Posted 8/26/09 by Kaye Ireland
How fortunate we are that we have relationships and partners to help us along the way. Whether it’s personal or professional, our actions and activities affect others. In tourism, these relationships can expand our message, enhance what we have to offer visitors, and positively impact our community.
Recently one of our partners took the time to let me know how our website had helped his business.
"To all the folks at Sumner County CVB, I want to say thanks. Your site with its links to me is generating a great deal of traffic to my web site. Tracking records show nearly 60 visitors came through your site in just the last 30 days. Out of 444 visitors to my site during a 30 day period, over 13% of my traffic came through the SCCVB site. Just let me say thanks for all the guidance and help that you have provided in the past and what I know you will continue to do for me and all of Sumner County. I will also tell you and whoever designed and manages the web site, it is great! Well put together, informative and just a pleasure to browse." Billy Wilkinson –
Stay Down on The Farm, Cottontown, TN
It’s good to have feedback. We’re happy to help Billy and all of our tourism partners to promote their business…because that’s how we attract new and repeat visitors to Sumner County. We work together by sharing information and website links so that visitors can make their travel plans and enjoy their stay.
Of course, there are times when the feedback or outcome is negative, but even then we have an opportunity to learn from the experience and make any changes necessary to correct a problem.
Gallatin’s Downtown Square has been undergoing an extensive renovation, where construction has been inconvenient to residents, visitors and merchants. But, I’ve seen new partnerships and creative ideas come out of the increased communication. Now that it’s nearly finished, merchants are fixing up their buildings, painting and getting ready for company. The final outcome will be worth the effort and we will all benefit because positive change has occurred.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if everyone took the time to share, partner, or see how they could help another? I like saying, ‘
how can we help?’ and hearing ‘
can we work with you to…?’ It’s fun, gratifying and successful!
Reach out, communicate, and share your knowledge and experience…create partnerships and friendships that will be beneficial to everyone concerned. I’m proud to live in a community where that happens more often than not.