Chamber of Commerce of Eastern CT Announces Formation of Greater Mystic Tourism Marketing Committee

Regional partnership will promote this key sector of Connecticut’s economy
 
Eastern CT – The Chamber of Commerce of Eastern CT has announced the formation of the Greater Mystic Tourism Marketing Committee (GMTMC), a 12-member group that will facilitate and streamline the region’s efforts to grow eastern CT’s position as the state’s premier tourism destination.
 
The new committee, a unit of the Chamber, will be chaired by Andy Wood, Senior Vice President of External Relations at Mystic Aquarium. The committee is comprised of top tourism industry leaders from throughout the region, replacing the recently dissolved Greater Mystic Visitors Bureau as the key tourism promoter.
 
“With recent shifts in our region, it was imperative that the leaders in our community work collectively toward growing and advocating for tourism in eastern Connecticut,” said Wood. “The creation of the Greater Mystic Tourism Marketing Committee puts that solidly in the hands of those who have a direct and vested interest in the success of our region.”

“We have put together a top-notch group of tourism industry leaders whose contributions on behalf of their individual institutions have made this part of Connecticut a dynamic tourism destination,” Tony Sheridan, President and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut added.  “With this new organization and a public-private partnership with the Connecticut Office of Tourism, our region can continue to expand this important segment of our state’s economy.
 
The full committee membership consists of:
Andy Wood – Mystic Aquarium
Jake Orenstein – Nature’s Art Village
John Lombardo – Saybrook Point Inn & Spa
Kevin Dodd – Essex Steam Train & Riverboat
Dan McFadden – Mystic Seaport
Stan Mickus – Cross Sound Ferry
Lori Woll – Mystic Marriott Hotel & Spa
Bob Mills – Norwich Community Development Corporation
Gary Baker – Mohegan Sun Casino
Ashley Polo – Foxwoods Resort Casino
Peggy Roberts – Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce
Nancy Cowser - Southeastern Connecticut Enterprise Region

Three subcommittees will support the needs of the GMTMC: Collaboration, Branding, and Communications.

The GMTMC seeks to provide a host of services to support the region, including:

• Serving as the region’s tourism partner with the Connecticut Office of Tourism (COT) and the state’s tourism website: www.CTVisit.com
• Working in partnership with state wide tourism groups, associations, and vendors to serve as an advocate for tourism
• Convening tourism and communications professionals to help define and shape the strategic direction of our region’s brand.
• Providing staff support to the local tourism industry businesses. 
• Assisting with social media outreach 
• Coordinating the development of cross- promotional tourism packages 
• Updating and promoting a robust regional calendar for both residents and tourists. 
• Serving as the fulfillment center for destination magazines and other promotional materials. 
• Facilitating  partnership advertising opportunities 
• Promoting partnership with other tourism entities in the region and applicable tourism-related conferences and workshops. 

 For additional information on tourism related support, contact Courtney Assad at cassad@chamberect.com. About the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut:
The Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut is a collaborative of business and community leaders dedicated to securing and enhancing the economic vitality of eastern Connecticut. The Chamber works to create value for its members and the region by providing forums for business networking, leadership and discussions of issues that affect the region; providing opportunities for members to showcase their products, services and accomplishments; helping small businesses succeed through educational programs; and working to reduce the costs of doing business in Connecticut.  For more information, visit www.ChamberECT.com.