Photo provided to the Times Observer Lodgers and the Warren County Visitors Bureau network at Friday’s Lodger’s Luncheon held at the WCVB office in Starbrick.

Relationships help make promotion a little easier.

That was at the heart of a Lodger’s Luncheon event held last Friday by the Warren County Visitors Bureau.

The idea was to bring a wide array of lodgers and WCVB staff together to network and share information.

“It was a wonderful event, and I’m very pleased with how it went,” WCVB Executive Director Casey Ferry said. “We had 16 people from a variety of lodging establishments including a couple of hotels, a number of airbnbs and short-term rentals, a lodge, and even a custom camping outfitter.”

The explosion in airbnbs throughout the county — 116 listed on Wednesday — was a significant factor in the formation of this event, though it was open to anyone in the lodging space.

Ferry previously told the Times Observer that rentals like airbnb and VRBOs make up over 27 percent of local overnight accommodations.

“Our primary goal was to begin to build a friendly, working relationship with the lodging establishments because it fits in perfectly with our mission,” she explained. “As the designated Tourist Promotion Agency for Warren County, our primary focus is getting ‘heads in beds,’ so getting to know those who have the actual beds makes perfect sense.”

Information sharing was a key element of Friday’s event.

Ferry said the WCVB provided information about the county to the lodgers, including the most popular brochures and maps to share with guests.

The lodgers attending provided the WCVB information on themselves and their businesses.

“I’m also working on making a lodging book that features places to stay in Warren County to be kept here so that visitors can browse it and see the wonderful variety of places we have,” Ferry said. “Want to stay along the river? Want to wake up in a cozy place (in) the mountains? Do you prefer a hotel experience? Want to stay in an historic home? Warren County has all that and more. There really is something for everyone and in every budget.”

And while the event might be over, Ferry said they still want to hear from lodgers that may not have attended.

“We have packets prepared for them and would love to add them to our lodging book,” she said.