Tourism is a tricky thing to promote during a global pandemic.

But the Warren County Visitors Bureau is hoping to bring at least one promotion back that the pandemic wiped out – an event planner party.

The event would bring together many of the county’s most impactful event organizers, providing an opportunity for networking. And the chance to secure advertising dollars.

Executive Director Dave Sherman said the WCVB will provide funding for marketing to some of those organizers on one condition: They have to use the funding to promote their event further than 50 miles away from Warren.

“We leverage our position, our funds,” he said, “into their committees to go advertise and it worked.”

Sherman explained that the Kinzua Heritage Festival was awarded $500 when the event was last held.

“They took $500 and used it for a commercial in Erie and they were thrilled,” he said. The WCVB doesn’t just hand over the money. They reimburse when an organization produces a receipt, thus ensuring the dollars are spent for their intended purpose.

The goal is to hold the event in early April – COVID-19 impacts remain a concern – but the board approved a motion on Thursday to allocate up to $20,000 as the promotional pool.

NEW EMPLOYEE WELCOMED

Thursday’s meeting also marked the first for Lisa Card, the WCVB’s new administrative assistant.

“(We’re) very glad to have her. It wasn’t easy finding her,” Sherman said.

Card said she’s a seventh generation resident of the county.

“(I) can be honest when people come here and tell them why Warren County is a great space,” she said. “This is a new adventure to me.”