Workgroup Members:
Donald G. Amtsberg, Juliann Riley, Elsie K. Simmerman, Sandra R.Smith and Timothy J. Walsh

VISION

In order to effectively promote Akron as a tourist destination, several components of visitor development must be expanded and coordinated. The City must provide visitors with a variety of interesting experiences that draw upon Akron’s many assets. These experiences should then be creatively marketed to a widespread audience. The best way to achieve these goals is to create a centralized organization which is responsible for important visitor development activities.

1. Establish a Centralized Clearinghouse for Tourism
   • Today, visitor development needs are not being met by any single organization.
   • This organization would be responsible for coordinating and expanding marketing activities, special events, and visitor services.
   • Coordinate activities with the City and other tourism-related organizations.
   • The Office of Tourism could be structured as a City Department or as an organization like a Private Industry Council or Downtown Akron Partnership.

Strategies:

1. Utilize Office of Tourism
2. Educate Akron Residents
   • Imbue sense of civic pride.
   • Create civil ambassadors or citizens who spread the good word about Akron.
   • Develop local knowledge of assets and history of the Akron area.
3. Promote Akron in the National and International Marketplace
   • Create an image of Akron that can be identified with on a global scale (e.g., Polymer Valley).
   • Highlight the evolution of Akron from being the shortest distance between two rivers, to being the high point on a canal, to being the "Rubber Capital", to becoming a part of the new "Polymer Valley".
   • Dispel beliefs that Akron is a dirty, "rust belt", industrial city.
4. Reinvent Akron’s Image
   • Promote evolution of Akron from "Rubber Capital" to the new "Polymer Valley".
   • Dispel beliefs that Akron is a "dirty" industrial city
5. Utilize the Internet as a Major Tool for Marketing Activities
   • Establish "one-stop" website that provides access to all available information about Akron.
   • Create virtual tours of Akron and use other cutting-edge technology to capture visitor interest.
6. Establish cooperative relationships with similar organizations, other national and international tourism offices and associations.

GOAL #3: Centralize, Expand, and Coordinate Promotional Information and Special Events in Akron

Strategies:

1. Utilize Office of Tourism
2. Generate Attractive Written Promotional Materials
   • Provide overview of Akron, its history, and attractions.
3. Develop New Special Events
   • Theme-weekends for families
   • e.g., Native American/ Frontier Days
   • Seasonal/Holiday celebrations
   • Allow tours through business facilities
     e.g., Akron Industrial Incubator, Goodyear, Advanced Elastomer Systems, Canal Place, Canal Park, and the Airdock.
4. Distribute Information to Tour Bus Companies and Other Travel Groups and AAA and AARP.

Strategies:

1. Promote the Preservation, Restoration, and Utilization of the Area’s Natural Resources and Local Parks in an Effort to Attract Visitors
   • The Cuyahoga Valley National Recreation Area
   • The Ohio & Erie Canal, the Cascade Locks and the Towpath Trail
   • The Metro Parks and the Signal Tree
2. Draw upon Akron’s History
   • Role in evolution of U.S.
   • Rubber revolution
   • Innovations in polymers
3. Establish an Akron Historical Museum
   • Display artifacts of Akron history
   • Provides an anchor for tourism

• Private sector businesses
• Public sector/ government
• Historical organizations/ societies
• Educational institutions
• Internet/World Wide Web
• Media/ Newspaper
• Non-profit sector
• Citizens
• Area Museums
• Park Systems