State Seeks Additional Partners In Major Marketing Venture
MONTPELIER, Vt. - A total of 15 Vermont businesses and the Vermont
Department of Tourism & Marketing (VDTM) are making plans to head south
to
tap into one of the world's most lucrative consumer venues and they are
looking for more partners to join them.
Beginning October 1 and running through November 15, these businesses
will
display their products and services at the 9th Annual Epcot
International
Food and Wine Festival at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando,
Florida.
The event is expected to draw between 1.5 and 2 million people during
its
45-day run. State officials say they still hope to attract a few more
businesses to join this effort.
"We're very pleased with the response we've received so far from a wide
variety of Vermont businesses," said Tourism & Marketing Commissioner
Bruce
Hyde. "Given the cost and duration of the event, VDTM wouldn't have been
able to participate without such significant support from its private
industry partners."
Hyde said the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival is an ideal
venue
for Vermont to market itself because Disney's tourist profiles closely
mirror Vermont's target markets. Four of the top five Disney domestic
markets are New York, Philadelphia, Boston and Washington, D.C. which
are
among Vermont's key 'drive/fly' markets. Internationally, Disney's top
markets include the United Kingdom, Canada and Japan which are also
among
Vermont's largest international markets and a continuously growing part
of
Vermont's overall tourism picture.
"We're already reaching people in these markets with our regular media
campaign and public relations activities, but the opportunity to go one
step
further and put them directly in touch with Vermont products and real
people
from Vermont is invaluable," Hyde said. "We still have room and hope
that
other businesses will be able to make the investment and join us."
Among the businesses currently participating are Cabot Cheese - which is
a
major sponsor and which will have its own pavilion, Stowe Area
Association,
Vermont Ski Areas Association, Okemo Valley Chamber of Commerce, Maple
Landmark, Green Mountain Beverage, Vermont Farms Association, Vermont
Maple
Sugar Makers Association, New England Cooks, Jed's Maple Products, The
Mapled Nut Company, Bove's of Vermont, New World Enterprises, Smugglers'
Notch Resort and Sugarbush Resort.
Hyde said that any businesses that are interested should contact Missy
Merrell, Director of Sales, as soon as possible at (802) 828-5210 or by
e-mail at [email protected]
###
Jason Aldous
Director of Communications
Vermont Department of Tourism & Marketing
6 Baldwin Street, 4th Floor
Drawer 33
Montpelier, VT 05633-1301
Tel: (802) 828-0528
Fax: (802) 828-3233