Greetings!
The past three months have been filled with exciting things at the Indiana County Tourist Bureau! Here are the highlights and latest tourism tidbits:
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New Photo Contest for Indiana County!
In celebration of tourism in Indiana County, we are conducting an online photo contest which began March 1, 2017 and will run through February 28, 2018. Winners will receive a gift certificate or promotional item courtesy of ICTB or from one of our members. Each quarter, a new winner will be selected whose photo best depicts one of the tourism subjects. All photos must be in good taste and taken within the county lines. Click here for a complete list of Photo Contest Rules.
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Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Indiana County Parks & Trails
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In honor of the 50th Anniversary of the Indiana County Parks & Trails, ICTB is sharing an excerpt from the Indiana County Parks & Trails 50th Anniversary Booklet every Monday morning on Facebook. Each post will provide a look back in time. These posts will not only share how our parks & trails were formed, but they will also provide a small window into the social, economical, industrial, and political background of our county. Periodically, ICTB will post a Parks & Trails question that could win you a T-shirt or other promotional item. Be on the lookout for our pop-quiz posts that could win you prizes! Click HERE to read more about the 50th Anniversary.
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ICTB Staff
Executive Director
Denise Liggett
Office Coordinator
Jody Toldi
Group Sales/
Public Relations Specialist
Maria Jack
Financial Associate/
Marketing Coordinator
Laura Herrington
Graphic Artist
Jen Buckles
Brochure Distribution
Tony Greenawalt
Officers
President
Gregg Van Horn
Vice President
Sandy Trimble
Secretary
Valerie Balogh
Treasurer
Jacquelyn Hathaway
Member at Large
Board of Directors
Commissioner Mike Baker
Robin Gorman
Martin Harbaugh
Linda Maguire
Patty Painter
Jim Struzzi
James Tweardy
Jordan Gwinn
Andrew Thompson
Jackie Montgomery
Upcoming Events
Find out more
about the fun events and festivals happening in
Indiana County!
Brochure Distribution
Have a new rack card or brochure you're excited to distribute to the public to help spread the word about your business or organization? If so, don't forget to drop some off at our office! We have 40 brochure racks located throughout the county where we can display your rack card or brochure for you!
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Area Groups Receive Recognition
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Knotweed Makes the Big Times! Part of ICTB’s mission is to bring media attention to our region, so we are happy to share that Indiana County and the Blairsville Knotweed Festival were included in the January issue of Eastern Home & Travel Magazine. The magazine is distributed from Maine to Florida and it is an exciting accomplishment for the Tourist Bureau to share that Blairsville of Indiana County PA is now among the many locations highlighted in this high-end travel magazine for all to read and be intrigued.
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Evergreen Conservancy's Hard Work Acknowledged
Evergreen Conservancy has worked hard to make enhancements to the Tanoma Abandoned Mine Discharge Site. These enhancements have increased the amount of iron oxide removed from Crooked Creek, thusly causing a dramatic improvement to water quality. As a result, it’s able to keep its designation as a Cold Water Fishery! A
dditionally, the conservancy provides educational programs on the importance of acid mine drainage remediation with visitors.
It is this hard work and dedication that caused Evergreen Conservancy to be selected as one of 21 recipients of the prestigious 2017 Governor’s Award for Environment Excellence. The award sought those who offer the best in innovation, collaboration and public service in environmental stewardship across Pennsylvania.
Continuing to building off of the hard work and dedication of the Evergreen Conservancy, ICTB is proud to include the Tanoma Wetlands in itineraries presented to incoming groups. Offering this tour helps further the environmental education of our youth and attracts visitors interested in preserving our environment.
The conservancy will be recognized for the award on April 25th at a special event in Harrisburg. Congratulations to all!
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Indiana County Welcomes Visitors
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Charlie Hogan Memorial Hockey Tournament
Celebrating its 22nd year, the Charlie Hogan Memorial Hockey Tournament welcomed visitors February 11-12 and February 17-20. Players, families and spectators enjoyed food, music, memories and hockey during these fun-filled weekends!
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Flo Nationals
Flo Nationals were recently held in Indiana on Friday, March 31 through Sunday, April 2 at the Kovalchick Convention and Athletic Complex.
This exciting event attracts visitors from across the Nation.
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January, February and March Happenings
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ICTB Welcomes Attendees of the Chamber Business Expo
Staff of ICTB was on-hand on Saturday, January 28th at the Indiana Mall. Visitor Guides and member brochures and pamphlets were distributed.
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Busy Booking Appointments at ABA
Our Group Sales Associate, Maria Jack, attended the 2017 American Bus Association (ABA) Marketplace travel show in January. The annual show attracts more than 3,500 tour operators from all over the country and was held in Cleveland, Ohio this year. Her networking attracts a good deal of business from the mid-west bringing them to Indiana for multi-day stays. She has been busy following up on the leads generated to bring incoming motorcoach groups to our county for the 2018 season.
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ICTB at IUP with International Students
Welcome to all our International students visiting this semester at IUP! Albertina from Brazil won the laptop cover. We wish all the students well during their time in Indiana!
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ICTB and Indiana Chamber of Commerce hold "CHINGLE"
ICTB and Chamber members joined together on January 25th for a CHINGLE at Hilton Garden Inn Indiana at IUP. The evening featured the gorgeous, brand-new Hilton Garden Inn at IUP & C.H. Fields Craft Kitchen restaurant! Attendees enjoyed delicious appetizers and complimentary drinks. A few lucky attendees also won fantastic door prizes such as a one-night hotel stay, a C.H. Fields Craft Kitchen gift certificate, and IUP Basketball tickets.
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IUP Winter Warm Up Success
The KCAC was bursting with activity on February 3rd hosting IUP's Annual Winter Warm-Up. ICTB helped welcome over 800 students to the informational event attended by ICTB and many other local businesses and agencies providing an opportunity for students to learn more about their community and take advantage of what organizations have to offer.
United Way Hosts Annual Breakfast
The United Way of Indiana County held their annual breakfast in February at Rustic Lodge with more than 180 people in attendance. During the breakfast, Scott Valazak of Indiana First Bank, chairman of the 2016 campaign, announced that $679,822.08 was raised during the 2016 campaign. The chair for the 2017 campaign was introduced -
Laurie Kuzneski, of Kuzneski Financial Group. Assisting her as 2017 campaign vice chairman will be Joe Pittman, chief of staff to Senator Don White.
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Indiana County Tourist Bureau Makes Impact at PBA
Jack attended the annual Pennsylvania Bus Association (PBA) Marketplace Group Leader Show in Lancaster this March. The show featured mostly PA and regional bus group travelers looking for new and exciting itineraries to entice them for day-long and multi-day tours. Jack highlighted our unique claim as the "Christmas Tree Capital" with the help of her " Queen Evergreen" character played by her sister Melinda Arcara who helped sell that theme along with the Jimmy Stewart experience. Over 50 buses brought travel leaders by the Indiana County booth exhibit that showcased our member attractions. The one-day networking and sales event is always a success for the senior, reunion, and bank incentive market.
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Spreading the Word on Indiana County
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Advertising Highlights
During the past three months, ICTB has been busy advertising prospective visitors through print, web and online advertisements in addition to member events and other special events.
PRINT:
Association of Township Officials – 2017 Convention Program
Guest Quest Travel Magazine
Hometown Magazine - 2017 Groundhog Day Map & Schedule of Event
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Lively Arts 2017 Spring Program
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette – 2017 Spring/Summer Travel Brochure
Punxsutawney 2017 Visitor and Community Resource Guide
Recreation News
Where & When Rt. 422 Co-op
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WEB/ONLINE
Google Web/Keywords
Groundhog.org
GroupTourMedia.com - article
Guest Quest.com
Indiana Gazette.com – various member ads
PA Route 422.com
VisitPA.com
MEMBERS/SPECIAL EVENTS
(print & web):
Blairsville Community Development Authority-Comedy Night Live
Blairsville Underground Railroad – “Showtime”
Delaney Chevrolet Westsylvania Jazz & Blues Festival
Downtown Indiana Winter Warm Up
Indiana-Armstrong Builders Association – Home Show
Indiana County Coin, Inc. – Spring Coin Show
IRMC Auxiliary – Annual Charity Ball
Smicksburg Spring Open House
The ARC of Indiana County – Safe Day
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ICTB Welcomes New Members
New Members January 2017
New Members February 2017
D. Greg & Linda Gibson (SkyView Designs)
New Members March 2017
Simply the Best Kettle Corn
Funky Brunch
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ICTB Mingle at Philly St. Escape Rooms Rescheduled
Our Mingle at Philly St. Escape Rooms that was previously schedule for March and had to be postponed due to snow has been rescheduled! Join us April 11th for a great Mingling Event from 5:30pm to 7:00pm. Please RSVP by April 7th - see details
here
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Celebrating the Completion of the Renaissance Indiana Streetscape Project
As an ICTB member, you are invited to celebrate the project completion. Join us for light
refreshments & sharing special memories of beautiful downtown Indiana.
There’s still time to be a part of downtown Indiana’s legacy through personalized amenities.
The Ribbon Cutting Ceremony details:
Thursday, April 27, 2017
5:00 PM until 7:00 PM
Ceremony & Program 5:15 PM
IRMC Park, N. 7th Street
Call 724.463.7505 or
email ICTB
to RSVP by April 21st
Join Us As We Celebrate National Tourism Week - Held May 7th Through May 13th
Over 300 miniature cut-out Christmas Trees will line the courthouse lawn, a special trail walk in collaboration with Walk-works will be held followed by a Celebration Mingle on Wednesday, May 11th, and eleven hand-painted wooden quilts will be on display throughout Indiana County in honor of Tourism week. Stay tuned for all the details!
Harley Brings It Back! This June, Indiana County will welcome over 13,0
00 visitors as we host three ICSST/USSSA Fastpitch Tournaments. The 12th annual tournament, held over three separate weekends, provides an opportunity to showcase our entire county, our university and provide an economic impact to the area businesses that is immeasurable. ICTB has been working hard with Indiana’s lead organizer, Tom Harley, and our local hotels to ensure all visitors are welcomed and provided with local information to make their visit one that will bring attending staff and families back for a return visit.
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