The Winslow Visitor’s Center shares its chief executive officer and its building with the Winslow Chamber of Commerce. That man is the often-called ambassador to Winslow, Bob Hall. Hall is excited and prepared for a technology driven tourism season in Winslow.
Each year, Hall is responsible for advertising Winslow as a tourist destination through travel magazines and other print media around the world. According to him, the advertisements reach millions of people and are at least partially responsible for the influx of tourists in and around the town. However, as he explained, he has begun venturing out to other media outlets and continues to do so in 2020.
“Last year,” Hall said, “I reached out to some magazines that I don’t usually go to. Things like outdoor adventures publications and things of that sort. We have a lot to offer in Winslow that is not just the corner. We love our corner, of course. But I thought it was time to concentrate on some of the outdoor opportunities we have to offer. After I placed those advertisements, I did notice more activity at McHood Park/Clear Creek.
“One of our chamber of commerce members even commented that his kayak business had experienced some more business. You couldn’t go out there this summer without seeing people from all over out on the water. I would like to think that our ads contributed to that,” stated Hall.
Beyond the additional publications Hall is utilizing, he explained that this year he and the board of directors at the chamber have a plan to implement social media and website advertisements more than ever before. “We have a whole new outlook on the usefulness of social media. We are learning how to boost posts and to use hashtags to get people interested. We are going to the people, really. Everyone now has an Instagram or a Facebook, we are going to become part of that scene in a big way.”
The Chamber of Commerce did launch a mobile application for Winslow last year. “The thing about it is, we can’t really track the demographics on the app. What we will be able to do with this new campaign is to track the ages, the genders, the interests of people who are visiting our town and who are visiting our site.”
Hall intends to revitalize that mobile app this year. “We want to do something where when you get to the (for example) Peter Toth totem pole, you can scan a code and your smartphone will tell you all about the history of that piece.”
Along with the mobile aspects of the digital campaign, Hall said, “We will also be keeping up to date on our website and adding more interactive and interesting things. We already have a pretty great site with amazing photos and stories about Winslow, we are going to continue that momentum this year.”
The website for the visitor’s center is www.winslowarizona.org. It offers stories from tourists, a calendar of events and other information about the town and the Chamber of Commerce. Hall invites everyone to visit the site throughout the year, “We will be adding a lot more in 2020.”
Also in store for the Chamber of Commerce this year is a newly energized board of directors that is looking forward to offering incentives for people to shop local. Hall said, “We always talk about shop local, and we are getting to a point where that is more and more possible. What we are thinking about this year is a real push to get our residents to see what we have to offer. We are working on a punch card type program where businesses that are chamber members would hand out punch cards to shoppers. Those shoppers would be encouraged to visit the other local businesses in order to fill that card. Once filled, a reward would be offered. It’s just one of the many ideas brought up at our recent board of directors retreat.”
Events will still be a large part of what the chamber does in 2020. The usual standing events will take place such as the Taste of Winslow in June, the Fourth of July activities and fireworks show, Standin’ On The Corner Festival, the Festival of Trees and more. A new event was introduced last year and will continue this year. “Clear Creek Days in July was a success last year and we plan to tweak a couple of things and do it again in 2020,” Hall said. “Just like any first-time event, we learned what worked and what needed work. We are looking forward to bringing it back, perhaps with a schedule change and perhaps with a more laid-back atmosphere. It will still take place in July and there will still be plenty for everyone to do.”
The fundraisers held by the chamber each year, The Taste of Winslow and Festival of Trees are events held to raise money for local activities. Hall explained, “I like to point out as often as I can that the money we bring in from those goes right back in to the community. That is where we raise money for Little League sponsorships or the other events and projects we work on locally each year.”
According to Hall, he will continue to be an ambassador to Winslow, “until I retire.” He also plans to continue bettering the quality of life for those that live in the city. “We are ready and ripe for new business here in Winslow. We are going to be hosting some workshops and seminars throughout this year that will hopefully encourage and educate people in to opening those small businesses here. Another thing we plan to do is to offer a customer service workshop for hotel and hospitality workers. The thing is, we have so much to offer here and around here that people who work in our hotels and restaurants need to know what to tell people when they ask what there is to do around here.”
The Winslow Chamber of Commerce plans to continue its Good Morning Winslow series which takes place at 7 a.m. on the first Wednesday of each month, is gearing up for its annual dinner in March, and will continue to work for the people and businesses in Winslow.
“We are so much more than our downtown,” Hall concluded, “But that downtown is pretty great.”
