ED-Central


In This Issue


Robstown will host the 2nd Rural Economic and Tourism Development Seminar this fall on November 1-2. Located less than 30 miles from Corpus Christi, this small rural community has a rich agricultural heritage and visionary leadership that is carrying the community and region into an economic renaissance.



- Company's Comin'--Can they find you?
- Will you make a good first impression?




A decade ago we developed a set of basic tenets within the tourism development division we titled, "Company's Comin." The process of inviting and attracting visitors to a community was likened to inviting first-time guests to one's home. We used the same planning and steps one would to ensure the invitees could find their destination, experience a good first impression, and leave having had a positive, memorable visit.

Robstown will host the 2nd Rural Economic and Tourism Development Seminar this fall on November 1-2. Located less than 30 miles from Corpus Christi, this small rural community has a rich agricultural heritage and visionary leadership that is carrying the community and region into an economic renaissance. Join TEEX, AdventGX and Golden Crescent regional leaders for this seminar and showcase of best practices for regional and rural development. The seminar will feature accomplished economic development practitioners from throughout the state and promises to be an exceptionally valuable and rewarding experience for all involved. Register online today at www.ed-central.com/retds to secure your space.





Company's Comin'--Can they find you?

When you invite company to your house for the first time, you provide them with clear directions to your home. The same applies to your community and your marketing to visitors. Is your community providing visitors with clear and easy signage and wayfinding tools? Take some time to discover your hometown through the eyes of first-time visitors to discover what improvements you can make. If you determine that you need assistance to conduct a formal way-finding study and develop a plan for providing a more hospitable welcome to your guests, give TEEX a call. We can help with your study, your plan and perhaps offset some of the costs of putting it all together.

Will you make a good first impression?

Many communities spend big bucks producing beautiful marketing materials to attract visitors and new business. When tourists and potential businesses arrive, does your community live up to the hype? Tax incentives and friendly residents are nice, but in this competitive world, communities must do more. Clean, trash and weed-free streets, landscaping, attractive signage and well-kept buildings demonstrate pride and care for a place, and visitors have a good first impression. If not, it could make the difference between them choosing your town, or heading down the road.

A decade ago we developed a set of basic tenets within the tourism development division we titled, "Company's Comin." The process of inviting and attracting visitors to a community was likened to inviting first-time guests to one's home. We used the same planning and steps one would to ensure the invitees could find their destination, experience a good first impression, and leave having had a positive, memorable visit.

These steps can be easily transferred and utilized by a community, as if preparing one's home for company. And one of the first steps in inviting first-time guests is providing them with clear, easy-to-follow directions to your home--with landmarks, signage, descriptions and environmental cues to help them navigate without confusion. Your guests/visitors then have a positive first impression and sense of security, comfort and well being.

These days this process is called Wayfinding. Whether a community has good or inadequate signage and wayfinding can make the difference between visitors enjoying their visit or not; not staying as long, determining not to return, or worst of all, telling others of their negative experience--factors that affect your local economy's bottom line.

The better people feel about your community, the longer they stay, and the more activities in which they engage translates into more money spent in your community.

Company's Comin. How are YOU welcoming the very guests you've invited?

About the Author: Terry Tex Toler Tex served eight years as Texas State Co-Op Advertising Manager of the record-setting, award-winning Texas Tourism advertising agency account. A former economic development director in West Texas, he has hands-on experience in the field, plus event development, promotions, marketing and public relations and has visited all of Texas’ 254 counties. Today, Tex serves as a director with AdventGX Corporation, a tourism and economic development consulting firm in College Station. To contact Tex, email terrytextoler@adventgx.com.