote Director of Communications Fayetteville Area Convention & Visitors Bureau Liberty Point Bulletin County Tourism Promo on CVB At Work The Faye eville Area Conven on & Visitors Bureau (FACVB) is funded through the hotel/ motel occupancy tax (as administered by the Tourism Development Authority.) The tax is collected from visitors staying at Cumberland County hotels. This funding structure means the bureau's efforts to increase tourism to Cumberland County are not funded by county taxpayers. The value of tourism to Cumberland County is large. In 2016, tourism to Cumberland County generated a direct economic impact of just over $525.95 million. State and local taxes col- lected from tourism represent a $120.98 tax savings to each county resident. That's right, FACVB efforts to increase tourism to Cumber- land County are not funded by local taxpayers, but significantly impact the economic health of the community. The FACVB works to consistently increase and support tourism to Cumberland County by selling the community as a des na on for mee ngs, tournaments and individual travel. How do we accomplish our work? Our efforts are guided by an annual program of work in four different departments. 1. SALES works with mee ng and tournament planners to bring their religious conferences, sports tournaments, associa on and fraternal mee ngs and military reunions to Cumberland County. The sales team secures compe ve bids from area hotel proper es for overnight guests, makes recommenda ons for mee ng loca ons and off-site events and provides materials to promote upcoming events. 2. TOURISM puts programs in place to bring more leisure visitors to the community and encourage those already visi ng to stay longer. One focus is to secure group visits for Cumberland County. 3. COMMUNICATIONS secures posi ve public- ity on Cumberland County as a des na on for mee ngs, travel and special events. They also manage the GoFaye eville blog, secure coverage for area events and manage all social media and web programs. 4. VISITOR SERVICES provides assistance to visitors in town at two Welcome Center loca ons. They also staff informa on tables at special events. ALL OF OUR SERVICES ARE FREE Whether you are a representa ve of an orga- niza on hoping to hold their next event in Cumberland County, planning a wedding or family reunion or looking for things to do, give us a call. We can help. The best part - all of our services are free.