Simpsons Premiere Energizes Business Community

D-oh! Vermont means businesses! Over the past week the Vermont Hospitality Council of the Vermont Chamber of Commerce has served as a clearinghouse, offering opportunities to the business community to market Vermont and their products by rallying around the Simpsons premiere. The Vermont Chamber Hospitality Council reached out to the business community to secure donations for gifts for the premiere, and companies to exhibit at the premiere street fair. The Vermont Chamber supported the Springfield Regional Chamber in their immediate needs to raise funds for security, safety, and sanitation.
As part of the effort, the Vermont Chamber Hospitality Council partnered with longtime Vermont Chamber member Radio Vermont to run a day-long promotion awarding two tickets to the Simpsons screening. "Ever since the announcement that Springfield would host the movie, we've had a lot of interest. It was great to have the opportunity to offer our listeners a chance to actually be there, and the response to the promotion was tremendous," stated Eric Michaels, WDEV co-anchor and Radio Vermont General Manager. "People were knocking the door down at 5 p.m. last night to submit a last-minute entry." Chris Yager of Williston won the tickets.
The Vermont Hospitality Council also spread the word that products were needed for gifts in sap buckets. Offers came fast and furious. "Our members know the value of placing their products directly into the hands of 50 Hollywood V.I.P.s," stated Vicky Tebbetts, Vice President of the Vermont Chamber's Hospitality Council. As soon as we sent the notice, we were flooded with willing donors. Soon we were wondering how everything would fit in a sap bucket!"
Each sap bucket also includes a copy of the Vermont Chamber's Vacation Guide and Attractions Map, published in cooperation with the State Department of Tourism and Marketing; as well as the Ski and Maple Map, published by the Vermont Chamber, the Vermont Ski Areas Association, and the Vermont Maple Foundation. Collectively these publications market nearly one thousand Vermont hospitality businesses.
In addition, many Vermont Chamber member businesses jumped at the offer to exhibit at the street fair, to take place on Saturday directly prior to the premiere.
The Vermont Hospitality Council of the Vermont Chamber worked in partnership with the Vermont Grocers' Association, Vermont Specialty Foods, and the Vermont Farms! Association to offer the opportunity to their members as well. The Vermont Chamber continues to enjoy a close and established relationship with the Vermont Film Commission and the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, two primary organizers of the event. Can't keep all these partnerships straight? Don't have a cow, man!